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TxDOT seeking operating budget cuts up to 10 percentDeclining revenues, increasing costs cited as need to trim spending
Facing declining revenues and increasing costs, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) employees this week were advised by TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz (left) that agency operating budgets are facing cuts of up to 10 percent for 2008. In his message to TxDOT staff, Saenz said he sent a memo earlier this month to all TxDOT district engineers, division directors and office directors asking them to "examine their respective operations and develop plans to attempt to reduce their operating budgets by 10 percent." The proposed budget cuts will be reviewed by TxDOT administration before approval, and could be modified, said Saenz. Once approved, the individual budget plans will be implemented early next year. Saenz assured TxDOT employees that the goal of the budget cuts is to cut operational expenses and "not a reduction of critical services or active staff."
The proposed operational budget cuts come on the heels of an announcement two weeks ago by TxDOT Deputy Assistant Director Steve Simmons (right) that the agency would be making massive cuts in anticipation of reduced federal funding and other revenue deficits. The department is anticipating a loss of approximately $3.6 billion in federal funds by 2015. Simmons said that alone will result in cutbacks in current projects. Simmons told Texas Transportation Commission members that proposed cuts would result in a 57 percent reduction in the consultant engineering budget and a 50 percent reduction in the research budget. He also said a hiring freeze would be imposed. Anderson appointed to public safety commissionThe appointment of Dallas marketing consultant Elizabeth "Beth" Anderson to the Texas Public Safety Commission is one of a number of appointments announced this week that change the face of key state boards and commissions. The appointment is significant because the commission is responsible for framing and overseeing policies for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the state's top law enforcement agency. It is one of numerous appointments announced this week by Gov. Rick Perry. The commission is one of the more powerful governing entities in state government. The DPS Director and Assistant Director report to the Commission. The department has six major divisions, including administration, driver license, Texas Highway Patrol, criminal law enforcement, Texas Rangers and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. This is not the first state appointment for Anderson, who specializes in information technology marketing. She was appointed to the board of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in September 2001 and has served as chair since November 2003. [more]Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
This week's salute is to Ana M. "Cha" Guzman, president, Palo Alto CollegeCareer highlights and education: I was named president of Palo Alto College in August 2001. Prior to that, I served as a senior advisor to Education Secretary Richard Riley during the last year of the Clinton administration from January 2000 to January 2001. From July 1997 to August 2001 I was executive vice president for institutional advancement and community relations at Austin Community College. I've also been vice chancellor of the Texas A&M University System and president of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education. I earned a Bachelor of Science in early childhood education from Stout State University, a Master of Arts from Texas Southern University and a Doctor of Education from the University of Houston. I also graduated from Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management. What I like best about my job is: Being able to do good things for students, staff and faculty. Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Maintain positive outlook and breathe deep when things don't go well. If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: In the yoga studio. People would be surprised to know that I: Score introvert on the personality profiles. One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: How affordable and excellent we are in providing a good education. 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. AG's office sets record for child support collectionsA record $2.3 billion in child support collections for the state fiscal year that ended Aug. 31 has been reported by the Attorney General's Child Support Division. The previous record high of $243 million was recorded last year. New records have been recorded each of the last five years. The record comes on the heels of the department being named the nation's best child support program in August by the National Child Support Enforcement Association. Collections in Texas have grown more than in any other state in the past 10 years TCEQ receives applications for school bus initiative
Three Texas school districts have applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for funds to reimburse their costs for reducing school bus emissions in the Texas Clean School Bus program. If all the applications are approved, some $471,000 in funds would be reimbursed to reduce emissions on 389 buses. "There is obviously a great deal of need and excitement for a program such as this," said TCEQ Commissioner Larry R. Soward (pictured). "By cleaning up school buses, we are not only being good environmental stewards, but we are protecting the health of Texas school children, and our future." Among the applicants are the Clear Creek ISD, seeking $349,300 for 15 particulate filters and 171 closed crankcase filtration systems; Alief ISD seeking $150,000 for 114 closed crankcase filtration systems; and Pasadena ISD, seeking $71,200 for 89 closed crankcase filtration systems. DSHS presents awards for emergency medical servicesThe Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) presented its annual emergency medical services (EMS) awards at the recent 2007 Texas EMS Conference in Houston. The 13 winners recognized for exceptional service include:
Supreme Court commission to improve foster care cases
The Supreme Court of Texas has created the Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families to help courts better serve children in foster care and move them more quickly into permanent homes. Justice Harriet O'Neill will chair the 14-person commission that will function as an umbrella group for court-improvement efforts, including sharing best practices among courts and improving their accountability. "We want to make our system more efficient and fair and protect our children with greater care. We've been told that children in foster care are often referred to as forgotten children. Today, we demonstrate by creating this commission that we have not forgotten these children," said Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson (pictured). Impasse ends over funding for Texas State RailroadAll sides in the controversy that arose over the appropriation of funds for operation of the Texas State Railroad between Rusk and Palestine have been satisfied with the terms of a new contract that ensure the railroad - a tourist attraction for years in East Texas - will continue to run. The conflict arose over whether the funds appropriate by the legislature could be used as a loan to the private company that has been named to operate the train. The new contract restricts the $2 million in funds for the use of capital improvements and rehabilitation of facilities and prevents the use of the funds for operating expenses incurred by the private company. Texas State law enforcement center wins federal grant
Texas State University has received a $1.4 million federal grant for a program that trains state law enforcement officers to respond in hostile situations. The grant, awarded by the federal Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program and distributed by the Texas Criminal Justice Division, will fund the university's Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program. Gov. Rick Perry announced the award earlier this week. Since the center was created in 2002, its annual budget has increased from about $750,000 to about $4 million in 2007, according to center director Don Montague (pictured). Most of the center's funding comes from the federal government, and many of its instructors are former members of the U.S. military. A $1.6 million federal appropriation will go toward training about 1,000 National Guard members, many of whom also serve as police officers. The ALERRT program provides comprehensive instruction to law enforcement officers to enhance their ability to respond to situations involving gunmen. First responders learn critical decision-making skills designed to reduce casualties during hostage situations in schools and public settings. TDA announces expansion of road station inspectionsIn an effort to intercept, contain and control plant pests and diseases that could negatively impact the state's agriculture industry, the Texas Department of Agriculture has announced it will conduct 72-hour road station inspections. The expansion was approved by the 80th Texas Legislature. The expanded inspections are in addition to routine road inspections conducted monthly with the Texas Department of Public Safety. The expanded inspections will go a long way to enhance TDA's surveillance and biosecurity efforts for pests and diseases that could damage the state's crops, fruits, vegetables, and nursery and greenhouse commodities," said Ag Commissioner Todd Staples. The legislature appropriated $1.3 million for TDA's enhanced inspection efforts. Other efforts will include increasing the number of routine monthly road station inspections and expand the scope of road station inspections. Four appointed to Commission on Law Enforcement
Charles Hall (pictured) of Midland is the new presiding officer of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education. Hall, the Midland County Precinct Four Constable, has been on the commission since 2004. The commission also has four new members. They include attorney Ada Brown of Dallas, Police Chief Stephen Griffith of Sugar Land, Randall County Sheriff Joel Richardson of Canyon and Patt Scheckel Hollingsworth. She is a police training coordinator with the North Central Texas Council of Governments Regional Police Academy. The board ensures Texans are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement and corrections personnel through screening, developing and monitoring resources and setting standards. Future development of Ingleside Naval Station in doubtObservers say that political squabbling between the city of Ingleside and the Port of Corpus Christi has muddied redevelopment plans for Naval Station Ingleside, which is slated to shut down in 2010 as part of several federal base closures. Most of the base will revert back to the port, which is considering leasing its 1,000-acre parcel for continued military use as an engineering school or a homeland security training facility. The city of Ingleside has zoning authority for some of the land that is located next to a planned $800 million golf course and residential development. This development would be at odds with the port's plans. Port officials have not discussed with city officials the base's future zoning. Arguments over how to use the land prompted state legislators to appropriate just $5 million instead of a proposed $20 million in grants to help those affected by base closures. The base closure is expected to cost the area more than 7,000 jobs, lowering the area's annual payroll by $278 million, according to a federal base closure impact study from 2005. Prairie View A&M wins grant for historic photosThe John B. Coleman Library at Prairie View A&M University has been selected as one of 11 historically black colleges & universities (HBCUs) to participate in a $1.2 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant was awarded to the Art Conservation Department at the University of Delaware and Southeastern Library Network (SOLINET), an Atlanta-based organization which maintains a partnership with the HBCU Library Alliance and the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) in Philadelphia. The Coleman Library currently holds nearly 15,000 historical photographic images in the Special Collections & Archives Department, many of which will benefit from the grant. The school will be eligible for up to $60,000 of the Mellon grant to further preserve selected collections from its photographic holdings. Three appointed to UNT board of regents
The University of North Texas (UNT) Board of Regents has three new members. They are Don A. Buchholz (left) of Dallas, former Texas Secretary of State and state lawmaker Gwyn Shea(right) of Irving and rancher and investor Jack A. Wall (middle) of Dallas. Gov. Rick Perry announced the appointments earlier this week. These appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. Texas hospitals, clinics win more than $30 millionThe Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded $31,492,477 in grants to help Texas' rural health care groups build high-speed Internet networks. The funding will help close the gap in technology access between rural and urban health care facilities. The Southwest Telehealth Access Grid will receive $15,561,181 to build its telecommunications network and better distribute telemedicine clinical services and educational and training programs to approximately 60 facilities in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. The Texas Health Information Network Collaboration will receive $11,042,096 to support physician-patient consultations, distance education, medical data management and medical records exchanges. The Texas Healthcare Network will receive $4,889,200 to improve an existing network that serves approximately 40 primarily rural health care facilities in the state. Joint Operations Training Center slated for LaredoLaredo soon will become home to the Joint Operations Training Center, which will provide state-of-the-art training for all local, state and federal law enforcement officials along the border. A primary goal of the center is to establish collaboration among all entities that provide border security. The Defense Appropriations Bills, recently passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, allocated $1 million in seed money for the program's development. More money for the construction of the center is expected to be appropriated next year. The first phase of the initiative will be the development of the training center curriculum by Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College. The curriculum will be dictated by law enforcement partners including the National Guard, Border Patrol and Homeland Security. Fate of Highway 161 toll project in jeopardy
Plans for an 11.5-mile extension of Highway 161 through Irving, Grand Prairie and Arlington, which would become a toll road, are in jeopardy because the North Texas Tollway Authority and the Texas Department of Transportation can't agree on terms for the project. If the two aren't singing off the same page by Dec. 21, the state will cancel the project, according to Texas Transportation Commission Chair Ric Williamson. There are still some "serious matters" to be negotiated, according to NTTA Executive Director Jorge Figueredo (pictured), who is doubtful an agreement can be reached by the deadline. If no agreement is reached, the North Texas area will lose hundreds of millions of dollars of anticipated revenue the tollway was expected to generate. TxDOT officials say loss of the roadway as a toll road could result in loss of more than a billion dollars in highway funds. Hondo prison welcomes treatment program fundingDuring the last legislative session, lawmakers approved funding for an additional 1,000 substance abuse treatment slots in Texas state prisons. The state prison in Hondo is welcoming the tripling of funds for treatment facilities and the addition of a 250-slot substance abuse treatment program there. Legislators are trying a new approach to dealing with prison overcrowding by providing more treatment facilities that will keep violators from taking up limited prison space. Often, inmates who are paroled have to complete a six-month substance abuse program. In Hondo, nearly a third of the inmates there are incarcerated due to drug or substance abuse convictions. Hondo is one of 10 prisons that will be able to offer the treatment services. Five Texas colleges receive $631,000 grantsFive predominantly black private higher education institutions have received increased state grants for teacher education programs - Texas College, Wiley College, Jarvis College, Huston-Tillson and Paul Quinn. The five are members of a consortium - the Texas Association of Developing Colleges - that focuses on training teachers. The funds were appropriated by the Texas Legislature during the last legislative session and the funds were recently distributed by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Commissioner of Higher Education Raymund A. Paredes. The funds represent an increase of approximately $115,000 over previous years. The funds will be used for teacher education, to help train minority students to become teachers. Cleburne ISD hears of needs for expansionOfficials with the Cleburne ISD this week heard an architect's report regarding preliminary options that would allow for expansion in the district. After reviewing numerous departments in the school, some of the major areas of concern are the gym, the food service area, the kitchen and the library. Other considerations are adding a new stadium, an indoor practice facility and expanded parking. The last bond election in Cleburne was in 2005, and it narrowly passed. Although the district has indicated it doesn't want to push another bond election to voters, they see few other options for paying for necessary upgrades and expansions. Estimates are that the expansions being studied would cost approximately $50 million. Committee charged with ranking sports venue proposals
After hearing requests for funding for everything from high school tennis courts to a special needs sports complex, Bexar County's amateur sports facilities committee must now rank the requests as the next step toward possible funding. County voters will be asked next year to extend the "venue tax" that could fund the numerous requests. The tax is paid mostly by those who visit the city and spend money on hotel rooms and rental cars. That same tax helped build the AT&T Center in the late 1990s. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff (pictured) said he is hopeful some of the tax revenue can also be used for amateur sports complexes, to provide for river improvements, a performing arts center and upgrades to other existing venues. The final list of ranked projects will be available to the public in mid-December. Dallas County cites six finalists for IT strategy contractA Dallas County review committee has recommended six vendors to move forward to the Best and Final Offer (BAFO) stage for a consulting contract to develop a comprehensive IT Strategic Plan for the county. The RFP was released in July and a total of 10 firms submitted proposals. The IT Strategic Planning process will create an IT vision for the county, as well as document current systems and define future infrastructure, systems development and staffing needs. Ultimately, an IT tactical plan for the next 12-24 months will be developed as a working document for the Office of Information Technology. The Commissioners Court will also use the document to support future technology spending. The county's last IT Strategic Plan was developed by an outside vendor in 2002 and last updated in 2004. Brownsville begins spending millions for street repairs
The city of Brownsville has more than $13 million in previously approved bond funds to start fixing about 35 percent of the city's 700 miles of streets that are in a state of disrepair. Residents consider street repairs as the city's top need. The streets are in such bad shape that the City Council is considering a bond election next year to fund $5.4 million in additional repairs. City Manager Charlie Cabler (pictured) said the city has a surplus of unspent street funds because it takes time to design street repair projects, with many first requiring the installation of underground water and sewer pipes. Taylor chosen for Temple College education centerThe city of Taylor has been chosen for the home of the East Williamson County Higher Education Center, following a vote by Temple College trustees. The center was created by the Texas Legislature during the last legislative session but did not include funding for the project. Temple College asked the cities of Temple and Hutto for input on how to pay for a building and site for the college. Temple's proposal was accepted last week. Construction could begin as early as next fall after the city, the Temple ISD, the local economic development corporation and the Temple College at Taylor Foundation agreed to take out a $6 million loan to be used as seed money for the project. Officials are hopeful that fees for students enrolled at the center will eventually help pay off the debt. LaFeria ISD into second round of interviews
Three candidates for superintendent of the LaFeria ISD have been named for a second round of interviews for the position. One of the three will replace Superintendent Luis Garza (pictured), who has announced he will retire in January 2008. More than 30 applications were received for the superintendent's job and school officials have been conducting interviews for three months. Seven were chosen from that number, and then from the seven, three finalists were chosen. The final candidate is expected to be announced at the Dec. 17 board meeting. Dallas ISD reform program receives top scoresThe National Center for Educational Accountability has given Dallas Achieves, the Dallas ISD effort to turn itself into one of the country's best large city school systems, high marks. While noting that the district still has much work to do, a report by the Austin-based center stated: "Dallas ISD seems to be engaged in precisely the type of work that [researchers] argue is the most challenging - and potentially profitable - in school reform." The report notes that the district has made commendable strides in developing and training principals to be "instructional leaders" of their schools, deploying expert teachers to low-performing schools as "coaches" and providing training that targets teachers' weaknesses. The report was compiled after two weeks of interviews with dozens of district teachers, principals and administrators. CCISD, Nueces County renew student file sharing pact
Corpus Christi ISD trustees and Nueces County officials this week renewed an interagency information-sharing agreement that has given district and court authorities a view into what laws students are breaking outside of each entity's jurisdiction. The agreement, first approved a year ago, allows officials to keep tabs on student truancy and other infractions. The agreement gives the county access to district attendance records, grade reports and emergency release information, while district officials can access county court records of district students charged with failure to attend school, daytime court violations and assault and possession of drug paraphernalia. CCISD Superintendent Scott Elliff (pictured) said the agreement has been particularly helpful in truancy cases. It also gives the district the option of pursuing its own disciplinary action against students for violations discovered through court records, he said. Austin City Council approves Open Government OnlineThe Austin City Council has approved a resolution directing the city manager to implement Open Government Online, a project to completely redesign the city's Web site. The city plans to utilize the latest content management system technology with the goal of significantly increasing the number of online services available to the public. The current Communications and Technology Management (CTM) budget includes initial funding for consulting services and staff for this project. The city also plans to utilize a variety of tools, such as surveys and focus groups, to enlist Austin residents in the redesign process. The current City of Austin Web site offers more than 40,000 Web pages and 80,000 files and receives more than 4.5 million hits each month. The last major upgrade took place in 2002. Eight Fort Worth city manager finalists named
The Fort Worth City Council has identified eight city manager finalist candidates. City Manager Charles Boswell (pictured) announced in May that he will retire next year. The council conducted a national search for the candidates and began interviewing them this week. The finalists include three Fort Worth assistant city managers Dale Fisseler, Marc Ott and Joe Paniagua. The other finalists are: David Leininger, managing director of development services and economic initiatives for the city of Irving; Jelynne Burley, San Antonio deputy city manager; C. Scott Johnson, a consultant and former Cincinnati city manager; Joseph Lessard, a consultant and former Austin assistant city manager; and Theodore Voorhees, deputy city manager for Durham, N.C. Highland Park ISD panel calls for bond proposalThe Highland Park ISD Facilities Committee this week recommended a $75.4 million bond package for renovations to replace portable classrooms and repair aging facilities. The school board will review the report before deciding whether to pursue a new bond measure. The last school bond campaign, in 1999, raised $49.5 million. The proposal, which could go to voters as early as May 2008, reflects recent demographic trends. School officials said the student population has grown significantly in the past 15 years but that more permanent classrooms have not been added. Many elementary school students attend class in portable buildings designed for temporary use. More than half of the proposed bond packaged - $37.5 million - would be spent on expanding buildings to accommodate more students. In addition to upgrading classrooms, the proposal calls for almost $12 million to extend the life of basic infrastructure such as heating, lighting, plumbing and electrical systems for the next five years. An additional $8 million is proposed for immediate repairs. Other earmarks include $9.6 million for architectural and engineering fees and furniture, $3.1 million for technology and $3.6 million for security improvements. San Antonio wraps up bond program, starts next oneNinety-two percent of the 121 projects in the City of San Antonio's 2003 - 2007 Bond Program are either complete or under construction, according to a report presented to the City Council Thursday. The Citizens Bond Oversight Commission 2007 Annual Report, the last for the 2003 - 2007 Bond Program, states that only nine projects remain in the design phase, a 50 percent drop from the previous year. The commission has already begun meeting with staff on the $550 million 2007 - 2011 Bond Program that was approved by voters on May 12. The new bond program, the largest in the city's history, addresses a wide array of public infrastructure, including street and drainage improvements, new sidewalk construction, bridge replacements, traffic upgrades, new libraries and improvements to city-owned facilities. The city's Capital Improvements Management Services (CIMS) Department currently has three separate solicitations out for services related to the program: Design Engineering Services, Architectural Services and Executive Program Management Services. Contractors interested in providing these services or other related work should contact the city's Purchasing and Contract Services Department or Public Works Department. For a comprehensive list of bond proposals that passed or failed on Nov. 6, click here. UTSA wins contract to develop biomed technologiesThe University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) College of Engineering has been awarded a $2 million grant to develop bone-regeneration technologies for wounded soldiers. The largest grant the college has ever received was awarded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Institute for Surgical Research. A team of biomedical engineering researchers led by Joo Ong (right), chair of the biomedical engineering department, and C. Mauli Agrawal (left), dean of the College of Engineering, will use the funding for the development of a multifunctional implant to assist in the regeneration of bone in large flaws caused by trauma. Researchers said both soldiers wounded in combat and civilians will benefit from advancements in bone-regeneration technology. UTSA is also in a strategic position to support this contract as it is surrounded by the South Texas Medical Center and several military bases, including Fort Sam Houston's Brooke Army Medical Center. UIL steroid testing proposal available for commentThe University Interscholastic League (UIL) on Wednesday released proposed guidelines for a plan to test high school athletes for illicit substances. The information can be found by clicking here. The UIL's Web site not only details the proposed plan, it also explains procedures for what could be the largest steroid testing program in the world. Texas lawmakers this year passed legislation mandating the steroid testing of high school athletes beginning in the 2007-08 school year. The UIL has estimated that between 20,000 and 25,000 students will be randomly tested during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years. Last summer 14 companies bid on running the program, but the UIL has not yet awarded a contract. The public will have at least 14 days to comment on the plan. Comments are being accepted via e-mail at steroids@mail.uil.utexas.edu or phone at (512) 471-5883. Longview ISD considering $180 million bond proposal
Longview ISD trustees are considering a $180 million bond election next May that would fund the renovation or replacement of eight campuses and the construction of five new elementary schools. Superintendent James E. Wilcox (pictured) said the age of the district's schools - 48 years on average - along with projected enrollment growth in the district were the main reasons behind the recommendations. The district projects an increase of more than 900 students by the 2017-18 school year, up from 8,143 in 2007-08. Pelech appointed Floresville interim city managerFormer Floresville City Manager Gary Pelech has been named interim city manager of the city, to serve through March 2008. Pelech was removed from that position in September and assigned as executive director of the city's 4A corporation for the community center. UH receives grant for drug use researchThe University of Houston (UH) has received a five-year, $2.3 million grant to conduct multidisciplinary research on the effects of drug abuse among older Latinos. Funding for the initiative comes from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which is part of the National Institutes for Health. The funds will support the creation of a Minority Institutions' Drug Abuse Research Development Program (DARDP) at UH. In addition, the grant will fund two studies on Latino heroin use, workshops, seminars and small grants for faculty and students, and establish a peer-review ad-hoc committee that will oversee drafts of publications by new investigators. The studies will focus on heroin use among aging Latino men in Houston's Northside and East End communities where, Valdez said, there is a high rate of heroin use. Lockhart superintendent finalist named
Tom Bailey (pictured), currently the superintendent for the Olney school district, has been named the lone finalist for the Lockhart school district superintendent vacancy. Bailey was named Region 9 Superintendent of the Year in 2007 after being nominated by the Olney school board. The school board has begun contract negotiations with Bailey. He is expected to begin his new duties on Jan. 1. Bryan City Council approves $16M in upgradesThe Bryan City Council on Tuesday authorized spending about $16 million for capital improvement projects including street construction, sidewalks and traffic signals. The largest expenditures on the projects list are $3.5 million for downtown Bryan redevelopment, $3.1 million for a new fire station on the city's west side and $1.5 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment at the city's planned justice center complex. The city staff will proceed with design work, land acquisition and construction plans for the projects over the next 18 months. Initial funding for the projects will come from Bryan's general and sewer accounts, but the city will reimburse those coffers when it issues new bond debt early next year. Cooper ISD selects superintendent finalistCooper Independent School District trustees earlier this week named Jason Marshall the lone finalist in a search for a new superintendent. Marshall currently serves as principal at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana. The board has scheduled a Dec. 17 meeting to enter into a contract with Marshall. His first day with the district is expected to be Jan. 2. McKinney Council to interview city manager candidatesThe McKinney City Council is expected to begin interviewing candidates for the city manager post sometime in December. The new city manager will replace current city manager Larry Robinson, who will retire Jan. 31. The council earlier this week met in closed session with a representative of an executive search firm to discuss candidates who have submitted resumes. It is not known how many candidates have applied for the position or how many finalists the council will interview. The council does not have a deadline to hire the new city manager but has expressed a desire to have a new city manager in place before Robinson leaves. Nederland school district considering bond electionPatchwork solutions to facilities problems within the Nederland ISD won't work much longer, officials have been told. As a result, the district is possibly looking at a bond election in November of next year. Some citizens are pushing for the construction of a new high school, saying that although the current high school structure may be in good shape, other problems such as air conditioning, safety upgrades and space issues remain. Some officials point to recently passed bond issues in other neighboring districts such as Beaumont and Port Arthur as a reason for the Nederland ISD to upgrade its own facilities. El Paso ISD addressing various services to students
Rating programs and their successes relative to the students they serve is the goal of reviews ordered of the El Paso ISD's early childhood education, fine arts, alternative education, technology, athletics and college readiness programs. Superintendent Lorenzo Garcia (pictured) said the size of the district means the needs of the district and its students continue to grow. The studies being performed are expected to provide a road map for the future for the district. One of the most recent proposals being studied is the expansion of the district's pre-kindergarten program, which would result in an additional cost of $1 million to the district. The district is not yet talking about funding for projects, such as through a bond issue, but instead is working solely on identifying needs. But if funding is available, some of the needs will be addressed immediately. Get your free copy of the Texas Government InsiderThe Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter. If you are not a subscriber, or if you would like to sign up your friends or co-workers to receive a free copy, click here. Permission to reproduce, reprintThis newsletter may be reproduced, and all articles within may be reproduced and/or reprinted without permission when credit is given to the Texas Government Insider, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. |
These 'COGS' keep wheels of local government turning
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Without cogs on their rims, wheels and gears do not turn. And in Texas, there is another all-important "COG" that keeps the wheels of local government turning - the state's 24 regional Councils of Government (COGs). COGs are composed of representatives from numerous local governments sectors (cities, counties, school districts and special districts). Their objective is to address regional issues, form alliances and develop cooperative initiatives. [more]San Angelo studying use
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San Antonio hosts Texas Homeland Security ConferenceRepresentatives 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. |
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