CCISD holds annual State of the District luncheon

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

With hundreds in attendance, the Copperas Cove Independent School District held its annual State of the District luncheon on Wednesday, with CCISD Superintendent Joe Burns celebrating the accomplishments of its students and staff. 
Burns used the district’s strategic plan initiatives to highlight the district’s progress in the areas of instruction, human capital, the whole child, facilities, and stakeholder engagement.
In the areas of instruction, he noted campuses such as Fairview/Jewell Elementary, which despite having more than 70 percent of students qualifying for the free/reduced lunch program, have academically scored an “A” on the state’s report card of assessments. 
Overall, CCISD has a “B” rating in the area of academic achievement. 
In addition, he pointed to the diversity of the district’s more than 8,000 students enrolled. Among those 8,000 students, there are 34 languages spoken. 
Likewise, with the current events worldwide, the district also has students from Ukraine who recently enrolled. 
“We have four kids that are working diligently through interpretive systems to be able to reach teach and touch them, and they are so eager, they are so excited,” Burns said. “They are so grateful to be receiving an education and be in a safe place where they can lay their head down every night without missiles going overhead, without being in fear of their dad or mom being carried away, and not having adults to live with.
“I want to tell you, we serve a really, really diverse population of students, and they are best students in this state. We love our kids.”
Burns also spent a few minutes sharing about the district’s new CTE facility that is under construction, which will have a learning lab plus classrooms, specifically for welding and building trades. The district will have an open house for that, as well as the other campuses that have undergone construction renovation. 
“We invite you as a community to come out and see what your taxpayer dollars have done for the students that we serve.”
He likewise shared that he was notified by the Texas Education Agency that House Creek Elementary is in the running for a nationwide designation, that of a National Blue Ribbon School. He said the district is submitting the information needed for that recognition, and the announcement will be made later this spring.
The district also recognized its local community partners for the work that they do and the contributions they make to benefit the district’s students, to include Cinergy Cinemas, Altrusa International, Rotary Club, Copperas Cove Retired Teachers, H-E-B, Copperas Cove Education Foundation, Raising Cane’s, Chick-fil-A, the Jno G. Lewis Lodge, the Moose Riders, VFW Post 8577, Rocks and Roots Realty, Extraco Banks, Copperas Cove Optimist Club, Texas Discount Automotive, and Ashley Furniture.
The luncheon was catered by Giovanni’s with the Voice of Cove singing the National Anthem, and Central Texas Incredible Kids Emily Kimball and Dorianna Gilbert, as well as Student Hero nominee Maddox Tobias leading with pledges and prayer. The Martin Walker Treblemakers Honor Choir provided musical entertainment during the meal. CCHS senior class president Emilee Eden served as the mistress of ceremonies, with the JROTC honor guard presenting colors.