Texas Government Insider
Volume 12, Issue 20 - Friday, May 16, 2014

Bond issues totaling nearly $6 billion pass in Texas

 

Private-sector firms of all sizes will have ample contracting opportunities

School Construction
New school construction will result from passage of the majority of school bond elections in Texas last week.

Spurred by a successful $1.2 billion school bond referendum, Texas voters approved more than 65 bond issues May 10 that involved cities, school districts, hospital districts and a community college. The total value of the bonds passed was $5.99 billion. That will translate into millions of dollars' worth of contracting opportunities for all size private-sector businesses as well as subcontracting opportunities for some smaller businesses. There were a total of 92 bond election held in Texas, with a $6.8 billion combined total value.

 

The largest portion of successful bond votes was from public school districts, where voters said yes to most of the nearly 80 education bond votes being held. The school districts that were successful in passing their bond referendums will have contracting opportunities available for projects such as parking enhancements, technology and security upgrades, sports stadiums, HVAC replacements, roofing projects, new classroom furniture, maintenance projects, building renovations, energy management systems, teacher housing, infrastructure upgrades, asbestos abatement, new buses, science labs and more.

 

Ten cities held bond elections last Saturday, with eight of them passing. The largest that passed was for $292 million in a major Texas city. The bond vote will pay for $219.7 million in street and transportation improvements, $31.4 million for parks, recreation and community center improvements, $12.65 million for libraries, $1.5 million for public safety and courts building and more.

 

Some of the other projects that were OK'd by voters in Texas cities will lead to contracting for drainage projects, new public safety buildings such as fire stations and police facilities and street and bridge improvements.

 

One of three hospital district votes was successful and will result in contracting opportunities for renovations and new construction.

 

Strategic Partnerships, Inc. has for sale its May 2014 Texas Bond Package. The bond package gives results of every bond proposal that was on local ballots on May 10 and includes a list of every public entity sponsoring a bond election, project information, details and data related to initiatives proposed in each bond. Purchasers will also receive an outline of bond proposals under discussion for November 2014 and beyond.  

 

Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars

 

Todd Kimbriel Todd Kimbriel, chief operations officer, Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR)

 

Career highlights and education: I've been very fortunate to have a supportive family that has allowed me to have a career in technology that has traversed a number of industries, including aviation, import/export, retail, construction, telecom and now public service (saved the best for last)! Each new job was not only an opportunity to grow my capabilities, but also to learn about how an industry works and contributes to make this country the greatest place in the world to call home. It's like my education never ended, although I do have a bachelor's degree in finance from Syracuse University.     

What I like best about my job is: DIR is a great place to work and I wake up each morning and look forward to getting to work. The people are the best part because they are engaged, committed and focused on making DIR the best technology agency in the country.    

The best advice I've received for my current job is: The best advice I received from a previous supervisor was "do not fear fear," which I subscribe to wholeheartedly. People can succumb to fear and it can prevent making decisions, seeing opportunities and making forward progress. Fear is a natural but unpleasant emotion that is most often associated with danger, threats or pain. But each time I fear something, I take a mental step backward, analyze the feeling and what has caused it, then put the situation into a rational perspective which allows me to overcome the unpleasant emotion. Then fear becomes a helpful emotion and not an unpleasant emotion. The best advice I have given myself is don't let "perfect" get in the way of "progress." 

Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Don't fear fear or let perfect get in the way of progress!

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: playing golf, hanging at the lake or fixing something around the house (probably the golf course though)!

People would be surprised to know that I: worked through college as a bouncer and delivery guy.

One thing I wish more people knew about my agency:  It's a new day at DIR and we are committed to getting better every day, because where we are is never as good as where we will be!

Parpounas named interim director of charitable bingo operations

Debbie Parpounas Debbie Parpounas (pictured), currently an audit manager, recently won selection by the Texas Lottery Commission as interim director of charitable bingo operations. She replaces Sandra Joseph, who resigned.

 

Lottery commissioners also directed Parpounas to move forward with a proposed change in administrative rules for operation of charitable bingo. Commissioners recently delayed a vote on a proposal that would permit bingo halls to use electronic devices similar to slot machines. Following that decision, commissioner approved a project to restructure bingo operations by changing some business processes and ensuring these processes are in compliance with state statutes, rules and accounting principals. A subcommittee comprised of two commissioners, Mary Ann Williamson and Jodie Baggett, also was appointed to assist in overseeing the change in rules and the search for a new director.

 

Parpounas joined the lottery commission in January 2009 as the audit manager of Charitable Bingo Operations. She previously was the chief financial officer of the State Preservation Board, an internal audit director for the State Comptroller's office and held several administrative posts with the Office of the Texas Attorney General in addition to working as a consultant and with several national accounting firms. She has a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

Wiley selected to serve as general counsel for Governor's Office

Mary Anne Wiley, who has served as deputy general counsel and director of criminal justice policy in the Texas Governor's Office since 2001, was recently named general counsel and will now head up the office's legal division.

 

Wiley previously served as criminal justice policy advisor to Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock and Gov. Rick Perry when Perry was lieutenant governor. She also is a former director of criminal investigation divisions for the Texas Railroad Commission and the State Comptroller's Office. Wiley also previously headed the Business Law Department in the Texas Tech University School of Business and was an adjunct professor at the Texas Tech University School of Law. Wiley earned her bachelor's degree from Texas Tech and her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law. 

 

Ward new member, chair of Texas Economic Development Corp. 
Leslie Ward

Leslie Ward (pictured) of Austin has been appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to the Texas Economic Development Corp., where she will also serve as chair. The corporation supports programs and activities of the Governor's Division of Economic Development and Tourism, in addition to TexasOne, which markets Texas to businesses outside the state.

 

Ward is vice president of legislative affairs for AT&T Texas, and has been with the company since 1998. She had previously served 10 years in the Government Relations division of Sprint.

 

The new chair attended Texas Tech University and earned her bachelor's degree from St. Edwards' University. She has also completed work in corporate community relations at Boston College. 

 



Distribution of road repair funds in counties statewide put on hold

Road Repairs Counties in Texas are waiting on their share of $225 million in road repair funds - and waiting, and waiting... The money, appropriated by the Texas Legislature during its last legislative session as the County Transportation Infrastructure Fund Grant Program, is to help repair roads damaged by increased truck traffic in oil field counties in the state. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) recently advised the various counties as to the amount they would receive from the $225 million.

 

But, things haven't gone any farther since then, thanks to a lawsuit filed by LaSalle County against TxDOT. LaSalle County officials allege that TxDOT has gone outside the boundaries of state law in distributing the funds because some of the counties scheduled to receive funding are not in areas affected by increased energy production.

 

One sponsor of the bill, Rep. Ryan Guillen, wrote a letter to Texas Transportation Commission Chair Ted Houghton saying that if money is appropriated to counties that cannot show road damage from energy sector activities, then the fund distribution method is not in line with the intent of the bill. A total of 191 counties applied for some of the grant funds. Their requests, totaling more than $1 billion, far exceeded the $225 million available. But bill author Sen. Carlos Uresti said he believes TxDOT was following the law correctly. That decision will ultimately be up to the court. 

UT Board of Regents chair urges Hall to resign from board

Days after a House committee found there were grounds move forward with proceedings that could lead to the possible recommendation of impeachment of University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall, the board's chair is calling for Hall to step down.

 

Regents Chair Paul Foster said during a Board of Regents meeting this week that Hall's actions "have the potential for significant consequences for the UT System." Hall has been criticized for his actions allegedly aimed at discrediting UT President Bill Powers, but he did not respond to the criticism of Foster, nor did he resign from the Board.

 

The House committee investigating the Hall issue will meet again later this month to discuss articles of impeachment against Hall. If he were to be impeached, Hall would be the first non-elected official in the state's history to be impeached. 

 

TAMU System may privatize some information technology 

Mark Stone, the chief information officer of the Texas A&M System, recently denied any plans to outsource information technology functions for institutions in the System as was the case with custodial work, landscaping, and dining functions throughout the System. System officials, however, may decide to outsource some IT functions if the department needs certain skill sets not available from employees, Stone said. He was updating the A&M Council of Principal Investigators on the implementation of changes to IT functions following a nearly $1 million audit that is supposed to save $200 million over a 10-year period once all of the recommendations are implemented.

 

The audit by a national accounting firm recommended changes to governance, security and network infrastructure of IT, including moving control of IT from individual institutions to the A&M System, while eliminating about 125 IT jobs over a five-year period, mostly through attrition.

 

System officials began implementing the recommendations contained in the two-part audit last fall.  Rather than decrease staff, the plan is to remix staff, said Stone, who also noted no timeline exists for implementing the more than 20 recommendations in the audit. Stone also said he would prefer local A&M officials to set the time lines for implementation, rather than System officials making those decisions.

Texas Tech holds separate interviews for chancellor candidates

Mickey Long Separate interviews with Texas Tech University chancellor candidates were recently held off-campus, according to Texas Tech officials. The interviews were not posted as regular open meetings because they were structured so there was not a quorum of the Board of Regents during any of the interviews.

 

Mickey Long (pictured), chair of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, noted that "all aspects of the Regents' participation in the interviews, including air and ground transportation as well as the interviews themselves," were structured and conducted in this manner to protect the confidentiality of the candidates, which is allowed by Texas law.

 

Long said any discussion by Regents of the candidates during this week's two-day Board of Regents meeting ending today will be held in executive session. 

Victoria College opens new workforce training center in Gonzales

Victoria College officials recently opened a new workforce training center in Gonzales to provide more training for careers in construction and welding. City officials worked with the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation to acquire a building for the college to create a trades academy with an open bay area, two classrooms, a construction training classroom and 16 welding booths. This past year, 31 students enrolled in core construction classes and welding classes, with more courses scheduled to begin this fall. The college worked with high school officials to offer two levels of welding courses to high school seniors next year and college officials expect enrollment in the training academy to increase.

Need Federal Contracting?

TWDB approves financial assistance, flood protection grants

The Texas Water Development Board has approved financial assistance totaling $1.785 million for water supply projects in two areas of the state. A total of $485,000 was authorized from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to the Greater Texoma Utility Authority. The funds will be used for planning and design costs that are part of a water supply project that includes a connection to the Collin-Grayson Municipal Alliance, providing additional water supplies to the city of Van Alstyne.

 

TWDB also approved $1.3 million from the same fund for the city of Elsa in Hidalgo County. The money will finance an emergency water supply project to supply the city with additional water sources. The funds will allow for the planning, design and construction of an emergency raw water interconnect with the Engelman Irrigation District for additional water.

 

The agency also approved $900,000 in Flood Protection Planning grants to assist local governments in developing flood protection plans for entire major or minor watersheds. Grant recipients include the city of  Georgetown, the Brazos River Authority, the city of Conroe and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority. They will use the funds to study and analyze flood problems in their areas and identify feasible solutions to flooding hazards. 

Navarro College names Tabor as interim VP of operations

Bruce Tabor Navarro College officials recently named Bruce Tabor (pictured) as the interim vice president of operations, institutional advancements and technology.

 

Serving the last five years as superintendent for the Wortham Independent School District, Tabor has also been a teacher, principal and adjunct professor at Navarro College and at St. Edward's University.

 

Tabor has a bachelor's degree from the University of Memphis, master's degrees from Texas State University and St. Edward's University as well as a Ph.D. from Lamar University. Tabor also attended Tarleton State University  and Angelo State University to obtain his certification as an administrator and superintendent.  

Cuts proposed for University of North Texas in light of shortfall

A 3 percent or more cut in the administrative budget and 2 percent cuts in academics have been proposed for the University of North Texas by its president, Dr. Neal Smatresk. The cuts are in response to a financial shortfall at the university related to a $23 million overstatement of UNT finances.

 

No across-the-board academic cuts will be made, according to the UNT president. The provost and deans are likely to decide on the academic cuts. Smatresk said administrative cuts could go even higher than the proposed 3 percent. The cuts will be part of the president's budget that he will present to the Board of Regents in June. Smatresk said the university will have to" tighten the belt a little bit" and start rebuilding revenue. In an e-mail to faculty and staff, Smatresk said the financial problems are "significant but surmountable." 

Robert Nelsen to step down from UTPA presidency in August

Robert Nelsen The University of Texas-Pan American President Robert Nelsen (pictured) has announced he will be stepping down from his post on Aug. 31, well ahead of the September 2015 date when his university and UT-Brownsville will become part of the new UT-Rio Grande Valley. In an e-mail to UTPA faculty, staff and students this week, Nelsen announced his departure. He also urged them to work with UTRGV President Guy Bailey when the new university opens its doors. "There is much work yet to be done for the sake of the Valley, for our students and to maintain the excellence that we have achieved," wrote Nelsen.

 

Nelsen said an interim president will be named until Bailey takes over after the new university is officially sanctioned in 2015. Nelsen was named president of UTPB in 2010. He came to the Valley from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where he was Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs. Most of his academic career was spent at The University of Texas at Dallas. Nelsen earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Brigham Young University and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought.  

SPI Training Services

Bell County delays action on $1.5 million grant application

Bell County commissioners recently agreed to table a motion supporting an application by Elm Creek Watershed Authority to seek federal and state grant funding to pay for the $1.5 million repair of an earthen dam.

 

Commissioners requested that language in the application be clarified to ensure the county is not required to pay for repairing the dam if the grant applications are denied. Officials of the watershed authority plan to apply for $975,000 in federal funds and $526,000 in state funds to pay for the repairs.

 

An inspection of the dam by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality indicates the earthen dam built in the 1970s is one of 45 floodwater retention devices built along the creek that need maintenance. The dam, however, is not structurally compromised, the county judge said. The county may be able to contribute as little as $28,000, including in-kind contributions such as labor or materials, toward the dam repair project if the grant applications are approved, he added.

La Porte ISD to begin reconstruction on two schools in October

La Porte Independent School District officials plan to begin rebuilding two schools as soon as Oct. 1 after voters approved a $263 million bond proposal this month.

 

Superintendent Lloyd Graham said district officials plan to begin selecting architects and conducting site surveys to begin on replacement campuses for an elementary school and a sixth grade school at a cost of about $37.5 million for both projects.

 

Planning also continues on a major renovation of La Porte High School expected to cost about $78 million, he said.

Alton to borrow about $2 million for improvements

Alton city commissioners recently agreed to borrow up to $2 million to pay for an upgrade to technology, improvements to fire hydrants, drainage upgrades and an expansion of the parking lot and evidence storage area of the police department. City Manager Jorge Arcaute recommended seeking the loan to supplement the city's $3.4 million annual operating budget.

 

The city can repay the debt in about 15 years using property taxes from the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, Arcaute said. Commissioners authorized the city manager to negotiate with bankers on the interest rate and payment schedule for the loan. 

P3 Opportunities

Odessa development group updated on water recycling grant

Charles Harris, superintendent of the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority (GCWDA), recently updated members of the Odessa Development Corporation on the status of a federal grant to allow the state agency to study the feasibility of building a facility to recycle wastewater for oilfield use.

 

Odessa City Council members approved $39,000 to pay for a study required to submit the grant application, which is currently being reviewed by officials of the Bureau of Reclamation of the U.S. Department of Interior, Harris said. Currently, a plant operated by GCWDA in Odessa since 1997 treats municipal wastewater and the agency hopes to now treat wastewater from drilling activities for reuse. The agency, created by legislators in 1969 as a non-taxing entity to help clean up Galveston Bay, operates a majority of its facilities in the Houston and Galveston areas.

 

GCWDA has been meeting with potential partners to participate in the water recycling project, including Pioneer Natural Resources, Shell and ConocoPhillips. All of the companies have expressed interest in the water recycling project, Harris said. These companies could use the recycled wastewater processed by the plant in their oilfield activities and reduce their use of fresh water now used for fracking, he added.

El Paso County approves $1.7M toll system for new port of entry

Vince Perez El Paso County commissioners recently approved an agreement to install a toll collection system that will accept cash and toll tags at the new Tornillo-Guadalupe port of entry. The agreement is with the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.

 

County officials plan to install the new toll collection system in two phases, with the first phase to be the design and installation of a complete toll collection system at a cost of about $1.4 million for the technology and equipment. The second phase, estimated to cost about $260,000, will activate the system and ensure it is fully operational. The county already has set aside $1 million to pay for the toll collection system and has funding to pay for the remaining costs, noted County Commissioner Vince Perez (pictured).

 

Once the system is installed, commissioners plan to decide on the policies for operating the toll facility, Perez said. While the system usually takes between 18 to 24 months to install and begin to operate, regional mobility authority officials estimate the toll collection system can be completed in three months. The opening date for the new Tornillo port of entry is pending until Mexican officials complete construction of the bridge. 

Corpus Christi ISD exploring $250M bond election in November

Corpus Christi Independent School District trustees recently began exploring the feasibility of asking voters to approve $250 million bonds in November to pay for a major reorganization of district schools and to upgrade facilities.

 

Because of their "wing-style" design and the age of several schools, district officials discussed closing three elementary schools and one middle school. They also explored consolidating four elementary schools into two facilities and two middle schools into one facility and closing two of those schools. The new schools will be designed with more closed campuses that offer better security, district officials said.

 

Trustees also hope to spend between $40 million and $60 million to upgrade high school campuses, improve athletic facilities, build four-lane tracks at 11 middle schools and build a new addition to an elementary school. 

Collaboration Nation

Irving grants third extension to developer of convention hotel 

Irving City Council members recently agreed to grant a third extension to allow the developer of a proposed $88 million convention hotel to secure financing for the proposed public-private partnership project for a convention center and hotel.

 

Council members also agreed to charge the developer of the proposed 360-room hotel $50,000 for failing to meet the deadline for the hotel. It was originally planned to open with the convention center three years ago until the economy floundered.

 

Mortenson Development won the contract for the hotel in June 2013 and the city agreed to build a parking garage and sky bridge along with granting tax rebates once the developer secured $88 million in financing for the convention hotel. After failing to meet the first deadline in December to secure financing and begin construction on the project, the developer sought and won extensions again in February and April. The company now must meet a July 31 deadline to secure financing for the hotel project to remain a viable project. City officials said they are confident the development will meet the deadline and move forward with the proposed convention hotel.

Corsicana ISD panel urges $49.6 million bond proposal

 Mike Nielsen The Facilities Study Committee of Corsicana Independent School District recently agreed to ask board members to schedule a $49.6 million bond election to pay for upgrading facilities.

 

Committee members recommended building a new $65 million middle school, relocating fifth and sixth grade students to a middle school, upgrading security and improving all elementary schools. Because the district has about $19 million in the fund balance, Assistant Superintendent Mike Nielsen (pictured) said the proposed bond sale could provide $50 million to pay for the new school and the fund balance provide $7 million, along with $8 million from the state's Efficient Building Program that would cover the remaining costs.

 

The group also pointed out this bond proposal does not include a new administration building or a baseball complex that were part of a bond proposal rejected by voters in May 2013. Committee members plan to present their recommendation for a bond election to board members on June 2.

Clute City Council approves design for new fire station

Clute City Council members recently approved preliminary designs for a new fire station to be built on three acres of property on Commerce Street that was donated by BASF Corporation. The central location of the fire station will improve the ability of fire trucks to reach many neighborhoods, the mayor said. Construction on the new fire station is set to begin in October when engineering and final designs are completed. The new fire station is expected to be open in 2015.

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Port Arthur wins $1 million federal grant to upgrade port facilities

The Port of Port Arthur recently won a $1 million federal grant from the Economic Development Administration to pay for drainage and shoreline upgrades to the port.

 

The shoreline upgrades are part of a new 600-foot-long berth being built to permit vessels loading wooden pellets for customers in Europe as fuel to produce steam to generate electricity, said Port Director Floyd Gaspard. Total cost of the development of the new berth is estimated to be around $25 million, and will be paid for by port revenue, he said.  Current estimates are that the project will create more than 250 jobs in the East Texas region and attract $120 million in foreign investment.

 

The port completed five silos with a capacity to hold 75,000 tons of products on a site adjacent to where the new berth is to be located. The pellets are made from wood scraps from lumber mills and from harvested remnants unsuitable to make other wood products. 

Five Houston ISD elementary teachers could face termination

Five elementary school teachers for Houston Independent School District now face termination after Superintendent Terry Grier recommended trustees fire them for allegedly providing improper assistance to students during exams. Before the decision is final, however, board members still must approve the firing of the five teachers.

 

District officials also are continuing their investigation of 11 more teachers at Jefferson Elementary suspected of participating in a plan to raise student test scores. In an earlier report, district officials also said three teachers at Atherton Elementary may be involved in cheating on standardized tests.

 

The district began the investigation into possible cheating in November following a Texas Education Agency report that found an increased number of erasure marks and answers changed from wrong to right, which some experts claim indicates, but does not confirm, cheating.  TEA officials plan on reviewing the investigation by the Houston district and determine whether to order sanctions against the district. The sanctions could include requiring outside monitors at schools on testing days and flagging the teaching certificates for some teachers.

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Conroe approves $60,000 to buy new police computers

To maintain communication with the Federal Bureau of Investigation data base, Conroe City Council members recently approved $60,000 to buy new computers for the police department. The department's current computers no longer support the Criminal Justice Information Services of the FBI, including the National Crime Information Center, Uniform Crime Reporting and Fingerprint Identification and need to be replaced because their operating systems are no longer supported by Microsoft, Police Chief Philip Dupuis said. The majority of the new computers will be desktop computers, but the department also is buying a few mobile computers, Dupuis said.

Selma eyeing several options to pay for $9.3 million road project

A bond issue is among the options being studied by Selma city officials to pay for a proposed $9.3 million project to widen 2.5 miles of Lookout Road. The search for funding began after Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization officials failed to include the Selma road project in its transportation awards to cities and political entities.

 

Because the city already has spent more than $4 million on environmental and design studies for the road project, City Administrator Ken Roberts urged council to borrow $5.5 million using certificates of obligation or to ask voters to approve bonds to pay for the project. It would transform Lookout Road into a five-lane, divided highway with a center turning lane and a new bridge over Cibolo Creek.

 

While one council member supported giving voters the option of voting for bonds, council members have until August to decide whether to schedule a bond election in November, according to the city attorney.

H-GAC announces 2014 Clean Fleet Technologies Conference

The 2014 Clean Fleet Technologies Conference (CFTC) is set for Tuesday, June 10, at Sugar Land's Constellation Field, home of the Sugar Land Skeeters, at 1 Stadium Drive, Sugar Land 77498. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on that date. CFTC is a day-long conference highlighting alternative fuels, clean vehicle technologies and vehicle efficiency improvements. Speakers, exhibitors and vehicle displays will highlight the latest technologies and funding for cleaner on- and off-road fleets. This year's keynote address will be provided by John L. Nau III, president and chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors. Registration is now open. More information is available. 

 

TSABAA's 45th Annual Summer Conference set in San Marcos

The 45th Annual Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association (TSABAA) Summer Conference will be held June 5-6 at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center in San Marcos. The agenda is now available and registration is open. A late registration fee will be charged for those who register after May 15. The keynote address on Thursday will be given by John O'Brien, former head of the Legislative Budget Board. There will also be presentations on public works, state demographics, the budget process and effective leadership. The second day of the conference will address issues that include security and data center services and funding water in Texas. A panel of journalists will address "hot topics." Vendor opportunities are also available.

Media Notice

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How many mobile devices 
does it take?

 

Mary Scott NabersBy Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.

 

Americans live in a plugged-in, technology-dependent generation. Men and women in every walk of life are rarely out of range of the Internet. But, if we think adults in America are excessively dependent on technology, we should take note of what is happening to our children. Students in America may own or have access to as many as seven mobile devices and they rely heavily on hundreds of software apps on a daily basis. Their technology skills shame most adults and their dependency on mobile devices is increasing quickly.

 

Over the past few years, there has been a virtual tsunami of mobile device use at every level of education. Elementary school students use iPads in class and older students do research on smartphones. Pre-schoolers are introduced to electronic games and learning applications. The use of mobile technology is so widespread among students that one educator has predicted that up to 80 percent of them will access the Internet from mobile devices on a regular basis by 2015.

 

And, students are using mobile devices for more than a way to update a Facebook page or to send tweets, text messages or photos to friends.

 

A recent survey by education technology company StudyBlue reports that mobile technology is having a significant impact on education. The "thumbs generation" students are learning today in environments that revolve around technology.

 

According to the StudyBlue report, nearly 60 percent of high school and college students rely on a mobile phone to study. And, those students are likely to study online three hours longer than doing other things online. Nearly 85 percent of the survey respondents believe the Web has improved their scholastic performance at school. 

 

Students also use collaborative study apps and say this contributes to improved grades. However, there is a large demand for more applications that allow connections to classmates and ways to share information

  
  
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Frisco ISD approves agreement for reclaimed water for irrigation

Trustees for Frisco Independent School District recently approved an agreement calling for paying the city $3,150 for 4.2 million gallons of reclaimed, treated water to be used for irrigation at an elementary school. The district spent $5,132 last year for 1.4 million gallons of potable water for irrigation at Bledsoe Elementary.

 

District officials are exploring the use of reclaimed water for irrigation at campuses that are newer and where infrastructure for its use can be incorporated into design plans.

 

Deputy Superintendent Richard Wilkinson advised trustees that the new system using treated water should pay for itself in about 18 months. The district can expect lower costs for irrigation water once the costs of implementation are paid, he added.

El Paso to hold contract talks 

with Gonzalez for city manager

Tommy Gonzalez The mayor of El Paso recently authorized a search firm to negotiate a contract with Tommy Gonzalez (pictured), a former city manager in Irving, to serve as the new city manager in El Paso. Before the selection is official, however, council members still must vote to select Gonzalez as the lone finalist for the job.

 

If selected and Gonzalez accepts, he will replace City Manager Joyce Wilson, who is leaving that post.

 

Gonzalez also was a city manager in Harlingen, an assistant city manager in Dallas and currently is a vice president of a construction company in Fort Worth.  A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, Gonzalez has a master's degree from Texas Tech University. 

Halff

Henrietta to apply for grant to build $4.5 million travel center

Henrietta City Council members recently agreed to apply for a $257,000 grant from the Texas Capital Fund to help pay for a new $4.5 million travel center estimated to create at least 20 new jobs.

 

Current plans call for the proposed travel center on US287 and SH148 to feature a convenience store, restaurants, fuel pumps and large parking lot, according to Rick Langford, economic development director for the Henrietta Growth Corporation. 

 

The travel center project also would include funding to install a new water line to provide water from the city to the travel center, Langford said.

Bremby out as finalist;Fort

Worth may name manager today

Roderick Bremby Roderick Bremby (pictured), one of three finalists for city manager in Fort Worth, recently withdrew his name from consideration for that job. He currently is commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Social Services.

 

Fort Worth Council members met with the other finalists Thursday and could name a new city manager today, Friday.

 

David Cooke, a director of a consulting business and retired county manager from Wake County, North Carolina, and Penny Postoak Ferguson, a deputy county manager in Johnson County, Kansas, remain as finalists for the job as city manager.

 

Bremby began his public service in Fort Worth in 1984 and later served as an assistant to the city manager from 1986 until 1990. He also was a former cabinet secretary for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and an assistant city manager in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Save the date! 
October
The Ninth Biennial Legislative Communications Conference is set for Oct. 1. More information will be made available as we get closer to that date.
 

Randall County seeks proposals 

to name multipurpose building

Randall County commissioners recently agreed to issue a request for proposals to name the former "Courts of Amarillo" building bought by the county earlier this year to serve as a multipurpose building.

 

Revenue from the contract for naming rights could be used to offset the cost of the building and necessary renovations, county commissioners noted. Federal tax regulations limit the county to generating revenue of no more than 10 percent of the value of the facility, which is about $517,000 over a 20-year period.

 

Commissioners plan to make a decision on the proposals to name the building in June. County officials also agreed any signage for the center must be approved by commissioners court before being installed and must be paid for by the sponsor. 

Spring ISD selects seven to interview for superintendent

Trustees for Spring Independent School District recently selected seven finalists from a list of 33 applicants for superintendent to interview for the job. A search firm presented information on the 33 applicants for council members to review.

 

The new superintendent will replace former Superintendent Ralph Draper, who retired on Jan. 31. Board members selected Dalane Bouillion as interim superintendent until a new superintendent is in place.

 

The applicants come from 12 states, the majority of whom are superintendents or assistant superintendents, district officials said. Board members plan to conduct interviews this month with the seven candidates selected as finalists.

Northrop Grumman

Brackmeyer could return as superintendent for Manor ISD

Kevin Brackmeyer A recent election ousting the president of the school board for Manor Independent School District prompted former Superintendent Kevin Brackmeyer (pictured) to say he would return to that job if the new board requests him to reconsider his resignation. The board president who backed Brackmeyer's resignation received only 7 percent of the vote in her failed bid for re-election.

 

Brackmeyer, who had received national media attention for his plan to improve education in the district, unexpectedly resigned in January with no explanation after signing a separation agreement that barred him from disclosing any details of his resignation. He remains on the district's payroll until September.

 

Once new board members are sworn in, trustees could vote to rescind Brackmeyer's resignation and ask him to return as superintendent, district officials said. 

Eastland ISD taps Cochran 

as new superintendent

Eastland Independent School District trustees recently tapped Jason Cochran as the new superintendent. Cochran has served as principal at Decatur High School since July 2008 and as an assistant high school principal in Hurst from 2003 until 2008.

 

Cochran will replace Superintendent Donald Hughes, who is retiring. He is slated to begin his new duties as superintendent on July 1.

LeFleur Transportation

Harris County names Warndof

director of legislative relations

Harris County commissioners recently named Donna Warndof, who previously was an Austin-based lobbyist, as the new director of the Office of Legislative Relations for the county.

 

In her new job, Warndof manages the office responsible for representing the county's interests to state and federal officials.  She previously was a lobbyist for Adams and Zottarelli, an Austin law firm, where she represented Bexar County and the Texas Conference of Urban Counties before the legislature. Warndof also was president of public affairs for the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association and manager of regional communications and public affairs for Occidental Petroleum.

 

Warndof has a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas and is working on  a master's degree at Columbia University. She also graduated from the U.S. Army War College's National Security Seminar.

Appliances sales tax holiday 

set for May 24-26 in Texas

Saturday, May 24, through Monday, May 26, are the dates for the state's annual ENERGY STARĀ®  Sales Tax Holiday. During that time, Texans can save money on energy-efficient appliances they purchase. Shoppers are expected to save about $3.8 million in state and local sales tax during the Memorial Day sales tax holiday.

 

Among the appliances that will qualify for the sales tax break are ENERGY STARĀ® qualified air conditioners priced at $6,000 or less, refrigerators priced at $2,000 or less, ceiling fans, fluorescent light bulbs, dishwashers, dehumidifiers and clothes washers.  For more information, click here.

 

Craig Lindholm to be 

new city manager in Lindale

Craig Lindholm Craig Lindholm (pictured) recently agreed to serve as the new city manager for Lindale. He replaced former City Manager Owen Scott, who retired.

 

Previously employed as an executive director by the city of Texarkana, Lindholm managed grant development, commercial and residential redevelopment, environmental services and public transit as well as the Texarkana-Bowie County Health Department during his tenure with Texarkana.

 

Lindholm also was president of a management company that provided consulting on community planning and development for both the government and nonprofit sectors. 


Katy ISD group looks at another approach for football stadium

After the November 2013 defeat of a bond proposal to help pay for a new $69.5 million football stadium, a Katy Independent School District bond committee recently began exploring the possibility of including in a November bond election a new stadium that will serve as more than a dedicated football stadium. District officials, however, pointed out that the main duty of the bond committee is to address issues of overcrowding caused by large population growth of about 2,000 residents annually in the district.

 

The 200-member committee comprised of representatives from district campuses, partner institutions, civic groups, professional organizations and community members are exploring the possibility of building a multi-service student center. Committee members, however, have not yet developed a cost estimate for the new multi-purpose facility.

 

Committee members are slated to present their recommendation on a bond proposal to trustees on July 21. Board members must decide by Aug. 26 whether to schedule a bond election in November and which projects to include in the proposal.

Wong chosen as first student to serve on board of Alamo Colleges

Jacob Wong Jacob Wong (pictured), a sophomore at San Antonio College, recently became the first student to win appointment on the board of trustees at Alamo Colleges. Wong may be the first student to serve on the board of any community college in Texas, according to officials of Alamo College.

 

Wong, a former president of the Student Government Association, will serve as a non-voting student liaison to the board and the chancellor and represents the interest of students at meetings, noted Chancellor Bruce Leslie. In addition to receiving training for trustees, Wong also will receive a $300 scholarship at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters. His term began on May 6 and expires at the end of April, 2015.

 

College officials also appointed Rudy Padilla, a student at St. Philips College, to serve as an alternate student trustee who will attend board meetings if Wong cannot attend. 

Dallas ISD names three assistant superintendents in reorganization

Superintendent Mike Miles of Dallas ISD recently appointed three assistant superintendents and two directors in a reorganization of the school leadership department that oversees school principals for the district. These appointments replace some assistant superintendents who resigned earlier this school year, he said.

 

Israel Cordero, Dessynie Edwards and Stephanie Elizalde, previously executive directors who oversaw a high school and the elementary and middle school that feed into the high school, are now assistant superintendents who manage clusters of school feeder groups. They join three other assistant superintendents who report to Sylvia Reyna, the chief of school leadership.

 

The superintendent also selected two principals, Tim Hise and Elena Hill, as executive directors. The reorganization by Mills returns to a former system calling for assistant superintendents to evaluate executive directors.

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Texas Government Insider Archives
  
Volume 1-12 Archives - 11/7/03 - 5/9/14
  

Alice begins again in search 

for its new city manager

After council members decided against hiring either of two finalists for city manager, Alice City Council members recently agreed to begin again in their search for a new top administrator.

 

Council members decided that neither Thomas Ginter, who had been a city manager or assistant city manager in five different cities over a 24-year period, nor David Harris, an assistant city manager in Shertz for about eight years, were good fits for the city manager position, the mayor said.

 

City officials selected Ginter and Harris as the two finalists to interview for the job from a field of 30 applicants and seven semi-finalists.

 
Strategic Partnerships seeking
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