Steen succeeded former Secretary of State Hope Andrade, also from San Antonio, who resigned in 2012. In addition to being Secretary of State, Steen's public service includes having served on the Texas Public Safety Commission and as past chairman of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

Transportation Commission approves contract for road repairs

Some of the funding appropriated by the 83rd Legislature for road repairs related to high-use in the state's energy production areas is about to hit the roads - literally.

The Texas Transportation Commission this week awarded a $150 million contract to Austin-Angel, JV for road work on those roads that have been damaged by heavy trucks and increased traffic in these regions. The $150 million is part of the $225 million appropriation approved by the legislature via HB 1025. The funds were dedicated for energy sector road improvements. Repairs and rehabilitation of those roadways can now get under way.

"The energy sector provides a tremendous economic boost to the state of Texas, but it must be supported in a manner that is safe to everyone on our roadways," said Texas Transportation Commissioner Fred Underwood. The commissioner said the award of the contract will allow much-needed work on these roads, improving travel and safety for motorists using the roads. The project is set to begin next spring and will focus on the Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio and Yoakum districts, with 27 roadways and bridges to be reconstructed or resurfaced. In September, $75 million was allocated toward repairs to begin in the Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Lubbock, Odessa and San Angelo districts.

Flores appointed newest member of Public Safety Commission

Manny Flores Jr. (pictured) of Austin is the newest member of the Public Safety Commission. He was appointed this week by Gov. Rick Perry to a term that will expire Dec. 31, 2017. The Public Safety Commission is responsible for setting and overseeing policies for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Flores is chief executive officer of Latin Works, a full-service advertising agency in Austin. He is an advisory board member of Helping Hand Home for Children and the United Way of Greater Austin Community Board and a volunteer for SafePlace. He is also past co-chair of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Celebrando Austin event and a past member of the St. Michael's Academy Board of Trustees.

Flores holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

McMullen named as president of Bryan campus of Blinn College

Officials of Blinn College recently appointed Sylvia McMullen (pictured) as the new president of the Bryan campus of Blinn College. She was selected as interim president in August and will become president on Jan. 1, 2014. McMullen will replace Ted Raspiller, who left that post in May to be president of a community college in Virginia.

Chosen from a field of four other candidates, McMullen also will lead several satellite centers such as the Workforce Education Center, clinical space used by Blinn students at the Texas A&M Health Science Center and a small campus near Post Office Street. A total of almost 13,000 students are enrolled at Bryan campus, the largest in the Blinn system.

McMullen is a 30-year veteran in education who has worked with more than 500 school districts in Texas, Nevada, Arkansas and New Mexico in business development, project management and marketing research. She has a master's degree from Texas A&M University and a law degree from the University of Houston School of Law.

Tech names Natividad director of commercialization in El Paso

Texas Tech University System officials recently chose Rosalinda Natividad as the new director of commercialization for the El Paso office. Her duties include overseeing the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at the Paul L. Foster School of Medicine.

Natividad also will manage activity of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund in West Texas as well as promote an entrepreneurial culture and oversee innovative activity in the region. She previously founded a private company that attracted more than $80 million in grant agreements, contracts and procurement services. 

Alamo College names Follins NE Lakeview president

Alamo College trustees recently selected Craig Follins (pictured) as the president of the Northeast Lakeview College in San Antonio. Follins currently is president of Olive-Harvey College of Chicago and previously held positions at the Houston Community College System, Victoria College and Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio. He has a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Tom Cleary will serve as acting president until Follins begins his duties in March 2014.

Cleary currently is the vice chancellor for planning, performance and information systems for Alamo College. 

UTMB taps Goodwin as chief research officer, vice president

University of Texas Medical Branch officials recently tapped Dr. James S. Goodwin (pictured) as a vice president and chief research officer for the medical school in Galveston. Goodwin joined UTMB in 1992 and holds the George and Cynthia Mitchell Distinguished Chair in Geriatric Medicine.

Goodwin recently won recognition for his efforts that helped UTMB attract $4.9 million in federal funds to create the state's first center to study individual preferences of older men and women about the most important outcomes from their medical care. During the last 15 years, the Sealy Center for Aging directed by Goodwin has increased external research funding from about $1 million to more than $13 million annually. He will leave that post when he begins his new duties as the chief research officer and vice president on Feb. 1, 2014.

Before joining UTMB, Goodwin directed the geriatrics program at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. He also headed the Sinai Samaritan Geriatric Institute at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine. 

Texas Tech names Sloan CFO, VP for Administration, Finance

Texas Tech University has announced the hiring of Noel Sloan (pictured) as chief financial officer and vice president for Administration and Finance. Sloan has been serving in those two roles on an interim basis since July.

Sloan came to Texas Tech in 2006 and has since held positions as tax director, interim managing director for Student Business Services. She also is a former managing director for Financial Services and Tax and most recently was interim chief financial officer. She has also been an adjunct faculty member in the Rawls College of Business.

Sloan earned a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Baylor University. She previously worked for a law firm in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and then worked for a major national accounting firm handling wealth planning. She was also an estate planner for a firm in Milwaukee before coming to Texas Tech.

Texas Tech approves $13M for new Plant, Soil Science Building

Regents for the Texas Tech University System recently approved $13 million to pay for the design and construction of a new 20,490-square-foot Plant & Soil Science Building and a renovation of the existing Plant Sciences Building.

The new facility is planned to connect to the second floor of the Plant Sciences Building on the west end and continue the historic Spanish Renaissance architecture found in that part of the campus. The new wing will feature a semi-enclosed courtyard, noted Duane Nellis, president of Texas Tech. The space will provide teaching and research laboratories for faculty and graduate students now located in other buildings and also provide space for the administrative offices of the Department of Plant and Soil Services.

Construction on the new Plant & Soil Science Building is expected to begin in June 2014 and be completed in May 2015.

Katy ISD approve $5M to pay for new science, technology facility

Trustees for Katy Independent School District recently approved $5 million to build the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Center (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering) despite the defeat in November of a $99 million bond proposal that would have funded the STEM Center along with a new football stadium, agriculture facility and other projects.

Current plans call for the 24,000-square-foot facility to have high ceilings and open space to allow construction of large projects such as robotics and solar-powered cars, district officials said. The main activity bay will measure about 5,000 feet.

Superintendent Alton Frailey, who urged trustees to move forward with the STEM Center despite the bond defeat, said the construction document phase of the project will begin immediately. The new center should be completed in late 2014 or early 2015.

Irving to issue $28 million in bonds for entertainment center

Irving City Council members recently agreed to issue about $26 million in bonds to pay for a new entertainment center being developed using a public-private partnership with the ARK Group.

Officials of ARK have agreed to build and operate the concert hall and restaurant complex while council members agreed to use revenue from hotel taxes to repay the bonds to pay for building the new entertainment center. An earlier effort by the city to participate in developing the entertainment center drew opposition and was tabled in July 2012. 

El Paso approves $1.18M contract to design desalination plant

The El Paso City Commission recently approved a $1.18 million contract with a company based in Massachusetts for design and engineer work on a temporary desalination plant to be built near the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility, a federal facility that researches techniques for desalination that wastes little or no water.

The contract calls for the engineering company to perform planning, permitting and design for an "interim," or temporary desalination plant that city officials plan to use to process piped-in brackish water to remove accumulated solids and produce drinkable water.

Estimates are that trillions of gallons of brackish groundwater are located beneath the Tularosa Basin. Brackish groundwater usually has less salinity than seawater, but too much salinity to use as drinking water. City officials originally planned on placing the temporary desalination plant near a water treatment plant near La Luz, but changed the location to avoid duplication of costs.

Northside ISD group urges bond election in 2014

A citizen bond committee for Northside Independent School District recently urged board members to schedule a bond election next year to raise as much as $661 million to build more schools and upgrade existing facilities.

Comprised of 250 members who inspected and studied district facilities, the bond committee recommended construction of a new high school and four new elementary schools. The bond panel also urged spending more than half of the proposed $661 million to renovate and repair existing facilities.

Nine hospitals in Texas win $1.3M in state grants for planning

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board officials recently awarded $1.3 million in grants to nine hospitals in Texas to fund feasibility studies on creating new graduate medical education programs at those hospitals. The grants went to Baylor College of Medicine Medical Center in Houston, Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance in Edinburg, Hopkins County Memorial Hospital in Sulphur Springs, Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco, Memorial Health System of East Texas in Lufkin, Scenic Mountain Medical Center in Big Spring, DeTar Healthcare System in Victoria, Texoma Medical Center in Denison and Weatherford Regional Medical Center in Weatherford, according to Dan Stultz, M.D., (pictured), president of the Texas Hospital Association.

Legislators allotted $50 million to increase funding for graduate medical education and to improve access in underserved areas to the services of physicians. While the state has the fastest-growing population in the nation, it also has a severe shortage of physicians, especially primary care physicians, endocrinologists, psychiatrists and geriatricians, Stultz said.

Currently, the state needs an additional 220 residency positions next year and more each year, he said. Without an increased number of residency slots throughout the state, medical school graduates from Texas schools are forced to seek residency training in other states and often do not return to the state. The goal of the grant program is to help retain in-state medical school graduates and residents to increase the number of physicians who remain and practice in the state after graduation, Stultz said.

Kilgore ISD eyeing upgrade to district's football stadium

Kilgore Independent School District trustees recently began discussion on the feasibility of upgrading the football stadium the school district shares with Kilgore College.

Trustees are looking at a new video board and press box for the R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium, performing an inspection of the structural validity of the press box and renovating the stadium complex to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Board members also noted the stadium needs handrails to provide more safety for fans walking to and from their seats and a major upgrade of restrooms.

Seguin ISD sues to move forward with $83.3M bond project

Trustees for Seguin Independent School District recently filed a countersuit seeking to validate an $83.3 million bond election approved by voters in November. The action followed a resident filing a suit claiming that the election should be nullified because it was improper.

The suit stopped the planned construction of a new high school to be funded by the bonds, but if the judge in the bond validation suit approves the method in which the bond election was conducted, trustees can proceed with bond sales, according to an attorney representing the school district. Chapter 1205 of the Texas Government Code permits the bond validation suit to protect taxpayers from increasing interest rates and prevents one or two individuals from blocking the will of voters, he said.

District officials expect to file the validation suit this month and for a judge to hear the suit as soon as February 2014. 

Gladewater ISD bond panel kicks off study for bond election

A 21-member bond committee for Gladewater Independent School District recently toured a middle school to kick off a study to determine whether trustees should ask voters to approve as much as $40 million in bonds in May 2014.

Parents, business owners, community members and district staff appointed by trustees to serve on the committee plan to tour each of the five campuses in the district to prioritize projects to include in the proposed bond election, noted Superintendent J.P. Richardson (pictured). Campuses throughout the district need major repair to buildings, security and parking lots, he said. Many district facilities do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including parking, entrances, restrooms and playgrounds, he said.

A recent survey of voters indicated that 48 percent of voters in the school district would support a $40 million bond, 34 percent opposed and 18 percent were undecided, Richardson said. Bond committee members plan to present their recommendations to board members in early 2014, he said. 

Flower Mound TIRZ backs  plan to fund $5.6M senior center

After denying $4.9 million in funding for a proposed new senior center, the board of the Flower Mound Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) recently agreed to support funding for a new 22,387-foot senior center.

The new proposal does not specify an exact dollar amount for TIRZ to provide, but requires that a minimum of $500,000 remain in the TIRZ fund after funding the senior center. TIRZ funds could still pay for about $4.4 million on the senior center project depending on how much tax revenue is generated within the zone, city officials said. The remaining funding will be from the Capital Improvement Project budget, city officials said.

Current plans call for the center to feature a 6,000-square-foot multipurpose room that can be divided into smaller sections, a game room, fitness room, billiard room, a library/living room, activity room, computer room and craft room. City officials expect to rent out portions of the center on nights and weekends to provide revenue to help offset the cost of operating the senior center, city officials said. 

Kilgore College approves hospital lease for medical training

Kilgore College trustees recently approved a sublease with Allegiance Specialty Hospital in a plan to remodel 30,000 square feet of the hospital into an area to train nurses and other medical courses.

Trustees also set a $1.5 million limit on the cost of renovating the new space at the hospital, which leases the 128,000-square-foot hospital facility from the city. The sublease, which is effective until 2015 with renewals until 2015, also specifies that the college can continue to use the space even if Allegiance ends its lease with the city for the hospital facility, noted Bill Holda (pictured), president of Kilgore College.

The new space will free about 18,000 square feet of space on campus to make room for automotive technology and other courses. Courses to be relocated to the new medical training facility include radiological technology, surgical technology and physical therapy assistant training as well as nursing, Eventually, the college will spend about $4.5 million to $5 million on the new space for training health care professionals, Holda said.  

Tomball approves two projects to upgrade road and drainage

Tomball City Council members recently approved plans to move forward with two major construction projects with a total price tag of about $17.5 million.

The first is a $6.5 million project to extend Medical Complex Drive in the third phase of a five-phase project to build the road and sidewalks to connect with Cherry Street. The second is a $10.8 million project to build a drainage channel along Cherry Street to improve drainage in the downtown area.

City officials are still obtaining land to complete the road extension and the drainage project, but expect to begin both projects by mid-2014. Once the land is acquired, city officials expect to begin construction on the two projects.

Houston ISD wins nearly $30 million in Race to the Top funding

Houston Independent School District recently won almost $30 million in Race to the Top Funding to help pay for a new teaching model that helps students access early college and career readiness through project-based learning.

Of the 200 school districts that applied for the award from the U.S. Department of Education, Houston ISD was the sole urban district selected in this round of district competition for the $120 million in awards from the Race to the Top Program. Other districts sharing that funding were Clarendon County School District, a consortium of four rural districts in South Carolina; the Clarksdale Municipal District in Mississippi; the Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative, comprised of 18 rural districts; and the Springdale School District in Arkansas.

Terry Grier, superintendent of HISD, described the award as an acknowledgement of the efforts of the large urban district to personalize learning for each student. The Linked Learning program, currently under way in eight high schools in the district, encourages students to explore aptitudes and interests in middle school and then focus on career academies in high school, Grier said. 

Duron takes job as associate executive director at TASB

Former Texas Education Agency (TEA) deputy commissioner of finance and administration, Robert Duron (pictured), has left TEA to take on the new role of associate executive director of District Services for the Texas Association of School Boards. Duron will bring more than 30 years of education experience to his new role, including his most recent public education job as superintendent of the San Antonio ISD.

In addition to service in the San Antonio ISD, Duron also was superintendent of Socorro ISD in El Paso, an assistant superintendent in Clear Creek ISD in League City and has also worked as a teacher, coach, assistant principal and principal in various districts.

Duron holds two degrees from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a doctorate from Baylor University.

Sugar Land approves $98,500 for new performing arts center

Sugar Land City Council members recently approved a $98,500 agreement with a construction manager-at-risk for pre-construction services for a new performing arts center. The agreement includes scheduling, cost estimates, value engineering, general coordination, budget and cost consultation and construction planning.

Plans call for the 6,500-seat performing center to be located on 38.5 acres of city-owned property near the intersection of US59 and University Blvd. City officials set a goal of requiring durable construction, a layout that is easily operated and maintained, good acoustics and sightlines as well as the ability to accommodate a wide range of performances.

The agreement calls for city officials, the design team and construction manager to work together to make sure design decisions are implemented efficiently within the established timeline and budget and result in a guaranteed maximum price for construction, city officials said.

North Texas toll agency to upgrade billing software

Following numerous billing complaints, North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) officials recently began upgrading the software that processes invoices and payments. NTTA officials also placed a blackout on processing fees for motorists without TollTags, or ZipCash users, for a week in late December while the software system is being improved.

The goal is to create bills sent to ZipCash users that are easier to read and more accurately report that correct amount of toll owed, including any late fees. Many toll road users complained that the current billing system is confusing and resulted in too many drivers paying hefty late fees, said Michael Rey, a spokesman for NTTA

While the current system tracks photographs of license plates on vehicles without TollTags, the bill is not sent until the registered owner of the vehicle passes through at least four toll gantries, which has caused misunderstanding about late fees, Rey said. The new billing system will end the multiple concurrent invoices for different months and produce one invoice reflecting all tolls, including all past-due tolls, he said. Bills due between Dec. 20 and 26 will not incur late charges if those invoices are paid by Dec. 27, when the upgraded billing system is operating again. NTTA also will not sell new TollTags during the week of the software upgrade.

Dickerson chosen as human resources head for Fort Worth

Brian Dickerson, a 20-year human resources veteran and former director of human resources for the city of Mesquite, has been chosen as the new director of human resources for the city of Fort Worth.

Dickerson was regional vice president for Cigna HealthCare's government and education segment before moving to serve the city of Mesquite in 2011. He replaces former human resources director Karen Marshall, who left Fort Worth in September for another job in Rockville, Maryland.

Leadership Fusion Summit event planned for Feb. 12

Join together with inspirational leaders to impact higher learning and leadership in the 21st century at Leadership Fusion Summit 2014, Inspire. Lead. Transform. Discover engaging strategies that fuse rigorous instruction, motivation and achievement to produce transformational results that prepare students to excel at all levels of school, college and careers. This year's presenter line-up features nationally recognized experts on addressing underserved students, understanding student motivation and resilience and transforming challenging schools! For more information on the Feb. 12, 2014 event, click here.

Bovos tapped as new chief financial officer in Fort Worth

Aaron J. Bovos (pictured) of Georgia recently agreed to serve as the new chief financial officer for the city of Fort Worth. He currently is the chief financial officer and deputy county director in Gwinnett County.

When Bovos begins his new duties in January 2014, he will replace Horatio Porter, the former CFO who resigned in May to serve as the chief financial officer for the North Texas Tollway Authority. Bovos is certified as a treasury professional and government finance manager and also has experience in managing cash and investments in addition to overseeing retirement plans.

Texas Government Insider

will not publish next week

Because of the upcoming Christmas holiday, the Texas Government Insider will not publish next Friday, Dec. 27. We will resume our regular Friday publication dates on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014. The offices of Strategic Partnerships will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24, and Wednesday, Dec. 25, in observance of the Christmas holidays, and will reopen on Thursday, Dec. 26. SPI offices will also close on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014, for New Year's Day, reopening on Thursday, Jan. 2.  

Eight appointed by governor

to advisory committee for TETF

David Miller of Abernathy will chair the Texas Emerging Technology Advisory Committee after being one of seven appointed to the committee by Gov. Rick Perry. Miller is COO of Flat Wireless, president of MHK Holdings Inc. and former vice chancellor of research and commercialization for the Texas Tech University System. The committee recommends proposals eligible for funding through the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

Other appointees include:

• Richard Battle of Lakeway, vice president of sales for KeyTrak;
• Deborah Dalebout-Feo of Austin, co-founder and executive vice president of Optimization Alternatives Limited Inc. and Healthcare Control Systems Inc.;
• Susan "Sue" Georgen-Saad of Austin, a certified public accountant and private investment consultant;
• Randal "Randy" Hill of Baird, a NASCAR team owner and president and CEO of Randy Hill Racing;
• Munir Lalani of Wichita Falls, president and CEO of Lalani Lodging;
• Wesley Terrell of Dallas, an attorney for AT&T; and
• Richard Williams of Dallas, director of strategy and mergers and acquisitions for Energy Future Holdings.

Gonzales will begin serving

UTSA as VP of Student Affairs

Beginning in 2014, Samuel Gonzales (pictured) will begin serving as vice president of student affairs for The University of Texas at San Antonio. Gonzales, a 37-year veteran at UTSA, has been serving as interim vice president since August of last year.

In a career at UTSA that spans more than three decades, Gonzales has held a variety of leadership positions within student affairs. He has served as director of student financial aid, assistant vice president for student services and associate vice president for student affairs administration and student services.

Navarro ISD to move forward

on building new gymnasium

Trustees for the Navarro Independent School District recently authorized Superintendent Dee Carter to negotiate a contract with an architect to team up with teachers and coaches to design a new gymnasium for the intermediate school. Board members also authorized planning to begin on repairing the heating and air conditioning system at the events center.

District officials plan to use the general fund to pay for the new gymnasium. District officials also requested the architect to design a facility that is cost-effective as no bond funds remain to help pay for the new gym. Two separate facilities committees have recommended the district build a gymnasium at the intermediate school as that campus has no gym and the district has a shortage of gym space, Carter said.

Lang to serve as director

of finance for Bonham ISD

Alicia Lang (pictured) recently won selection as the new director of finance for Bonham Independent School District.

Lang previously was business manager for Cumby ISD and an auditor for a private accounting firm in Greenville. She has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Longview delays efforts to hire new human resources director

The Longview City Council recently agreed to postpone efforts to hire a new human resources director after deciding against hiring the two applicants recently interviewed for that post. The city also is planning to hire a new assistant city manager to replace Chuck Ewings, who resigned as the assistant city manager after signing a separation agreement.

City officials considered 27 applicants for HR director, narrowed the field to five applicants, but only interviewed two of the applicants. Council members, however, decided neither candidate was a good fit with the city and did not offer the job to either candidate, according to a spokeswoman. Once selected, the new human resources director will replace Karri Hyko, who retired in August. Terri Fields, currently the director of risk management for the city, has served as interim director of human resources since August.

The city manager said he has not determined how the city will proceed with finding a new human resources director. He previously said he would wait until a human resources director is hired to assist in the search for the new assistant city manager.

Paige Mims appointed as

city attorney for Plano

Paige Mims (pictured), currently the deputy city attorney in Plano, recently won selection as the new city attorney effective on Jan. 21, 2014. A 10-year city employee, Mims will replace Diane Wetherbee, who held that post for 17 years.

Mims previously served as city attorney in Corsicana. She attended Texas A&M University and earned a law degree from St. Mary's University in San Antonio.

Cantu selected as interim superintendent for San Benito ISD

Ismael Cantu recently signed a three-month contract with San Benito Independent School District to serve as the interim superintendent until board members select a new superintendent.

Trustees selected Cantu in late November to replace former Interim Superintendent Alfonso Obregon, who had worked under two contracts covering from May to Nov. 27.

Fredericksburg ISD names

Wright superintendent finalist

Board members for Fredericksburg Independent School District recently named Dr. Eric Wright (pictured) as the sole finalist for superintendent. Once his contract is finalized following the required 21-day waiting period, Wright will replace former Superintendent Marc Williamson, who is retiring after 15 years leading the Fredericksburg school district.

Wright also was an assistant superintendent and principal at Huntington ISD, an assistant principal at Lufkin ISD and a teacher and coach at school districts in Dallas, Houston and in East Texas. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Wright earned a bachelor's degree, a master's degree and a Ph.D. from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Corinth hires Chaffin

as its new city manager

Corinth City Council members recently hired Rick Chaffin as the new city manager. He replaces former City Manager Jim Berzina.

Chaffin previously was a city manager in Griffin, Georgia, and Lampasas as well as a deputy city manager in McKinney. He holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Tyler and a master's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Early ISD selects Taylor

as interim superintendent

Early Independent School District trustees recently selected Larry Taylor of San Angelo as the interim superintendent.

Previously a superintendent of the Crockett County Consolidated Common School District, Taylor returned to that district recently to serve six months as an interim superintendent. He also was a director of administrative services for the Region XV Education Service Center in San Angelo.

Taylor has a bachelor's degree and master's degree from Texas State University. He earned certification for counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.

San Marcos selects Miller

as new city manager

San Marcos City Council members recently selected Jared Miller (pictured) as the new city manager. He was selected from a field of five finalists who interviewed for the post.

Most recently an assistant city manager in North Richland Hills with responsibility for economic development, Miller previously was a city manager in Snyder and Crosbyton. He replaces former City Manager Jim Nuse, who is retiring on Jan. 3, 2014.

Officials of CPS Energy in San Antonio recently sent employees a notice advising the city-owned utility is considering moving from its downtown offices on Navarro Street to a new headquarters at another location. The planning for a new headquarters is in the early stages, according to the e-mail.

Because the 10-story main office building and the neighboring eight-story Navarro building and attached garage are on property located on the River Walk, that property could be put to better use, CPS executives said. CPS officials also said the new headquarters facility would remain downtown and could involve using property already owned by the public utility or seeking a developer to locate a new site and construct a new building to serve as headquarters.

CPS officials plan to create an advisory committee to seek and accept input from stakeholders and to ensure that any relocation would be cost-neutral to customers. Another goal is to reduce facilities expenses over a longer time period.

Hodge resigns from post

as South San superintendent

Mourette Hodge, South San Antonio Independent School District's interim superintendent, has resigned, after having served as the fourth superintendent of the school district in the last three years. Hodge has been with the school district for more than three decades. School officials hope to name a new interim superintendent at a special meeting next week.

Edinburg approves $7 million

for golf course, new building

Edinburg City Council members recently agreed to issue $7 million in bonds backed by sales taxes to pay for a golf course currently leased by the city and for a new $8.6 million Parks and Recreation building that also will serve as an emergency shelter during natural disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the city a $1.8 million grant to help pay for the facility that will be used primarily as a gymnasium and space for after-school activities. City officials plan to provide $1.5 million from the general fund to help pay for the parks building, which will be located near the golf course.

Construction on the new recreation facility/storm shelter should begin in early 2014 and be completed by the end of the summer, the city manager said.

Edna ISD taps O'Connor

as its new superintendent

Trustees for Edna Independent School District recently tapped Robert O'Connor (pictured) as the new superintendent. He previously was superintendent at Columbus ISD.

Beginning his career as a teacher and coach at school districts in Bellville, Palacios and Sealy, O'Connor also was a principal and superintendent for a school district in Kansas.

Medina ISD appoints Cockrill

as interim superintendent

Trustees for Medina Independent School District recently selected Dr. Jack Cockrill as the interim superintendent. Cockrill will replace former Superintendent Ross Hord, who is resigning on Jan. 31, 2014. Cockrill previously was superintendent at Kerrville ISD and also was an interim superintendent at Ingram ISD.

Garrison resigns position as superintendent of Tom Bean ISD

Superintendent Kathy Garrison (pictured) recently resigned as superintendent of Tom Bean Independent School District after serving in that job since 2008. District officials have not yet named a replacement for Garrison, who signed a voluntary exit agreement.

Garrison previously served as superintendent of Valley View ISD. She attended Brazosport Junior College, earned a bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin State University and has a master's degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

• Thomas Abraham of Sugar Land, One-Call Board of Texas;
• Barry Calhoun of Richardson, One-Call Board of Texas;
• Brian LaBorde of Buda, One-Call Board of Texas;
• John Linton of McAllen, One-Call Board of Texas;
• Cynthia Salas of Sugar Land, One-Call Board of Texas;
• State Rep. Larry Phillips of Sherman, Red River Boundary Commission;
• Bill Douglass of Sherman, Red River Boundary Commission;
• Thomas "Ryan" Johnson of Sherman, Red River Boundary Commission;
• William "Bill" Madden of Dallas, Red River Boundary Commission;
• Maher Maso of Frisco, Red River Boundary Commission;
• Keith Brainard of Georgetown, State Pension Review Board.

Posting error forces Big Spring to delay naming superintendent

The failure of officials of Big Spring Independent School District to post the job announcement for a new superintendent recently forced trustees to postpone naming the lone finalist for superintendent as planned for Dec. 12.

District officials have not posted the job announcement and plan to schedule a special meeting in January 2014 to announce their selection for superintendent. Chris Wiginton has served as interim superintendent at Big Spring since August following the resignation in July of former Superintendent Steven Saldivar.