TxDOT accounting error could lead to state audit

Legislators question transportation agency revenue projections

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is likely facing an audit after a more than $1 billion accounting error came to light this week when agency officials were questioned by members of the Texas Legislature. At a joint hearing of the Senate Finance and Transportation committees earlier this week, TxDOT officials said they were prompted recently to call for budget cuts within the agency and a freeze on some current and future road projects because of dwindling revenues and major cuts in funding at the federal level.

In November, TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz (top) called on TxDOT district engineers, division directors and office directors to cut their operating budgets by 10 percent. That came on the heels of TxDOT Deputy Assistant Director Steve Simmons' (bottom) announcement two weeks earlier that the agency would be making massive cuts in anticipation of reduced federal funding and other revenue deficits, resulting in cutbacks in current TxDOT projects throughout the state.

During the last legislative session, the legislature approved a more than 6 percent, or $1.1 billion increase in funding for TxDOT, to $16.7 billion for the biennium. Sen. Judith Zaffirini of Laredo, vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said TxDOT officials "planned poorly" and called TxDOT's revelation about its finances "a ploy to pressure legislators to approve toll roads." Saenz acknowledged the accounting error, saying the agency takes full responsibility for the mistake.

Pope apparently not in running for TYC director post

Nedelkoff announces resignation from job with corrections firm

When the Texas Youth Commission recently listed a job posting for an executive director, Acting Director Dimitria Pope (left), did not indicate whether she would seek the permanent position. However, at a hearing this week of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Pope admitted that although she had applied, she is not being considered for the job.

Richard Nedelkoff (right), the current conservator of the TYC and the third in that position since allegations arose last year regarding abuse of youth in the facility, declined to respond to questions from committee members as to whether Pope was being considered for the permanent position as executive director. Pope was more forthcoming with committee members, noting she is "not a candidate" for the position.

Nedelkoff did respond, however, to questions regarding his then-current job as chief operations officer with a national youth corrections firm and if whether his employment with the company created a conflict of interest. He indicated he would continue his job with Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc., saying he had "taken great strides" to avoid any conflicts of interest.

A day later, Nedelkoff announced he had resigned his position with the corrections firm to avoid even an appearance of impropriety and said he would devote his efforts full-time to his job at TYC.

TYC has been without a permanent director since last spring. Two previous conservators and a previous acting director left the agency before Pope was named acting director and Nedelkoff was named conservator.

Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars

This week's salute is to Robert "Bob" Saathoff, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Information Resources

Career highlights and education: Currently the CFO with the Department of Information Resources and prior to that CFO at the Public Utility Commission. Joined state government nine years ago; prior to that my entire career was in the private sector running my own company selling adaptive clothing to residents of nursing homes and being CFO and Chief Investment Officer (managing a $300 mil. investment portfolio) with a large savings and loan. Graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and am a CPA.

What I like best about my job is: DIR is totally self sufficient, with no General Revenue, which requires using those tools I used many years in industry: cash flow, budget, modeling and forecasting. In essence, we are in charge of our own destiny. I am also very fortunate to be working with such a professional, friendly and dedicated group of people at DIR.

The best advice I've received for my current job is: Goals are truly accomplished with a "we versus me" attitude - a teamwork approach. This is a concept that has worked well for me throughout my career. It is surprising that sometimes the brightest ideas come from those you would least expect.

Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Listen, ask questions and don't be afraid to offer creative ideas.

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: at home in my garage building furniture and other woodworking projects.

People would be surprised to know that I: spent a year in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969.

Book, magazine or newspaper article I've read recently that really influenced my thinking: I am just beginning to read the book, Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan. This is a book about identity theft and how easy it is for anyone from anywhere in the world to assume our identities and ruin our lives.

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.

Texas could gain from restructuring FutureGen project

State officials, bitterly disappointed last year when they lost out on a competition for a low-emissions, coal-fired power plant, say Texas is back in the running for one - and possibly two - of the high-tech facilities.

The federal Department of Energy (DOE) announced Jan. 30 that it has scrapped plans to build a single FutureGen plant in Illinois. Instead, DOE officials say they are considering funding multiple projects to add the equipment to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions to new power plants.

Odessa Mayor Larry Melton (pictured) met last week in Washington with U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison and Congressmen Mike Conaway of Midland and Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock about FutureGen, saying "I don't think anybody knows 100 percent what is going to happen. They all think it will be scaled back because the DOE would have to put a lot more money into it than they want to."

Sherry Cook new assistant commissioner at TABC

Sherry Cook (pictured) has been named Support Services Assistant Administrator at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). She replaces Jeannene Fox, who retired in December 2007 after 32 years with the agency.

Cook began working for the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1978 in various management areas and in August 2006 accepted the position of information technology director at TABC. In her new job, she will have oversight of the TABC divisions of Business Services, Licensing, Human Resources, Tax and Education and Prevention. She has an associate's degree from Austin Community College and a bachelor's degree from Texas State University, where she is currently working on a master's degree.

McBride named chair of Operation Game Thief

Austin's Joe McBride, a sporting goods retailer and mainstay in Texas wildlife conservation, has been named board chairman for Operation Game Thief (OGT). Through his career as a firearms dealer, McBride has built a network of support for Texas Game Wardens and OGT. He will serve a one-year term as chair of the state's wildlife crime-stopper program, succeeding Ray Bailey, who will remain on the OGT board of directors.

Operation Game Thief offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for a wildlife crime. A function of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Law Enforcement division, it was founded in 1981 after it was created by the 67th Legislature to help curtail poaching. It has been responsible for the payment of more than $200,000 in rewards and the assessment of some $1 million in fines.

Texans can vote online on favorite license plate design

Texans will have a choice of keeping the current license plate design or choosing one of four new designs. Rebecca Davio, director of vehicles, title and registration at the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) said the new plate will debut in 2009 and will have a seventh digit because license plates in the state are running out of six-digit number combinations.

While TxDOT commissioners get final say on the final design of the license plates, Davio predicted they will choose the design chosen by a majority of Texans. Voting ends Feb. 11. Click here to view the five choices including the current design, entitled "My Texas," and to vote on your favorite design:

• New Texas (top left) is a red, white and blue plate featuring a composite of skylines from several Texas cities on the bottom and the word "Texas" in black script on the top;
• Traditional Texas (bottom right) is white with blue highlights and a gold Texas star at the bottom and a red "Texas" in bold capital letters on top;
• Lone Star Texas (top right) has a white star in the top left corner along with wide brushes of red and blue against a large skyline. A mountain range runs along the bottom;
• Natural Texas (bottom left) is covered with colorful wildflowers.

TDA looking for organizations to serve summer meals

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is looking for organizations to sponsor the federally funded summer nutrition program to ensure that low-income children continue to receive a healthy diet after schools close for summer vacation. Commissioner Todd Staples said TDA will begin to accept applications for the Summer Food Service Program on Feb. 15.

Eligible sponsoring organizations include schools, nonprofit residential summer camps, government agencies and tax-exempt organizations as well as those that serve migrant farm workers and American Indian populations. Last year, 309 sponsors served about 13 million meals to children at 2,500 sites in areas where more than 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program. For applications, click here. Applications must be returned to TDA by April 14.

SPI expands educational resources in K-12 arena

Millions of dollars in recent school bond issues are significantly increasing contracting opportunities for products and services in Texas public schools. Schools are purchasing surveillance and security equipment, computers and other types of technology and are constructing more and more buildings to ease overcrowding. And with Texas' burgeoning population, school districts are likely to face continued expansion, pass more bond issues and thus have need for even more contracts with private sector businesses.

To assist businesses seeking to increase their contracts in the public school (K-12) marketplace, Strategic Partnerships, Inc. has expanded its educational resources. Our K-12 public education team includes public education experts and former K-12 teachers and administrators with decades of experience in that arena.

Below are some of the members of our expanded K-12 team of experts.

John Key (right) has served three Texas school districts as superintendent. He also was a principal, project director and classroom teacher in schools in the Houston area and has served on education committees for the Texas Education Agency and Texas Tech University. He has experience in curriculum alignment, technology upgrades and facility planning as well as dealing with financial and academic compliance issues and community relations and facility matters.

Dr. Allen Sullivan (middle) most recently served as an assistant superintendent in the Dallas ISD. In addition to holding a number of key positions in the K-12 arena during his career, he also has extensive experience in the higher education sphere and in the area of developmental psychology. He has written a wide range of successfully funded education grants and consulted for school districts and universities.

Having served as public school superintendent for 13 years, Johnny Clawson (left) brings K-12 experience that spans 36 years, 24 of which were in school administration. He is a former principal in a number of schools in the Central Texas area and over his career has fostered relationships with educational organizations, other school administrators and local appointed and elected government officials.

Dr. Lois Cunningham (left) boasts more than 36 years of working in urban, suburban and rural school districts. Additionally, she has worked for the U.S. Department of Education, the Texas Education Agency, the Region 4 Education Service Center and as a classroom teacher, department chair, instructional leader, curriculum writer, administrator and education specialist. She has long been associated with both regional and statewide educator organizations and has served on a variety of education-related committees and advisory panels.

With experience both in public schools and one of the state's Education Service Centers in the Metroplex area, Ellen Kimbrough (middle) was most recently an academic dean for a charter school. She also previously served with the Region 10 Education Service Center and provided consultations with officials in 80 Metroplex area schools. She also is a former classroom teacher.

Jack Davis (right) is a soon-to-be-retired superintendent, having served in that capacity in two Texas public school districts. He also has been an elementary school principal and classroom teacher. Davis is a member of the Texas Association of Community Schools (TACS) board of directors and has served six terms on the Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) board of directors.

To read these education experts' full bios and those of our other consultants, go to the SPI Web site.

Christmas Mountains to remain in Texas hands

The Christmas Mountains Ranch will remain under state ownership, following a move by the Texas School Land Board to reject two private bids to purchase the 9,000-acre tract near Big Bend National Park in West Texas. The board was not able to act on a proposed management plan by the National Park Service because of posting requirements. It could be discussed at a future meeting.

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson (pictured) said the issue of private ownership is now closed but he will explore public ownership of the tract, including the National Park Service plan. One controversial aspect is that Patterson is insisting that whoever owns or manages the tract must allow hunting, something the Parks Service does not allow on its lands.

Texas VA facilities to benefit from $115 million in funds

More than $115 million in immediate funding for construction projects at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in Texas have been approved by Congress.

Among the projects are:

• Amarillo - $6.9 million - construct a 25,000-square-foot addition to the west side of the Amarillo VA medical center, renovate approximately 5,000 square feet of expanded Specialty Care Services and add parking
• Big Spring - $6.3 million - construct new 22,500-square-foot, 40-bed domicile facility and parking lot
• Dallas - $6.9 million - relocate mental health nursing unit
• Houston - $5.8 million - consolidate diagnostic services
• San Antonio - $5.9 million - New SICU suite
• San Antonio - $9.9 million - purchase land and construct 18,000-square-foot, 12-bed transitional housing unit for new polytrauma center
• San Antonio - $5.2 million - accommodate Research II
• San Antonio - $6 million - renovate 44-bed, 20,900-square-foot and 20-bed acute care units
• San Antonio - $6.1 million - Specialty Care Expansion III
• Waco - $9.8 million - Mental Health Center of Excellence
• Waco - $9.8 million - Blind Rehab Center
• Waco - $9.8 million - Intermediate and long-term psychiatric care
• Waco- $9.8 million - Long-term care and pool
• Waco- $9.8 million - Infrastructure Improvements
• Dallas-Fort Worth - $1.5 million - National Cemetery Project - install 4,000 pre-placed crypts
• Houston - $5.8 million - National Cemetery Project - install 6,000 pre-placed crypts

Texas National Guard recruits 19,000th soldier

At the Recruiting and Retention open house at Austin's Camp Mabry on Jan. 30, Summer Kunard (being sworn in by Lt. Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez, Adjutant General of Texas in the accompanying Texas Military Forces photo) became the 19,000th Texas National Guard Soldier, following in the footsteps of thousands of other Texans. Texas National Guard officials say there is a pressing need for more citizen-soldiers.

The Texas National Guard has a growing number of commitments, from wildfires, floods and emergencies at home to operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the globe. However, a spokesman said the Texas National Guard is meeting the increased demand for more highly trained and motivated soldiers.

Lt. Col. Greg Chaney, Texas Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion commander, said the quality of young men and women being recruited is increasing, noting that more than 94 percent of actively recruited applicants have a high school diploma or higher.

Presidential disaster declaration sought in Texas

Responding to about 75 wildfires throughout Texas last week that burned some 70,000 acres and destroyed 60 homes and structures, Gov. Rick Perry has requested President George W. Bush to issue a Presidential Disaster Declaration to help in recovery efforts. The 75 wildfires impacted 184 Texas counties and required the Texas Forest Service, the Civil Air Patrol, the Texas Department of Transportation and several volunteer organizations to respond.

The request for the Presidential Disaster Declaration includes:

• Individual assistance including the Individual & Households Program, disaster unemployment assistance, crisis counseling, Small Business Administration Disaster loans and U.S. Department of Agriculture loans;
• Public assistance including debris removal, emergency protective measures and repair to damaged public structures; and
• Hazard mitigation statewide to strengthen infrastructure against future damage.

Texas Tech Medical School gains accreditation

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's Paul L. Foster School of Medicine has been approved as a four-year medical school within the Texas Tech University System. The accreditation is from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

President John C. Baldwin, M.D. (pictured) called the accreditation a watershed event. He said more than 10 years of planning and hard work went into obtaining a full-fledged four-year medical school. The campus will be located in El Paso.

The LCME awards initial, provisional accreditation to qualified new programs, effective for a designated first-year class. The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is now authorized to begin accepting applications for the first class of students in August of 2009.

TDA announces it will expand road inspections

The Texas Department of Agriculture has started conducting 72-hour road station inspections as part of its expanded program approved by legislators to intercept, contain and control plant diseases and pests that could impact the state's agricultural industry.

The first expanded inspections were held on Interstate 30 in Mt. Pleasant and Interstate 10 in Kingsbury. Additionally, TDA also will conduct 10 of the 72-hour inspections at six unannounced locations during 2008. These 72-hour inspections are held in addition to the routine monthly road station inspections that TDA conducts with the cooperation of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Legislators in 2007 appropriated $1.3 million for TDA's enhanced inspections efforts, which involve a three-tiered approach. TDA will increase the number of routine monthly road station inspections at DPS weigh stations, increase the number of 72-hour inspections annually and expand the scope of road station inspections by incorporating shipment destination inspections and target commodity inspections.

Texas Tech president announces retirement

Jon Whitmore (pictured), president of Texas Tech University, recently announced that he is retiring effective in January 2009 or when a replacement is chosen, whichever comes first. Whitmore has served as president of Texas Tech University since September 2003. He came to Tech from the University of Iowa where he served as provost for seven years. Whitmore plans to return to the Texas Tech faculty as a professor.

Texas Tech University System Chancellor Kent Hance announced a presidential search committee comprised of Regent Bob Stafford, Regent Mark Griffin, Kay Cash, Bill Dean and Dean Pamela Eibeck.

UTSA Mexico Center gets $280,000 federal grant

The University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded $280,000 in congressional funding for the UTSA Mexico Center. The UTSA Mexico Center is an umbrella organization that will allow existing Mexico-related expertise at UTSA to collaborate on research projects and activities. Its primary goal is to generate dialogue and research on public policy issues that affect the people of Mexico and the United States.

Harriett Romo (pictured), executive director of the Mexico Center, said the funding would support UTSA student workers and additional programming. San Antonio's deputy consul general of Mexico, Alejandro Madrigal, said the center will promote a better understanding between the U.S. and Mexico.

Texas A&M regents approve revamped leadership plan

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved a revamped leadership team that adds two new senior-level positions and redefines duties of other senior-level positions. Texas A&M President Elsa Murano recommended the revised plan.

Two new executive vice presidents will head the new leadership team - one to concentrate on academic matters, including budgetary oversight for all activities affecting teaching and research and related activities and the other to be responsible for management oversight of facilities and operations, governmental affairs, marketing and communications and development.

A nationwide search will be conducted for executive vice president for academics and provost, Murano said. Jerry R. Strawser (left), currently interim executive vice president and provost, will continue in that position until the search is concluded. H. Russell Cross (right), currently deputy vice chancellor and associate dean of agriculture and life sciences, will serve as executive vice president for operations. Courtney K. Trolinger will assume the position of vice president for governmental affairs. She is currently assistant vice chancellor for external relations for the agriculture program.

Michael G. O'Quinn, now vice president for governmental affairs, will serve as vice president for institutional and federal affairs. Chad E. Wootton will serve as vice president for development and strategic outreach. He is now senior director of development for the Texas A&M Foundation. Jason D. Cook was promoted to vice president for marketing and communications. K. Sue Redman, previously senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer, will serve as special assistant to the president. Terry A. Pankratz was appointed interim senior vice president for finance and chief financial officer while a search is held to fill the position on a permanent basis.

Also on the leadership team are Dean Bresciani, vice president for student affairs; Charles A. Sippial, Sr., vice president for facilities; Tito Guerrero, III, vice president for diversity and associate provost; Pierce E. Cantrell, vice president and associate provost for information technology; and James A. Calvin, interim vice president for research; R. Bowen Loftin, vice president and chief executive officer for Texas A&M University at Galveston; Mark Weichold, dean and chief executive officer for Texas A&M University at Qatar, and R.C. Slocum, special advisor to the president.

Angelo State names coordinator of sponsored projects

Katie Marie Plum has been named coordinator of the Angelo State University's new Office of Sponsored Projects, where she will assist faculty and administration in securing research and program grants from state and federal agencies. Plum has a bachelor's degree from ASU and is currently enrolled in its master of education program.

Berry approved as SFA provost, VP for academic affairs

Dr. Richard Berry (pictured) was appointed provost and vice president for academic affairs by the Board of Regents of Stephen F. Austin State University at a recent meeting.

Berry had served as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs since July. Previously he was dean of the School of Fine Arts and became associate provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2006. SFA President Dr. Baker Pattillo said a committee conducted a nationwide search and considered more than 40 applicants before unanimously recommending Berry for the provost's position.

Berry earned an associate degree from Kilgore College in 1973. He received bachelor's and master's degrees from SFA and a Ph.D. from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Sue Pope Fund awards $1 million for clean-air efforts

The Sue Pope Fund has awarded $1 million in clean-air grants to North Texas agencies. The $2.25 million fund was created as the result of a 2005 settlement agreement between the group Downwinders at Risk and Swiss-based cement maker Holcium, which operates cement plants in Midlothian. Sue Pope is a Midlothian rancher, activist and founder of Downwinders at Risk, which targets pollution from the cement plants and other industries.

The grant awards are:

• $325,000 for the Dallas Sustainable Skylines to replace 325 taxis with hybrids or other cleaner-burning vehicles.
• $225,000 for the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the replacement of an all-diesel school bus with a hybrid bus for a North Texas school district.
• $150,000 for the Dallas Sustainable Skylines to integrate green building techniques in local affordable housing efforts.
• $150,000 for the Cedar Valley College for the development of its Sustainable Community Institute.
• $108,200 for the McKinney Avenue Transit Authority to retrofit four of its historic trolleys with air conditioning to boost ridership and reduce short trips by car.
• $45,000 for the City of Dallas for an electric lawnmower exchange program.

Dallas light rail project gets $88 million in funding

The U.S. Department of Transportation is recommending a $1.62 billion transportation funding package for Fiscal Year 2009 that includes new projects in nine cities across the nation, including a light rail project in Dallas. The recommendation is part of a total public transportation budget proposal of $10.1 billion, a 6.8 percent increase over FY 2008.

More than $1 billion is proposed for 15 projects that have active long-term commitments for federal funding, and are already under construction. Among them is the Dallas Northwest/Southeast Light Rail program, which will receive $88 million in FY 2009. This 21-mile extension will provide fixed-track transit service in heavily traveled transportation corridors. From Dallas' central business district, the line will extend northwest 10.9 miles along I-45 to the city of Farmer's Branch, and southeast 10.1 miles to Buckner Boulevard.

The project will provide an alternative to congested highway facilities, increase transit capacity, improve connectivity to regional activity centers and provide economic development opportunities. The line will carry nearly 45,900 weekday riders by 2025. The project will cost a total of $1.4 billion, with a federal New Starts share of $700 million.

Court battle brews over border fence on college campus

A refusal by officials at the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College to allow federal officials to conduct property surveys and environmental studies as part of its plan to erect a border fence could result in a court battle.

UTB-TSC President Juliet Garcia (pictured) says a fence would jeopardize safety, inhibit use of a golf course, harm the ecology and disrupt the historical character of the campus. That has prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to threaten a lawsuit to gain access to the property. Many people in the Rio Grande Valley oppose the 18-foot fence, designed to keep people from entering the country illegally.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was in the Rio Grande Valley this week to confer with local authorities on an alternate plan to build flood walls along the Rio Grande that could double as parts of a border fence.

The University of Texas regents adopted a resolution Wednesday saying it supports the Hidalgo County levee walls plan. The regents consider it a positive compromise to the plan to build a fence cutting across the UTB/TSC campus, isolating 166 acres on the other side of the fence and disrupting the campus.

W. Texas A&M narrows search for vice president

The field of candidates for the newly created position of vice president for institutional advancement at West Texas A&M University has been reduced to four. Among those who will be interviewed for the position are Russ Gibbs, Caroline Chamblin, Neal Weaver and Kevin Ludlum.

Gibbs is current associate vice chancellor for advancement programs and services at Texas Tech University. A former pastor, he is a graduate of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a former vice president for institutional advancement at Wayland Baptist University. Chamblin currently serves WTAMU as interim vice president for institutional advancement. She previously served the university as executive director of development and assistant to the president. She has a marketing and finance background and holds her bachelor's degree from Texas Tech and a master's from WTAMU.

Weaver is vice president for university relations at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. He has a media and public relations background and holds a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma Panhandle State, a master's from Southeastern Oklahoma State and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. Ludlum is managing director of institutional advancement for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. He also served as major gifts officer for the Texas Tech University System and as director of development for the College of Engineering at Tech. He holds degrees from Baylor University and Texas Tech and a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho.

A&M regents support Round Rock health science center

The board of regents of the Texas A&M University System recently approved a plan that would create a 25-acre Health Science Center campus in Round Rock. The new campus will give students a place to do their clinical trials in Round Rock, said Dr. Nancy Dickey (pictured) president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center.

Land for the health science center is comprised of a 15-acre gift from the Avery Ranch Co. Ltd., which has also agreed to sell the center another 10 acres at a discounted rate of about $1.3 million. The land is valued between $8 and $11 million, Dickey said.

Austin-Round Rock on list for counterterrorism grants

The federal Homeland Security Department has added the Austin-Round Rock area to the list of cities or regions eligible for counterterrorism grants. Cities are placed on the list if the Homeland Security Department considers them at high risk of a terrorist attack.

The list has been expanded from 45 areas to 60 areas that can apply for the nearly $782 million available. The urban area grants are divided into two tiers. The seven highest risk areas - including Los Angeles, New York and Washington - will compete for $430 million this year. The remaining 53 cities will compete for about $352 million.

The high-risk list has grown and shrunk in recent years, based on decisions the department says are not the result of specific threats or concerns but reflect an overall analysis of threat data.

TWU picks Clayton as provost, vice president

Texas Woman's University alumna Dr. Kay Clayton (pictured) has been named provost and vice president for academic affairs at her alma mater. She will begin her duties July 1. Clayton currently serves as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, where she has 12 years of senior administrative duties recorded including professor and chair of the department of human sciences.

Clayton received her bachelor's degree from Sam Houston State University, her master's from Our Lady of the Lake University and her Ph.D. from TWU. She replaces current Provost Dr. Carolyn Gunning, who is retiring at the end of the spring semester.

UTB-TSC proposes satellite branch in Raymondville

University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College's proposed $1.25 million satellite campus could see a boost in enrollment from Willacy County's job training office. Yvonne "Bonnie" Gonzalez, president of the Edinburg-based Workforce Solutions, said the project would better prepare the local workforce in both academic training and skills training.

The campus is designed to bring higher education to residents whose distance from college towns kept them home. Workforce Solutions will open a 3,000-square-foot office in the 10,000-square-foot building in downtown Raymondville. Last year, the job training agency helped 1,200 residents.

In June 2007, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration awarded the city a $1.25 million grant to develop a satellite campus with the University of Texas at Brownsville. The campus is projected to open in August 2009 and will feature three classrooms and a 600-square-foot computer lab.

Smith County Judge says no jail vote is planned for May

Smith County Judge Joel Baker (pictured) says the Smith County Commissioners Court is not planning to put a new jail bond issue before the voters in May. Smith ounty voters rejected a $125 million bond proposition in November.

Baker said recent news reports misrepresented comments he made on the subject as being those of the entire commission. He said there is no new jail plan for voters to consider, though he remains convinced the court should act soon on the problem of jail crowding.

Baker is also convinced that a May election could work, saying that the previous plan could be modified and broken down into smaller phases. However, several members of the Commissioners Court oppose a May election, saying there is not enough time to get all the necessary steps in place, and overcome voter opposition to the plan. The last day to call an election for May is March 10.

UTHSC Nursing School enrollment earns $686,500

The School of Nursing at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has been awarded $686,500 in additional state funding after a significant increase in the number of nursing graduates in 2007. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's Professional Nursing Shortage Program awarded the funds.

Robin Froman, R.N. (pictured), dean of the School of Nursing, said the key to UTHSC's success is doing a better job of selecting students and supporting them throughout the program. She said the funding will be used to staff eight more faculty positions and to continue to grow the enrollment.

The UT Health Science Center nursing program graduated 202 undergraduate nurses and 93 graduate nurses for a total of 295 nurses in 2007, an increase of 88 graduates over 2006 graduation figures. The goal of the Coordinating Board's program is to produce more nurses to stem an increasing shortage of nurses in the state and nation.

Lumberton ISD mulling $28.5 million bond package

Trustees for the Lumberton Independent School District are considering asking voters in May to approve two bond propositions totaling $28.5 million for new construction and to enlarge the high school and middle school.

The first proposition for $22 million would pay for a new $17.2 million fifth- and sixth-grade school complex, $2.3 million for a new high school library and new science labs and $1.6 million for middle school classrooms. The second proposition would seek approval of $6.5 million in bonds for a new high school auditorium and updates to the field house.

Superintendent Ron Sims said the expansion plan addresses current and future growth needs. School trustees already have purchased land for the proposed new middle school campus and are expected to call for the bond election to be held May 10.

Region XV Education Center building new science lab

The Region XV Education Service Center in San Angelo has begun construction on a 3,800-foot science lab that will host educational workshops for teachers from the region's 43 school districts.

The science lab, projected to cost $860,000 and be completed in August 2008, will host educational workshops aimed at improving training teachers to help students better understand scientific concepts, said David Smith (pictured), executive director of the Region XV Education Center. It will also provide safety practices and is equipped with technology capable of transmitting lessons and experiments to districts in the 18-county region.

Helping students better understand laboratory experiments is critical if Texas hopes to improve test scores, Smith said, as science is one of the most rigorous portions of the state-mandated TAKS test, has the toughest requirement to pass and is one on which Texas students generally score lowest.

Enrollment in UTEP's 15-month nursing program grows

The University of Texas at El Paso's Accelerated Fast Track Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is enrolling more students attracted to nursing. The new program allows holders of bachelor's degrees to receive a nursing degree in a highly intensive 15-month nursing program.

The demand for nurses is soaring. Estimates show that 40 percent of clinical nurses and nurse educators will retire by 2010. The Texas Department of State Health Services estimates the state will be short 71,000 nurses by 2020.

UTEP officials say the Fast Track nursing program began in 2005 with a class of 15. This year's class began with 30 students, and they are projecting 40 students next year.

Svennungsen begins term as Texas Lutheran president

Ann Svennungsen (pictured) has been inaugurated as the 14th president of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin. Followed by a procession of hundreds of academic and university leaders and church officials, Svennungsen took the stage of Jackson Auditorium last week to begin her term as the first female president in the school's 117-year history.

Svennungsen was named president on July 1, 2007, after a national search by the TLU Board of Regents. She graduated summa cum laude in mathematics from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., and received her Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.

Svennungsen spent 22 years in pastoral ministry, serving congregations in Iowa City, Iowa, and Minneapolis. In 1996, she became senior pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead, Minn. In 2003, she was named president of Atlanta-based Fund for Theological Education.

Cleburne studies $25 million in airport improvements

An aviation planner told Cleburne city officials last week that projects necessary to meet growing needs at the Cleburne Municipal Airport over the next 20 years will cost about $24.8 million dollars. The projects include restoring the runway, adding parking lots, hangars, fencing and more security and upgrading the terminal.

An engineer on the project said the projects could be done as a series of five-year projects. He said the city might be eligible for $17.5 million in funding from the Texas Department of Transportation, the Federal Aviation Administration and other sources, leaving about $7.3 million of the cost to the city.

The FAA must approve a report on the improvements before the Cleburne City Council can act on the project. That will take about six months.

Corpus Christi ISD ponders future bond election

Corpus Christi Independent School District trustees are studying three possible bond dates and four possible bond options for a possible multimillion-dollar bond election to renovate district facilities. Superintendent Scott Elliff (pictured) said the discussions are the first step in looking at the district's needs and financing them.

District staff presented trustees with bond package options for $70 million, $95 million, $116 million and $166 million at last week's meeting. The board's options for when a bond election could be presented to taxpayers this year include May 10, Nov. 4 or May 9, 2009.

Voters rejected CCISD's last bond issue - a $230 million issue in 2004 that would have funded renovations and a new Southside high school. The $70 million, $95 million and $116 million bond options would mean no tax increase. The district's facility needs range from ceiling tile and restroom repair to replacement of roofs and air-conditioning system repair. Twenty-two campuses are more than 50 years old and in need of such repairs.

Humble ISD officials reviewing $210M bond proposal

The Humble Independent School District board of trustees is reviewing a recommendation to ask voters to approve bonds totaling $210 million in May.

Members of the Bond 2008 committee recently recommended the district issue $147.05 million in bonds to purchase land and build four new schools, including two elementary schools and two middle schools.

The bond committee also recommended issuing an additional $68.8 million in bonds to pay for improving existing facilities and other capital improvements, including:

• $18.7 million for improvements to the Community Learning Center;
• $13.5 million for renovations to Turner Stadium;
• $10 million for new school buses;
• $7 million for district police station;
• $3.6 million for addition to the Instructional Support Center;
• $3 million for renovations at Kingwood Park, Atascocita Middle and Timberwood Middle schools;
• $2.5 million for new science classrooms and roof for Humble High School;
• $1.35 million for snack and common areas at Kingwood Middle School;
• $1.2 million for science labs at Ross Sterling Middle School;
• $1.13 million for kitchen renovations at Oaks Elementary School; and
• $848,300 for roof refurbishments at Kingwood Park.

Austin to host Congress of New Urbanism

This year's Congress on New Urbanism conference is scheduled for April 3-6 in Austin at the Austin Convention Center. Titled "New Urbanism and the Booming Metropolis," the conference will center on the planning and development of walkable, sustainable neighborhoods with the leaders who are turning the world toward great urbanism.

Hundreds of developers, architects, landscape architects, city planners, urban designers, engineers, environmental consultants, housing specialists, real estate investors, government officials, students, community activists and interested members of the public will attend. The conference will include dozens of educational opportunities and tours of some of Austin's latest urban redesign projects, such the Mueller Airport Redevelopment, Austin's Downtown and the city's Green Building Program.

Speakers will include Robert Caro, biographer and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who will speak on the state of urbanism in America and more specifically in Texas, and a panel of leading developers will discuss why New Urbanism is a wise investment in a down market. Austin Mayor Will Wynn and architect, educator, and author Sinclair Black will address how the City of Austin is responding to the looming global warming crisis. Rep. Mike Krusee will welcome participants to Austin, and introduce Henry Cisneros, developer, former mayor of San Antonio and former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

DART to host design-build forum on Monday

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is inviting construction contractors to a design-build forum on Monday, Feb. 11. Interested vendors will have the opportunity to learn about upcoming opportunities to provide design-build services for the next phase of DART's rail expansion, the Orange and Blue line light rail expansion projects.

This will be DART's first use of the design-build delivery method. DART anticipates engaging teams to perform both architecture/engineering and construction services for the Orange Line expansion and the Blue Line expansion. It is the intent to award separate contracts for each project, although teams will not be precluded from competing separately for both projects.

This event will be held at DART Headquarters, 1401 Pacific Avenue (Map). Registration will begin at 8 a.m., followed by a presentation and networking program from 9 to 11 a.m. in the 2nd floor Atrium. More information regarding the planned solicitation is available on the purchasing section of DART's Web site.

Federal funds to target Central Texas water projects

The 2008 omnibus federal spending bill included $963,000 in federal funds to pay for two Central Texas Water projects.

The Texas Water Development Board received $713,000 to enable the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help water regions determine if current water supplies can be better allocated for future water needs. While the Corps receives federal funding for that process every year, the extra funding allows planning groups to study the Texas reservoirs managed by the Corps. Data from the planning groups' studies will be used to update the Corps future plans.

The Williamson County Regional Water Reuse system received $250,000 to be used to increase the use of wastewater for irrigation landscaping purposes. The funding will build pipelines and expand reuse capabilities at existing water treatment plants in Williamson County, including the Brushy Creek Regional Water Treatment Plant in Round Rock. The plant provides wastewater treatment services for the cities of Cedar Park, Round Rock and Austin.

New federal funds will
soon be headed to Texas

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

Sometimes it takes tragic events to remind us of our vulnerabilities as a nation. But in the aftermath of these events, such as the terrorist attacks of 9-11 and Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, the results often lead to an examination of the security of our homeland.

Since those events, government at all levels - local, state and federal - have focused on ways to prevent catastrophic events while also taking steps to improve protection for all Americans and ensure adequate response to any devastating events that might occur.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to be a source of funding not only for federal projects, but also for those at the state and local levels. Since the agency began, more than $22 billion has been allocated to local and state governments. For Fiscal Year 2008, more than $3 billion will be awarded to state and local governments, urban areas and transportation authorities.

Weslaco ISD considering $25 million bond issue

Trustees for the Weslaco Independent School District are expected to ask voters to approve $25 million in bonds to renovate two schools and begin districtwide air conditioning improvements.

Renovations to the 50-year-old Cuellar Middle School are expected to cost $12 million, while renovations to Sam Houston Elementary and the air conditioning project would be funded with the remaining $13 million, said Superintendent Richard Rivera (pictured).

Work to begin in 2008 on Bush Turnpike extension

The North Texas Tollway Authority will begin construction of the eastern extension of the Bush Turnpike later this year, with contracts likely to be let within two months. That is good news, according to North Texas Tollway Authority chairman Paul Wageman, who made the announcement to local officials, residents and others for the launch of the long-awaited road project.

The road will run 9.9 miles east from State Highway 78 to Interstate 30 and pass through Rowlett, Garland and Sachse. Wageman said the extension will be completed by late 2011 and is expected to cost about $1.04 billion. The Bush Turnpike, named for President George H.W. Bush, is currently 30.5 miles long.

Aransas County ISD superintendent to retire

Wayne Johnson will retire in June as superintendent of the Aransas County School District. Johnson has served as superintendent since August 2001. He also worked as assistant principal and principal of Rockport-Fulton High School and assistant superintendent of operations during his 17 years at the district.

Trustees last week named Joseph Patek, the associate superintendent, as the only finalist to replace Johnson when he steps down.

UT System bulk purchases initiative cutting costs

The health science centers in The University of Texas System are expected to net $2.5 million in savings during the first year of a newly announced initiative to cut costs through bulk purchases. Scott Kelley (pictured), executive vice chancellor for business affairs for the UT System told system regents about the results of the Supply Chain Alliance Strategic Initiative this week during their board meeting. The initiative was approved in October 2006. The goal of the program is to maximize the institutions' buying power and reduce costs.

Already, the six health institutions of the UT System have entered into two bulk purchasing contracts for lab equipment and commonly purchased items such as freezers, gloves, beakers, lab products, etc. The initiative also will explore other opportunities during the next year, such as information technology, facilities and physical plants, business administration and medical supplies.

SFA names new director of information technology

The Stephen F. Austin State University Board of Regents has named Paul T. Davis as director of Information Technology Services. A 1993 graduate of SFA, Davis joined the university's information technology department that same year as a programmer and then as manager of technical support and assistant director. Davis has served two terms as interim director of the department since March 2007.

Wehmeyer to retire as Stockdale ISD assistant

After 24 years as a teacher, principal and administrator with Stockdale Independent School District, Vicki Wehmeyer is retiring from her position as assistant superintendent.

Wehmeyer is a graduate of Stockdale High School who taught in Sequin and Dilley before joining Stockdale ISD in 1984 as a fifth-grade teacher. Wehmeyer became assistant superintendent in 1992.

Hays CISD trustees call bond election for May

The Hays Consolidated ISD Board of Trustees has called for an $86.7 million bond election on May 10. The bonds, if approved, would pay for two new elementary schools and a new middle school to address continued enrollment growth, and for improvements to campuses throughout the district. Dr. Kirk London (pictured), Superintendent of Hays CISD, addressed recent news of a possible economic slowdown, saying the he expects the district to continue to grow 900 to 1,000 students a year. He added that he is concerned that if the district waits until 2010, they will have significant crowding problems in parts of the district.

The bond package includes two new elementary schools; a new middle school; $2.4 million for new buses; $2 million for the purchase of land, infrastructure and contingencies; $2 million for technology/security; $7 million for district-wide improvements; $1.3 million to improve the running tracks at Barton, Wallace and Dahlstrom middle schools; and $2 million for furniture, fixtures and equipment in the new schools.

Vidor ISD reviewing $60 to $70 million bond proposal

Officials of Vidor Independent School District are reviewing a $60 to $70 million bond proposal to build new classrooms, a new administration building and pay for renovations.

The first proposition for approximately $40 million would fund a wing at the high school to replace portable buildings and construction of a new administration building. The second proposition includes upgrades to athletic facilities, a new middle school gym and other upgrades to district buildings. Board members will study the proposition before making a decision by March 10 for a May bond election.

Dallas ISD advised to seek $1.3 billion bond issue

The Dallas Independent School District board of trustees was advised to a set a planned bond election for $1.3 billion, based on a poll showing that is the largest amount the district's voters would approve. A task force studying the district's facility needs has made recommendations for as much as $2.65 billion.

Now the committee is recommending the school board place a measure for roughly half that amount for May's ballot. The committee also suggested the district would need to seek another $1.3 billion in four years to cover the estimated $2.65 billion in facility needs over the next eight years.

Weatherford College closer to Wise County campus

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved an election for a Branch Campus Maintenance Tax to allow Weatherford College to open a campus in Wise County.

The Wise County Steering Committee and Weatherford College requested the coordinating board approve the election before asking county commissioners to call an election. The tax, if approved, would fund maintenance and operation of the proposed campus to be located between Bridgeport and Decatur. Dr. Joe Birmingham (pictured), president of Weatherford College, suggested a November election to coincide with the General Election and giving the steering committee enough time to inform the public on the proposal.

UT announces state's first online nursing doctorate

The state's first online doctoral degree in nursing will be offered in the fall 2008 semester through The University of Texas System's TeleCampus. The program is yet another way the state and institutions of higher education are seeking to address the shortage of nursing faculty in Texas as well as the shortage of nurses. Professors teaching the classes on campus also will be involved with the online classes. The program is based at UT-Tyler and students would have to enroll there.

Gonzales Council updated
on manager search

Gonzales City Council members have met with a consultant in the city's search for a new city manager. The consultants said each of the finalists would be given a quick test to determine their scores in personality traits. She told the council she expects more than 30 total applicants before she brings them to the city for review on Feb. 12. Of the 24 current applicants, 11 are from Texas, including one from Gonzales, and the others come from Georgia, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Minnesota and Tennessee.

City officials plan to narrow the field down to five finalists and have them as guests in Gonzales during early March. Final interviews would be held during that time and a new city manager could be at work by April 1.

Plano seeks $105,000 in grants for green programs

The City of Plano is seeking $104,900 in grants from the North Central Texas Council of Governments to develop and promote "green" initiatives during 2008. Most of the money from the three grants would be used on educational programs to teach residents about the various ways they can lessen their impact on the environment.

The grants would be used in a series of the city projects, including educational exhibits on recycling, a study to find ways to relieve the downtown area of cigarette litter and recycling programs that range from light bulb recycling and managing construction site waste to teaching apartment dwellers how to recycle.

Don Jeffries to head Greenville ISD

Trustees for the Greenville Independent School District have hired Don Jeffries as their new superintendent. Jeffries, who currently serves as principal of Greenville High School, previously has served as an associate superintendent, a superintendent, an assistant superintendent and a classroom teacher.

Jeffries replaces former Superintendent Lloyd Graham who resigned in December to take a job in La Porte Independent School District beginning April 1.

Comal ISD wish list $240 million for 2008 bond issue

Trustees for the Comal Independent School District are considering a staff recommendation for projects totaling $240 million for a 2008 bond issue. The $240 million would pay for construction, land purchase and technology needs through 2010.

Superintendent Marc Walker (pictured) said district staff recommended construction of several new elementary schools and renovations to existing middle and high schools that would cost $240 million. Enrollment at CISD has nearly doubled in the last 10 years and is expected to exceed 22,000 by 2013, he said. A 50-member citizen's advisory committee is meeting throughout February to study district needs along with the staff recommendations and are expected to report their findings to trustees in March.

SPI opportunities

Healthcare consultants

SPI is in need of individuals with subject matter expertise and well-established credentials in the healthcare arena (particularly in the Dallas and Houston areas). Applicants should have well-maintained relationships and a strong background in healthcare, either as a former top-level decision-maker for a hospital (such as an administrator, CEO, CFO, COO, etc.), or through experience in other venues such as statewide hospital or healthcare associations or agencies that deal with healthcare entities throughout the state. To apply for these consulting positions at SPI, please send a brief cover letter and a copy of your resume to J. Lyn Carl at jcarl@spartnerships.com and put "Application for Healthcare Consultant" in the subject line, or for more information, send an e-mail to the same address.

Governor's appointments

Gov. Rick Perry recently made the following appointments:

• Ernie Morales of Devine, presiding officer, Texas Animal Health Commission
• Janiece Longoria of Houston, University of Texas Board of Regents

Recent Reports

• Texas In Focus: A Statewide View of Opportunities, State Comptroller's Office
• An Audit Report on Earned Federal Funds at Selected Agencies
• SPI's Defense Appropriations Bill Earmarks Report
• SPI's November 2007 Bond Election Results Report

Event Links

• Congress of the New Urbanism National Conference
• DFW NIGP Lone Star Regional Purchasing Conference
• Texas State University Small Business Development Center training schedule
• Texas Distance Learning 11th Annual Conference
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 5 Archives · 11/7/03 - 2/1/08

Seguin ISD gets federal grant to improve technology

The Seguin Independent School District has received a $700,000 federal grant to improvement its technology and telecommunications systems. The grant, under the Schools and Libraries Program of the Universal Service Fund, known as "E-Rate," will pay for Internet access, telecommunications systems in five schools, communications and information technology software and equipment including switchers, routers and servers, a firewall and maintenance and technical support.

Superintendent Irene Garza said the funding would help the district in connecting with the Distance Learning Highway and to pay for the purchase of PBX phone systems for the five local campuses that still lack them.

Plans for new Aransas Pass marina to be unveiled soon

The project coordinator for the Conn Brown Harbor Marina said he expects the five-year plan developed by architects to be unveiled to Aransas Pass City Council at its meeting on Feb. 22.

Mike Sullinger, project coordinator, said current plans call for 800 to 1,000 floating docks, dry stack storage for 800 to 1,000 boats, a marina with a ship's store and yacht club, 75 to 100 moorings for shrimp boats, a shrimp bar over the water, two restaurants, a strip center, a substation for the harbor master and police and a shrimp boat rigging repair facility. The project also calls for taking advantage of existing Army Corps of Engineer permits by building the marina on the west side of the harbor.

Flower Mound restricts cell phone use in school zones

The Flower Mound Town Council has approved an ordinance to prohibit drivers from using a handheld cell phone in a school zone. Flower Mound joins Highland Park and University Park, which passed similar measures late last year. The new law, which carries a fine of up to $200, goes into effect in March.

Dallas is also considering a similar cell phone ban. The Dallas City Council's public safety committee is reviewing the issue and will vote on it in two weeks. Committee members say they expect the full council to approve the ban.

Fort Bend officials consider bonds for new courthouse

Fort Bend County Commissioners are considering whether to ask voters to approve $70 million in bonds for a courthouse complex that will consolidate most of the county's courtrooms, including an underground tunnel connecting the courts with the jail.

County Judge Bob Hebert (pictured) said he is open to calling a bond election as early as March but would also consider a November bond election if more discussion is needed on the plan which was presented to commissioners court on Tuesday. The architect's plan features 19 courtrooms and space for the district and county clerk's offices, which serve the court system, as well as the district attorney's office. A single courts facility would consolidate a security effort that now spans six buildings, and would address existing issues of parking and efficiencies.

Dallas panel OKs plan to use thumbprints on some tickets

A proposal by Dallas police to collect thumbprints from people who receive citations but cannot identify themselves has been approved by the City Council's public safety committee. The plan must now be approved by the City Council.

Up to 30 people must be cleared each month for minor crimes and infractions committed in their names by others, officials said. Under the proposal, officers would carry fingerprinting pads with them. When someone being ticketed cannot produce identification, they would be asked to put a thumbprint on the back of the citation.

A&M San Antonio campus plan gets a boost

Trustees for the San Antonio Water System gave the proposed Texas A&M University - San Antonio campus a boost this week when they agreed to provide sewer service to the development group donating land for the campus.

The SAWS board approved an agreement to provide sewer service for the equivalent of 21,558 homes on a 2,659-acre tract owned by the Verano Land Group L.P. Verano last year agreed to donate 694 acres of the tract south of Southwest Loop 410 for the campus. The company plans to recoup its investment by putting commercial and residential development on the rest of the property. Construction of the campus is scheduled to begin next year.

Longoria named to UT System Board of Regents

Janiece Longoria (pictured), a Houston attorney, has been named to the University of Texas System Board of Regents for a term that will expire in February 2011. Longoria is a director of Centerpoint Energy and a commissioner of the Port of Houston Authority.

Longoria also serves on the boards of the Greater Houston Partnership, Galveston Bay Foundation and Heritage Society. She succeeds Robert Estrada of Fort Worth.

Two San Antonio school districts facing funds crisis

Two of San Antonio's urban school districts, San Antonio and Harlandale, are taking steps to shrink their school systems. Both districts are strapped for cash and have few opportunities to increase revenues.

Superintendent Robert Duron of the San Antonio ISD has recommended to the school board that it close six schools at the end of the year to save money and improve academic offerings for all students. In the Harlandale ISD, Superintendent Guillermo Zavala is studying a three-part plan to deal with a $3.9 million budget deficit. Both districts are seeing a reduction in population, and are already at the maximum tax rate. Both districts will likely need to close schools and eliminate some positions to operate without a deficit.

Henderson treatment facility plans expansion

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has awarded a $120 million contract to Management & Training Corp. that will add an additional 1,300 beds to the East Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility in Henderson. The facility will be licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide intensive substance abuse treatment and education by trained, licensed staff.

The five and one-half year contract goes into effect on March 1 and is expected to add 367 jobs at the facility that opened last year, said Michael Bell, the MTC warden. MTC in 2006 agreed to build a 300-bed facility in Henderson but instead built a larger facility anticipating the opportunity to bid on additional state contracts. The facility has capacity for 1,720 beds, Bell said, and 1,612 will be under contract with the state. Of those, 1,300 beds will be for treatment of substance abuse.

Port Neches selects finalists for city manager slot

The Port Neches City Council this week announced its two finalists for the city manager slot being vacated by Randy Kimler, who is slated to retire April 30.

The two finalists are Port Neches Fire Chief Steve Curran and Nederland City Manager Andre Wimer. Curran has been fire chief in Port Neches since 2004 and Wimer has headed up the city of Nederland since 1994. The two were chosen from nearly a dozen applicants and will be interviewed in the next two to three weeks. City officials hope to name the new city manager sometime in March.

Bryan ISD considers $37.5 million bond election

Bryan Independent School District trustees are considering calling a $37.5 million bond election, weighing whether renovations to several aging school buildings can wait another year. Trustees have until March 3 to decide whether to ask voters to pass a bond. Bryan schools Superintendent Mike Cargill (pictured) said any bond election would not result in an increase in the tax rate. The rate is currently 25 cents per $100,000 of property valuation. Trustees will meet three more times in February in a final push to finalize a list of projects to include in the possible election, Cargill said.

BISD officials have identified nine projects valued at $37 million, including purchasing land for two future elementary schools. Most of those projects involve upgrading and maintaining aging facilities.

Longview ISD panel supports $266M bond

A volunteer bond steering committee in Longview has unanimously supported a proposal for the Longview Independent School District to issue $266.8 million in bonds. Longview ISD officials said if voters approve the bonds, every school in the district will be affected. The plan calls for consolidating 11 elementary schools into seven new campuses, additions to Doris McQueen Primary to become a K-5 campus and to South Ward Elementary School. The estimated cost for the elementary schools is $121 million.

The bond recommendation also calls for rebuilding the district's three middle schools at a cost of $107 million. Renovations at Longview High School, including a new fine arts center, and expansion of the Career and Technology Education Building will cost about $34.6 million while upgrading technology districtwide will take another $4 million of the bond issue.

Malakoff ISD calling $7 million bond election

The Malakoff Independent School District Board of Trustees has called a $7 million bond election to be held at the same time as the school board election on May 10. If approved, the funds will be used for a 10-year plan for improvements to Malakoff's high school and middle school, as well as a replacement plan for the district's buses and technology.

School officials say the bond will not raise taxes. Superintendent Dr. John Spies said the bond will help the district keep more taxpayer money in Malakoff.

Ex-lawmaker Sadler to lead wind power advocacy group

Former State Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson has been named executive director for The Wind Coalition. The coalition is a nonprofit regional trade group of 25 wind power producers and manufacturers based in Austin.

Sadler said the coalition is pushing for the continued development of wind resources in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) market in Texas, as well as the Southwest Power Pool, which manages electric grids in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. In 2007, the industry invested $3 billion in wind-powered electric generators, expanding the state's capacity by 59 percent, according to Sadler.

ASU Nursing Department garners second THECB Grant

A nearly $300,000 partnership grant by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has been awarded to Angelo State University's Department of Nursing. The funds are dedicated to a new program to help curb the shortage of nurses in Texas. The grant is part of a $2.4 million package awarded to 12 schools that make up the West Texas Nursing Education Consortium. The schools will develop a regionalized application process to allow students to apply through a central portal to their top three choices among the consortium nursing programs. This prevents students from having to apply to each program individually and allows the system to refer them to other programs if the ones they choose are filled.

Plano ISD studying $490 million bond issue

Trustees for the Plano Independent School District are studying whether to ask voters to approve the sale of approximately $490 million in bonds to build four new schools and renovate others. An advisory committee recommended the district build a new preschool and middle school in east Plano, an elementary school in Parker and a high school for grades nine and 10 in Murphy, primarily in the east side of the district. The four new schools make up about $141 million of the proposed bond issue, while campus additions, renovations and other items add another $211 million.

The proposal includes expansions at the three senior high schools, an alternative school, Vines High School, Haggard Middle School and Forman Elementary School. It also recommends updating high school science labs and purchasing security cameras. Trustees are expected to make a decision soon on whether to ask for the bond election to be held in May.

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Austin to host Congress of New Urbanism conference

The Congress of the New Urbanism will hold its national conference this year on April 2-6 in Austin. CNU XVI will feature Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Caro, former mayor of San Antonio and former U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros and uber planner Andres Duany. More than 200 expert speakers are scheduled for presentations, debates and seminars. Organizers note that Austin has transformed itself and the surrounding Central Texas area "into a New Urban model" and the conference will focus on how the city's progressive planning can promote sustainability and quality of life for a fast-growing city. To view the program for the conference, click here. To register online, click here.

DFW NIGP hosts Lone Star Purchasing Conference

The DFW Metroplex Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing will host the 2008 Lone Star Regional Purchasing Conference on May 5-7 at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. This educational conference will begin on Monday, May 5, and will continue through 12 noon Wednesday, May 7. Conference attendees will receive a certificate at the end of the conference stating that they have earned 18 contact hours. For more information and to download a registration form, click here.

Texas Public Purchasing Assn. plans spring workshop

The newly formed Texas Public Purchasing Association will meet Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 26-28, for its Spring Workshop 2008. The event will be at the Thompson Conference Center at The University of Texas at Austin. Legislative objectives and initiatives are on the Tuesday agenda with project management, construction Ts and Cs, alternative procurement methods for construction and contract management the topics for Wednesday. Thursday's agenda includes a session on "Winning Public Trust through Performance Leadership." To download a registration form, click here. To register online, click here.

Texas Distance Learning Assn. conference set for March

The 11th annual Texas Distance Learning Association Conference will be held March 24-27 at Moody Gardens in Galveston. Keynote speakers for the conference, "Sail Into Distance Learning," include Alan November, who will discuss the importance of how distance learning technology is used, motivational speaker Dave Carey and Gary Stager, who will offer real-life examples of educational technology learning. In addition to these speakers, the conference also will feature exhibits, breakout sessions, hands-on sessions, meetings and focused gatherings for not only distance learning professionals, but also those new to distance learning. To register, click here. For sponsorship information, click here. To view the conference program, click here.