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New financing prompts road upgradesCities, counties sign "pass-through" agreements with TxDOTLocal governmental entities are taking advantage of a new law permitting them to jump-start improvements on congested state highways without waiting for funding from Austin. 
The new law, approved by the 2005 session of the Texas Legislature, allows cities and counties to enter into "pass-through" financing agreements with the Texas Department of Transportation, and begin construction on needed roadways more quickly. In a pass-through agreement, a local government -- and even private companies -- can agree to shoulder the cost of construction, and TxDOT reimburses the public or private sector partner the cost of the project through periodic payments based on the numbers and types of vehicles using the roadway. According to TxDOT, the state has received 24 applications from all over the state in the past two years to begin pass-through projects. Ten of the applications have been approved for contract execution. 
Three projects that have moved forward are: in Montgomery County on FM 1484 and 1485, in Weatherford on State Highway 171 and Williamson County,on U.S. 79. Although the law allows the agreements to include tolls, none of the projects thus far anticipates requiring drivers to pay tolls. At a recent speech to the Fort Bend County Infrastructure Conference, Harris County Judge Bob Eckels noted that creative local government partnerships will be vital to keeping pace with transportation needs as the population of Texas continues to soar. He noted that population studies for the Greater Houston area project an additional 7.6 million people by 2025. That will put an additional strain on a highway system that already is seriously congested, he said, noting that studies show the average Houston commuter spends the equivalent of one work week per year sitting in traffic. Eckels pointed to the Westpark Tollway as a successful example of Harris County and Fort Bend County officials coming together to ease congestion. More such initiatives by local and even private companies will be needed to keep pace with the escalating use of the Houston area's transportation infrastructure. Katrina students may be returning home
Texas schools are counting fewer Hurricane Katrina evacuees in their classrooms, suggesting that many Louisiana families are returning home, according to new figures from the Texas Education Agency. The number of Hurricane Katrina evacuees still in Texas public schools has dropped to 20,686, about 10,000 less than what state officials had expected at the beginning of the school year. But Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, spokeswoman for Commissioner Shirley Neeley (pictured), also said that many students who initially arrived as hurricane evacuees may have been counted this year as Texas students. "It's either that they are returning home or they are being counted as Texas kids," she said. "We think it is a combination of both." The Houston Independent School District, which once enrolled around 6,000 of the Louisiana children, has seen its enrollment of evacuees drop to about 2,700. In the Alief school district, just 1,565 of the 2,467 evacuees who attended class in May - 63 percent - re-enrolled this year. In the Aldine school district, officials have recorded just over 1,000 students, a decline of about 900 evacuee students since last year. Half of the 1,179 evacuees who were attending Spring ISD schools last May are still there. Katy schools reported 393 Katrina students remaining. In Dallas, there are 964 Katrina evacuees currently enrolled, down from the 1,452 who were on classroom rosters before summer vacation. Meanwhile, enrollment figures in New Orleans are steadily increasing - up to nearly 25,000, double what it was at the end of last school year, state officials said. State tuition surpasses U.S. average
Tuition at Texas public universities has risen above the national average for the first time since state lawmakers deregulated tuition, allowing boards of regents to set rates, the College Board reported last week. Texas' public universities charged tuition and fees on the average of $5,940, which is $104 more than the national average. Nationwide, tuition and fees at public four-year institutions nationwide rose 6.3 percent to $5,836, marking the lowest increase in six years after adjusting for inflation, according to the nonprofit group's annual survey of about 2,800 colleges and universities. In related news this week, the University of Texas at Dallas signed an agreement with the Dallas County Community College District locking in tuition rates for students for four years, even if they defer enrollment by starting classes at a community college. The program, called the Comet Connection, reduces the overall cost of a college education since enrollment costs are expected to increase from 6 to 12 percent annually over the next four years, said Sheila Amin Gutiérrez de Piñeres, associate provost for enrollment services. College enrollment up, but growth rate slows
Enrollment in Texas higher education increased by 27,209 students, or 2.3 percent, to 1.2 million students this fall, according to preliminary data reported by colleges and universities to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. This increase represents twice the enrollment growth as last year, but it trails the growth experienced from 2001 through 2004, and won't be sufficient to meet the state's Closing the Gaps initiative, which calls for enrolling 1.6 million students in state colleges and universities by 2015. "Clearly, we need even greater increases to achieve state participation goals," said Texas Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund A. Paredes, adding that he would direct his staff to try to determine why enrollment growth isn't higher. State leaders believe that enrolling more students will help the state develop the educated workforce it needs to compete with other states in attracting and retaining businesses and industries offering high quality jobs. According to the preliminary figures, 80 percent of the enrollment growth this fall occurred at the state's two-year colleges, which had 19,785 more students this fall than last fall. UT System appoints tech security chiefLewis Watkins, director of information resources for The University of Texas System, has been named to the newly created position of chief information security officer (CISO) for the UT System, officials announced last week. Watkins will be charged with the responsibility of overseeing a systemwide information security program for protection of UT System information resources and privacy of confidential information. He will collaborate with the UT System's nine academic and six health institutions on matters related to information security and will provide strategic direction and assistance to the institutions concerning their security plans. Watkins was selected following a national search conducted by a search committee that included representatives from UT System institutions. Watkins' new position was created in August by the UT System Board of Regents as part of the 2007 operating budget. The CISO will provide periodic reports to the chancellor and the Board of Regents regarding implementation of the IT security program. First woman promoted guard general
The Texas National Guard made history recently when it promoted Brig. Gen. Joyce L. Stevens, of Tomball, as general. Gen. Stevens is semi-retired from civilian employment but currently manages the validation of training for Operation Jump Start, the Southwest border protection mission. She also is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan. From December 2004 until March 2006, she commanded the 111th Area Support Group in Afghanistan, where she and her soldiers were responsible for assisting local governors. Stevens called her promotion an honor, and noted many female enlisted soldiers have told her they regard her as a role model. "It will make me try even harder," she said. Courts use grant for drug treatment
Jefferson County has received a $61,500 federal grant that will allow judges to pay for drug treatment for parents in danger of losing their children for abuse and neglect. Often, Child Protective Services has to remove a child from a home because of drug and alcohol abuse problems of the parents. With the funds obtained from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, Judge Larry Thorne said courts will help parents become responsible, sober caregivers. "The bulk of these funds will be used to help the court pay due to drug treatment for these parents," Thorne said. Gas wells pose city legal threatCity ordinances requiring 1,000-foot separation between gas wells and homes could become the target of lawsuits by drilling companies, experts predict. Many northeast Texas cities face the issue with the gas boom occurring in and around suburban cities. While most of them have set the separation distance between 300 feet and 600 feet, Flower Mound, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Colleyville and Copper Canyon all require 1,000-foot setbacks. Grapevine is considering a similar ordinance. Supporters of the 1,000-foot rule say it provides a buffer for noise as well as safety in the rare event of an accident. But energy officials say the stricter rule deprives mineral owners of their property and thus could lead to lawsuits where they seek compensation from cities. The city of Fort Worth has appointed a task force to study the issue. Coordinating Board approves new ranch degree
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board recently gave Texas A&M University-Kingsville final approval to create a master of science degree in ranch management, the only degree of its kind in the world. The new degree, through the King Ranch Institute of Ranch Management, will be implemented in January with the first two students scheduled to graduate in August. The degree will be awarded by the agronomy and resource science department in the College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences. "The new master of science degree in ranch management is a unique program that has been designed especially for individuals who have prior experience in a related profession and who want to gain in-depth knowledge and advanced skills in an integrated approach to ranch management," said Dr. Kay Clayton, provost and vice president for academic affairs. Irving ISD plans $38 million in tech spending
The Irving Independent School District is considering a long-range technology plan that calls for spending about $38 million over three years, much of it for 10,000 student laptops. The plan, recently presented to Irving school trustees, would likely require a bond issue to allow voters to decide whether to pay for the plan, though the district also hopes to tap federal funds. The proposal includes spending for equipment, maintenance, Internet access and staff development. While a recent survey showed concerns among parents about laptop misuse, board vice-president Michael Hill noted that challenges are to be expected since the program is in its infancy. Technology Fund awards $2 millionGov. Rick Perry this week announced $2 million in Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) grants to help two budding Texas companies get their new products into the marketplace. Monebo Technologies, Inc., of Austin, received $500,000 for the commercialization of its new heart monitoring technology, CardioBelt, which enables patients to obtain their own electrocardiogram while at home and wirelessly transmit the information to their doctors. Hanson Robotics, Inc., of Dallas, received $1.5 million to develop its patent-pending robot and speech recognition software that creates more realistic human-robot interactions. Initial applications of the technology will be robotics for the entertainment field and for potential prosthetic research and applications. The legislature created the $200 million TETF in 2005 and has awarded more than $44 million into emerging technologies. A 17-member advisory committee of high-tech leaders, entrepreneurs and research experts reviews potential projects and recommends projects for funding to the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker of the House. UTMB postpones mainland facility
Officials at the University of Texas Medical Branch decided recently to postpone by six months construction of a $30.5 million specialty care facility in League City. UTMB president John Stobo said the institution was "not backing off" its strategy to build a facility on the mainland, but needed extra time to determine what services the clinic should offer. The teaching hospital - the oldest of the six health sciences universities in the University of Texas System - is working to eliminate a $20 million annual operating deficit. Administrators say the mainland clinic would help them boost income while continuing to provide care to the poor. UT Dallas' director of audit and compliance honored
The University of Texas at Dallas presented Toni Messer, director of audit and compliance, with the annual Association of College and University Auditor's 2006 Excellence in Service Award, for her outstanding contributions to the organization's mission. Messer said the award was significant to her because it came from recognition by her peers of her contributions to her profession. She holds a bachelor's degree in business administration in accounting from Texas A&M University and is a certified public accountant and internal auditor. Messer worked in the Texas State Auditor's Office before spending the past 14 years within the Office of Internal Audits in the UT Dallas system. Workforce board gets $1.5 million training grantsThe U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) announced recently the award of a $1.5 million grant to the North Central Texas Workforce Board to educate workers for careers in advanced manufacturing. The Workforce Board was one of 11 organizations selected from among 186 applicants competing under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. The training will emphasize supply chain logistics, and the curriculum will feature a Web-based, global distribution simulation model. While manufacturing remains a cornerstone of the U.S. economy, manufacturers report persistent challenges in filling high-quality jobs available today. The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to prepare workers to take advantage of new job opportunities through partnering with area employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. More information can be obtained by clicking here. WTAMU receives $5 million for new Fine Arts Complex
The Sybil B. Harrington Trust, established in honor of the late West Texas ambassador of the arts, has given West Texas A&M University a $5 million gift toward the university's newly-opened $33 million Fine Arts Complex. J. Patrick O'Brien, university president, expressed his gratitude for the gift and noted that enrollment in the fine arts, communications and humanities has more than doubled since 2000. TAMU's HRI earns EPA awardThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies the Gulf Guardian Award in a Bi-National category for its "GulfBase" web site. The EPA awards the Gulf Guardian Awards in recognition of exceptional projects for conserving the Gulf of Mexico. The Web site was designed to regroup, synthesize and provide free research information in a central location. Texas State teen parenting focus gets $2.4 millionTexas State University has received $2.4 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families to implement a relationship skills program for adolescent parents. Michelle Toews, assistant professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, and Karen Brown, professor in the School of Social Work, will administer the program under the auspices of the Center for Children and Families. The goal of the project is to assist adolescent parents enrolled in Austin and San Marcos parenting programs in improving communication skills and conflict resolution strategies. UTEP gets $800,000 for Geospatial Service CenterThe University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) has received $800,000 in additional funding toward the Regional Geospatial Service Center from the Department of Defense. The facility assists state agencies with emergency planning and response, with the provision of specialized maps that locate electrical grids and water supplies, roads and highways, and geographic information system databases. Texas schools adopt new security strategyThe Denton, Grand Prairie and Spring Independent School Districts are engaged in a pilot program using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to ensure security of students being transported daily. In Denton, the trial program allows school officials to track their vehicles--and the 14,000 students riding in them--and provide up-to-date information on their locations in the event of an emergency or harsh weather conditions. DISD has installed the systems on two school buses and two maintenance trucks. "The total estimated cost of installing the technology on all district buses is approximately $450,000 to $650,000," said Planning Director Gene Holloway. "(It's) a small price to pay for ensuring the safety of children." Texas criminal justice programs get $14.4 millionGov. Rick Perry has awarded more than $14.4 million in grants to 122 criminal justice and related programs. The money was made available by State Criminal Justice Planning Fund and was distributed by the Governor's Criminal Justice Division (CJD). While much of the money was given to local programs, several statewide initiatives received financial backing. They included: a $2 million grant to Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas, Inc., to support the Amachi mentoring program that matches children of incarcerated parents with volunteers throughout Texas and a $1.9 million award to the Office of the Attorney General to support a special investigation unit that supports local law enforcement agencies investigating cyber crimes, child pornography, organized crime, fugitives, criminal consumer fraud and other criminal activities. In other grant news, Perry's office also awarded $200,094 to the Texas Deptartment of Public Safety to support the Criminal Law Enforcement Reporting Information System (CLERIS) and the Texas Amber Alert Network. Program gives students jump-start to collegeClear Creek ISD officials plan to launch a full-scale early college high school program based on a pilot program it began this year. The early college high school program allows students to graduate high school with both a high school diploma and an associate's degree. In the pilot program, students attend high school half the day and classes at San Jacinto College the other part of the day. The district plans to expand the program so that students in the program would attend all classes at the college campus. Fifty students enrolled in the program this school year, but Tina Farrell, the district's curriculum and instruction leader, said she expects about 200 students enrolled by next fall. The district received a $600,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency to fund the program. UTEP honored with National Diversity AwardThe University of Texas at El Paso College of Engineering was selected by ABET, Inc., the national accrediting organization for university and technology programs, to receive the 2006 ABET President's Award for Diversity. The award is given in recognition of demonstrated success in achieving diversity in the field of technology. ABET President Richard C. Seagrave said that the college was recognized for its science efforts geared towards pre-college students, parents and teachers. UT names new associate vice provostThe University of Texas at Austin's Office of Information Management and Analysis (IMA) has named Kristi Duke Fisher, coordinator for the Information Quest (IQ) project, as its new associate vice provost and director. Vice Provost for Forecasting, Institutional Research and Modeling Dr. John D. Dollard said Fisher's administrative experience and technical strength and vision for the future will be an invaluable asset. Fisher replaces Maryann Ruddick, associate vice president and former director of the Office of Institutional Research. |
Rural government buildings enhance security
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Large urban government buildings have employed all types of security measures for so many years that metal detectors, surveillance cameras and extra security guards are commonplace fixtures. But now, even small towns are paying close attention to staying safe. Headlines tell us that school shootings and other random acts of violence know no geographical boundaries. Across Texas, leaders in small municipalities and sparsely populated counties aren't waiting to make the national news before implementing smart procedures to keep their employees and constituents safe. At the Hunt County courthouse in Greenville, for instance, officials recently closed all but one entrance and exit to the public, and installed a scanner to be staffed by security guards during business hours. Much more than a standard metal detector, a scanner is able to visually locate concealed weapons and other forms of contraband, while still being safe for medical devices and pacemakers. It also stores for future reference a picture of each person passing through the scanner. It indicates on a monitor if someone entering the building is carrying any concealed weapons. In Weatherford, school officials have installed security cameras at campuses and on buses. Recently, an undercover police officer posing as a Weatherford High School student was assigned to assess the threat of weapons on campus and to assess the safety of students. Staff members also have been trained to detect weapons and how to react in case of a violent episode. In small towns all over the state, security cameras in schools have become as common a sight as backpacks and textbooks. In Tyler, some 80 school security cameras are monitored by police 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Schools in the South Texas towns of La Joya and Donna also are employing extra security guards and cameras to insure the safety of teachers and students. Schools in Rosenberg employ the "Raptor" security system, which requires that visitors to school campuses provide their driver's licenses and their identification, which is then scanned. Visitors approved for entry are provided with photo identification. The Raptor system is linked to sex offender databases throughout the country. While we may regret that passing of the Mayberry-era, we're fortunate that technological advances can assist in keeping government buildings - and the people inside them - safe. Turner named to LBB
House Speaker Tom Craddick this week appointed State Rep. Sylvester Turner to the Legislative Budget Board, replacing former State Rep. Vilma Luna. Turner, who recently spoke at the Legislative Conference sponsored by Strategic Partnership, Inc., and the LBJ School of Public Affairs, was elected to the House of Representatives in 1988 and was named by Craddick as Speaker Pro Tempore two sessions ago. Turner currently serves as the Chairman of Budget and Oversight of the Regulated Industries Committee, and as a member of the Calendars Committee and the Appropriations Committee. The LBB was created by statute in 1949 to recommend legislative appropriations for all state government agencies. The Board provides the legislature with a recommended state budget, prepared by the LBB staff, at the beginning of each legislative session. As joint chairman of the LBB with the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker has the statutory authority to appoint two members of the House of Representatives to the LBB. The Lieutenant Governor can appoint three senators. The Chairs of both the House Appropriations Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as the Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, are all automatic members of the LBB. UTMB names new dean of medicine
Dr. Garland D. Anderson has been selected dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, President John D. Stobo announced this week. His appointment is effective immediately. Anderson, who has been serving as interim dean, has headed UTMB's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for 17 years. The department recently ranked fourth nationally in the National Institutes of Health research funding. Anderson holds the Jennie Sealy Smith Distinguished Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Leon Valley selects new city managerThe Leon Valley City Council last week named Mark Roath as new city manager. Roath, now the city manager of Wylie, northeast of Dallas, will assume his duties Dec. 4. He was selected from dozens of applicants in a months-long search after the August departure of City Manager Rick Cortes. Cortes left to become assistant city manager in Seguin, and Hank Brummett, a retired Leon Valley city manager, has been his interim replacement. Bryan show wins recognition
A Bryan television show was honored recently by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association, an international association of more than 800 professional communicators. The 30-minute show, An Inside Look, earned a Savvy Award, for outstanding communications efforts by cities and counties. Directed by Bryan media specialist Chad Cockrum, An Inside Look is described by the city's public information office as something that "takes a quirky and irreverent approach to informing and educating viewers." The show provides insight into city departments and covers area events. Texas State math, science program gets grantThe U.S. Department of Education has given Texas State University $714,000 for its "Mix It Up: Correlated Science and Math" program. The program provides interrelated math and science classes to both undergraduate and graduate students in hopes of recruiting math and science teachers for middle schools. Southside superintendent search continuesAfter selecting Interim Superintendent Fidel del Barrio and Assistant Professor at the University of Texas-Pan American Noe Sauceda as the two superintendent finalists, Southside Independent School District officials decided to reopen their search. Trustee Craig Knapp said the board decided to extend del Barrio's contract until the end of the school year or until a permanent replacement is found. Director Herb Richardson honored
The U.S. Transportation Research Board (TRB) will present the Texas Transportation Institute's retiring director, Herb Richardson, with the prestigious Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service Award for 2006. The award was named in honor of the director of the U.S. Highway Research Board (now TRB), who served in that position for more than two decades and is given in recognition of outstanding achievement in transportation research. The national award will be presented at the TRB Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Jan. 24, 2007. Governor Rick Perry has made the following appointments:
Part-time job opportunities available at SPI: Recent Reports
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Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archives - 11/7/03 - 10/13/06 Resources
Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) is a research and consulting firm offering business development and public affairs services. |
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Homeland security conference to examine public safetyThe Texas Homeland Security Conference, hosted by the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, will be held in San Antonio Nov 27-Dec.1 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. Workshop topics will address border security, port security, school safety, citizen emergency response teams and mass care and evacuations, including a host of other issues. The conference is the essential annual event for emergency management and homeland security professionals, first responders, volunteer organizations and all law enforcement officials engaged in preparedness and response to hazards and threats to Texas. For conference registration information, contact Natasha Watts at Natasha.Watts@txdps.state.tx.us. For conference exhibitor information, contact Justin Lopez at Justin.Lopez@txdps.state.tx.us. The Texas Government Performance SummitThe Texas Performance Summit, to be held Dec. 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency in Houston, will feature as speakers Billy Hamilton, Texas Deputy Comptroller; Charles Bacarisse, Board of Directors of the Texas Department of Information Resources; and Mary Scott Nabers, CEO, Strategic Partnerships, Inc. For more information, please click here. LBJ School to hold ethics conferenceThe LBJ School of Public Affairs on Nov. 15 will hold a conference entitled Ethics in Government: A Leader's Role in Enhancing Ethics in the Public Sector. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Howard Prince, director of the LBJ School's Center for Ethical Leadership. Cost is $150 for this event at the Thompson Conference Center. Click here to register. World Ports Conference inviting corporate sponsorsThe Port of Houston Authority is hosting the 25th International Association of Ports and Harbors World Ports Conference, which will be held at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston from April 27-May 4. The port authority is currently seeking corporate sponsors for the event, which will draw representatives from more than 400 ports and top executives from major industry corporations in nearly 90 countries around the world. More information about the International Association of Ports and Harbors can be obtained at www.IAPHworldports.org. Deadline approaches for environmental awardThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Office of the Governor are seeking nominations for the Texas Environmental Excellence Awards, the highest distinction of environmental honor in the state of Texas. The awards recognize outstanding contributions in 10 diverse categories. Anyone who has been a part of an environmental effort that is new, noteworthy or something Texans ought to hear about, should apply for a 2007 Texas Environmental Excellence Award. Enter online today at www.teea.org. For questions or a printed application, call Dana Macomb at 512/239-4745 or email awards@tceq.state.tx.us. The deadline to submit is November 10, 2006. |
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