Recycling water: Desalination studied statewide; becoming viable option for new source of water  Recycling...it's not just aluminum cans, plastic bottles and newspapers anymore. This country's early recycling attempts were aimed at teaching Americans that recycling not only helped clean up the environment, but also helped curb waste.
Today, recycling is not just an environmental effort. For many communities in Texas, it can become a matter of life and death when water is involved. Many areas of the state are exploring recycling water from wastewater or salt or brackish water. And, as water supplies continue to dwindle and drought conditions become more and more extreme, alternative  sources of water have become a priority for state and local governments and water suppliers. There is a certain stigma associated with recycling wastewater. Therefore, desalination has become a more popular alternative being studied in Texas.The city of Corpus Christi is the latest to begin deliberating a desalination effort and is currently planning a demonstration project Texas House Speaker Joe Straus in March appointed four water-related legislative committees, "Water remains a top priority for the Texas House because it remains critical to the Texas economy and our quality of life," he said, in appointing House members to the committees. One of those committees, the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination, has been charged with examining the status of seawater and groundwater desalination in Texas, as well as ways that expanded use of desalinated water could help meet Texas' needs. That committee, co-chaired by Rep. Todd Hunter (left) and Sen. Craig Estes (right) is holding three statewide hearings in June, beginning Monday. These hearings will lead up to an Aug. 5 Desalination Summit in Corpus Christi hosted by Hunter and a local Corpus Christi task force on water. [more] |
Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars  Dr. Gage E. Paine, Vice President for Student Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin Career highlights and education: My entire career has been in Texas higher education at public and private universities. I currently serve as Vice President for Student Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. There are two ways I describe my job. First, as a senior administrator, I work to make sure our university serves everyone who is part of it. Second, since I am the only vice president with "student" in my title, I focus most on all facets of a student's experience with an emphasis on the out-of-class component. I oversee some of the university's largest non-academic units including 14 on-campus residence halls and their dining facilities, medical and mental health services, recreational sports, 1,100+ student organizations and two university unions. In many ways, I began my career as an undergraduate, serving as a resident assistant at the University of Oklahoma, where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Letters. Since then I have earned a J.D. from Texas Tech and a Ph.D. from UT Austin.
What I like best about my job is: The simple answer is working with students. The more complex response is that I truly enjoy being part of the educational enterprise. Working in an organization that exists to help people learn, grow and find their path into a richer and more purposeful life - well, there isn't anything much better than that as far as I'm concerned.
The best advice I've received for my current job is: Get out of my office as much as possible. Talk with students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni. They all have a valuable perspective on the UT Austin experience that I need to understand.
Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Develop an insatiable curiosity about this university; be a student of our organization (I think that's good advice for anyone in any organization). Organizations have their own culture, traditions, expectations and ways to get things done. UT Austin is particularly complex so the more you know about the organization, the more effective you can be. Understanding what other people are trying to accomplish provides perspective and helps you develop partnerships that benefit the entire organization.
If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: somewhere with a good book.
People would be surprised to know that I: find Twitter very useful and fun! I admit to being a little hesitant at first, but it has provided a way to connect with a wide variety of students and opened a window into everything happening on the UT Austin campus. My handle is @GagePaine by the way.
One thing I wish more people knew about my university: That every member of the Division of Student Affairs understands their job is about education. So much of the college experience happens beyond the classroom. Whether it's in a residence hall, the Student Activity Center or at Recreational Sports, we are committed to student learning in everything we do. Our goal is to make sure our Longhorns have the support and learn the life skills they need to go out there and change the world.
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McDonald retiring after three decades as president of ICUT Western Governor University chancellor Martinez named next president  After 32 years as president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT), Carol L. McDonald (left) is calling it a career. McDonald, who became president of ICUT in January 1982, this week announced she will retire on Sept. 30. A national search led the ICUT Board of Directors to select Ray Martinez (right), current chancellor of the nonprofit, online university, Western Governors University Texas, as ICUT's next president.  McDonald has long been involved in education. Before joining ICUT, she worked on education policy issues for former Lt. Gov. William P. Hobby, Jr. As ICUT's chief executive officer, she is also the organization's principal lobbyist and a fixture at the Texas Capitol during legislative sessions. Among her chief issues she addressed with legislators on behalf of ICUT's 38 member institutions, all fully accredited private colleges and universities, are higher education policy and finance, student financial aid, appropriations, civil liability and regulation of nonprofit corporations and charities. Martinez' higher education experience includes having served as director of the Texas Senate Higher Education Committee, director of Government Relations at Rice University and Associate Vice President for Governmental Relations at Texas A&M International University. At the federal level, Martinez served on the White House staff of President Bill Clinton and as a commissioner at the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. Martinez earned his undergraduate degree from Southwestern University and a law degree from the University of Houston Law Center. |
Bordelon resigns as commissioner of workers' compensation  Texas Workers' Compensation Commissioner Rod Bordelon (pictured) has announced his resignation, effective Aug. 1. Bordelon was originally appointed to his post by Gov. Rick Perry in 2008. He was reappointed in 2013 and his term was to end Feb. 1, 2015. A former public counsel and then executive director of the Office of Public Insurance Counsel, Bordelon also spent part of his career in the private sector as an attorney, representing insurance consumers, insurance entities and other businesses related to insurance matters. Bordelon earned a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. |
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Stidvent will be chancellor of Western Governors University  On the same day that it was announced that Western Governors University (WGU) Texas' Chancellor Ray Martinez would be taking over as president of the nonprofit Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, WGU announced it has chosen Veronica "Ronnye" Vargas Stidvent (pictured) as its new chancellor.
Stidvent boasts a long career in education, job training and policy development at both the state and national levels. She is a former director of the Center for Politics and Governance at The University of Texas at Austin's Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. At the federal level, Stidvent is a former assistant secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Labor. Most recently, she was president of a local private-sector consulting firm and lectured at The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Stidvent has also served as the Head of Education and Training at Dimensional Fund Advisors and as Program Director for both The University of Texas Hispanic Leadership Initiative and Subiendo: The Academy for Rising Leaders at the McCombs School of Business. Stidvent holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Yale University. |
Duncan officially OK'd as Texas Tech System's next chancellor  | Sen. Robert Duncan (second from left) was approved as the next chancellor of the Texas Tech University System this week. He is congratulated by Mickey Long (far left), Regents chair, and (from right) Regent Larry Anderson and outgoing Chancellor Kent Hance. (TTU photo) |
The torch was officially passed this week when Sen. Robert Duncan won approval from the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System to become the next chancellor of the System. Duncan will replace current Chancellor Kent Hance on July 17. Hance will become chancellor emeritus. "To have someone of Sen. Duncan's stature who is available and ready to take the chancellor's chair speaks to the quality of our universities. He is someone who will continue the upward path that the Texas Tech University System has been on for the past several years," said Mickey Long, chairman of the Board of Regents. Duncan's Texas Tech allegiance runs deep. He earned his undergraduate degree there and was student body president. He later earned his law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law. Duncan's public service career began in 1992 when he was elected to District 84 in the Texas House. In 1996, he won a special election to the Texas Senate. He has served on the powerful Senate Finance Committee during each legislative session since 1999. He also served on the budget conference committee, which develops the final appropriations bill. Duncan has served as chairman of the State Affairs Committee since 2004 and has also has been a member of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, the Education Committee and the Natural Resources Committee. |
OAG's Child Support Enforcement has another record year For the last six years, the Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division has collected more child support than any other state in the nation. Make that seven... Preliminary FY 2013 data released recently by the federal office of Child Support Enforcement shows Texas ranks first among all 50 states, territories and districts for not only the amount of child support collected, but also for the amount collected per employer and for cost effectiveness. The Texas agency collected more than $3.6 billion in child support for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, 2013. Texas collections are responsible for more than 72 percent of the nation's annual growth in child support collections, according to Attorney General Greg Abbott. While many other states' collections have declined during the tough economic times, Texas collections grew by $226 million. Based on the state's collection performance in 2013, federal officials estimate that the state's incentive payment of $65 million will be the highest in the country. Texas has earned the distinction of earning the country's highest incentive payment every year since 2006. |
Head lone finalist for chancellor of Lone Star College System  Stephen Head (pictured), who first interviewed for a job at Lone Star College in 1984, recently won selection as the lone finalist for chancellor of the Lone Star College (LSC) System. In addition to serving as director of financial aid at the North Harris campus of LSC, Head also has been a vice chancellor and chief executive officer for the system office, president of the Kingwood College and led the North Harris campus for the last seven years. Head previously was one of three candidates interviewed for chancellor seven years ago. LSC officials, however, selected Richard Carpenter as the chancellor. Head will replace Carpenter, who announced his retirement in February, once his contract is finalized after the required 21-day waiting period. Head has a Ph.D. from Texas Tech University and conducts classes for the Educational Leadership doctoral program at Sam Houston State University. |
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Sunset Commission cites agenda for June 24-25 meetings The Sunset Advisory Commission will meet Tuesday and Wednesday, June 24 and 25, to hear staff presentations and public testimony on a variety of state agencies. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. on June 24 and 9 a.m. on June 25. Both meetings will be in Room E1.036, the Senate Finance Committee Room, of the Texas Capitol Extension. These hearings follow Sunset staff evaluations of each agency up for review. The staff makes recommendations for positive change. The Commission considers the recommendations, hears public testimony and decides on a package of changes to bring to the Texas Legislature when it meets. The Tuesday meeting will begin with a staff presentation and public testimony on the University Interscholastic League, followed by a staff presentation and agency response for the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Department of State Health Services and the Department of Aging and Disability Services. On Wednesday, public testimony will be taken on the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, the Department of Family and Protective Services, the Department of State Health Services and the Department of Aging and Disability Services. |
Word will represent Williamson County on CapMetro board  Williamson County's representative on the Capital Metro Board of Directors will be Juli Word (pictured), who will be sworn in on July 28. Word was picked by the Williamson County Commissioners Court to fill a board slot being vacated by Norm Chafetz, a member since 2010. Word will serve a three-year term. Word is the business services coordinator for the Austin district at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). She has more than two decades' experience in the financial field. Before taking on her current charge, Word was a TxDOT budget analyst for one year and served nine years in other TxDOT accounting and auditing positions. She began her career in the private sector in the banking industry and later was cash manager for a private firm in Austin. Word holds a bachelor's degree from St. Edward's University. |
Navarro approves bond sale to fund courthouse renovation Navarro County commissioners recently gave preliminary approval for a bond sale to pay for renovations to the county courthouse and remodeling a nearby building to serve as a courthouse annex. County officials plan to finalize the purchase of a former administration building from the Corsicana school district to serve as an annex to house the tax office and probation department. Commissioners are borrowing from the general fund to pay for work already in progress on the courthouse exterior, according to Kathy Hollomon, the county auditor. As part of the courthouse renovation, county officials also hired an engineering company to assess the air conditioners in a facility commissioners are considering leasing to house employees of the courts and support offices while the renovations are under way. The lease under consideration includes provisions that air conditioning and heating systems are the responsibility of the tenant rather than the owner of the facility. |
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Wright promoted to VP for finance, administration at ASU  After serving for the last 15 months as interim vice president for finance and administration at Angelo State University, Angie Wright (pictured) has been selected to fill the position full-time. Her appointment followed a national search that resulted in 24 applicants being considered. A graduate of Angelo State University, Wright has 23 years of administrative experience at the university. She joined ASU in 1991 as a payroll coordinator following a five-year stint in the private sector. In 1999 Wright was named manager of business services for the university. She was promoted to budget director in 2003, with payroll services added to her duties in 2005. The longtime university administrator was chosen as assistant vice president for finance and administration in 2006 and promoted to associate vice president in 2007. She held that post until her advancement to interim vice president last year. Wright holds a bachelor's degree from ASU and has completed graduate work as well. In her new role, she will serve as the university's chief financial officer and will oversee financial operations, including budgeting and reporting, as well as facilities and human resource management. |
Garland looking again at $500M bond election in November After deciding against calling a $400 million to $500 million bond election in May, Garland Independent School District officials recently began holding public meetings to help decide whether to call a bond election in November. Bond proceeds would be used to pay for a career tech center and other facility improvements. Members of the bond study committee plan to make a recommendation on the bond proposal at the end of July. Trustees are expected to vote on whether to schedule the bond election on Nov. 4 when they meet Aug. 12. |
Madison County approves $1 million to renovate courthouse  Madison County commissioners recently agreed to spend $1 million to renovate the county courthouse built in 1970. Current plans are to replace the heating and air conditioning system, improve restrooms to meet standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act and improve technology, according to County Judge Art Hensen (pictured). Other upgrades include an electronic law library and some work on the exterior façade, Hensen said. The courthouse improvements should be completed by November of this year, added the judge. |
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Comal County to seek state funding for $2M upgrade of dam Comal County commissioners recently agreed to apply for a $350,000 grant from the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board to help pay for a planned $2 million upgrade of a 50-year-old dam on Bear Creek in Garden Ridge. Commissioners also applied for a $1.3 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pay for rehabilitating the 1,600-foot-long flood control dam that no longer meets state and federal standards, said County Engineer Tom Hornseth. If federal officials select the dam project to receive the grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the state soil and water conservation board could approve as much as $350,000, or 15 percent, of the total cost of the project. If both grants are approved, county officials expect to pay the remaining $350,000 price tag to improve the dam. |
Odessa agrees to buy block for new convention center, hotel  Odessa City Council members recently agreed to buy the last remaining site of an entire block in the downtown area to use for a possible convention center and hotel. Buying the entire block will provide the city more options for developing that land, including the development of a new hotel and convention center to serve as an anchor to help revitalize the area, noted Mayor David Turner (pictured). Council members must approve one more reading of the ordinance to finalize the purchase of the site of the former Home Hospice building. City officials plan to seek proposals for a public-private partnership to develop the hotel and convention center to improve a downtown area now in a state of decay, Turner said. |
Corpus Christi may decide on three bond elections in November Trustees for the Corpus Christi Independent School District recently discussed scheduling a bond proposal in November, a move that could lead voters deciding on two other bond proposals from the city and the Del Mar College District that could total up to almost $600 million in bonds on the ballot. School district officials plan to seek approval of $250 million in bonds to replace some older campuses and improve several existing campuses. Additionally, city officials have indicated they plan to schedule a bond proposal of about $85 million in November to pay for repairs to streets and improvements to public safety. Del Mar College regents discussed a bond proposal of up to $290 million in November. Plans are to spend $130 million to expand and improve the East and West campuses and $159 million to build a third campus at Rodd Field Road. Del Mar officials last scheduled a bond election in 2003, when voters approved $103 million to pay for training aircraft mechanics, nurses and other career programs. |
Sales tax revenues continue to climb throughout Texas  Sales tax growth in Texas is occurring in all major economic sectors, according to the State Comptroller, resulting in May state sales tax revenue of $2.45 billion. That figure shows an increase of 8.5 percent compared to May of last year. Comptroller Susan Combs said the growth was led by the retail and wholesale trade sectors, oil and natural gas mining and the services sector. She also pointed out that May receipts mark the 50th consecutive month for increased sales tax revenue.
Cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts in the state will share $621.5 million as their share of June local sales tax allocations. That's 11.6 percent higher than June 2013. Cities in Texas will share $404.6 million, up 10.7 percent from last June. Counties will share $40.7 million, representing an increase of 9.8 percent over the same month last year. An 11.9 percent increase was recorded for transit systems, which will share $140.1 million and special purpose taxing districts will split $36.1 million, up 23.5 percent over June figures from last year. The allocations can be viewed by city and by county. The sales tax figures represent monthly sales made in April. |
Arlington committee recommends possible bond projects A Citizens Bond Committee in Arlington has recommended $118 million for public works, $65.7 million for parks, $8.4 million for the Fire Department and $395,000 for libraries in proposed projects the city may ask voters to approve in a possible November bond election. The committee trimmed $409 million worth of possible projects to the $118 million figure. A senior center was high on the priority list for most members of the committee. Other projects include a recreation/aquatic center for southeast Arlington, a $25.2 million combined recreation center and branch library in east Arlington, infrastructure needs, sidewalks and fire stations. |
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Klein ISD approves design plans for fifth high school  Klein Independent School District recently approved design plans for the fifth high school in the district. Current plans are to complete construction of the new high school in August 2017. Selected from two options presented by architects, the design plans call for building a 665,000-square-foot campus south of Spring Cypress Road adjacent to an intermediate school. Voters in 2008 approved bonds to pay for the new school, but only $60 million from that bond referendum remains, so trustees are planning another bond election in May 2015 to seek approval of about $155 million to $175 million to pay for the new high school. The approved plans (as seen in accompanying artist's rendering) call for the career and technology programs to include cosmetology, culinary, auto tech, welding, drafting and child development. The new high school campus also will have a fine arts area with a black box theater to house the band, choir, orchestra and drama programs, a competition gymnasium, and two auxiliary gymnasiums. A dance room, space for the ROTC program, weight rooms, laundry rooms, locker rooms, natatorium and athletic offices also are included in the design plans. |
McKinney ISD OKs $6.4M for laptops for all freshmen students Beginning in spring 2015, McKinney Independent School District officials will begin distributing MacBook Air laptops to each freshman student. Board members approved spending $6.4 million through 2018 to buy and set up 8,400 laptop computers for freshmen students and their teachers. Voters in 2011 approved a $191 million bond proposal approving creation of a program to use laptop computers as part of the curriculum, while reducing reliance on computer labs and textbooks, noted Lara Lindsey, director of instructional technology for the district. Current plans are to train teacher on how best to use the electronic devices as a teaching tools rather than a focus on its technical aspects, Lindsey said. |
Keller ISD officials review comments to finalize bond package  Keller Independent School District officials recently began reviewing public comments regarding current plans to ask voters to approve funding for a new career and technical education facility. It would be established at an existing intermediate school and build additions to other schools in order to change some school boundary lines. The review followed four public hearings outlining projects to be included on the bond ballot. Trustees and bond committee members also are eyeing a new elementary school, a new campus for fifth through eighth grades, adding "security vestibules" at several high schools, middle schools and intermediate schools, and upgrading and expanding campuses, noted Hudson Huff (pictured), director of planning and construction for the district. Following a recommendation by bond committee members, trustees are expected to decide in late July or August whether to schedule a bond election and which proposals to include on the ballot. |
TxDOT gives nod to $23.6M project to replace SH105 bridges Texas Department of Transportation commissioners recently approved funding for a $23.6 million project to replace bridges on State Highway 105 over the Navasota River, Brazos River and Coles Creek. Current plans call for relocating the bridge over the Brazos River to a new location to provide more stability and to realign and replace the bridges at Coles Creek and the Navasota River, county officials said. |
Need a job? Got a job opening?  Check out our Public-Sector Job Board! Dozens of public-sector jobs available. Among this week's jobs: State Bar of Texas - Trial Attorney l; Tx Military Dept. - Accountant IV; City of Amarillo -Senior Programmer Analyst; Wharton Junior College jobs. Click here to view jobs. Free job postings for state and local governments, nonprofits and other public-sector entities. Send your posting to editor@spartnerships.com. |
Dallas park group urges $1.2M upgrade of White Rock Lake trailThe Dallas Park and Recreation Board recently voted to recommend city council approve $1.2 million to repair the East Lawther Trail at White Rock Lake, which some describe as the worst segment in the city's park system. The recommended repairs would be made beginning at the pedestrian bridge over the northern area of the lake to the Bath House Cultural Center and include widening and repaving, building a rest area with a water fountain and replacing the lighting at the Bath House. City officials plan to use proceeds from a 2006 bond election to pay for the trail project. City council members must approve the project before the trail repair project is finalized. |
Harris County Health System does not renew Lopez' contract  The contract of the president of the Harris County public hospital district has not been renewed by the Harris Health System Board of Managers. David Lopez (pictured) joined Harris Health as its first operating officer in 2000. He later was named interim president and was promoted to president in 2005. His current contract will expire July 8.
Board Chair Elvin Franklin Jr. was complimentary of the work Lopez has done for the organization over the years, but said because of the "dynamic changes" in health care reform and its impact on the system, "The board of managers believes a leadership change and new direction is necessary." The board called a special meeting earlier this week and voted not to renew Lopez' contract. It had been extended one year in 2013. |
Hammack takes oath as new municipal judge in Highland Park Albert Hammack, a former town attorney, recently took the oath of office as the new municipal judge in Highland Park. Hammack replaces Pat Robertson, the former municipal judge who is leaving that post after 45 years on that bench. Robertson has agreed to serve as the associate municipal judge. City officials also appointed local attorney Matthew Boyle as the new town attorney to replace Hammack. |
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El Paso gives go-ahead to Wilson to lead jobs agency El Paso City Council members recently agreed to amend the contract of City Manager Joyce Wilson to permit her to accept a new job as the interim chief executive officer of the Upper Rio Grande Workforce Solutions. The agency helps individuals receive training in skills necessary to find a job. Council also agreed to allow Wilson to conclude her consultant job with the city a month earlier than first agreed so Wilson can take over the duties of Lorenzo Reyes, the former CEO of the workforce agency who resigned last week. |
Arlington OKs $7.5M in incentives for new mixed-use project  Arlington City Council members recently gave preliminary approval to provide $7.5 million in incentives to private investors who plan to demolish the downtown library and build a mixed-use development on that site. Council members have been working with developers on a public-private partnership for the proposed $29 million mixed-use development and plan to replace the 40-year-old downtown library within two years. Plans for the proposed mixed-use development include up to 27,000 square feet of office or commercial space, about 9.000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and as many as 268 apartment units along with a parking garage, noted Bruce Payne (pictured), economic development manager for the city. Under the agreement, investors would lease the land from the city for at least 24 years, with options to renew up to three more 25-year leases on the land. Approximately $4.5 million of the incentives for the project would be provided from property taxes from the downtown tax increment reinvestment zone. An additional $2.9 million will reimburse developers for qualified expenses such as part of the cost of the parking garage that will be available for those visiting the new three-story library still being designed. The library project also includes a public plaza, parking spaces, and a 6,500-square-foot facility to serve as a council chamber and library meeting space, Payne said. |
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Desalination Summit planned for Aug. 5 in Corpus Christi Three statewide hearings regarding water desalination are planned in June by the Joint Interim Committee to Study Water Desalination, co-chaired by State Rep. Todd Hunter and Sen. Craig Estes. The three hearings will lead up to an Aug. 5 Desalination Summit in Corpus Christi at the Town Club. The three hearings are set for June 16, 12 noon, Texas Capitol, Room E1.036; June 12, 10 a.m., Ortiz Center-Nueces Room, Corpus Christi; and June 30, 11 a.m., the Kemp Center for the Arts, Great Hall - Wichita Falls. The Corpus Christi summit is designed specifically to discuss local issues and solutions. The half-day event will be from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is organized by the local task force on water in Corpus Christi and Rep. Hunter. The event is free, but registration is required. |
| | | | Public charter schools - Texans should take notice!  By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Taxpayers are familiar with charter schools in Texas - but the public at-large has much less of an understanding about "public charter schools." I believe it's time for all of us to know more about them because some very good things are happening. And, these comments are coming from someone who has long championed public schools. Occasionally, something tweaks my interest enough to break a long-standing rule not to write an entire column about any one initiative. I don't do it because there are too many good things happening and it's impossible to write about all of them. My columns are usually about national trends, changes that will impact readers and/or state and national issues. However, this is a rare occasion and I'm breaking all the rules. That's because I hope initiatives like the one I'll discuss are being replicated throughout the country. John Armbrust (pictured) is a young man who graduated from Westlake High School and then from Duke University. John left  school with a civil engineering degree but passed on an engineering job and instead decided to make a contribution to the world and join the Teach for America organization. That experience changed his life and took him down a completely different career path. A few years ago, John came back to Austin and launched a public charter school called Austin Achieve. He says he did it because he fell in love with teaching and discovered a passion for helping underprivileged students. John believed a public charter school should be located in an impoverished area, so he chose a location only one mile from Pierce Middle School, which had just been named the worst performing school in Texas. He felt students in this particular area deserved a choice.
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TWDB to hear update regarding SWIFT fund at June 18 meeting An update on the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT) will be part of the Wednesday, June 18, meeting of the Texas Water Development Board. The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. on that date in Room 170 of the Stephen F. Austin Building, 1700 North Congress in Austin. The update will also include a review of the draft rules for SWIFT. Those draft rules are expected to be posted on the TWDB Web site by close of business on June 17. Also at the meeting, TWDB will approve financial assistance for numerous water projects throughout the state. The projects will include emergency water supply and water supply projects, wastewater treatment plant improvements, a new wastewater treatment plant and an agricultural conservation center. The meeting is open to the public and public testimony and comment are welcomed. |
College Station police chief named assistant city manager  With the retirement of Assistant City Manager Kathy Merrell last month, College Station Police Chief Jeff Capps (pictured) has been named the city's assistant city manager. Capps will begin his new charge on June 30.
As assistant city manager, Capps will oversee the fire and police departments, emergency operations, human resources, intergovernmental relations and community services. Assistant Police Chief Scott McCollum will serve as interim chief. |
Lubbock appoints Howerton as assistant city manager Lubbock City Council members recently appointed Bill Howerton, the director of Community Development, as an assistant city manager. Howerton , who joined the city in August 1998, will oversee community development, planning, building inspection, animal services, administration of codes, environmental health and vector control in his new job. |
Fort Worth ISD taps Linares as interim superintendent  Fort Worth Independent School District trustees recently tapped Dr. Patricia Linares (pictured) as the interim superintendent to replace former Superintendent Walter Dansby, who resigned after agreeing to severance pay and a benefits package. A retired deputy superintendent, principal and teacher, Linares was deputy superintendent at the Fort Worth school district from 1996 until 2010. She is not eligible for the full-time post of superintendent, district officials said. Trustees plan to meet this week to discuss whether to hire a search firm to assist in finding a new superintendent. |
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Paris selects McDaniel as new public works director Paris City Council members recently approved the selection of Jerry McDaniel as the new director of public works. City Manager John Godwin and other divisions managers performed the duties of the director of public works for more than a year while the position was vacant. Currently the engineering superintendent for Greenville, McDaniel is slated to begin his new duties in Paris on June 23. |
Smisko will serve as Dallas ISD deputy superintendent  Another leadership reorganization was recently announced in the Dallas Independent School District. Superintendent Mike Miles named Ann Smisko (pictured) to the newly created post of deputy superintendent. Miles also selected Justin Coppedge, an administrative assistant to the superintendent, as the deputy chief of staff. Miles also has created a new position of chief of staff and is in the process of selecting a person to serve in that new post. He also is in the final stages of hiring an applicant from outside of the Dallas district to manage the newly created office of transformation and innovation that will oversee new projects. Smisko was previously the chief academic officer for the district. She also will manage school leadership once Sylvia Reyna, the current manager, retires in July. |
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Donna kicks off active search for new city manager Two months after the termination of former City Manager Oscar Ramirez, Donna City Council members recently agreed to begin advertising for candidates to apply for city manager. Interim City Manager Fernando Flores, who previously was the planning director, informed city officials he planned to retire this fall. City officials expect to take applications for city manager for about a month before selecting candidates to interview for the top job. Qualified candidates for city manager must have at least a bachelor's degree in public administration or business, previous experience in management and fluent in both English and Spanish, city officials said. |
Save the date! The Ninth Biennial Legislative Communications Conference is set for Oct. 1. More information will be made available as we get closer to that date. |
Greenville city manager urges $420,000 to improve fire station Greenville City Manager Massoud Ebrahim recently requested city council members to include at least $420,000 in the 2014-2015 city budget to pay for repairing or replacing Fire Station No. 1. The city manager also proposed increasing the street improvement fund to $1.2 million in the new city budget compared to $1 million included in the current city budget. |
Early ISD names Beck as lone finalist for superintendent  Beginning with a field of 40 applicants, trustees for Early Independent School District recently named Wes Beck (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent. The superintendent at Shamrock ISD since 2007, Beck previously served as principal at Early High School from 2003 until 2007. He also was a teacher and assistant principal for Stephenville ISD from 1980 until 2003. |
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Corpus Christi ISD reviewing 50 applicants for superintendent Corpus Christi Independent School District officials recently began reviewing applications from 50 candidates seeking to become the new superintendent. Trustees plan to begin interviews with selected applicants in mid-July, a spokeswoman for the district said. District officials agreed to pay a search firm $24,000 to assist in finding a replacement for Superintendent Scott Eliff, who is retiring once a new superintendent is selected. The company agreed to conduct background checks and to call people not included on the reference lists of candidates to ensure the most qualified candidates are selected. The goal is to have a new superintendent in place when the school year begins on Aug. 25, the spokeswoman said. Eliff has agreed to remain in the job until a new superintendent is hired, she added. |
Reyna new superintendent for Donna school district  Rene Reyna (pictured), currently the interim superintendent of Donna Independent School District, recently won selection as the lone finalist for superintendent. Trustees appointed Reyna as interim superintendent in late 2013 to replace former Superintendent Roberto Loredo, who was on medical leave. Reyna previously worked as a teacher at Santa Rosa ISD and in the business office of Sharyland ISD prior to joining the Donna district in 2007. |
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San Benito CISD begins search for new superintendent San Benito Consolidated Independent School District trustees recently requested proposals from executive search firms to find a new superintendent to replace Superintendent Antonio Limon. The deadline for submitting proposals to the district's business manager is by 2 p.m. on June 17. Proposals will be reviewed by city officials to determine if the companies submitting proposals meet the necessary guidelines, including providing a list of previous searches for superintendents conducted by the company, professional experience, references, a cost estimate and the recommended process to use for the search. |
Frankston ISD selects Lewis as lone finalist for superintendent  Frankston Independent School District trustees recently selected Micah Lewis (pictured), a deputy superintendent at Longview ISD, as the lone finalist for superintendent. Lewis previously was a curriculum director at Hooks ISD and a superintendent at Liberty-Eylau ISD before joining the Longview district in June 2009 to serve as deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction. District officials, who are still negotiating with Lewis on the final language in his contract, must wait 21 days before the contract with Lewis is finalized. |
Tom Bean ISD appoints Roberts as superintendent Tom Bean Independent School District trustees recently appointed Troy Roberts as the new superintendent. He has been the dean of students at a career high school in Grand Prairie ISD since 2011. Roberts will replace former Superintendent Kathy Garrison. |
Guzman selected lone finalist for Roma ISD superintendent  Carlos Guzman (pictured), currently the interim superintendent of Roma Independent School District, recently won selection to serve as the permanent superintendent. Selected by trustees from a field of 16 applicants, Guzman expects to officially begin as superintendent on July 1, once the mandatory waiting period is over and his contract is finalized. Guzman has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from The University of Texas-Pan American. |
Texas Government Insider Archives |
Plainview to interview candidates for city manager In their effort to replace Gregg Ingram, who is retiring as city manager, Plainview City Council members recently scheduled interviews on June 16 with several candidates for city manager. Council members will meet in closed session to interview the applicants and declined to identify the candidates to be interviewed. Council plans to update the public on its city manager search following the executive session, city officials said. |
Kaufman ISD picks Nicks as assistant superintendent  Trustees for Kaufman Independent School District recently picked Joe Nicks (pictured) to fill the newly created job of assistant superintendent for academics. He previously was executive director of academics, a post he has held since 2003. |
Strategic Partnerships seeking additional outside consultants SPI is seeking additional outside consultants who have experience in county/city government in Texas. Currently, there is a need for procurement consultants who are retired or former county or municipal elected officials, experts in health care, K-12 in the DFW, Houston, El Paso, Corpus Christi and South Texas/Lower Rio Grande Valley areas. If you are interested in this opportunity, contact lmatisi@spartnerships.com. |
Tamble selected as city manager in Smithville  Robert Tamble (pictured), a former Smithville City Council member now serving as interim city manager, recently won selection as the permanent city manager in that city. Previously a director of a power company in Kyle, Tamble agreed to serve as interim city manager in April after former City Manager Tex Middlebrook left the job.Tamble has a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University. |
Kingsville ISD still searching for interim superintendent Kingsville Independent School District trustees recently agreed to continue their search for an interim superintendent to serve until the district selects a new superintendent. The new superintendent will replace former Superintendent Edward Blaha, who resigned on May 31 to become superintendent at Hidalgo ISD. Board members agreed to pay a monthly fee to Carol Perez, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the Kingsville district, while she is serving as the temporary interim superintendent, according to the board president. An earlier finalist who was selected in May by trustees withdrew citing a family emergency as the reason. Once an interim superintendent is hired, trustees will begin a formal search to find a new superintendent, the president of the board said. |
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The Texas Government Insider is a free weekly e-newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government. Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers
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