Straus appoints two to CPRIT Oversight Committee

One reappointment and one new appointment to the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Oversight Committee have been announced by House Speaker Joe Straus. Reappointed was Pete Geren, with Dr. Cynthia Mulrow a newly appointed member. The committee is the governing body of CPRIT, which awards grants to expedite innovation in cancer research and to expand cancer prevention capabilities.

Geren, of Fort Worth, is president of the Sid W. Richardson Foundation, which provides grants to educational, health, human service and cultural nonprofit organizations in Texas. He is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who served as Secretary of the Army under President George W. Bush.

Mulrow is from San Antonio and is senior deputy editor of Annals of Internal Medicine and a member of the Institute of Medicine. She is a former director of the San Antonio VA Cochrane Center. She is also a former professor at The University of Texas Health Science Center-San Antonio, where she is now an honorary professor.  

Report suggest changes to A&M System information technology

Sweeping changes to information technology infrastructure for the 11 universities and nine state agencies of the Texas A&M University System are recommended in a report commissioned by the system regarding the efficiency of System IT systems. The report recommends that the system should begin using a "cloud" system, which it says would save money, improve computer security and decrease the number of system employees needed for IT services.

The report suggests the system should consolidate and standardize how its IT is administered among its universities and agencies. Among the recommendations was that some IT systems should be moved offsite. The report states that the recommendations are aimed at reducing risk, saving money and improving research capabilities.

The report suggests that some services, such as financials, human resources and payroll be moved to "the cloud" and that systems regarding student information should be centralized. A&M officials says the system is years behind the private sector regarding standardizing, simplifying and consolidating systems and processes. 

Paris Junior College President Anglin leaving for Blinn

Paris Junior College President Dr. Pam Anglin (pictured) has resigned to accept a position as Blinn College's vice president for Academic Affairs. Anglin has served as head of the Paris college since 2003. She will take over her new position at Blinn on Jan. 1, 2014. She will replace Dr. Debra LaCour, who retired from Blinn in August after 25 years with the college.

Anglin came up through the route of a community college, having earned her associate's degree from Grayson County College. She later was awarded her bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and her master's from Texas Christian University. She holds a doctorate from Baylor University and studied at the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University.

Anglin, a Certified Public Accountant, taught accounting before entering administration. She began her more than 30-year career in higher education administration as a business officer at TCU. She served previously at Blinn as vice president of business services and was executive vice president of Grayson County College in Denison, serving as chief financial officer.

UT-Arlington wins $97,200 grant for online education conference

The University of Texas at Arlington recently received a $97,200 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help fund a conference for educators to discuss the effectiveness of online learning programs.

The conference, scheduled for Dec. 5 and 6, will feature researchers from the United States and other countries discussing their research on how massive open online courses (MOOCs) can personalize learning and impact the dynamics of traditional education methods. UT-Arlington will host "MOOCs and Emerging Educational Models: Policy, Practice and Learning" in collaboration with the MOOC Research Initiative at Athabasca University in Canada, also funded by the Gates Foundation.

As online classes have gained popularity at colleges and universities, some open online courses have attracted 200,000 global participants with up-to-date education opportunities for a wide variety of students and others pursuing more education, noted George Siemens, an expert in distance education. Gates selected UT-Arlington to host the conference because of the institution's use of online learning, Siemens said. 

UT College of Communications wins $50 million grant

The College of Communications at The University of Texas at Austin recently won a $50 million grant from the Moody Foundation of Galveston. The grant will support six initiatives to enhance programs, recruit graduate students and renovate the Jesse H. Jones Communications complex, said Ross Moody, a trustee for the foundation and alumnus of UT-Austin.

Current plans are to establish an innovation fund that will help create new curricula, online education, research and student activities and create endowments for each of the departments and outreach programs in the new Moody College of Communications, Moody said. The gift is the largest single donation the foundation, which has assets of about $1 billion, has made, he added.

President Bill Powers of UT-Austin praised the $50 million gift as critical in the university's goal to become the leading institution for communication scholarship and education in the United States.

Munoz resigning as chair of VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio

As previously rumored, Henry Munoz III (pictured), chairman of VIA Metropolitan Transit in San Antonio, recently told board members he plans to leave the board in on Feb. 1, 2014, rather than waiting until his term expires 11 months later.

Munoz has served as chairman of the VIA board for five years in addition to his duties as chief executive officer of an architectural firm. In addition, he was named as the new finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee in January 2013 after working with the campaign to re-elect the president.

A new chairman of the VIA board could come from the nine current members of the board or be elected at-large, according to a spokesman for VIA. The VIA board has one vacant position, he added. 

Supreme Court Justice Scalia to administer oaths to Hecht, Brown

The oaths of office for Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan L. Hecht and Justice Jeff Brown will be administered Nov. 11 by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. in the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives. Justice Scalia is responsible for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which includes Texas.

Hecht took office Oct. 1, after being appointed to succeed former Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson, who resigned to return to private practice. Brown was appointed as Hecht's replacement by Gov. Rick Perry and took office Oct. 3.

Hecht is the longest-serving appellate justice in Texas and in January will become the longest-serving Texas Supreme Court justice in history. Brown, the fourth former Court law clerk to become a justice, previously served on Houston's 14th Court of Appeals.

Irving City Council members recently approved $355,575 to hire an architectural firm to prepare a master plan for a new police and fire training facility.

The master plan will include a site analysis, drainage impacts, architectural drawings and cost estimates for the new training facility located on SH161. The master plan also will study north police operations, fire administration, training, fitness programs, emergency operation management and dispatch for police and fire. 

White Oak ISD eyes $25M bond election in May for new facilities

Eyeing the need to upgrade security and improve education at the high school, trustees for White Oak Independent School District recently began exploring the possibility of asking voters to approve $25 million in bonds to upgrade district facilities as soon as May 2014.

The current 38-year-old high school needs to be replaced with a building designed to provide better security and support technology necessary for quality education, noted Superintendent Mike Gilbert (pictured). A new field house and tennis courts are other facility upgrades Gilbert urged to be included in a future bond election.

Because administrative offices are located in the center of the current high school, renovation would not be cost-effective, he said. District officials also plan to upgrade security and complete energy conservation projects at all district campuses using funds on hand for capital improvement projects, Gilbert said.

Greenville ISD to study feasibility of bond election in May 2014

Trustees for Greenville Independent School District recently agreed to study the results of an architect's assessment of district facilities and hire a consultant to survey residents to determine the level of support for a bond election in May 2014.

The community survey is designed to identify the amount of bonds that voters are willing to support and other information to provide information needed by trustees to make a decision about whether and when to schedule a bond issue.

Arlington weighing two options for bond election in November 2014

Arlington City Council members recently began studying two options for bond proposals ranging from $150 million to $170 million that they are considering holding in November 2014.

Mayor Robert Cluck (pictured) explained that proceeds from the three-year, $150-million option or the four-year, $170-million option would be used to upgrade streets and improve parks, libraries, senior centers and the fire department.

While the city still has $80 million remaining from its last bond election in 2008, the city's infrastructure needs to be upgraded to meet the demands of new growth and development in the city, council members noted. Council members are considering appointing an 18-member, citizens bond review committee in January to assist council in planning for a bond election.

Round Rock ISD looking at bond election in May 2014 or 2015

With several schools reporting overcrowded conditions, Round Rock Independent School District trustees recently began discussing the possibility of scheduling a bond election in May 2014 or May 2015 to pay for new facilities, classroom additions and renovations for several campuses.

Board members are exploring a May 2014 election rather than a November 2013 bond election because the board has five places up for re-election in November. Thus, the timing is impractical for a bond election, said Catherine Hanna (pictured), president of the school board. Board members also may consider a bond election in May 2015 if they decide against calling a bond election earlier, Hanna said.

The district has three elementary schools that are at 125 percent capacity and eight of its 10 middle schools are at more than 100 percent capacity, Hanna said. Trustees are considering asking for bond funding to pay for an 11th middle school and the 34th elementary school for the district, she added. The board also hired a consultant to assist in analyzing the district's growth projection estimates.

East Texas COG seeking applicants for solid waste grants

East Texas Council of Government (ETCOG) officials recently requested local government groups to consider applying for grant funds for solid waste projects from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Local governments such as cities, counties, public schools and special districts created as political subdivisions in the 14 counties served by ETCOG are eligible to apply for the Municipal Solid Waste grant funds.

Grants will be awarded in several categories, including local enforcement, source reduction and recycling efforts, educational and training projects and cleanup events. Grant funding also is available for technical studies, management of household hazardous wastes and plans for local solid waste management in addition to citizen's collection stations and small, registered transfer stations. 

A branch campus of Texas A&M University in Israel is only $100 million away. That's how much TAMU System Chancellor John Sharp says is needed in privately raised funds to create the Texas A&M University at Nazareth - Peace Campus.

Sharp and Gov. Rick Perry are in Israel this week and met with Israeli officials to sign an agreement formalizing the branch campus in Nazareth. The agreement puts TAMU and the A&M System in the driver's seat to raise the millions needed to support such a campus. The Israelis must commit to change law that does not allow any foreign university from opening branches in their country. The Israelis will also be asked to help find land for the campus.

The student body and campus for the new campus is expected to draw from Arab, Jewish and international populations. Funding for development and construction of the campus will come from private donations. Eventually, students will be able to earn undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in variety of disciplines.

Midland College master plan includes $50 million in facilities

More than $50 million in new facilities is part of a Midland College three-phase master plan being touted by MC President Steve Thomas (pictured). Thomas said the college will use some reserve funds for the projects, but also is anticipating a capital campaign.

The first phase, which carries a price tag of $20.1 million, includes a $7.8 million dining hall expansion at the Scharbauer Student Center and a $12.4 million building for the Early College High School. Phase two would include a $10.4 million professional retreat complex and a $300,000 renovation to the Jack E. Brown Dining Hall. The remaining $4.2 million of the $14.9 million second phase would be used to relocate the Petroleum Professional Development Center to the main campus of the college. Phase three, valued at $15.1 million is likely to be used for additional student housing.

Total cost for the entire three-phase project, including site work, furniture and 5 percent inflation, is $50.2 million.

A citizens committee appointed by Northside Independent School District board members recently began studying the feasibility of asking voters to approve as much as $600 million in bonds in May 2014 to meet projected growth and upgrade facilities.

With the district enrollment increasing by about 4,000 students annually, projections indicate 400 more classrooms, including a new high school, will be needed to avoid overcrowding, said Pascual Gonzalez, communications director for the school district in San Antonio with more than 100,000 students enrolled.

Citizen Bond Committee members plan to begin work immediately on prioritizing projects to include in the proposed bond election. Committee members are expected to present their recommendations to board members in January, who will then decide whether to schedule a bond election in May 2014 and which projects to include.

Austin Community College taps four design firms as finalists

Austin Community College officials recently selected four design firms as finalists to design and plan renovations for their new campus at a former Austin shopping mall. Trustees expect to select the winning design firm at their meeting on Nov. 4.

The finalists, who unveiled their designs at a meeting on Oct. 21, are Gromatsky, Kosarek Architects of Austin; O'Connell Robertson & Associates of Austin and San Antonio; SHW Group of Plano; and Perkins + Will, an international design firm with an office in Austin.

Plans call for reconfiguring 1.2 million square feet at Highland Mall to include space for creative arts, culinary and hospitality courses and other work certification programs. The project is expected to begin construction in about two years and be done in phases, said Bill Mullane, the executive director of facilities and construction. A final master plan for the project should be completed in the summer of 2014 and preliminary plans should be available earlier, Mullane said. Trustees are considering whether to call a bond election in the fall of 2014. ACC officials plan to provide more information on the total cost of the renovation project after the bond election, he added.

Houston-Galveston Area Council seeks input on 2040 regional plan

Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) officials recently began seeking public comment on the agency's "Our Great Region 2040" project. The regional plan is designed to address challenges and opportunities in six areas - economic development, environment, health, housing, transportation and resiliency, said Meredith Dang, a land use and transportation coordinator for H-GAC.

The regional plan also will contain 15 goals and more than 75 voluntary strategies that communities, local governments and individuals can employ to improve the quality of life and work in their communities, Dang said.

Public comments and feedback will be included in the final plan when the board of directors of H-GAC votes on final approval of the "Our Great Region 2040" plan, she added. Public comment on the plan will be available through November 15 at http://www.ourregion.org.

Lone Star Rail District wants share of taxes from Austin, other cities

Officials of the Lone Star Rail District, created in 2003 to build a rail line between Austin and San Antonio by 2018, recently requested Austin city officials to begin sending property tax dollars to the district as early as 2014. Lone Star officials also asked officials in Hays and Travis counties, San Marcos and Austin Community College officials to approve similar agreements to share tax collections and plan to meet soon with leaders in San Antonio and with Bexar and Williamson counties with similar requests.

City staff members in Austin, however, urged council members to retain all taxes collected near the seven stations planned in Austin until the rail line opens and begins operation. Staff also advised that the 50 percent share of property tax growth near the stations claimed by the rail district is too high a percentage to send to the rail district. The district is authorized to collect funding from growth in property taxes and occasional sales taxes within one-half mile of most of the 18 rail stations planned along the proposed 115-mile long rail line.

Elaine Hart, chief financial officer for Austin, also said the December 2013 target date of reaching a final agreement on the rail line's request is unrealistic. While she said she may be able to present a draft plan, Hart said she would not be able to recommend a plan to council at that time. Lone Star officials pledged that any funding collected from the zone would be sent to an escrow fund and used primarily for operating and maintenance costs. Hart, however, said the rail district proposal also allows the money to be spent on project costs, including debt financing costs, real estate, professional services and other reasonable services.

Federal water bill includes Sabine-Neches Waterway project

The water bill passed this week by the U.S. House of Representatives includes authorization for construction of the proposed Sabine-Neches Waterway channel improvement project. The bill is now headed to a conference committee. If differences in the House and Senate versions are ironed out, both houses of Congress will vote on the bill. If passed, it will head to the president to be signed into law.

Paul Beard (pictured), chair of the Sabine-Neches Navigation District, said the project would triple the economic impact of the waterway to the United States, generate jobs in Texas and strengthen energy security. "Deepening the waterway would enhance critical U.S. energy and military infrastructure and support the recent boom in refining and petrochemical activity in our region," he said.

The project calls for deepening the Sabine-Neches Waterway from 40 to 80 feet to accommodate larger ships expected to be traveling through the Panama Canal following its expansion. The Sabine-Neches Waterway is the nation's fourth largest waterway, transporting more than 100 million tons of cargo each year.  It is the nation's No. 1 crude oil import channel and home to the No. 1 commercial military outload port.

El Campo ISD to seek bids for new facilities, renovations

El Campo Independent School District trustees recently agreed to seek bids for new security entrances at two elementary schools, a canopy system and renovations to the high school auditorium and FFA Center.

In addition, the district's architect is preparing bid specifications for a project to resurface tennis courts, overlay the track and repair damage to the track curbs caused by the drought. The architect also said he expects to present preliminary designs and cost estimates in December for proposed renovations to a field house and restrooms at the stadium. Preliminary estimates place the cost of the auditorium renovation at $1.87 million for both phases of the project, the architect said. Trustees expect to decide in mid-November on whether to move forward with the upgrade, he said.

The architect also urged trustees to consider appointing an advisory committee to help raise support for a bond election in November 2014 to pay for other projects, such as building a new varsity field house, a new cafetorium and more classrooms at an elementary school.

Michaelis tapped as interim chancellor of St. Louis college system

St. Louis Community College officials recently selected Dennis Michaelis (pictured), who retired as president of the McLennan Community College in Waco, as the interim chancellor.

The appointment is temporary with the contract with Michaelis expected to expire on June 2015. As chancellor, Michaelis will oversee four main campuses, two education centers and a corporate college with about 29,000 students enrolled.

Developer seeks $20 million from Irving toward housing project

Citing the increasing need for housing along the I-635 Loop, a developer whose plans were approved by the Irving City Council for an upscale neighborhood in that area is now asking the city to throw in $20 million toward the project. The developer, Hines Residential, bought a more than 230-acre site for its housing development, with plans to sell 900 homes worth up to $700,000.

However, the developer says that can be accomplished if the city is willing to invest in cleaning up the property before development and paying for parks, roads and other necessary infrastructure. City officials are studying whether they could make their investment back in increased property taxes when the new homes are sold. The city has already approved two other similar deals for the company. Officials are also hopeful that the increase in residential housing will encourage retail that will further increase both property and sales tax receipts. 

Premont city officials recently selected Reynaldo Recio as the new superintendent of the water department. Council members also approved Jose Maria Martinez as the new assistant water superintendent.

Tom Green County allots

$80K to upgrade library roof

Tom Green County commissioners recently allotted $80,000 to pay for expanding the roof of the Stephens Center Library after bids for the project ran over budget.

While private donors provided $100,000 toward the project, supporters requested additional county funding after the low bid to renovate the roof at the penthouse level into a usable deck was over budget at $496,647, the architect said. Once work begins, the construction should be 

Canyon ISD to seek sealed bids for technology, stadium facilities

 Trustees for Canyon Independent School District recently agreed to seek competitive sealed proposals to locate contractors to build a new facility for industrial technology and agricultural programs and a second project to upgrade concession and restroom facilities at a football field.

Assistant Superintendent Randy McDowell (pictured) outlined five options for bidding construction projects and urged the use of competitive sealed proposals. Current plans call for architectural drawings to be completed by January and trustees to review bids and choose the winning bids in February, McDowell said. Construction on both projects should begin in March and be completed in July or August 2014, he added. 

Frenship ISD approves $85M

bond election in May 2014

With plans to build a new ninth grade center and a new elementary school, Frenship Independent School District trustees recently agreed to ask voters to approve $85.2 million in bonds in an election scheduled for May 2014.

The new facilities are needed to keep up with growing enrollment, district officials said.

Willis kicks off interviews

for assistant city manager

Willis City Manager Hector Forestier recently said city officials are kicking off interviews to narrow down candidates to serve as an assistant city manager, a new position created to oversee economic and community development.

Previously, the city used a consultant to manage the Community Development Corporation and Economic Development Corporation, but rapid growth has resulted in the need for a full-time assistant city manager to manage those activities, Forestier said. The salary for the new position is $63,000 annually, including benefits of $8,500, said Forestier, who has not decided on a deadline for hiring the new assistant city manager.

Clear Creek ISD taps Bockart

as assistant superintendent

Trustees for Clear Creek Independent School District recently selected Scott Bockart (pictured) as an assistant superintendent of secondary education. With six years experience as a high school principal and a district employee since 2002, Bokart has worked 24 years in public education.

Bockart earned a bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian University and a master's degree from St. Thomas University in Houston.

Search delayed for permanent

NEDCO chief executive officer

Nacogdoches Economic Development Corporation (NEDCO) officials recently agreed to delay their search for a permanent chief executive officer until next year.

Judy McDonald, a former Nacogdoches mayor who also spent 11 years as the president and CEO of the economic development group before retiring in 2008, is now the interim director of the group. She is working to re-establish contacts and developing plans for NEDCO, noted Nacogdoches City Manager Jim Jeffers, a member of the executive committee. The search for a new chief executive officer should begin in about six months, he added.

Texas Department of Insurance unveils new life policy locator

To help consumers find a lost life insurance policy or annuity contract, Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) officials recently unveiled the Life Policy Locator Service.

The new service can help those named as beneficiaries receive benefits that could be owed to them from a life insurance policy or annuity contract purchased in Texas, according to TDI. In Texas, 28 insurance companies volunteered to participate in the locator service.

To request the locator service, a beneficiary, an executor or legal representative of the deceased person can complete a search request form and submit that form electronically to TDI, which will then forward the completed form to participating insurance companies within 30 days. Insurance company officials have agreed to search their records and contact the requestor if that company has a policy in the name of the deceased person. The companies plan to contact a requestor only if the company has a policy in the deceased person's name and if the requestor is determined to be legally entitled, a TDI spokesperson said.

Keller approves $141,070

for new tracking technology

Keller City Council recently approved $140,070 to buy and install a new radio-frequency identification system that allows items such as books to be tracked through radio waves.

The new tracking system features a book drop area with five bin sorters, tags, scanners, software license and upgrades to the current self-checkout system. A mobile staff station for tagging the collection also is included in the system, said Jana Prock, the library director. Friends of the Keller Library are donating $30,000 to buy the new tracking system. A revenue fund from water bills is contributing $105,820 while the library budget is contributing $5,250 to the tracking project.

Ryan resigns her position as superintendent of Fairfield ISD

Superintendent Katie Ryan (pictured) of Fairfield Independent School District recently resigned from that post to accept a new job as deputy superintendent at Copperas Cove ISD. Ryan's last day with the district is Nov. 1.

Fairfield ISD trustees also selected Assistant Superintendent Sheila Dove as the interim superintendent while the board searches for a permanent superintendent. Dove, who joined the district in 2001 after serving as a principal at Hico ISD, said she is not planning to apply for the permanent job of superintendent.

Dove holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Tarleton State University.

New Braunfels airport nets

$6.8 million federal grant

The Texas Department of Transportation recently awarded a $6.8 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to the New Braunfels Regional Airport to pay for several capital improvement projects.

The grant funds will be used to fund a runway extension and lighting in addition to upgrades to pavement and fencing, airport officials said.

Fredericksburg ISD weighing

$2.5M for stadium, facility

Trustees for Fredericksburg Independent School District recently began considering approval of $1.2 million in upgrades to the sports stadium and a new $1.6 million agricultural barn.

Superintendent Marc Williamson said the district currently has $8 million in a special building projects fund that will provide the $2.5 million to pay for the projects. Board members expect to vote on whether to begin construction on Nov. 11, Williamson said.

Trustees also are working on a list of potential projects to place on a possible bond proposal in May 2015, he added.

Quatrini selected as interim superintendent at Tornillo ISD

Tornillo Independent School District board members recently named Mike Quatrini (pictured) as the interim superintendent, effective on Oct. 14.

A former superintendent at San Elizario ISD, Quatrini replaced former Superintendent Paul Vranish, who resigned in June 2012, and Margaret Ruybe, who had served as interim superintendent since then. Ruybe told trustees she no longer wanted to serve as interim superintendent and preferred to return to her old duties.

Quatrini retired from San Elizario ISD in 2011 after 15 years in that post. He previously was a principal and teacher at Socorro ISD.

Pete Kampfer resigns post

as city manager in Kermit

City Manager Pete Kampfer (pictured) of Kermit recently resigned from his post to most likely return to New Mexico and to find employment outside of city management.

Kampfer said the decision to resign was mutual between him and council members who negotiated the terms of his resignation.

Pearland explores partnership

for park-and-ride project

After failed negotiations with the Metropolitan Transit Authority to build and operate a park-and-ride facility in Pearland, city officials recently agreed to explore the feasibility of creating a public-private partnership with Gulf Coast Center to provide park-and-ride services at the site now owned by Metro.

City Manager Bill Eisen and Bill Goodman, president of Goodman Corp., urged council members to allot $115,000 for a transit study and consultant services for the next year. The first priority will be determining how to transfer ownership to the city of the proposed 15-acre site near northbound SH288 from Metro, which paid $450,000 for the property in November 2011, Goodman said.

Even though the park-and-ride site requires only 10 acres, the remaining five acres are needed to lease to retailers hoping to attract motorists using the new facility and contribute revenue to operate it, said Goodman. He also advised that federal funding could be available to help city officials build the shell of a retail center that tenants later could build out.

Avery resigns superintendent

position at Aransas Pass ISD

Dr. Royce Avery (pictured), superintendent at Aransas Pass Independent School District, recently resigned to accept a new job in El Paso.

Previously a teacher and educator for school districts in Woodsboro, Lubbock, Waco and an administrator at the Texas Education Agency, Avery became superintendent at Aransas Pass in 2011.

Avery has a bachelor's degree from Rice University, a master's degree from Texas A&M University and a Ed.D from The University of Texas at Austin.

Barry Bassett resigns as superintendent of Italy ISD

After reaching a voluntary separation agreement, Superintendent Barry Bassett (pictured) of Italy Independent School District recently said his last day in that job is on Dec. 20.

An educator with 23 years experience in public education, Bassett joined the district in 2011. He has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

Grants awarded by HHS for hurricane recovery research

Irving's American College of Emergency Physicians is one of nine entities that will share $8 million in grant funds for research to facilitate long-term recovery in areas hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Texas entity was awarded $440,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how health care systems were negatively impacted before, during and after the hurricane. The college will also develop recommendations regarding strengthening health care systems on how to treat patients effectively in future disaster events.

These grants represent the first time HHS has funded research needed by local communities to support long-term recovery efforts. Over the next two years, the entities will study physical and behavioral aspects of recovery from community resilience to health care policy decision making and mental health. All of the entities receiving grants will share their findings with each other and communities impacted by the storm. Other entities receiving grants were Columbia University; New York University School of Medicine; RAND Corp. in Santa Monica; Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey; University of Delaware; University of Maryland; and University of Pittsburgh.

Port Arthur ISD appoints

Porterie as superintendent

Trustees for Port Arthur Independent School District recently appointed Mark Porterie as superintendent of that district.

Replacing former Superintendent Johnny Brown who resigned in June, Porterie joined the school district as a teacher in 1992. He later won promotion to assistant principal and then deputy superintendent.

Koch resigns position as

superintendent of Early ISD

Brett Koch (pictured), superintendent at Early Independent School District, recently agreed to resign two years before his contract ends in June 2016.

While his last working day will be Jan. 31, 2014, the official date of his resignation in effective in June 2014, said Koch, who agreed to a lump sum payment to terminate his contract early.

• Ivan Andarza of Austin, Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents;
• Keith Honey of Longview, Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents;
• Ellis M. Skinner II of Dallas, Texas State Technical College System Board of Regents

Longtime member of A&M

police department is new chief

A law enforcement officer with the Texas A&M University Police Department for more than three decades has been named chief of the department.

J. Michael Ragan has been serving as interim chief since former Chief Elmer Schneider's retirement in April. He joined the department in 1980 and has served as the Assistant Chief of the Field Operations Division since 1984.

Ragan holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M and graduated from the FBI National Academy in Virginia.

Cavazos tapped as lone finalist for superintendent at Harlingen

Trustees for Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District recently selected Dr. Arturo J. Cavazos (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

Previously the deputy superintendent for transformation and school support for the Harlingen district, Cavazos has served 26 years as an educator and administrator. His contract is expected to be finalized when the required 21-day waiting period expires, a spokesman for the district said.