FISD art show to paint picture of students’ creativity

By JAN BELLAMY, February 23, 2009

More than 2,000 works of art by Frisco students are being displayed Tuesday and Thursday nights at the new Career and Technical Education Center, 9889 Wade Blvd., Frisco. The works reflect the talents of youngsters from kindergarten through 12th grade.

“We are celebrating National Youth Art Month, which is in March,” said Laverne Forwark, art teacher at Curtsinger Elementary and coordinator of the annual exhibit for three years.

“We started the annual student art show in 1998,” Forwark explained, “and I think we had only five campuses then compared to the 40 campuses now part of the district and represented in this show.”

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Outlook healthy for FISD budget

By DEVIN MONK, February 20

If projections and proposals go according to plan later this year, Frisco ISD will pass its financial checkup for the coming fiscal year and further explore ways to help its employees maintain their wellness through an on-site health-care clinic.

Frisco ISD officials learned at Monday night’s regular board meeting that the district will likely have a robust budget in store.

Conservative estimates of a $15.65 billion tax base for the 2009-10 fiscal year would bring in a projected revenue of $266.76 million. If Collin and Denton county appraisal districts value property at a higher mark this June, then projections would approach $277.16 million in revenue.

FISD Director of Finance Rick Bankston said that appraisal districts were holding off on releasing their preliminary projections because of the impact home foreclosures could have on property values, but continued commercial development within the district’s boundaries would counterbalance any reductions.

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