TxDOT anticipating major revenue shortfalls in 2008

Proposes cutting projects, slashing budgets, hiring freeze

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is proposing massive budget cuts in anticipation of federal funding reductions and other revenue deficits. Deputy Assistant Director Steve Simmons (pictured) detailed 2008 spending cuts and policy changes in a presentation to the Texas Transportation Commission yesterday.

Anticipating $3.6 billion in federal cuts by 2015, Simmons said, TxDOT will significantly cut back current projects. There will be no new money for adding lanes and new highways beginning in 2008.

Proposed cuts and policy changes in 2008 include slashing the consultant engineering budget by 57 percent or $250 million, with work shifted to in-house employees. The right-of-way acquisition budget also must be cut in half, from $500 million to $275 million.

Simmons said that agency purchasing practices also must change. TxDOT will approve all purchases in the districts and divisions. A hiring freeze also will be imposed at TxDOT, with only Executive Director Amadeo Saenz being able to make an exception to the policy.

Also, the agency's research budget will be reduced by 50 percent, which could affect the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University.

LCRA names Thomas Mason as new general manager

Thomas G. Mason (pictured), general counsel for the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) for eight years, was unanimously named general manager of the agency Wednesday. Mason immediately assumed his new duties, replacing Joe Beal who announced his retirement in August. He is the ninth general manager of the LCRA.

Mason has inherited one of the most powerful public positions in the region. The LCRA sells wholesale power to cities and cooperatives throughout Central Texas, protects communities from floods and provides water to growing communities like Leander and Cedar Park. The nonprofit utility operates the dams that form the Highland Lakes and is charged by the state with stewardship of the Colorado River. It has $3.1 billion in assets and more than 2,200 employees. It has projected revenue of about $1.2 billion and a capital budget of $436.1 million in fiscal year 2008.

As LCRA's general manager and chief executive officer, Mason will carry out board policy, manage the agency's relationships with customers and stakeholders, appoint and direct executive staff and oversee projects and operations that support the utility's mission of protecting people, property and the environment.

Mason was one of several internal candidates for the position. Ultimately, his deep knowledge of the agency, leadership abilities and respect from the 15-member board, staff and customers earned him the appointment, according to LCRA Chairman Ray Wilkerson.

Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars

This week's salute is to Carl Reynolds, director, Office of Court Administration

Career highlights and education: My parents were Texans who moved up north. I came to Austin in 1981 to finish my education at The University of Texas School of Law and the LBJ School of Public Affairs and inadvertently began what turned into a state government career by working in the legislature in 1985. Since then I've been fortunate to work in all three branches of state government, primarily in the area of criminal justice. I have reported to four senators and a representative, a judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, four board chairs, three agency executive directors and now Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson of the Texas Supreme Court. I hope to end my state career by retiring in a few years from my current job as director of the Office of Court Administration. OCA provides resources for the administration of the Judicial Branch, such as technical assistance, training and research on court administration; staffing for judicial branch regulatory boards and policymaking bodies; information technology solutions, including the judicial information web site; funding and standards for indigent defense services; fiscal and legal consultation for appellate courts; and staffing and administration for specialty courts.

What I like best about my job is: My job is all about improving the delivery of justice in a broad variety of contexts such as criminal justice, family justice and access to justice by the underserved. And the work itself is a pleasure as I have an incredibly talented and professional staff, stimulating contact with lots of judges, clerks and others in the court system and the agility of running an efficient small agency.

The best advice I've received for my current job is: I was told that my favorite part of this job would be working with the nine regional presiding judges, who carry out the real "inner workings" of the state trial courts, and sure enough that is my favorite part of the job.

Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Remember you are in the Judicial Branch, which demands a high degree of integrity and avoiding even the appearance of impropriety. It also requires vigilance to ensure that judicial independence is maintained.

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: Riding my bike to Barton Springs to go for a swim.

People would be surprised to know that I: Never took substantive criminal law in law school, though I later led an effort to rewrite the Penal Code.

Book, magazine or newspaper article I've read recently that really influenced my thinking: "Creating the Judicial Branch - The Unfinished Reform" the theme of which is: The judicial branch is not a coequal branch of government unless it has the ability and the authority to manage its internal operations, including its single largest component, the trial courts. When this important component of the judiciary is part of local government and local politics, there is no state judicial branch in any meaningful sense of the word.

Each week, the Texas Government Insider profiles a key government executive or decision-maker. If you would like to suggest a "Lone Star," please email us at editor@spartnerships.com.

I-69 report recommends using existing highways

A 1,072-page draft report on the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) project released this week proposes using existing highways first with new corridors as a secondary option while state transportation officials continue working to identify an alignment for the corridor from far South Texas to Northeast Texas.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in coordination with the Federal Highway Administration over three years also recommends continued environmental studies and public comment on where the corridor should be located. The study looked at a wide, 650-mile long study area, which has been narrowed to about one-half to four miles wide.

TxDOT unveiled the TTC initiative in 2002. The 4,000-mile multi-modal transportation system was proposed to provide car and truck lanes and freight and passenger rail lines to accommodate the state's future transportation needs along the corridor where 12.1 million people are expected to live by 2040. Activity at Texas ports is growing rapidly, which will mean more trucks along the corridor, according to the report.

Barry Smitherman appointed as PUC chairman

Barry T. Smitherman (pictured) of Austin has been named chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC), replacing Paul Hudson, who requested that a new chair be named while he will remain as a commission member. Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointment Wednesday.

Smitherman, an attorney, has served on the PUC since 2004. Previously, he spent more than 18 years in various public banking and legal positions. He is a past Harris County assistant district attorney. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University and earned a Juris Doctorate from The University of Texas School of Law and a master's degree from Harvard University.

Growth in higher education enrollment seen this fall

Enrollment at Texas colleges and universities this fall grew by 24,421 students, a 2 percent increase over last year, with more than half of the growth occurring at community colleges, according to preliminary enrollment numbers recently released by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The coordinating board credited 60 percent of the new enrollment to community colleges, which have continued to surpass growth in four-year schools since the Legislature deregulated tuition in 2003. The average cost of attending a four-year college in Texas is now $6,437 annually, while community colleges charge $1,695 on average.

Board members have predicted that as many as 70 percent of the state's higher education enrollment will be at Texas community colleges by 2015.

TWC's Don Ballard honored as outstanding attorney

Don Ballard (pictured), the Texas Workforce Commission's (TWC) general counsel, was recently honored with the Texas General Counsel Forum's Magna Stella Award for outstanding attorney at a nonprofit or government agency. Ballard earned the award for his legal expertise and willingness to exceed duties required of his position.

He has been TWC's general counsel since 2005. Before joining TWC, he was chief attorney for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, deputy chief attorney general for the Texas Office of the Attorney General and a briefing attorney for the Texas Thirteenth Court of Appeals. Ballard is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law.

TPWD seeks applicants for $1M in wildlife grants

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has almost $1 million in grant monies to allocate for projects that employ conservation practices to help priority species and habitats identified in the Texas Wildlife Action Plan. The Wildlife Diversity Conservation Grants Program is funding the project with money generated from sales of the Texas horned lizard vehicle license plate.

The plan strives "to keep common species common," focusing primarily on animals that are not hunted or fished. TPWD is looking for innovative ideas on how to build partnerships with landowners to restore native habitats and incorporate land management strategies for all wildlife, in particular the lesser-known species. Proposals must be received by Dec. 15.

For forms and guidelines to apply for grants click here.

Two appointed to Higher Education Coordinating Board

Brenda Pejovich (left) of Dallas and Robert V. Wingo (right) of El Paso are the newest members of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointments earlier this week.

Pejovich, a certified public accountant, received a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin. Wingo, a marketing and advertising executive, is a past recipient of the University of Texas at El Paso Gold Nugget award and the American Advertising Federation Silver Medal Award for his contribution to the fields of marketing and advertising.

Lawmakers keep tolling ban on existing highways in bill

A group of bipartisan Texas lawmakers last week managed to keep an amendment that bans tolling on existing federal highways in a House-Senate conference spending bill for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. The lawmakers have stated that tolling on existing highways amounts to double taxation.

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Dallas, Reps. Ciro Rodriguez and Charlie Gonzalez of San Antonio, Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Nick Lampson of Stafford and Chet Edwards of Waco banded together to rally enough votes to keep the ban in the transportation bill. The legislation now goes to full the House and Senate for a vote.

Emerging Technology Funds awarded to NTI

The National Trauma Institute (NTI) in San Antonio has received a $3.8 million grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) to spur medical advances that will help improve the quality of life for trauma and burn victims. Gov. Rick Perry announced the award Thursday.

"Thanks to the Emerging Technology Fund and forward-thinking legislative initiatives, Texas is quickly emerging as a global leader in an array of scientific and medical research fields. Investing in ground-breaking technologies, especially those with life saving and life changing effects, Texas is making great strides in the caliber of medical care available to Texans and other patriots throughout the country," Perry said.

The TETF is a $200 million initiative created by the Texas Legislature in 2005. A 17-member advisory committee reviews potential TETF projects and recommends funding for projects to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House.

State's retired educators to get 13th pension check

Teacher Retirement System trustees last week approved a one-time pension payment of up to $2,400 for each of the fund's almost 249,000 retirees and beneficiaries. The retired educators will receive their checks in January. The checks will contain the first cost-of-living increase the retirees have received in six years.

"As trustees, we take great pleasure in approving this thirteenth check for our retirees. This extra payment would not be possible without the legislature's recent increase to the state contribution rate, and TRS' outstanding investment performance during the last fiscal year. We recognize that our retirees have devoted most of their lives to serving the school children of Texas, and they deserve any increases that the TRS actuarial condition will allow," said board Chairman Jarvis Hollingsworth (pictured).

The trustees cited a healthy, 14 percent return on the $112 billion fund's investments in the budget year that ended Aug. 31, and a $664 million cash infusion voted by the legislature last spring to cover payroll growth. The system, the seventh-largest public pension fund in the country, will pay retirees and beneficiaries an amount equal to their normal monthly check or $2,400, whichever is less.

Lady Bird Johnson inducted into LCRA Walk of Honor

The late Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Haskell L. Simon of Matagorda were this week inducted into the Lower Colorado River Authority's (LCRA) Walk of Honor. Permanent plaques honoring the two will be placed along a walkway leading to the LCRA's General Office Complex at the Austin headquarters.

The two will join a number of other recipients, including Congressman J. J. "Jake" Pickle and Gov. John Connally. The Walk of Honor is designed to recognize individuals who have given their time and talents to making Texas a better place to live.

Johnson was cited as an environmental leader while rice farmer Simon was lauded for volunteering his time on issues from upstream and downstream water use, to water quality and supply and environmental and wildlife issues.

State sales tax revenue up 3 percent in October

The state collected $1.65 billion in sales tax revenue in October, a 3.1 percent increase over October 2006, according to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs.

Earlier in the week, Combs distributed $525.3 million in November sales tax rebates to cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts. Local sales tax allocations are up 4 percent compared to November 2006.

Combs sent Texas cities $359.4 million in sales tax allocations, up 3 percent compared to November 2006. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are up 6.6 percent compared to the same time period last year. Texas counties received November sales tax allocations of $30.4 million, up 6.4 percent from last year. For the calendar year-to-date, county sales tax allocations are running 8.2 percent ahead of 2006.

To view the sales tax allocations by city click here. To view the sales tax collections by county click here.

More than half of school districts reject merit pay plan

About 57 percent of the state's school districts have declined an offer to participate in the state's new $148 million merit pay program for teachers, according to a final count released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) on Wednesday. State education officials said a new requirement that districts put up a 15 percent match in local funds has dissuaded many districts from participating. The match became a requirement when TEA issued rules for the program this fall.

School districts were invited to sign up for the plan by the end of October. The state program recommends a $3,000 bonus per teacher for improved test scores and other signs of student achievement. The program has enough money to reward approximately 50,000 teachers. Most of the state's largest school districts are participants. The program is voluntary.

Red-light fines not yet appropriated to hospitals

Texas hospital officials are expressing concern that they have not received money from fines paid by motorists who run red lights, contrary to a new state law. The legislature earlier this year granted cities permission to use red-light cameras, specifying that half of the money from fines would be appropriated to emergency rooms and trauma care centers.

However, the money has not yet been released because legislative budget writers didn't appropriate money for the program. Barring any political intervention, the money from fines will continue building up in the red-light fund until the next legislative session in 2009. State Rep. Dianne White Delisi (pictured) of Temple, who sponsored the red-light bill, said trauma centers throughout the state are inundated with patients and need the money.

UT committee recommends higher tuition rates

A nine-member Tuition Policy Advisory Committee has recommended increasing tuition at The University of Texas at Austin by 7.8 percent next fall and 6.9 percent a year later. The panel of administrators, faculty members and students submitted the recommendation to UT President William Powers Jr. (pictured) earlier this week.

The committee concluded that due to inadequate legislative appropriations, the university must increase tuition if it wants to remain competitive nationally. The proposal works out to a $318 increase in the semester charge for tuition, including fees, for the 2008-09 school year. The price would jump an additional $303 the following year, bringing the semester charge for an average undergraduate from Texas to $4,686.

If approved by Powers, UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof and the UT System Board of Regents, the plan would amount to a 90 percent increase since the State Legislature ceded tuition-setting authority to university governing boards in 2003. Officials said Powers would consider the advisory panel's proposal as he prepares recommendations to be submitted to the UT System by Dec. 1.

Harold and Annette Simmons give SMU $20 million

A $20 million donation to Southern Methodist University from Dallas philanthropists Harold and Annette Simmons (pictured) will fund initiatives at the university's education and human development school. About $10 million will go toward the construction of a new building to be named the Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development.

Another $5 million will establish the Fairess Simmons Graduate Fellowship Fund, named after Harold Simmons' mother, who was a teacher. The remaining $5 million will establish the Leon Simmons Endowed Deanship and Faculty Recruitment Fund, named after Harold Simmons' father, who was superintendent of schools in Golden, Texas.

CTRC to merge with UT Health Science Center

San Antonio's Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) will merge with the University of Texas Health Science Center in December. The union is expected to draw leading researchers to San Antonio at a time when the voter approved $3 billion cancer research initiative is making Texas highly attractive to the world's foremost scientists.

Under the terms of the agreement, the UT system would pay roughly $14 million for the CTRC's land, buildings and equipment. The CTRC will use the money to pay off debt related to those assets. The UT Board of Regents still must approve the merger.

Proposed Bush presidential library site valued at $8M

Three acres of land near the potential site of the Bush presidential library at the Southern Methodist University (SMU) campus could cost the school as much as $8.9 million. The total value of the acreage, comprised of University Park parkland, streets and alleys, has been appraised at $8.9 million.

In May, University Park voters approved a ballot measure allowing the city to sell the property to SMU. Before the City Council decides on the sale, the city must conduct a survey to determine the exact dimensions and price of the land. The process could take several weeks.

Ground broken on A&M-Corpus Christi nursing building

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi officials on Wednesday broke ground on the $45 million Nursing and Health Sciences Building that will centralize nursing and research facilities and expand labs for students and faculty researchers.

Dr. Mary Jane Hamilton (pictured), dean of the university's College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said the new facility will help address the nation's nursing shortage by providing state-of-the-art research and teaching tools that will draw more nursing students. The university currently has approximately 1,250 nursing students. The 140,000-square-foot building will be paid for with a tuition revenue bond approved by the legislature last spring.

UTHSC prohibits gifts from pharmaceutical companies

In an effort to prevent conflicts of interest among faculty doctors and their students, the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC) San Antonio's medical school will prohibit gifts from the pharmaceutical industry, effective Jan. 1. This is considered a progressive move for the medical school. Only about a dozen medical schools across the country have adopted similar conflict of interest policies.

Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies have worked closely with medical schools, urging them to try new drugs and medical devices. But the informal agreements often come with unsolicited gifts. The gifts, which can range from excessive to ordinary, include meals, trips, event tickets, textbooks, electronic devices, flashlights and notepads.

A&M projects receive $9.5M in federal defense funding

Six Texas A&M University research projects received $9.5 million under the 2008 Defense Appropriations bill that President George W. Bush signed into law Tuesday.

The bill allotted $3 million to improve the training grounds at Fort Hood in Killeen that have been eroded by tank and other training operations on the base. Researchers with the Texas A&M Health Science Center, Baylor University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs received $2.7 million to research biological causes of post-traumatic stress disorder. The bill also included $1.2 million for experts with Texas A&M's Dwight Look College of Engineering to work with the U.S. Air Force to develop sensors for satellites to make sure they are not being tampered with or attacked.

Two other projects in the College of Engineering each received $800,000. Those projects involve ways to use lasers to detect biochemical agents in the atmosphere and ways to protect and extend the life of rotor blades on military helicopters in desert environments. Another $1 million was earmarked for College of Engineering research to support and enhance digital simulations of battlefield conditions at Fort Hood.

Highland Park bans cell phones in school zones

Motorists driving through Highland Park school zones will be prohibited from talking on handheld cell phones effective Dec. 1. The ban will apply only during school zone times, which is typically in the early morning hours and mid-afternoon. But residents should prepare themselves for the restriction going citywide.

The Town Council unanimously adopted the ban earlier this week, creating what is believed to be the first restraint on using cell phones while driving in the state. Officials said they hoped the ban would improve safety for pedestrians. Council members said that they will revisit the issue in six months, with the intention of enacting a citywide ban. The neighboring city of University Park is considering a similar restriction.

Elementary schools win agricultural grants

Nine elementary schools across the state have received grants from the Texas Department of Agriculture's Urban School Agricultural Grant Program to fund projects ranging from lasagna gardening and raising goats to planting a pizza garden and establishing an outdoor learning environment. The program provides up to $2,500 each for elementary school agricultural demonstration projects in urban school districts of 49,000 students or more to help improve urban students' understanding and appreciation of agriculture.

"It is extremely vital that students in our urban areas understand the importance of agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives. These projects give students a real-world, hands-on opportunity to learn where their food and clothes come from and practical knowledge that will last them a lifetime," Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said in announcing the grants earlier this week.

Grant recipients include Austin ISD's Blanton Elementary School, Brooke Elementary School and Sanchez Elementary School; El Paso ISD's Collins Elementary School; Fort Worth ISD's West Handley Elementary School; Garland ISD's Bullock Elementary School, Ethridge Elementary School and Kimberlin Academy; and Houston ISD's Durham Elementary.

Dallas receives $3.5M to fight homelessness

The recently launched $20 million fund-raising campaign to address Dallas' homeless problem got a $3.5 million boost this week. The donation is part of Help the Homeless Week and is comprised of four gifts: $1.5 million from The Meadows Foundation, $1 million from the Rees-Jones Foundation, $500,000 from the Mike and Mary Terry Foundation and $500,000 from Pam and Gary Patsley.

The contributions will help the city reach its goal of ending chronic homelessness by 2014, according to the city's appointed homeless czar, Mike Rawlings (pictured). The purpose of the campaign, initiated by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, is to raise private funds to help cover operating costs at the assistance center set to open downtown in April. Officials estimate the new center will cost $6.4 million a year to operate. The city has committed to paying half of that, and Dallas County will contribute $1 million.

HISD teachers say district requires excessive paperwork

Houston teachers plan to appeal to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for help with what they have described as excessive paperwork. The Houston Federation of Teachers has lodged three formal complains with the Houston ISD board of trustees this year. The board rejected all three pleas.

The federation and the Congress of Houston Teachers have claimed that the Houston Independent School District is in violation of the state's Paperwork Reduction Act, which limits the amount of paperwork that districts can require of teachers.

The state law affirms districts' rights to require a "weekly lesson plan that outlines, in a brief and general manner, the information to be presented." But teacher representatives said some district schools are pushing the requirements too far. Teachers can spend up to 15 hours a week on paperwork, they said.

Georgetown school district studying another bond vote

Georgetown ISD trustees are considering a bond election in May to fund the construction of two elementary schools and an expansion of the ninth-grade center. In 2005 Georgetown voters endorsed a $97 million bond issue to pay for the district's 10th elementary school and a ninth-grade center. But trustees say those improvements won't be enough to address all of the district's expected growth.

Cost estimates are $118 million and could go higher, depending upon further study of the district's needs, according to board President Brad Smith (pictured). A May bond proposal would not be too soon for voters, who are aware of the growth-related issues the district is facing, he said.

Trustees will appoint a committee of residents to study construction costs and make a recommendation to the school board on the cost and details of the bond package in time for public hearings early next year.

Travis County may get new downtown courthouse

The Travis County headquarters in downtown Austin near the state Capitol may move out of the city's central core to make room for a new courthouse that would handle civil litigation, including divorces and contract disputes. Travis County commissioners are considering moving all county offices to a 12-acre campus outside of the downtown area to alleviate a space crunch and provide parking for employees and the public.

There are no detail cost estimates yet, but a new civil courthouse would probably cost tens of millions of dollars to build. Commissioners have said the county plans to ask voters for the money in a 2009 or 2010 bond referendum. The county seat has been downtown since the county's founding in 1840. The county's administrative staff, including the county commissioners, is housed in the five-story county administration building located between Lavaca and Guadalupe streets.

Austin approves long-term water deal with LCRA

The Austin City Council has approved a water supply agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) that nearly doubles the city's intake to 188.9 billion gallons annually through the end of the century. Also, the council agreed to end its opposition to LCRA's plans to supply water to other areas of Central Texas.

Spokespersons for the city and LCRA said the deal is vital to dealing with population growth in Central Texas and will help end the possibility of expensive litigation or interference by the Legislature in regional water issues.

Corpus Christi requests online input for projects

The city of Corpus Christi is asking residents to go online to list the projects that should be considered in a 2008 bond election and to explain why. Residents interested in submitting suggestions should click here.

A bond election of an undetermined amount will be on next November's ballot. Over the next few months, the city plans to reach residents without Internet access by handing out paper copies of the online form at grocery stores, events and community centers. A presentation to the City Council on the proposed projects, including scope of work and cost estimates, is planned for early next year.

Possibility of wind farm drawing opposition

Wind farms are becoming popular in Texas, but at least one newly organized group is trying to stay one step ahead of that industry setting up camp in their back yard. Save Our Scenic Hill Country members say an energy company is looking at the possibility of building wind turbines north of Fredericksburg. They report a lease near the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area was signed previously, but the company backed out. The group is opposed to wind farms because of they feel they will negatively affect tourism and lower property values.

This is a problem that must be fixed...Hats off to Texans working on it!

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

Texas...we've got a problem! The good news is that we're working on it. Read on and watch initiatives such as these in the months to follow.

Whatever happened to the "Three Rs" - reading, writing and arithmetic? In the education world today those three Rs haven't disappeared, they've just been supplemented by three new Rs - Reassess, React and Recommit.

Today's classrooms in public and higher education environments are being transformed. Changes are taking place rapidly and many organizations are working hard to see that problems are fixed. There are many reasons for all the turmoil. The world is changing, competition is critical to economic prosperity and Texas students are not faring as well in higher education environments as they should be.

In many schools, textbooks are being replaced by laptop computers. In other schools, academic courses are being offered via the Internet. Some districts offer distance learning to connect rural area students to metropolitan area college courses. Parents are encouraged to use the Internet to monitor their children's activities and grades through school Web sites.

Henning named Westlake interim town manager

Westlake officials earlier this week named Joe Henning, former city manager for Euless, as interim town manager. Henning retired from his post in Euless in October. He replaces former Town Manager Trent Petty, who recently resigned.

Bryan ISD may renovate elementary schools

Bryan ISD trustees are considering whether to rebuild or renovate two aging elementary school campuses at a cost of $19.8 million to $25.2 million. Kemp Elementary School and the Carver Early Childhood Center, both built in 1961, have numerous maintenance issues and the classrooms are too small to meet state guidelines, said Superintendent Mike Cargill (pictured).

Trustees have discussed calling a $40 million bond election in May to fund the renovation or rebuilding of the two schools and other district improvements. The board is expected to decide how to address structural problems at the schools at the beginning of the year.

Cope newest addition
to SPI consulting team

Charlotte Chapman Cope (pictured) has joined the SPI team as a senior consultant whose expertise is in the healthcare industry. She brings a unique combination of knowledge of both the public and private sector to the team after having worked in the state and federal government before entering the private sector, where she is now a principal in a healthcare consulting firm and part of a private psychotherapy practice.

Cope is the former director of the Revenue Cycle Education Department at Methodist Hospital in Houston and was Director of Community Relations and Customer Care at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. She was also the primary behavioral and public relations liaison for senior U.S. Department of Defense healthcare leadership. Prior to entering the healthcare field, Cope worked for the U.S. Department of Energy, directed the White House Office of Special Assistant for Energy Policy and was a legislative assistant to a U.S. Congressman.

Cope holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Social Work degree from The Catholic University in Washington, D.C. She is also a licensed clinical social worker in Texas, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Government sales teams busily prepare for 2008

As the end of 2007 draws near, government sales teams are making preparations for a fast start to 2008. Many companies are utilizing SPI consultants and researchers to identify funded opportunities which will be announced during the first two quarters of 2008.

Because SPI researchers analyze budgets statewide and track planning documents, it is possible to point client teams to both immediate as well as upcoming opportunities. SPI consultants are experts in the areas of strategy development, messaging and marketing.

Call SPI to get the details and start 2008 with a full pipeline of opportunities . Call also if you need immediate assistance with an opportunity you are pursuing.

Contact Reagan Weil at 512-531-3917 or at rweil@spartnerships.com.

Castillo named new Fort Stockton city manager

Rafael Castillo (pictured), a former Del Rio city manager, has been named city manager for Fort Stockton. Castillo was offered the job in late October and finalized his contract with city officials last week.

He replaces Danny Valenzuela, who is resigning this month due to personal reasons. Castillo's start date with Fort Stockton has not been announced.

Waco ISD adopts energy consumption reduction plan

Waco ISD recently adopted an energy consumption reduction plan. The measure complies with state legislation that asks agencies to cut their energy consumption by a third by aiming for an annual 5 percent reduction over the next six years.

The district has installed more energy efficient air conditioners and lighting fixtures at most of its campuses. Some schools already are saving because they use computer-based energy management systems, which keep heating and cooling on a schedule and can be used to program lights as well. The district also must keep track of the amount and cost of power, water and gas used and, in accordance with state law, post that information on the district's Web site.

Governor's appointments

Gov. Rick Perry has made the following appointments:

• Christopher Antcliff of El Paso, 448th Judicial District Court
• Myra Crownover of Denton, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Katrina Daniel of Austin, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Peter W. Ellis of San Antonio, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Beth Engelking of Austin, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Dottie Goodman of Austin, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Diane Turner Kazlow of Plano, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Alba A. Ortiz of Austin, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Katherine Ann de la Peņa of Edinburg, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Harvey Salinas of Corpus Christi, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Michelle J. Smith of Justin, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Lynn Sullivan of Fort Worth, Early Childhood Intervention Advisory Committee
• Alphonse Dotson of Voca, Texas Commission on the Arts
• Susan Howard-Chrane of Boerne, Texas Commission on the Arts
• Molly Hipp Hubbard of Houston, Texas Commission on the Arts
• Lee William McNutt of Dalla, Texas Commission on the Arts
• Jeanne Parker of Austin, Texas Commission on the Arts
• Dr. Paul K. McCash Jr. of Texarkana, Texas Commission on the Arts
• R. David Kelly of Dallas, Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees

Roel Gonzalez named superintendent of year

Rio Grande City school district Superintendent Roel Gonzalez (pictured) has been named "Texas Superintendent of the Year" by the American Association of School Administrators. Gonzalez has been at the helm of the district since 2003, previously serving as principal of Economedes High School in Edinburg.

The AASA named top administrators in each state and the top four finalists will be named in December for the annual nationwide award, which will be announced in February.

Texas State Railroad
to keep on rolling

Thanks to a loan of $500,000 from the city of Palestine and an expected similar loan from the city of Rusk, the Texas State Railroad will keep on rolling. The long-running railroad between Rusk and Palestine has been a tourist attraction for more than 30 years, providing a boost to the area economy.

Although $2 million in state funds was appropriated for the train during the 80th Texas Legislature, some state officials note the appropriation was for capital improvements and there is concern the funding might be used for operational expenses. A private company has agreed to take over operation of the train, but whether it would be legal to lend public money to a private company is still a question. The railroad authority planned to loan part of the funds to the private company for marketing and other operational expenses.

SPI's consultants/researchers provide market assessments

Public sector contractors entering new markets are hiring SPI to conduct Market Assessments in multiple states to determine where they should allocate resources in 2008.

SPI works in all 50 states. Contact Reagan Weil for details at 512-531-3917 or rweil@spartnerships.com.

Tech's Talkmitt earns prestigious science award

Susan Talkmitt (pictured), associate director of curriculum and instruction for the T-STEM (Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Center at Texas Tech University, has been named winner of the 2007 Skoog Cup, an award presented by the Science Teachers Association of Texas, Texas Tech University Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Science Teachers Association of Region 17. She will receive her award today, Friday, in Austin at the Conference for the Association of Science Teachers.

The award is named for the first recipient, Gerald Skoog, professor emeritus in the College of Education and a former dean of the college. It honors those from Texas higher education institutions who have made significant contributions to developing science education.

Austin City Council prepares for city manager interviews

The Austin City Council will interview city manager candidates in early January and name a replacement for retiring City Manager Toby Futrell in mid-January, Mayor Will Wynn (pictured) said yesterday. The council initially had hoped to hire a new city manger by the end of the year, but Wynn said that would have required several special council meetings for interviews during the holidays.

The new timeline has Arcus, a Pennsylvania-based search firm hired to conduct a nationwide search, giving the council a list of six to eight recommended candidates shortly after the new year. The council will narrow the list to three finalists for interviews on Jan. 8 and 9. Three internal applicants - Austin Energy General Manager Juan Garza and Assistant City Managers Laura Huffman and Rudy Garza - also will be interviewed. Two finalists will be named on Jan. 9, and a new city manager will be selected on Jan. 17. Futrell announced this summer that she plans to retire in May.

Reports

• Draft, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) State Plan
• HB 3575, Health and Human Services Eligibility System Transition Plan
• TTC-69 Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Event Links

• 2007 Texas Homeland Security Conference
• Executive Women in Texas Government 21st Annual Professional Development Conference
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Texas Veterans Benefits Seminars
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 5 Archives · 11/7/03 - 11/9/07

Newman will serve as ombuds on UNT campus

Belinda K. Newman (pictured) has been named ombuds for the University of North Texas, effective Dec. 10. She currently is provost of the Collin County Community College District's Preston Ridge campus.

Her more than 25-year higher education career also includes working at Texas A&M University as supervisor of judicial affairs, at the University of South Carolina as associate dean of student development and with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board administering grants. A certified mediator, Newman holds a bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University.

The Office of the Ombuds will now expand its service to both staff and faculty. Newman will be charged with providing information, advice, intervention and referrals.

SAPD building could become new federal courthouse

As federal officials debate where to put a new federal courthouse in San Antonio, the majority of the residents of the city who attended a hearing this week said the facility should be built on the site of the current San Antonio Police Headquarters.

The current federal courthouse is on the HemisFair campus, but has been outgrown. The decision on where to put a new one will come from the General Services Administration, probably in late winter. Construction would probably not begin until 2010 or after.

UTSA engineering awarded $500,000 grant from DOD

A $500,000 U.S. Department of Defense grant has been awarded the University of Texas at San Antonio College of Engineering to build and support new research laboratories in manufacturing engineering. The grant will be utilized by the college's Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Lean Systems, with Frank Chen, UTSA Lutcher Brown Distinguished Chair in Advanced Manufacturing, and Can Saygin, UTSA associate professor of mechanical engineering, leading the team of investigators.

The center examines flexible and lean technologies and systems and state-of-the-art technology applications in manufacturing, service and defense industries.

UTMB picks Fujise as Cardiology Division director

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston will have a new director of the Division of Cardiology when Dr. Ken Fujise (pictured) takes over that position on Dec. 1. He previously was affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, where he led a molecular biology lab at the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine for the Prevention of Human Diseases and was an interventional cardiologist at Memorial Hermann Hospital.

Fujise pledged that while at UTMB, he will work toward providing high quality cardiovascular care, will mentor and educate UTMB students, residents and fellows and conduct cardiovascular research that benefits patients. He is triple board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine for general internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology.

Tatum ISD may call
$18M bond election

The Tatum ISD board of trustees is considering an $18 million bond election to fund 13 capital improvement projects. The district's bond committee recommended a May bond election to the trustees on Tuesday. The school's last bond election was for $8.4 million in 2006.

The school board will not vote on whether to call an election until January or February to give the trustees and the public plenty of time to first discuss it. The 2008 bond election as recommended would fund updated district wide technology infrastructure, eight additional classrooms at the high school and four additional classrooms at the primary school.

New city administrator onboard in LaCoste

C. George Salzman Jr., a former construction company manager, this week started his new job as city administrator for the city of LaCoste. Salzman replaces Reggie Winters, who resigned last summer to pursue other opportunities.

The recent graduate of Texas State University-San Marcos was hired by the City Council last month. He worked as an information technology manager for a private construction company based in San Antonio for seven years. LaCoste is a community of about 1,255 residents located in Medina County.

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San Antonio hosts Texas Homeland Security Conference

Representatives of law enforcement, border and port security, transportation and cyber security, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, Texas Military Forces, voluntary organizations and the private sector will be on hand Monday through Friday, Dec. 3-7, for the 2007 Texas Homeland Security Conference. The conference is planned for the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. Sponsored by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, those attending will hear from a variety of professionals from organizations and agencies that exemplify the Texas homeland security goals of prevention, protection, response and recovery. Attending will be representatives of higher education, public education and health and medical care, along with local, state and federal government officials. Also on hand will be representatives of more than 30 state agencies that are members of the Governor's Emergency Management Council. For more information, click here.

Executive Women in Texas Government forum Monday

Commissioner Hope Andrade of the Texas Transportation Commission and Claudia Stravato, executive director of Planned Parenthood of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle, will be keynote speakers for the upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government 21st Annual Professional Development Conference. The conference will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 19, at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. During lunch, attendees will hear from businesswoman Linda Larsen on "The 7 Principles of Powerful Persuasion: Mastering the Art of Getting to 'Yes!'" Other activities during the conference will include a silent auction, more than two-dozen exhibits and numerous networking opportunities. Proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the EWTG scholarship program. There also will be some 30 workshops that will provide participants with opportunities for hands-on learning and development of leadership skills for multiple career levels. The 2007 Woman of the Year presentation and reception will begin at 3:30 p.m. The conference is open to all professionals and is designed for those who work in Texas government at all levels or those in affiliated organizations that support the purposes of EWTG. For more information, click here. To register, click here.