A rendering of the four-story high school, which will be the tallest CFISD academic facility. 

NEW CFISD EDUCATIONAL VILLAGE PLANNED FOR BRIDGELAND

Bridgeland, a development of The Howard Hughes Corporation, has announced that Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) has purchased 127.8 acres for a nearly one million-square-foot multi-campus, educational village located in Bridgeland, an award-winning master planned community in Cypress.  This will be the first multi-campus location in Bridgeland. 

The new multi-campus will feature a four-story high school, three-story middle school and a two-story elementary school, designed to accommodate over 5,900 students and teachers.  The four-story high school will be the tallest CFISD academic facility.  The educational village will be located between Mason Road and the Grand Parkway in Bridgeland.  The three schools will have shared common areas and multi-use facilities. 

“We are excited to open a Cypress-Fairbanks ISD multi-campus location in Bridgeland,” said Paul Layne, executive vice president of master planned communities for The Howard Hughes Corporation. “ The CFISD educational village allows an elementary, middle school and high school together in one location utilizing shared space within the multi-campus.  Parents and students can benefit by the efficiency of this campus offering unique educational features.  The campus will also be convenient for students of all ages who will be carpooling together.” 

The new CFISD high school will be the 12th high school for the district while the elementary school will be the 55th for the district.  Completions for both the elementary and high schools are slated for summer 2017 in preparation of the 2017-2018 school year.  The middle school is planned for a future date. 

The CFISD Board of Trustees selected IBI Group Architects, a global architecture, planning, engineering and technology firm, to design the master plan for the campus. 

Currently, Bridgeland is home to Pope Elementary School, part of CFISD.  The Master Education Plan for Bridgeland includes preschool, special-needs, private and public school sites.  Three highly acclaimed public school districts eventually will service Bridgeland: CFISD, Katy ISD and Waller ISD.  It is also the goal for Bridgeland to have a University Center or satellite location near its Town Center along with easy access to continuing educational courses. 

CFISD board member Bob Covey volunteers as a Bus Buddy with Emery Elementary School pre-kindergarten student Jaden Makien on the first day of school, Aug. 24. 

“BUS BUDDIES” PARTICIPATION CONTINUES TO GROW

More than 300 community volunteers – an increase of 100 from the previous year – assisted new bus riders and drivers in the ninth annual CFISD Bus Buddies program during the first week of school. 

Bus Buddies rode CFISD school buses from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. for the first three days of school, Aug. 24-26, to ensure students were safely transported to their proper drop-off points. 

Many of the 317 volunteers served as a Bus Buddy for more than one day.  More than 200 volunteers indicated they were participating for the first time in 2015. 

A total of 66 businesses and organizations participated in the program, an increase of more than 20 from 2014.  District partner H-E-B led the charge with 29 registered Bus Buddies. 

The Bus Buddies program is an annual partnership between the CFISD transportation and community engagement departments and the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce. 

“Our community stepped up in a big way to respond to the needs of our young bus riders,” said Leslie Francis, director of marketing and business relations. “ More than 100 additional volunteers and more than 20 extra businesses and organizations joined the Bus Buddies effort in 2015 – a testament to the support for local education and student success that the CFISD family is known for.” 

STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

David Weekley Homes hosted a Back to School Supply Drive benefiting the YMCA of Greater Houston, an organization that puts Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body, and nurture the potential of every child and teen. 

Thousands of items, valued at $14,000, were collected during the two-week drive, which benefited 1,440 children.  After collecting the donations, team members sorted and delivered the supplies to ensure they would be distributed in time for the start of school. 

“The school supply drive was such an easy way for our team members and community to support students, teachers and our local schools,” said Cindy Miller, marketing director for David Weekley Homes. “ I opened one of the boxes, and the donor’s child had written a personal note wishing the students a great school year, hoping they enjoyed the items he had picked out just for them.” 

The drive was an initiative of the company’s CARE program, which is a charitable and volunteer program that partners team members with homeowners, homebuyers and community partners with nonprofits to make a positive impact in lives and in the communities.  Company team members volunteer countless hours to different organizations in their communities, and the Weekley Family Foundation donates more than $100 million to a variety of organizations through the U.S. and abroad over the past 20 years. 

KEITH BARBER NAMED CEO OF HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL

Keith Barber, regional chief financial officer and CFO of Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, has been named the hospital’s new chief executive officer, effective immediately.  Keith joined Houston Methodist in 2012 and had an immediate impact, helping Houston Methodist Willowbrook thrive and grow to better serve its community. 

Said President and Chief Executive Officer at Houston Methodist Marc L. Boom, MD, “We conducted a thorough search and quickly it became clear that Keith was the best person for the job.  He brings a wealth of experience to his new role, with 25 years in hospital finance, operations and business development.  Prior to joining Houston Methodist, he served as chief operating officer of Tomball Regional Hospital, where he also served as interim CEO.  Keith replaces Beryl Ramsey.  It gives me great pleasure to promote someone from within who has the leadership and operational capabilities for this position.  Keith deeply understands the importance of our I CARE Values and he will carry on the strong tradition of those values.  I know that Keith will lead Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital to continue its upward trajectory.” 

Keith, a CPA, has a bachelor’s in business administration from Southwestern University and a master’s in Health Care Administration from Trinity University.  He and his wife Dori-Lyn have three children aged 16 to 22. 

Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) has received a $50,000 grant from The Brown Foundation, Inc. Half of the funds will be used toward NAM’s Meals on Wheels program, with the remaining $25,000 going toward the Roots and Wings building campaign.  The goal of the Roots and Wings building campaign is to raise $5,371,608 to build a new Retail and Training Center on NAM’s property.  With this gift from The Brown Foundation, NAM has raised more than $5 million toward that goal. 

The Retail and Training Center will allow NAM to expand programs and services, particularly in the area of workforce develop­ment.  By developing a robust training center, NAM will empower low-income families to attain a better quality of life through better-paying jobs.  The center will also provide a permanent home for the largest of NAM’s three resale stores, which together generate more than $1 million per year to help Neighbors in Need. 

NAM’s Meals on Wheels program delivers hot, well-balanced meals to the doors of 700 local seniors and other adults who are homebound because of disability or illness. 

NORTH CYPRESS MEDICAL CENTER NAMED ONE OF “MOST WIRED” HOSPITALS IN U.S.

Health data security and patient engagement are top priorities for the nation’s hospitals, according to results of the 17th annual HealthCare’s Most Wired survey, released recently by the American Hospital Association’s Health Forum and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). 

The 2015 Most Wired survey and benchmarking study is a leading industry barometer measuring information technology (IT) use and adoption among hospitals nationwide.  The survey of more than 741 participants, representing more than 2,213 hospitals, examined how organizations are using IT to improve performance for value-based healthcare in the areas of infrastructure, business and administrative management, quality and safety, and clinical integration. 

“North Cypress is thrilled to be recognized as a one of the “Most Wired” hospitals.  We place a huge emphasis on protecting and safeguarding patient health information, risk and identity management.  The hospital continues to provide patients and staff with the most up-to-date and secure systems available, striving to improve care delivery and outcomes” states Beata Kasper, CIO, North Cypress Medical Center. 

According to the survey, hospitals are taking more aggressive privacy and security measures to protect and safeguard patient information. For a full list of winners visit hhnmag.com.