Whitman earned a bachelor's degree from Southwest Texas State University and a master's from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

Steinberg leaving as deputy secretary of U.S. State Department

James Steinberg (pictured) recently announced he is leaving his position as the second ranking official of the U.S. Department of State. Steinberg, who served as the dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas prior to joining the State Department, resigned to become dean of the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. He also served in the administration of former President Bill Clinton prior to his service at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
 

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has nominated Bill Burns, who now serves as under secretary for political affairs, to replace Steinberg.

UTMB, which was first granted the designation in 1999, is one of just three Level 1 centers in the Houston area. To regain the designation, the hospital had to have 12 months of data that proved it was providing educational programs, research support and around-the-clock specialty care.
 

The designation lasts for three years and is confirmed by the American College of Surgeons.
 
"This re-designation validates what UTMB has been doing for more than a decade - providing the absolute best and highest level of trauma care," said Dr. David L. Callender (pictured), president of UTMB.

Moore named to Texas State System vice chancellor position

The provost of Texas State University System, Perry Moore (pictured), has been named system vice chancellor for academic affairs, effective in July.

As the chief academic officer, he will oversee curriculum development, academic program planning and academic standards and policies. Moore had served as provost since 2004 and as provost at Wright State University in Ohio before that. 

He holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Midwestern State University and a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. 

Moore succeeds James Gaertner, former president of Sam Houston State University, who left retirement to serve as vice chancellor on a limited-term basis. 

Rice's Lindsay to become president of Gordon College

Rice University sociology professor D. Michael Lindsay (pictured) has been named president of Gordon College in Boston, effective July 1. In addition to serving as president, this leading expert on religion and public life will also be a professor of sociology.

At Rice, Lindsay is a scholar at the university's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and directs the Program for the Study of Leadership. He joined the Rice faculty in 2006 after working with the George H. Gallup International Institute. He holds a bachelor's degree from Baylor University and graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. His Ph.D. is from Princeton University. 
 

Lindsay is replacing the retiring R. Judson Carlberg, who has served as president since 1992.

Texas State President Denise Trauth (pictured) said the university's enrollment "reflects the true changing face of Texas" and that the university now will "direct our efforts toward becoming the best HSI in the state."
 

The U.S. Department of Education's HSI program offers grants to allow schools to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students through enhanced academic offerings, program quality and institutional stability. Texas State also will be able to file for grant funding. Last year, the Department of Education handed out HSI grants that totaled more than $600 million.

ACC's Benton chosen to chair Texas Board of Nursing

Kristin Benton (right) works with nursing student Angelina Vasquez.

Austin Community College District professor Kristin Benton has been named to chair the Texas Board of Nursing.

The board's responsibility is to ensure that Texas nurses meet the requirements for practicing in the nursing profession and also oversees accreditation of nursing schools.
 

Benton came to ACC in 2000 and in 2008 was appointed by the governor to the Board of Nursing as a vocational nursing education representative.

"One of the greatest rewards of serving on the board has been what I can bring back to students. I enjoy incorporating current nursing issues into the courses I teach," said Benton, who will continue full-time teaching at ACC while serving as board chair.

Trustees budgeted $250,000 to create an eating establishment using about 3,100 square feet of space in the campus building as no other restaurants are close to the campus and students currently have no place to eat lunch or other meals, said Dr. Harold Nolte.

The second project is a redesign of a courtyard at the main campus in Corsicana to respond to complaints that students do not feel safe at night because lighting is dim and the area has a heavy overgrowth of vegetation. Plans call for adding lighting, removing some of the heavy greenery and upgrading walkway surfaces as well as adding more seating areas.

Deputy Chancellor Bill Alexander (left) and Deputy Chancellor for Resource Management Robert Farrell also accepted buy-out packages from the college and will step down from those positions prior to Aug. 31.
 

The buy-out packages are expected to save the college by replacing longtime, higher paid employees with younger, lower paid employees, Anderson said. The cost of the package is estimated to be about $1.15 million as employees are paid the equivalent of between five and nine months of salary. Anderson said he plans to assist trustees in their search to find a new chancellor.

The estimated savings in the report is much lower than a recent estimate of $4.5 million to $5 million in savings included in his recommendation. That proposal was to merge five entities into one central office to manage research to save money and increase efficiency. The committee reported that the $1.7 million in savings would result by eliminating 28 full-time positions at an average cost of $60,000 each. This would reduce the number of staff managing research to 218.
 

The five entities that now manage research for the System are Texas A&M University, the nonprofit Research Foundation, the Health Science Center and two state agencies, the Texas Engineering Experiment Station and Texas AgriLife Research. These five separate entities oversaw about $53 million received in overhead costs from government grants in 2009. Seemann, who also is the vice president for research for Texas A&M University, said the Research Administration Shared Services Development and Implementation Steering Committee is moving slowly to ensure the merger does no harm to existing research capabilities of faculty members. The merger will take place in two phases, he said.

Sorrels will be new associate provost, dean at Rio Grande College

Dr. J. Paul Sorrels (pictured) has been chosen to fill the role of associate provost and dean of Sul Ross State University's Rio Grande College, effective May 1. He replaces Dr. Terry Carson, who will remain as a faculty member in Business Administration.
 

Sorrels has spent 10 years as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at East Texas Baptist University. He worked as a psychologist and clinical supervisor in private practice and at Hardin-Simmons University. From 1985 to 1994, he was Director of Graduate Programs in family ministry and family psychology at Hardin-Simmons and served as Dean of Graduate Studies and Special Programs there from 1993-1998. Before moving to East Texas Baptist, Sorrels was Vice President of Academic Affairs and faculty dean at Bluefield College in Virginia. He has also taught at Wayland Baptist University, Dallas Baptist College and Mountainview College.
 

Sorrels holds a bachelor's degree from Howard Payne University and a master's and Ph.D. from Texas Woman's University. He has conducted post-doctoral study at Rice University and Texas Tech.

UT-Tyler picks Slann as new dean of College of Arts, Sciences

The University of Texas at Tyler's College of Arts and Sciences has a new dean. Dr. Martin W. Slann (pictured) will begin working for the university in that capacity in July. He will replace Dr. Kenneth Wink, who has been serving as interim dean.
 

Slann comes to UT Tyler from the University of North Carolina-Pembroke, where he was a professor of political science and dean of the university's College of Arts and Sciences. He is a former associate dean of Macon State College's School of Arts and Sciences and also was Director of Academic Affairs at Penn State University-Wilkes-Barr and Political Science Department chair at Clemson University.
 

Slann holds a master's degree from the University of Connecticut and a Ph.D. from the University of Georgia.

Fort Worth officials seek quick start to building new rail lines

New rail lines to increase public transit use is a goal of city officials in Fort Worth. Mayor Mike Moncrief said transit issues should be made a priority and called commuter rail "a desperate need." Fort Worth ranks lower than many other major cities in Texas regarding transit use and Moncrief said a commuter rail line from southwest Fort Worth to Grapevine and the north end of the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport needs to be expedited.
 

Only 1.3 percent of Fort Worth residents use transit to get to work, according to Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa (pictured). Costa cited figures showing that 4.3 percent of Dallas residents use transit to get to work, 5 percent in Austin, 7.9 percent in Denver and 54 percent in New York.
 

Officials with the Fort Worth Transportation Authority will soon submit a request for funding for the TEXrail project and if funding is approved, preliminary engineering could be completed by late next year and construction could begin in 2013.

ACC to host two president finalists; third drops out

Officials of the Austin Community College had announced public forums next week so that faculty, staff, students and the community may meet the two finalists - Dr. Katherine Persson, president of Lone Star College-Kingwood at The Woodlands and Dr. Richard Rhodes, president of El Paso Community College. A third finalist - Dr. Donald Doucette, senior vice president and provost of Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, has withdrawn his name from consideration after he was appointed chancellor for the Eastern Iowa Community College District.
 

The forums will be held at Eastview Campus and Highland Business Center April 4-6. They are scheduled for both morning and afternoon hours. 
 

When chosen by the Board of Trustees, the new president will replace current President Stephen Kinslow, who is retiring after 34 years with the college, the last six as president. Officials plan to announce the new president in May.

Williamson issues $76M in road bonds; seeks expanded tax base

Hoping to encourage growth and increase its tax base, Williamson County officials recently approved issuance of $76 million in road bonds. They are part of a $250 million bond package approved in 2006 to deal with parks and road issues. County Auditor David Flores (pictured) said building more roads helps bring more businesses and residential housing to the area, resulting in an increased tax base.
 

Flores added that with multiple bidders, the county is likely to get a better deal on construction costs right now, and a lower-than-expected bond rate saved the county $5 million in interest.
 

Among the planned projects are adding two lanes to Ronald Reagan Blvd. from RM 2338 to Texas 195, adding a three-lane section on County Road 108 from U.S. 79 to Limmer Loop, a four-lane extension of Great Oaks Drive to O'Connor Drive and a four-lane extension of County Road 269 from Ronald Reagan Blvd. to RM 2243 and other projects.

The port's governing board, the Wharves Board of Trustees, scheduled a meeting on April 8 to find a way for the city and port officials to work together. The bill's sponsor said he needed more input from the city on a provision in the proposed legislation that would permit private investors to set rules, rates and tariffs at public ports.

The Galveston city charter and state law both permit the Wharves Board of Trustees to enter into leases and contracts without approval of city council with the provision that the city is not liable for legal damages. It would also require consent of the city on proposed leases and contracts. The agreement, which has not yet been approved by port officials, also calls for the joint venture partnership to pay the port's $60 million debt and a share of profits from cruise and freight revenues as well as pay an initial cash payment and annual payments.

The Upshur County EDC board proposed repaying the debt that the city currently carries on its books related to Lake Gilmer, said City Manager Jeff Ellington (pictured), who recommended the action. The Upshur County EDC will hold the water rights, he added.
 

The agreement also could mean a lower interest rate that would save about $1.8 million on interest because the corporation board is able to get a lower interest rate on a corporate loan. The corporation also can buy the board's water rights, which will give the corporation and the city 100 percent ownership of Lake Gilmer water, Ellington said. The city signed an agreement with the Texas Water Development Board to allow the city to borrow money to build Lake Gilmer.

As a part of the reorganization to address as much as a $48 million drop in state and local revenue, McCullough also eliminated 32 non-contract coordinator and secretary positions. Eliminating those 68 administrative positions is expected to save the district $2.6 million. The non-contract employees were notified last week. Board members voted for the superintendent to focus on eliminating administrative positions rather than teachers.
 

McCullough will ask trustees to approve eliminating the positions of the executive director for student services, the library services director, the staff development director and two assistant athletic directors. He also recommended eliminating eight assistant principals in high schools and four assistant principals in junior high schools along with eight coordinators and specialists in special education and other programs. Board members are expected to vote on the proposal soon. If the latest job cuts are approved, the action will bring to 538 the total number of job reductions for the district since early in February.

A similar citizen's committee helped win passage of a 2006, $29.8 million bond proposal, the mayor said. The city needs bond funds to pay for the $6 million a year for street repairs currently not included in the city's street repair general fund.
 

The committee should begin work this summer to decide whether the city should schedule a bond election and which projects should be included in the bond proposal, Archibald said. 

City of Bryan to open wellness center to serve its employees

With a goal of reducing health care costs, the city of Bryan this week opened a wellness center for city employees. The center will be manned by nurses, a nurse practitioner and a part-time doctor. They will either take appointments for city employees or walk-in clients for services that include regular checkups and illness exams. Deputy City Manager Hugh Walker (pictured) said the center is like "an express care center," where employees will be able to obtain prescriptions, be treated for minor illness or be referred to another physician.
 

A health system will operate the center and charge the city $380,000 per year to operate it, plus a one-time start-up cost. City officials say they fully expect to be able to recoup those costs through reduced health premiums.
 

Walker said he also expects employee sick days to be reduced. He said the goal is to serve 2,200 patients per year.

Orange County to build new $18 million multi-purpose facility

Orange County officials recently began seeking bids for a new $18 million multi-purpose facility that will serve as an emergency shelter and provide space for some county offices and special events.

The new 57,085-square-foot facility, the Community Hands Assembling Multi-Purpose Structure (CHAMPS), is a partnership between the county and a nonprofit organization with grants totaling about $10 million to pay for the county's portion of the cost. County officials expect to open bids on the new facility on April 5 and begin construction in May. The new facility, which also will contain an arena and softball fields, should be completed in one year. The large event room also will serve as an emergency shelter when needed, county officials said.
 

Plans call for the new facility to be built of concrete to withstand winds up to 200 miles per hour and for the finished floor elevation to be at 24 feet, county officials said. The Texas Department of Rural Affairs awarded grants that will pay for the event room/emergency shelter, the county offices and the emergency operations center, with the county paying the remaining costs.

The district's new flexible daily schedule, which will reduce the number of students in classes during the last two weeks of the school year, should allow the district to invest more resources into students who need testing intervention, said Mary Hlozek (pictured), assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. The prospect of leaving class two weeks early also should be an incentive to students to study harder and pass the new tests, she added.
 

Under the district's new flexible daily schedule, students will qualify for opting out of the last two weeks of the school year after passing the soon-to-be instituted end-of-course tests that will replace the TAKS exam. Students who do not pass the new end-of-course tests can attend school until the official end of the spring semester with the focus being on tutoring those students. The district must now win state approval to institute the shorter school year, Hlozek said. So far, 214 school districts have received a similar waiver, she said.

Austin ISD accepts facilities master plan from task force

Trustees for the Austin Independent School District recently accepted a report by the Facilities Master Plan Task Force that urges the closing of an elementary school and eight middle schools to help solve budget problems. The proposed facilities plan also has recommendations regarding leased facilities, boundary adjustments and the sale of administrative facilities.
 
Following citywide protests over closing the schools, Superintendent Meria Carstarphen (pictured) said the district has no plans to close schools by the start of the next school year. She also said she would like to schedule a meeting soon with public input so that findings in the report are discussed along with information she has received from officials of other school districts. One board member also suggested the board consider staging a bond election soon to upgrade school facilities.

San Antonio opens new online bidding registry for vendors

San Antonio city officials recently began use of a new centralized vendor registry that companies and individuals wanting to do business with the city will be required to join once the transition to the new electronic procurement system is complete.
 

The new all-electronic procurement system was a key component in a 2010 business ordinance that governs how the city can award contracts and conduct procurements. Before the ordinance, the city would post procurement requests and receive bids from anyone. The new ordinance requires all companies to join the registry to submit bids to the city, said Janie Cantu, director of purchasing and general services. During the transition, the new system will be used for products such as office supplies and services such as architecture, she added. The city plans to phase in construction projects to the new system later.
 

Once the four-step registration process is complete, businesses that list the products and services provided will receive notification from the online bidding registry and then may submit bids electronically, Cantu said. To encourage more businesses to sign up and use the new electronic procurement system, the city is staging a series of free workshops. City officials have not yet set a cutoff date when bidding will be restricted only to registered companies.

Abilene ISD plans to upgrade technology in 20 schools

Abilene Independent School District officials recently announced plans to spend about $7.3 million to upgrade technology in 20 elementary and middle schools to transform classrooms into learning centers that connect students and teachers with the Internet.

Grant funding will provide $6.3 million of the cost and the district is contributing $1 million to the project to wire buildings and add hardware. This will allow schools to have multiple outlets connecting computers to the Internet and to provide wireless capability to each classroom, said Mark Gabehart (pictured), chief technology officer for the district.
 

Because of budget pressures, district officials no longer plan to purchase the additional $1.2 million in computers or software the district had planned to purchase in the 2011-2012 school year, he said.

McAllen officials asked the council of government (COG), which represents Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo counties, to leave its current location in the old city hall because the building is needed to house city staff.
 

The COG could move into its new headquarters at the Weslaco Visitors Center by summer.
 

Weslaco Mayor Miguel "Mike" Wise (pictured) hopes the relocation prompts new businesses and some COG members to move to Weslaco.

No one seemed happy. "Alternative transportation" advocates wanted more than the $12.8 million already designated for bike and pedestrian paths. On the other side, roadway proponents were upset that money had been preserved and not shifted toward roads and rail.

In the 2011-2014 plan, the TPC has discretion over $346 million in federal funds. While about $266 million of those funds were allocated last year, the remaining $80 million was available.

The 38 acres is half of the 67 total acres district officials plan to acquire for the new high school voters approved in a November bond election. Negotiations with the property owner have been unsuccessful, Superintendent Scott Eliff (pictured) told trustees. District staff are in negotiation with neighboring property owners to acquire the remaining 29 acres needed for the new high school campus, Eliff said. District officials hope to open the new high school in 2014.Trustees also hired a design firm last week to design the new high school.

Leander City Council names Powers interim city manager

Robert Powers, City of Leander finance director, has been named the city's interim city manager. Powers has worked for the city since 2009. He will replace Anthony "Biff" Johnson, who died unexpectedly last week.

Powers holds an undergraduate degree from the University of  Notre Dame and a graduate degree from Harvard. He indicated he will return to his finance director position when a new city manager is named.

Kilgore ISD plans to buy

land for two new schools

The superintendent of Kilgore Independent School District recently said district officials are planning to buy land for new schools even if the district's proposed $55 million bond election is rejected by voters.

District officials are considering five tracts of land and negotiating with four groups or individual land owners on the purchases, said Superintendent Jody Clements. The proposed bond election asks voters to approve funding for a new elementary school and a new middle school.

Demers resigns as assistant

city manager in Round Rock

Round Rock Assistant City Manager Cindy Demers (pictured) recently resigned from that position to become the new controller for the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.  

Demers began her employment with Round Rock in 1992 as an accountant. She also served as acting city manager in Round Rock when former City Manager Jim Nuse left his position. 

Big Spring, Howard County still talking on law enforcement pact

Big Spring police officials and the Howard County Sheriff's Office recently agreed to continue discussion on sharing the same law enforcement center to make better use of limited resources.

County commissioners agreed to continue with discussions. However, they have not made any final decision on the city's proposal to contribute $1.7 million if the county would agree to kick in the other $1 million for the law enforcement facility. County officials said they need more information on the proposed budget before agreeing to the $1 million in funding. City council members also have not officially agreed to the proposal to share facilities.

Dallas County selects Arita as new public information officer

Dallas County officials recently selected Maria Arita (pictured) to fill the newly created position of public information officer for the county. Arita was selected from a field of 10 applicants and will be responsible for ensuring that information about the county is available to the public. She will also act as a community liaison to encourage foundations and other private sources to contribute to county programs, said Darryl Martin, administrator for the county.

A journalist for more than 20 years, Arita has a bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University.

The district is seeking bids from suppliers to deliver fresh produce at least once a week to 73 kitchens and to make delivery twice a week of pre-baked or pre-mixed foods along with trays, containers, deli paper and other food-service products. District officials also are asking for bids for a contract for delivery twice per week of prepared foods that meet U.S. Department of Agriculture regulation for the Child Nutrition Services Department. The deadline for submitting bids is April 5 and district officials expect to award the bids after May 17.

...that SPI has grant writers, subject matter experts, proposal consultants and experienced researchers who provide assistance to firms on an ongoing basis?

Clear Creek ISD seeking bids

for insurance services

Trustees for the Clear Creek Independent School District recently began seeking bids for insurance for commercial property, boiler and machinery, automobiles, general liability and educator's legal liability. The three-year contract contains options for two additional one-year periods. District officials will accept bids until April 11 and expect to award the insurance contract on April 25.

as its new city manager

Leon Valley city officials recently selected Manuel Longoria (pictured) as the new city manager. Longoria has been city manager in Shavano Park since 2007 and will begin his new position in May. 

He replaces former City Manager Lanny Lambert, who resigned in December.
 

Longoria previously served as assistant director of economic development and in the budget office in San Antonio and in administrative positions in Universal City and Floresville.
 

Shavano Park City Council members agreed to name a committee to determine whether to name an interim city manager or to focus on selecting a new city manager by the time Longoria leaves that position in May.

Navarro County approves new digital cameras, software

Navarro County commissioners recently approved the purchase of software for tracking property room inventory and to buy six new digital cameras for patrol cars.

Software now used for tracking inventory in the property room is outdated and due to expire in May, said Capt. Brett Latta of the sheriff's office said. The six new digital cameras will cost about $4,900 each. The purchase of the new cameras will equip about half of the patrol units with digital technology and the department plans to buy more of the digital cameras for patrol vehicles next year.

Burges resigns as assistant superintendent for Huntsville ISD

Superintendent Steve Johnson recently announced that Dr. Juneria Burges, the assistant superintendent for learning and accountability has resigned from that position
 

Johnson also selected Dr. Jeroladette Centilli, who now serves as principal of Huntsville High School, to move to a new position as director for curriculum and instruction. Because of budget constraints, district officials decided to keep the position of assistant superintendent vacant and restructure some job duties and positions, Johnson said.

Mixon succeeds Pat Herron, who retires at the end of March. She has worked in the Port Aransas school system for 17 years. 

Mayor Jimbo Martinez (pictured) told council members that even though a state budget crisis is threatening prospects of winning a $500,000 state grant to help pay for park improvements, he supports the city moving ahead by developing a master plan for parks. Beeville officials have discussed improving softball and baseball fields, building a new youth league football facility and building a skate park. Martinez said some plans may need to be scaled down, but he supports the city moving forward with park improvements.

Tabor likely to be next

Wortham ISD superintendent

Ezzell Independent School District Superintendent and CEO Bruce Tabor (pictured) has been named the lone finalist for superintendent and CEO of the Wortham ISD. Tabor began his education career in Burnet Consolidated ISD in 2002 as a teacher. He moved up to assistant principal in the Lexington ISD in 2005 and later served as principal in the San Saba ISD. He was named to his current post in Ezzell in 2009. By law, the Wortham ISD must wait 21 days after naming him lone superintendent finalist before offering him a contract.

Kuempel selected lone Winters ISD superintendent finalist

Donald Kuempel, who has served in the Hutto Independent School District for the last 19 years, has been named lone finalist for the position of superintendent and CEO of the Winters ISD. A veteran of 24 years in public education, Kuempel began his career as a teacher in the Lexington and Rockdale school districts. He was hired as a teacher in Hutto in 1992, later serving the district as assistant principal, principal and director of special programs. By law, the Winters ISD must wait 21 days after naming him lone finalist before offering him a contract.

UTMB opening new 45,000-square-foot clinic in League City

Officials of The University of Texas Medical Branch recently began transforming a building in League City designed to be a furniture store into a 45,000-square-foot Multispeciality Center to offer diabetes care, pre-transplant evaluation and care and post-operative care. The cost of the build-out is expected to be $4.48 million.

The new multispecialty center joins another clinic located only one mile away that UTMB opened last year in a strategy to attract more paying patients to the medical branch. UTMB operates four schools, a hospital and research facilities on Galveston Island and several clinics on the mainland.

• Craig Enoch of Austin, Judicial Districts Board
• Faith S. Johnson of Cedar Hill, Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas Oversight Committee
• J. Scott Arbuckle of El Campo, Lower Colorado River Authority
• Steve Balas of Eagle Lake, Lower Colorado River Authority
• John Franklin of Burnet, Lower Colorado River Authority
• Bobby Limmer of Llano, Lower Colorado River Authority
• Mario Gutierrez of San Antonio, Texas Optomerty Board
• John Coble of Rockwall, Texas Optomerty Board
• Larry Fields of Carthage, Texas Optomerty Board
• Abigail Blackburn of Austin, Statewide Health Coordinating Council  

Van Alstyne ISD selects

Spies as new superintendent

Trustees for the Van Alstyne Independent School District recently selected Dr. John Spies as the new superintendent. Spies, who currently is superintendent at Malakoff ISD, plans to begin his new position on a part-time basis on May 1 and split his time between the two school districts for a short while.

Wind technology school headed to former Naval Station Ingleside

Officials at Texas State Technical College in Corpus Christi plan to expand the wind energy technology program into the former Naval Station Ingleside, which closed in April.
 

Classes, which are expected to start in the fall, will take place in an 8,633-square-foot building on the Ingleside property, which will be leased from the Port of Corpus Christi. The five-year lease costs $87,000.
 

"There's nothing in the world like what Ingleside can be for coastal energy and wind energy," said Greg Wortham (pictured), executive director of the Texas Wind Energy Clearinghouse, a trade association.

Abilene ISD approves $5.43 million to upgrade nine schools

Abilene Independent School District trustees recently approved $5.43 million to pay for roof repairs and other upgrades to be completed over the next three years at nine schools. By using Qualified School Construction Bonds, district officials expect to save nearly $500,000 on the total cost of the facilities improvement projects.

Plans call for roof repairs and electrical work to be done at two elementary schools as well as for upgrading heating and cooling system and alarms at a high school to begin this summer. The projects for 2011 are expected to cost $1.56 million. Abilene High School is scheduled to have upgrades to the heating and cooling system and alarms in the summer of 2012. During that same summer, two elementary schools will receive improvements to their electrical systems while two middle schools will get upgraded ceilings and lighting. A price tag of about $1.95 million is expected for all 2012 projects.
 

District officials plan to complete roof work at two high schools, a middle school and two elementary schools in the summer of 2013 at an estimated cost of $1.92 million.

Round Rock picks assistant

city manager from Arizona

Round Rock has filled the assistant city manager position vacated last week by Cindy Demers. Taking on the position will be Laurie Hadley (pictured), who is currently serving as acting city manager in Prescott, Arizona. Hadley was deputy city manager under Steve Norwood, who now holds the city manager post in Round Rock. 

Hadley will begin her new job on May 3. Norwood still has a second assistant city manager post to fill, and indicated he will make that decision probably in the next 60 days. Hadley had been with the city of Prescott for 14 years, the last four as deputy city manager.