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South Texas wind farms win $60M transmission lineDevelopers planning for 600 wind turbines on Kenedy Ranch
Developers of two South Texas wind farms won approval earlier last week to build a 21-mile transmission line to transport the energy they produce to millions of Texas electricity customers. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved the construction of the $60 million line on the expansive Kenedy Ranch, where private developers plan to invest $1 billion building two wind farms with 600 wind turbines on 60,000 acres near the Laguna Madre. Construction on the transmission line is expected to begin soon and be completed by September. The King Ranch and a coalition of environmental groups on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson claiming that the wind turbines that generate electricity could kill migratory birds and damage the Laguna Madre and seeking an extensive environmental review of the planned wind farms. The lawsuit could delay or stop the projects. Wind farms soon will change the landscape of the South Texas ranchland. Hundreds of the 400-foot-tall white towers of wind turbines with their rotating white blades will become common sights. Electricity is produced by using the wind to turn the huge blades that rotate on turbines. They are seen as an alternative to coal, natural gas and other sources used to generate power. [more]Carter Smith named executive director of TPWD
Carter Smith (pictured in photo by Lynn Mc Bride, The Nature Conservancy), currently state director of The Nature Conservancy of Texas, has been named executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The TPW Commission selected Smith for the job at a special meeting held Wednesday in San Antonio. Smith, who will assume his new duties in late January, will replace Robert L. Cook, who retired on August 31. "Carter Smith is a well-respected conservationist and has proven his ability to develop successful partnerships with landowners and others. He is a hunter and angler and a seventh generation Texas landowner. He understands the conservation challenges we face in our rapidly growing and changing state and will provide a fresh perspective as we strive to meet our mission," said TPW Commission Chairman Peter Holt. Smith has been with The Nature Conservancy of Texas since 1998 and has been the state director since 2004. Before working at the Nature Conservancy, he was the first executive director of the Katy Prairie Conservancy and continues to serve on their Advisory Board. He is a native of Central Texas and began his career in 1992 at TPWD as a management intern, assisting in the Private Lands and Public Hunting programs. He has a wildlife management degree from Texas Tech and a master's degree from Yale University. Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
This week's salute is to Coby Shorter III, Texas Deputy Secretary of StateCareer highlights and education: Most recently I served as the deputy director of governmental appointments in the office of Gov. Rick Perry, where I oversaw the appointments to state boards, commissions, councils, and task forces that advise the governor or executive agencies on specific issues and policies. Previous to my service in Gov. Perry's Office, I was the director for agriculture and conservation for former Gov. George W. Bush, director for agribusiness development for the Texas Department of Agriculture and an aide to former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm. I am a native of Eagle Lake and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University. What I like best about my job is: Each day on the job brings new and exciting experiences, and I must admit, the best part of my job is my interaction with people. In my new role, not only have I had the opportunity to interact with some of the finest employees in state government, but I have also enjoyed meeting people from around the world. The best advice I've received for my current job is: The best advice I have had is from those who have previously been honored to hold this position: enjoy and savor every moment. They each claim this experience as a highlight of their professional careers, and based on what I have experienced so far, I must agree. Advice I would give a new hire in my office: I would advise a new hire in the Secretary of State's office, as well as any state agency, to remember that working in state government is a profound opportunity to serve the state of Texas. A new position should be approached with the utmost of integrity and a zeal for excellence. Regardless of the position, every effort should be taken to guard the public trust bestowed upon us. If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: Spending time with my family. People would be surprised to know that I: I have had extensive classical music training, and I can play both the piano and organ. Book, magazine or newspaper article I've read recently that really influenced my thinking: The book that most influences my thinking is the Bible. 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. State Highway 121 toll road debate ends with check
A check for $3.2 billion to the state by the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) has cleared some of the controversy surrounding the 26-mile State Highway 121 toll project. North Richland Hills Mayor Oscar Trevino (left) was among the Dallas area city officials celebrating the money that will be used "to address the Dallas-Fort Worth region's transportation needs."
NTTA was the high bidder for the project. NTTA Chair Paul Wageman (right) said the project now is not only part of the toll road system, but also "part of our financial system." Tolls collected by the operator of the road are expected to be substantial. The road will have the highest toll rates in the region and Wageman said the NTTA expects to make a $1.3 billion profit, which the organization expects to use to finance other transportation projects. The NTTA was picked over Spanish construction company Cintra and is gambling on continued growth in the areas of Dallas-Fort Worth to support the tolls. Texas going statewide with Medicaid smart card systemThe Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will go statewide in 2009 with a new smart card system that creates a more convenient and secure way for people to verify their Medicaid coverage. The new Medicaid card will look like a credit card and be encoded with eligibility and identity information required by doctors and other health-care providers. The state received positive feedback from consumers and healthcare providers in four pilot projects to test the card's potential in six Texas counties between 2004 and 2006. The most appealing feature of the new card is its ability to automate a patient check-in process. The current process requires provider staff to manually copy information from a paper Medicaid identity information form. It also will give people with Medicaid an I.D. that is less easily lost or damaged and less likely to be stolen because it requires the client's finger image to use. The statewide expansion is set to begin next year when HHSC issues a request for proposals in May to select a contractor for the project. If all goes according to plan, the system will be in place by the second half of 2009, and Texas will become the first state to incorporate a smart card-based identity and eligibility verification system into its Medicaid program. TxDOT seeks I-69/Trans Texas Corridor partnerThe Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is on a quest for a long-term, strategic private sector partner to help develop plans for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the I-69/Trans Texas Corridor that will stretch from South Texas to Northeast Texas. TxDOT recently issued a request for detailed proposals from the two private developer teams that submitted initial proposals last year. The teams are ZAI ACS TTC-69, led by Zachry American Infrastructure Inc. and ACS Infrastructure, and Bluebonnet Infrastructure, led by Cintra. They have until March 5, 2008 to submit proposals. TxDOT will evaluate the proposals and is expected to make a recommendation next spring. Les Trobman named general counsel for TCEQThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has appointed Les Trobman as the agency's new general counsel. Trobman had been serving as special counsel to the deputy director of TCEQ's Office of Legal Services, a position he held since 2006. He assumed his new duties yesterday. Previously, he served as staff attorney in the TCEQ's Environmental Law Division. He holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Tulane Law School. Trobman succeeds Celeste Baker, who served as interim general counsel, after Derek Seal vacated the post Sept. 1. Comments on college readiness standards ends Monday
The period for public comment on the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's (THECB)draft Texas College Readiness Standards ends Monday, Dec. 10. With estimates that more than 50 percent of Texas high school graduates are not academically ready to enter college, Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes (right) said the standards are "specifically designed to help students better meet the demands of entry-level college courses or employment opportunities."
Legislation from the 80th Texas Legislature mandated development of the college readiness standards through a cooperative effort by officials of public and higher education. Teams of subject matter experts and teaching experts worked for months before creating the draft document. (To view the draft, click here.) The final document must be approved by both the THECB and Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott (left). The Coordinating Board will review the document and comments at its meetings on Dec. 12 and on Jan. 15, 2008. They are expected to be approved Jan. 24, 2008. They then will go to Scott and eventually to the State Board of Education for curriculum development. Paredes said incorporating the standards could take several years to implement. CCG Monday meeting will feature several 'firsts'There will be a number of "firsts" recorded when the Texas Council on Competitive Government (CCG) meets Monday at the State Capitol. It will be the first meeting of the council since it was moved to the State Comptroller's Office from the old Texas Building and Procurement Commission. It will be the first meeting for new Director Dustin Lanier, who was named director of the CCG a little over a month ago. And it will be the first meeting to include a new addition to the council - a designee from the Texas General Land Office. The council is charged with helping make state government more efficient, cost-effective and competitive. To do so, part of its mission is to examine how the state delivers services and then seek ways to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and results of that delivery system. One of the agenda items for the Monday meeting, which will be at 1:30 p.m. in Room E1.014 at the Capitol, is discussion of the council's operating principles - the mission of the council, projects the council is likely to work on and how it deals with a scope of work across state agencies. Officials will discuss the ways the state currently provides services and then begin a dialog regarding competitive alternatives that might be available and if a different approach for delivery should be taken. Burns to direct UTPB's public leadership institute
Former Midland Mayor Bobby Burns (pictured) has been named director of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin's John Ben Shepperd Public Leadership Institute. Burns replaces Jack Ladd, who left the institute in March to become dean of UTPB's School of Business. Burns and Raymond Borcyczka, who serves on the summer faculty of Incarnate Word University and as adjunct professor at San Antonio College and Northwest Vista College, were the two finalists for the position. Burns is CEO and owner of Robert Burns Financial Group in Midland, but has retired. Burns holds degrees in political science and journalism from Baylor University and has done graduate work in public administration at the University of Oklahoma. UT regents limit tuition increases at all campusesIn an unexpected move, the University of Texas System Board of Regents yesterday capped tuition increases for all 15 campuses within the system. During a meeting in Austin, the board voted unanimously to limit tuition increases to 4.95 percent for each of the next two academic years. The board's action appears to have been directed at the flagship campus, but there was little doubt that the tuition increase cap affected all campuses. Prior to the board vote, an advisory committee of students, administrators and faculty members at UT-Austin had recommended increases of 7.8 percent next fall and 6.9 percent a year later. Regents said they wanted to maintain a balance between meeting the university's needs and maintaining affordability and access. Lawmakers in 2003 granted tuition-setting authority to public university governing boards. Since that time tuitions at state universities have increased dramatically. State leaders named to Competitiveness CouncilTwenty-nine state leaders have been named to the Governor's Competitiveness Council to advise state agencies on policies needed to drive the Texas economy. Gov. Rick Perry recently announced the appointments, which include members of state agencies, public and higher education officials and industry leaders. Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson (pictured) will serve as chairman of the council.
Other members include: Susan Combs, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts; Todd Staples, commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture; Michael Williams, chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission; Don McLeroy, chairman of the State Board of Education; Aaron Demerson, executive director of the Governor's Division of Economic Development and Tourism; Buddy Garcia, presiding officer of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; Sandy Kress, chair of the Commission for a College Ready Texas; Ron Lehman, a commissioner of the Texas Workforce Commission; Charles E. McMahen, chairman of the Governor's Business Council; Bill Morrow, presiding officer of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund; Raymund Paredes, commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; Robert P. Scott, Texas commissioner of education; Barry Smitherman, chairman of the Texas Public Utility Commission; John W. Sylvester Jr., chairman of the Texas Workforce Investment Council; Ric Williamson, chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission; and Bob Wingo, chairman of the Texas Economic Development Corporation. Texas to see 150 miles of border fence constructionThe 700-mile federally mandated security fence now under construction along the Southwestern border in parts of California, Arizona and New Mexico is coming to Texas next year, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Despite opposition to the fence by politicians, business leaders and border residents, more than 150 miles of new fencing is scheduled for construction along the Rio Grande in Texas. Fourteen miles of fence was built in El Paso several years ago. Intended to reduce the threat of terrorism against the United States by curtailing illegal immigration, the double-layered concrete and metal fence will be 15 feet high and will have an additional two-foot overhang slanted toward the Mexican side of the border to make it difficult for people to climb the fence. Craddick asks lawmakers to mull TxDOT toll road ads
House Speaker Tom Craddick (pictured) has asked lawmakers to review the Texas Department of Transportation's (TxDOT) multimillion-dollar ad campaign promoting toll roads and the Trans-Texas Corridor. The issue of state highway expenditures is among the "interim charges" Craddick included in a list of topics that the House State Affairs Committee will review next year in advance of the 2009 Legislative session. Other matters he wants reviewed are voting fraud and local enforcement of federal immigration laws. He released the assignments last week. Some lawmakers and anti-toll activists have condemned spending state highway funds on a public relations campaign. The expenditure has been estimated to be from $7 million to $9 million. TxDOT officials have defended the media campaign as a necessary response to lawmakers' demands for the agency to improve its communication with the public. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is working on Senate committee assignments but no date has been set for their release. State to offer vouchers for old cars and trucksThe state will begin taking applications Wednesday for a new program that offers vouchers of up to $3,500 to get old, polluting cars and trucks off the road. The program is intended mostly for counties in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas that are not in compliance with federal clean-air standards. The state has $100 million for the program, mostly collected over the last several years from higher vehicle inspection fees in noncompliant counties. Any gas-powered car or truck at least 10 years old is eligible. The vehicle must have been registered in an area county for at least 12 months before the voucher application, and it must have passed an inspection or emissions test within the last 15 months. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will manage the program. Participants must also meet income standards since the program is aimed largely at low-income residents who have no choice but to drive older vehicles, which typically emit more pollution than new vehicles. To participate, call the North Central Texas Council of Governments at 1-800-898-9103 next week to begin the application process. For more information on the program, click here. A&M students designing modular hospital facilitiesThe Texas A&M Health Science Center and College of Architecture are working together on plans to create hospital facilities that can be built quickly in emergency situations around the globe such as hurricanes and the war in Iraq. The team has been assigned the task of developing modular hospital designs. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has assigned the A&M architect students the task of creating modular hospital designs that could be rapidly constructed or deployed to locales where they are needed. The hospitals would be constructed in the United States, taken apart, transported to a location and assembled there. UTMB's Zhou winner of $1.4 million research grant
Binhua P. Zhou (pictured), a researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch, has been awarded a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the National Cancer Institute. The money will be used for research related to the regulation of a protein in breast cancer progression and metastasis. Zhou said the long-term goal of his research is to "reduce the incidence of breast cancer metastasis by gaining an understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the initial step of breast cancer metastasis." LCC receives grant for ranch management programStudents at Laredo Community College (LCC) interested in pursuing an education in the field of ranchlands and the legendary rancheros of South Texas now have their chance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded LCC a $440,000 grant to fund a curriculum in ranch management. The grant also will support a cooperative venture led by LCC, Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde and Texas State University-San Marcos aimed at benefiting Hispanic students and other underrepresented ethnic groups by helping them complete degrees in agricultural science and business to qualify for jobs with the USDA. The project begins immediately with scholarship applications available in spring 2008. Classes start in the summer and fall of 2008. Friedman new associate dean at Health Science Center
Dr. Jonathan A. Friedman (pictured) is the new associate dean for the Bryan-College Station campus of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. Friedman is director of the Texas Brain and Spine Institute and is an assistant professor of surgery and neuroscience and experimental therapeutics at the College of Medicine. Friedman earned his medical degree from the University of California at San Francisco, where he interned in general surgery. His did his residency in neurosurgery at the Mayo Clinic, where he also served as chief resident. TAMU System regents to discuss presidential selectionThe Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will continue the second day of its two-day meeting today, Friday, with one agenda item relating to the search for a new president of its flagship campus, Texas A&M University in College Station. The agenda item reads, "The board will consider any and all things leading to the selection of the president of Texas A&M University, including possible action to name the finalist(s) for the position." The position has been empty since former TAMU President Robert M. Gates resigned in December 2006 to accept President George W. Bush's nomination as U.S. Secretary of Defense. Gates served as president of TAMU from 2002 to 2006. He was director of the Central Intelligence Agency from 1991 to 1993. Gates was a close adviser to Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush as they dealt with the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Wichita, KS. native earned a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary, a master's degree from Indiana University and a doctorate from Georgetown University. In addition to the College Station campus presidency, the board also will discuss ongoing searches for presidents of Tarleton State University, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas A&M University-Texarkana and the executive directors of the Tarleton State University campus in Killeen and the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus in San Antonio. Scott appoints high school success, completion councilCommissioner of Education Robert Scott on Thursday announced the appointments of seven Texans to the High School Completion and Success Initiative Council. The council was created earlier this year by the legislature to improve the effectiveness, coordination and alignment of high school completion, and college and workplace readiness efforts. The council is meeting for the first time today at the Texas Capitol. The council is comprised of Scott, who serves as chair, Raymund Paredes, commissioner of higher education, and seven appointees including Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education; Christopher Barbic, founder and head of schools for Yes College Preparatory Schools; Rosa Maria Vida, superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Laredo and the former dean of education at Texas A&M International University; Chris Patterson, a public education research and policy consultant; James M. Windham, president and director of the Texas Institute for Education Reform; Cindy Ramos-Davidson, chief executive officer, El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and Don McAdams, president, The Center for Reform of School Systems. New UT fund to commercialize school inventions
The University of Texas System Board of Regents yesterday created a $2 million fund to spur the commercial development of inventions at member institutions. The new fund is called the Texas Ignition Program, and it was authorized after a year-long UT System analysis determined that promising products developed at UT institutions often need additional capital and effort before gaining commercial viability. "We believe this program will foster the formation of start-up companies and other related activities and eventually contribute greatly to the economic vitality of the state," said UT System Chancellor Mark G. Yudof (pictured). The initiative is designed to create incentives to commercialize discoveries at all 15 UT System institutions, including the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Institutions would receive grants of up to $50,000 toward the development of intellectual property. The Texas Ignition Program is designed to complement two other state economic development efforts - the Emerging Technology Fund and the Texas Enterprise Fund. These funds are working to increase research and technology transfer activities throughout the state. UT center, University of N.M. join in cancer researchThe University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and the University of New Mexico have formed an alliance for breast cancer research. The partnership will focus on researching possible cures and causes of inflammatory breast cancer, an aggressive but rare form of cancer. Texas has agreed to provide $6 million over three years. The New Mexico Legislature earlier this year approved $3.2 million for the research project. Other states, including Washington and Arizona, are considering joining the research partnership. Puschett named vice dean at Health Science Center
Dr. Jules Puschett (pictured) has been promoted to vice dean for Program Development at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine. Puschett had previously served as senior executive associate dean. For the past 16 months, he has served as professor of medicine at the Health Science Center College of Medicine, where he was a member of the dean's staff and a senior staff member at the Scott and White Hospital and Clinic in Temple in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension. Puschett also serves as special assistant to the director at the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System. He earned his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his bachelor's degree from Lehigh University. Mulcahy will head up Lamar Small Business CenterLamar University has named Dave Mulcahy to head the university's Small Business Development Center. Mulcahy has more than 10 years of experience in business consulting and developing and teaching seminars regarding business start-up, market dynamics, price modeling, strategic planning and other business skills. The Lamar University SBDC is a business consulting and training center of the University of Houston Small Business Development Center Network (UH SBDC) that serves 32 counties in Southeast Texas. Mulcahy holds a bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University and a master's degree from Northwestern State University. Four A&M-Kingsville departments get funding
U.S. Department of Education grants of nearly $4.4 million have been awarded to four programs at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. The Ronald E. McNair Scholars, Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math and Science and Education Opportunity Center and the Educational Talent Search were all recipients of funding. The programs allow the university to serve students from sixth grade to college level, according to Mary Gonzalez (pictured), assistant vice president for special programs. The McNair Scholars and Education Opportunity Center grants were ranked in the top 10 percent of the nation in their category and received five years of funding. The Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science received four years of funding, which means approximately $1 million for each program. "We serve our university students, but we also have programs that prepare high school students for college and assist in identifying junior high school students who also are college-bound," said Gonzalez. Most of the programs are geared toward first-generation college students, low income and underrepresented students. Bexar County committee sets sports venue allocationsThe Bexar County Amateur Athletics Committee on Wednesday announced the 13 amateur sports complexes to be built with $75 million in venue tax funds. Voters approved the venue tax in 1999 to construct the AT&T Center in 2002. It is a combination of hotel occupancy and rental car taxes. The committee has been meeting since July, hearing numerous proposals for amateur sports facilities that could be built with the venue tax proceeds. The committee recommended that the following sports complexes in the county receive funding:
University Park bans cell phone use in school zonesDrivers planning to cruise through school zones in University Park first must hang up their cell phones or get hit with a $75 fine. The University Park City Council on Tuesday approved a ban on handheld cell phone use while driving in school zones. The move came a day after enforcement of a similar law began in Highland Park. In the days and weeks before the vote, some council members had said they were in favor of passing a citywide ban on cell phone use while driving. But in a unanimous vote, the council opted instead to restrict cell phone use in school zones during the zones' active hours in the morning and afternoon. In nearby Highland Park, the same law went into effect Saturday, but enforcement began with the beginning of the school day on Monday. In all, police on Monday pulled over about two dozen drivers and handed out eight tickets. Goodfellow AFB seeking private contractorsMore than 150 civilian jobs on the Goodfellow Air Force Base could become obsolete if the base seeks private sector workers for some projects there. Two squadrons on the base could be affected if the work on the base is put out for national bids by outside contractors. However, the squadrons could also submit a bid for the work. Base officials say the decision was made in Congress and is an effort to save taxpayer money by continuing to run the base but at cheaper prices. It is aimed at seeing that the government follows common competitive practices for industry work. Base officials are hopeful some local contractors will bid on the work. Any displaced civilian workers on the base will be assisted in trying to find other jobs on the base. Requirements criteria are being developed for potential bidders. The bids should go out in the spring with a deadine of November 2008. Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum to reopen
The Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum - heavily damaged when Hurricane Rita struck Beaumont two years ago - will reopen its doors on Jan. 12. The museum has been restored to its original design. Located on the Lamar University campus, the museum celebrates the discovery of oil in Beaumont in 1901 and the economic boom that followed. Performers in period costumes re-enact the historic "Spindletop Gusher" several times a day. During the gusher re-enactment, a replica of an oil derrick sprays water. Fort Worth city manager list culled down to fourLast week's eight has become this week's four. The city of Fort Worth has cut its city manager list from eight to four. Those included in the final four are: Jelynne Burley, San Antonio deputy city manager; Dale Fisseler, Fort Worth assistant city manager for economic and community development; David Leininger, Irving managing director; and Joe Paniagua, Fort Worth assistant city manager for public safety and public events. The four are seeking to replace Charles Boswell, who announced his retirement in May. San Antonio MPO approves rates for U.S. 281 tollwayThe San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) overwhelmingly approved rates for the proposed U.S. 281 tollway earlier in the week. The cost to rebuild eight miles of U.S. 281 into a tollway with non-toll access roads is estimated at $476 million. The MPO set toll fees for the tollway at 17 cents a mile for cars by 2012, with rates increasing annually with inflation. A second vote, cast along identical lines, shifted $43 million in public funds from other toll projects to help pay to rebuild eight miles of U.S. 281 into a tollway with free frontage roads from Loop 1604 to Comal County. A total of about $112 million in public funds will subsidize the $476 million project, a cost that includes construction, engineering, land purchases, utility relocations, environmental work and the first several years of operation and maintenance. Construction could start next summer and finish in stages from 2011 through 2018. Kilgore ISD seeking replacement for Roberts
With Kilgore ISD Superintendent Jerry Roberts (right) having announced his resignation effective at the end of the 2007-08 school year, the school board is actively seeking a replacement. Roberts originally planned to retire at the end of the 2006-07 term, but agreed to stay on an extra year.
The board met last week in a five-hour meeting to interview applicants. It marked the second meeting of the week to review resumes and conduct interviews. Board member George Faber (left) would not say how many of the applicants will be interviewed, but said the board is dealing with more than two dozen applications. The board is hopeful to have a finalist named before the Christmas holidays. The new superintendent is expected to begin work at the start of the 2008-09 school year. UNT center to receive three-year, $1.3 million grantThe University of North Texas' Center for Educational Technology in the College of Education has been awarded a U.S. Department of Education grant to recruit future teachers for high-need areas. The center is expected to receive approximately $1.3 million over three years. The Beginning Educators Gain Instructional Nurturance project specifies that upon graduating, the students participating in the project would teach science, mathematics or foreign languages in schools where at least 40 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch subsidies. Some 175 future teachers will be funded by the grants and can attend UNT, Midwestern State University, Vernon College or North Central Texas College. Each student will receive up to $2,500 a year for up to three years of full-time coursework. Red-light cameras stalled in two Texas cities
Plans to install red-light cameras that capture on film motorists who run red lights have stalled in both the cities of Pearland and Burleson. In Pearland, City Manager Bill Eisen (right) says it looks like the cameras are out of the question there because the city council could not reach a consensus to move forward. He did not, however, rule out the possibility of pursuing the cameras sometime in the future. As in some other cities, Pearland officials are waiting to see how the cameras work elsewhere in the state before making a commitment.
Burleson Deputy City Manager David Wynn (left) said plans to install red-light cameras there have been put on hold at least until the middle of this month. City officials are waiting on the Texas Department of Transportation to approve the proposal, but safety concerns are at issue. Break-away poles are being sought so that if a vehicle hits the pole on which the camera is installed, the pole will split in half. Burleson has chosen to install cameras on poles, instead of mounting them on the traffic lights. 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. |
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TASSCC State of State Conference slated Dec. 10The Texas Association of State Systems for Computing and Communications' (TASSCC) State of the State Conference will be held Monday, Dec. 10, at the Omni Southpark Hotel in Austin. The conference will focus on the strategic direction of technology in state government and higher education, with speakers highlighting legislative topics and providing insight into topics impacting the future of public sector information technology. On this year's agenda are: State Comptroller Susan Combs; Victor Gonzalez, director of innovation and CTO from the Comptroller's Office; Ross Ramsey, editor, Texas Weekly; Robert Stroud, ITSM and IT Governance Evangelist, CA, Inc.; Mark Towers, founder of Speak Out Seminars; and Brian Rawson, chief technology officer of the State of Texas. There will also be an e-Discovery panel discussion. For more information, click here. Texas Homeland Security Conference concludes todayRepresentatives 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 today close out the 2007 Texas Homeland Security Conference. The conference, held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, is sponsored by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. Today's agenda includes workshops relating to mass care, law enforcment, fire and emergency medical services, technical training, public health, school-centered emergency management, communications and border operations. For more information, click here. |
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The appointees include: Charles Thomas (Tom) Burbage, executive vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company; James M. Epperson Jr., president of AT&T Texas; P. Gayle Fallon, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers; Michael S. Greene, CEO of Luminant, a subsidiary of Energy Future Holdings Corporation; Johnny Edwin Lovejoy II, president and CEO of Lovejoy and Associates; Gray Mayes, director of public affairs at Texas Instruments Inc.; Ronald N. McMillan, regional vice president of governmental affairs in Texas for Time Warner Cable; Zebulun Nash, site manager of ExxonMobil Chemical Company; Joseph I. O'Neill III, managing partner of O'Neill Properties Ltd.; Kip G. Thompson, vice president of global facilities and strategic growth at Dell Inc.; Jeffrey L. Wade, executive vice president and general counsel of Lexicon Genetics Inc.; Paul Zmigrosky, group vice president of procurement and logistics for Frito-Lay.
