Slovacek named to TxDVM board; Walker new chair

Joseph Slovacek (pictured), senior partner at Hoover Slovacek LLP in Houston, has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

Perry also named board member John H. Walker III of Houston as chair. Slovacek received a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of Houston.

Walker is owner and president of J.H. Walker Trucking, and chief operating officer of Superior Delivery Services. Walker received a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.

Three appointed by governor to Health, Human Services Council

Three new members have been appointed to the Health and Human Services Council that helps develop policies and rules for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and makes recommendations regarding management and operation of the commission. They are James "Richard" Barajas (right) of Fort Worth, Leon Leach (center) of Houston and Thomas Wheat (left) of Dallas.

Barajas is executive vice president and chief credit officer of Southwest Bank. He holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Wesleyan University.

Leach, who is being reappointed, is executive vice president of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Leach received a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, a master's degree from Widener University and a doctorate from the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Thomas C. Wheat is also reappointed. He is an owner of Pediatric Home Healthcare and The Connally Group. Wheat earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Texas Tech University.

TEES names two to new administrative appointments

Dr. Costas N. Georghiades (left) has been appointed assistant director of the TAMU Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) and Dr. Teri Reed-Rhoads (right) has been appointed assistant agency director for workforce development.

Georghiades is associate dean for research and professor and holder of the Delbert A. Whitaker Chair in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M. He will now oversee strategic initiatives, facilitate large-scale proposals submitted to funding agencies and pursue funding opportunities for TEES and its centers. He joined the Dwight Look College of Engineering faculty in 1985 as an assistant professor. He holds a bachelor's degree from the American University of Beirut and master's and doctoral degrees from Washington University in St. Louis.

Reed-Rhodes is assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs for engineering, assistant dean of academic affairs for the Dwight Look College of Engineering and associate professor in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engi­neering at Texas A&M. In her new post, she will oversee the workforce-development efforts of TEES and its divisions and centers. Reed-Rhodes received her bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and spent seven years in the petroleum industry, during which time she earned her MBA. She subsequently received her Ph.D. from Arizona State University. She joined the Texas A&M University from Purdue University.

Board of Regents approve $450M makeover of A&M's Kyle Field

One of the largest college football stadium redevelopments in history is slated to get under way at Texas A&M University after the Texas A&M System Board of Regents this week approved the $450 million renovation and expansion of Kyle Field. Once completed, the stadium, as seen in the accompanying artist's rendering, will seat 102,500, nearly 20,000 more than its current capacity.

The project will begin after the 2013 football season and is expected to be completed in time for the 2015 season. A new facade will envelope the stadium, with new exterior plaza/mall areas. There will be increased chair-back seating inside the stadium and additional suites, loge boxes and premium seating with club areas. Other features will be the latest game day technology, wider concourses, additional restrooms and enhanced concession areas. The project also includes demolition of the Read Building, G. Rollie White Coliseum and the Netum Steed strength and conditioning facility, all of which are adjacent to or part of Kyle Field.

Funding will come from donations and seat licenses through the 12th Man Foundation, student fees/ ticket revenue and a preferred facilities access agreement between the Bryan-College Station Convention and Visitors Bureau and Texas A&M. The agreement will utilize hotel tax revenue for the next 30 years. In return, the Visitors Bureau will be able to use certain Texas A&M facilities at preferred rates for promoting tourism in Brazos County.

Texas A&M System selects Fossum, Mogford as vice chancellors

Regents for the Texas A&M University System recently selected Terry Fossum (left) to serve in the newly created position of vice chancellor for global and corporate partnerships. Regents also appointed Jon Mogford (right) as vice chancellor for research for the system.

Fossum previously served six months as interim vice president for research. In the newly created post, Fossum plans to build new relationships using public-private partnerships to increase opportunities for research throughout the system. In the past, most universities focused on traditional funding methods rather than public-private partnerships for building research portfolios and Fossum said she plans to expand that focus to partnerships. Previously the chief research officer for the Texas A&M system, Mogford said he plans to continue working to improve research opportunities at all A&M campuses and the state agencies in the system.

UTHealth picks Love, Mancias as assistant deans for new office

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School has created the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, seeking to affirm its commitment to diversity for students, faculty and staff.

Giuseppe Colasurdo, M.D., the school's dean and president of UTHealth, named LaTanya Love, M.D. (right), assistant professor of pediatrics, and Pedro Mancias (left), associate professor of pediatric neurology, as assistant deans for the new office. They also will have dual appointments in the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs.

Specific goals of the new office include increasing scholarships, improving recruitment and retention of minority faculty, enhancing the cultural competence curriculum and providing institutional support for diversity and inclusion. 

UT-San Antonio taps Agrawal as interim VP for research

University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) officials recently tapped C. Mauli Agrawal (pictured) as the interim vice president for research. Currently the dean of the college of engineering at UTSA, Agrawal is scheduled to begin his new duties as interim vice president for research on May 15.

Designated as the Peter Flawn Professorship in Biomedical Engineering at UTSA, Agrawal said he intends to continue teaching and conducting research while performing his new duties. He joined UTSA in 1991 as an assistant professor at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio and in 2003 became an associate dean in the college of engineering at UTSA. He established the department of biomedical engineering and led efforts for joint biomedical programs between UTSA and the Health Science Center and the Center for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship in addition to creating partnerships with BioMed SA and the Southwest Research Institute.

Under his leadership, the annual research expenditures at UTSA rose from $1 million to $14 million annually and enrollment in the engineering program grew by more than 50 percent. He has a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India, a master's degree from Clemson University and a Ph.D. from Duke University.

Adams chosen chair of Texas A&M Board of Regents

Phil Adams (right) of Bryan-College Station, owner and president of an insurance products and services business, has been elected chair of the Board of Regents of Texas A&M University. Selected as vice chair was Cliff Thomas (left) of Victoria, owner and chairman of several businesses.

Adams is serving his second six-year term, after having been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2001 and 2009.

Thomas was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2011 and serves as chair of the Board's Policy Committee and special athletic liaison to the A&M System members.

DFW Airport approves $3.8 million for five capital projects

Officials of the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport recently approved $3.8 million to pay for five capital improvement projects at the airport. The additional funding is from about $13.5 million in unexpected revenue from one-time rental and impact fees from the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).

The approved capital projects include demolishing a building, upgrading the people mover system and paving repairs to International Parkway and certain service roads.

DFW officials also said they expect to approve an agreement with the TEX Rail project to build two new stations on airport property in Grapevine and at Terminal B to accommodate a project to bring rail service to the north entrance of the airport from Fort Worth. The new rail line to the airport is expected to open in 2014, airport officials said.

Texas Southmost College sets timeline for full operations in fall 2013

Texas Southmost College (TSC) officials recently agreed on a timeline for actions the college must take to become fully operational when the fall semester begins. TSC previously operated in a partnership that ended this year with The University of Texas at Brownsville.

The proposed timeline calls for registration for fall semester enrollment to begin at TSC on May 20 and the fall semester to start on Aug. 26 and end on Dec. 19, said Chairman Francisco Rendon (pictured) of the board of trustees.

TSC officials also plan to discuss the future employment of about 23 staff members and 24 faculty members of UT-Brownwood who received notices of their layoffs in early April. TSC has a contractual obligation to those 47 staff and faculty members, Rendon said.

Randall County to seek bids on command vehicle

Randall County commissioners will issue a Request for Proposals for a new mobile emergency command vehicle. County commissioners recently toured the Amarillo Police Department's command vehicle to see how it was used during the 2011 summer wildfires.

Sheriff Joel Richardson told commissioners how the vehicle could be used and was given authorization to seek grant funding for a similar vehicle. The grant funds he was able to secure will be added to funds from the Federal Forfeited Asset Account to help pay for the vehicle. The county purchasing agent will send out RFPs to prospective vendors. The RFP will also be advertised, with the county hoping that will spur more proposals from vendors.

Siebold named newest member of Capital Metro Board of Directors

Leander City Councilman David Siebold (pictured) is the newest member of the board of directors of Capital Metro. He was appointed by mayors of smaller cities in the Cap Metro service area.

Siebold, a businessman, has served on the Leander City Council since 1999. He is also a board member of Envision Central Texas and the Alliance for Public Transportation.

Siebold replaces Justine Blackmore-Hlista, who resigned from the board in April. He will be sworn in prior to the May 20 meeting of the board.

North Forest ISD refuses state order to terminate teacher contracts

North Forest Independent School District trustees recently refused an order by an appointee of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to terminate all contracts for teachers. The TEA ordered North Forest ISD to be dissolved and to merge with Houston ISD.

TEA officials currently are deciding on the next step to make sure the termination of contracts occurs to avoid Houston ISD from being responsible for paying the cost of fulfilling those contracts, a spokeswoman for TEA said.

Superintendent Terry Grier of Houston ISD did not promise employment to the approximately 900 employees of the troubled North Forest school district, but said he plans to hold a job fair where current North Forest ISD employees can apply for open positions. State law requires that school districts must give notice to teachers that their contracts will not be renewed for the next school year before the current school year ends. Teachers also are allowed to appeal to TEA to get their jobs back, a representative for the teachers' union at North Forest noted.

Paul Turner, the executive director of facilities at Austin Independent School District, recently retired after working 40 years for the school district.

Turner joined AISD as an intern, served as a teacher and then a principal until moving into administration in 1993. He became director of bond execution and development in 2003 and oversaw development of several successful bond programs in 2004 and 2008.

Alamo Area Council of Governments taps Wolff as new chairman

Board members of the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) recently elected Kevin Wolff (left), a Bexar County commissioner, as the new chairman of the board. Wolff replaced Don Tymrak, the former mayor and current city manager of Karnes City, who resigned when he became ineligible to remain on the board.

AACOG board members also elected Jim Wolverton (right), a Guadalupe County commissioner, as the new vice chairman. Wolff and Wolverton began their new posts immediately and will serve through 2013.

AACOG is comprised of cities, counties and other governmental districts in state planning region 18, which covers 12 counties with a mission of working regionally in partnerships to meet regional needs.

City of Fort Worth Chief Financial Officer Horatio Porter (pictured) recently resigned to become the new chief financial officer for the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA).

Serving as the city's chief budget officer since 2009, Porter won promotion to chief financial officer for the city earlier this year. He will replace Janice Davis, who served as interim chief financial officer at NTTA. Porter also will serve as the assistant executive director and report directly to Gerry Carrigan, the NTTA chief executive officer.

Porter is a certified public accountant and holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Texas Christian University.

El Paso ISD trustees replaced by appointed board of managers

Following a required clearance by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), The Texas Education Agency (TEA) officials recently replaced the elected school board members at El Paso Independent School District with an appointed board of managers.

The board of managers, whose appointment in December required approval from DOJ, will oversee management of the school district, including efforts to correct identified deficiencies and implement solutions to bring the school district up to state and federal standards. A recent scandal involving cheating on standardized tests resulted in a prison sentence for the former superintendent of El Paso ISD and resignations from several administrators for the school district.

The board of managers will assume all duties and responsibilities of the elected trustees for up to two years. An election for school board members must be held within two years of the appointment of the board of managers.

Lubbock places a proposed 2014 bond election on hold

Citing the need for more information, Lubbock City Council members recently agreed to table discussion for at least a week on a 2014 bond election. Discussions had centered on using the bonds to pay for upgrades to two fire stations, the library system, the emergency operations center and four city pools.

The public health and safety projects such as the fire stations and emergency operations center could proceed using certificates of obligation bonds rather than a bond election, the mayor said.

Council agreed to table the discussion on a bond proposal in 2014 until the council meeting next week.

Hurst City Council members recently agreed to spend $825,000 to hire an architectural firm to design a renovation and a replacement project at two aquatic centers in that city.

City officials plan to spend $7 million to replace the 17-year-old, 6-acre Chisholm Aquatic Center and $3 million to renovate the 18-year-old, 3-acre Central Aquatic Center, the deputy city manager said. At Chisholm center, city officials plan to eliminate six competition lanes and keep two diving boards. The pool will be about three to four feet deep to accommodate swimming lessons and new slides and "sprayground" features are planned, he said. Construction on the Chisholm project could kick off in October 2014.

The design process for the Central center will take about a year to complete and also feature new slides and a "sprayground" area. City officials plan to sell bonds in 2014 and begin construction on the renovation of the Central center in 2015.

Navarro County OKs timeline

for courthouse project

Navarro County commissioners recently approved a timeline for a restoration project at the county courthouse. The proposed timeline calls for the county auditor to begin advertising for competitive bids for the courthouse renovation on May 4 and May 11 with a final bid deadline set for June 5. 

Yorktown taps Rasco as

economic development director

Yorktown city officials recently selected Alan Rasco (pictured) as the new executive director of the Economic Development Corp. and the Chamber of Commerce. Rasco previously served as president of Texarkana College and of South Arkansas Community College and as an administrator at Austin Community College and at Tyler Junior College. He also worked in hospital administration and for the Texas Higher Education Coordination Board.

Seguin County commissioners recently agreed to consider issuing $5 million in certificates of obligation to pay for upgrades to the Justice Center and Law Enforcement Center. Commissioners plan to use the funding to pay to complete the second floor of the Justice Center and install a water chiller system at the county jail and sheriff's office. 

Victoria ISD eliminates positions

for assistant superintendent

The superintendent of Victoria Independent School District recently eliminated the positions of two assistant superintendents while naming six employees to new administrative positions to streamline the office and improve curriculum.

Nancy McCord, the assistant superintendent for secondary education, said she is retiring at the end of this school year while, the assistant superintendent for elementary education, Mima Gonzalez, said she is not planning to retire.

Superintendent Robert Jaklich appointed Trey Edwards, a principal at the Mitchell Guidance Center, as the executive director of administration; Lisa Cortez, a principal, as director of the human resources department; and Sherri Hathaway and Carol Tippins, both currently serving as principals, as associate directors of elementary education. The superintendent also named Elise Tate and Linda Winters to the newly created positions of curriculum coordinators.

Daniel steps up as interim superintendent at Willis ISD

Willis Independent School District trustees recently selected Linda Daniel (pictured) as the interim superintendent, effective May 1.

Daniel replaces Dr. Bret Jimerson, who resigned to serve as superintendent at Burleson ISD. She also served as interim superintendent for six months prior to Jimerson joining the district.

A 34-year veteran in public education, Daniel worked as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent at school districts in Centerville and Huntsville before joining Willis ISD. She retired in 2005 as the deputy superintendent for Huntsville ISD.

Rio Grande City picks

Ruszczak as city manager

Officials in Rio Grande City have announced they have chosen Mission Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Matt Ruszczak to become their new city manager and they are now in negotiations with the chamber official.

Prior to taking over the Mission chamber, Ruszczak worked at a software development company and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce. He holds a master's degree from The University of Texas-Pan American.

Canutillo ISD selects Galaviz

as new superintendent

Trustees for Canutillo Independent School District recently selected Dr. Pedro Galaviz (pictured) as the new superintendent.

Currently the executive director of secondary schools for Round Rock ISD, Galaviz will replace Dr. Damon Murphy, the former superintendent removed after auditors for Canutillo ISD alleged that he had inappropriately promoted 66 sophomore students to prevent them from taking the mandatory 10th grade TAKS test.

Galaviz earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Texas State University and an Ed.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. He expects to begin his new duties at Canutillo ISD before the end of the school year.

Arlena Sones to be new city

auditor in Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi city officials recently selected Arlena Sones as the new city auditor. Sones begins her duties in Corpus Christi on May 20. Currently an employee in the audit department for the city of San Antonio, Sones holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and is working to complete a master's degree at The University of Texas-San Antonio.

Salinas tapped as sole finalist for superintendent of Premont ISD

Premont Independent School District board members recently selected Dr. Ignacio Salinas (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

Now serving as superintendent of San Diego ISD, Salinas will replace Superintendent Ernest Singleton, who is resigning from the Premont school district effective in June. Singleton led the district in fighting an order from the Texas Education Agency to shut down the Premont district and merge it with another school district. TEA officials have not yet made a decision on the appeal by Premont ISD to continue operation as upgrades to facilities and academic programs are made.

Salinas said he plans to remain at San Diego ISD through the end of the academic year and begin his new duties in Premont in July.

Check the GOVERNMENT NEWS section of the SPI Web site for these and other press releases.

• DPS recognized by Texas Legislature

• TCEQ announces 2013 Texas Environmental Excellence Awards

• AgriLife Extension names new entomologist for S. Plains region

• Williams to attend first meeting of El Paso board of managers

McKie chosen lone finalist for superintendent at Hays CISD

Michael McKie (pictured), a career educator and recent interim superintendent of the Fort Bend Independent School District, was recently named lone finalist for the superintendent spot in the Hays Consolidated ISD. He will replace Dr. Jeremy Lyon, who left to become the superintendent in Frisco ISD. McKie began his career as a classroom teacher and then became an administrator, serving as an assistant high school principal, high school principal, assistant superintendent for high schools and interim superintendent.

McKie spent most of his career with Fort Bend ISD. From 1988 to 1992, he was the assistant principal at Willowridge High School. From 1992 to 1995, he served as the associate principal for John Foster Dulles High School and from 1995 to 2006, he was principal at William P. Clements High School. He served as assistant superintendent for high schools for Fort Bend ISD from 2006 to 2011 and was then named an assistant superintendent there. In August 2012, he was named acting superintendent, and later interim superintendent.

McKie holds a bachelor's degree from Northern Michigan University and a master's from Stephen F. Austin. He also earned his superintendent certification from Region 4 Education Solutions.

• Eric Gambrell of Highland Park, Texas Board of Criminal Justice;
• R. Terrell McCombs of San Antonio, Texas Board of Criminal Justice;
• Thomas Wingate of Mission, Texas Board of Criminal Justice;
• Glenn Lewis of Forth Worth, Texas Southern University Board of Regents;
• Sarah Monty-Arnoni of Houston, Texas Southern University Board of Regents;
• Erik Salwen of Houston, Texas Southern University Board of Regents;
• John Zacek of Victoria, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council;
• Thomas R. Kelsey of Houston, Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Council;
• Billy Atkinson, Jr. of Sugar Land, chair, Texas Public Finance Authority;
• Sharon Newcomer of Orange to the Sabine River Authority Board of Directors;
• Charles "Chuck" Anastos of Corpus Christi, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners;
• Michael "Chad" Davis of Lubbock, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners;
• William "Davey" Edwards of Alvord, Texas Board of Architectural Examiners;
• Susan Rogers of Odessa to the Texas Crime Stoppers Council;
• Dallas Barrington of Silsbee, Juvenile Justice Advisory Board;
• Veronica Edwards of San Antonio, Texas Lottery Commission;
• Adrian Arriaga of McAllen, Texas Real Estate Commission;
• Chart Westcott of Dallas, Texas Real Estate Commission;
• Avis Wukasch of Georgetown, Texas Real Estate Commission;
• Cynthia Tays of Austin, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
• John H. Riggs III of Midland, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
• John Steinberg of Marion, Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners;
• Ashley Hunter of Austin, Texas Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority;
• Linda Kinney of Dripping Springs, Texas Automobile Burglary and Theft Prevention Authority.

Monroe steps in as new

head of Brownfield ISD

Tanya Monroe (pictured) recently agreed to serve as the new superintendent for Brownfield Independent School District. Monroe previously was the superintendent for Memphis ISD, a principal for Highland Park ISD and a teacher at Borger ISD. She begins her new duties at Brownfield ISD on June 2.

Contractor for Rusk ISD waives fees for school security upgrades

An East Texas-based construction company recently agreed to waive construction management fees included in a contract to renovate and upgrade school security at five schools in the Rusk Independent School District.

District officials have not yet arrived at an estimate for what the savings from the fee waivers will be, but Superintendent Scott Davis praised the leadership of the Berry & Clay Construction Company to pitch in to help make students at Rusk ISD more secure while in school. Security upgrades at all five campuses are expected to be complete when the new school year begins this fall, Davis said.

The Arbor Day Foundation recently presented the 2013 Excellence in Partnership award to the Lost Pines Forest Recovery Campaign, a public-private partnership, for its contribution to planting trees, conservation and stewardship in the last year.

Based in Texas and Nebraska, the Lost Pines Recovery Campaign set a goal to raise enough funds to plant more than 4 million trees on public and private land destroyed in the wildfires in Texas in September 2011.

The Lost Pines Forest Recovery campaign is one of 14 organizations, individuals and companies recognized during the annual Arbor Day Awards ceremony in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas A&M Forest Service and Arbor Day Foundation officials created the public-private partnership to be active for many years to plant 4 million new trees, the founder of the Arbor Day Foundation said.

Ector County ISD taps Howard head of curriculum, instruction

Ector County Independent School District trustees recently selected Stephanie Howard (pictured) as the new executive director of curriculum and instruction.

Currently the principal at Robert E. Lee High School in Midland, Howard also was a teacher. She will replace Karen Kopec, who is retiring, and work with Carolyn Gonzales, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

Howard has a bachelor's degree from Angelo State University, a master's degree from The University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) and is seeking a Ph.D. through a doctoral cohort program at UTPB and The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Tom Akins retires as city

attorney in Denison

City Attorney Tom Akins of Denison recently retired after 25 years in that job. He also served on a contract basis as city attorney for six years prior to joining the city. Akins previously worked for the city of Sherman and as city attorney in Abilene before establishing his own private practice in 1977. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University.