Supreme Court upholds Court of Appeals ruling

Opinion says CPS removal of sect children 'was not warranted'

Saying that "removal of the children was not warranted," the Texas Supreme Court Thursday issued its opinion upholding a ruling of the 3rd Court of Appeals' that District Judge Barbara Walthers erred when she approved an emergency order giving the state custody of more than 400 children living at an alleged polygamist compound near San Angelo.

The Department of Families and Protective Services (DFPS) and Child Protective Services (CPS) sought the emergency order removing the children in early April. They alleged that leaving the children at the Yearning for Zion Ranch would subject the minor children to possible physical and sexual abuse.

Judge Walthers granted the order and the children were bused from the compound and eventually placed in foster care with families and in facilities throughout the state.

Virtual Teaching Network expands courses for students

TEA developing online education system to fill gaps in instruction

When the State of Texas recently increased its math and science requirements for college-bound high school students, it ran into a problem: a critical shortage of qualified teachers in those subjects. One answer to that dilemma under development by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is the Texas Virtual School Network.

The Network, created by the 2007 Legislature, will provide online courses via the Internet to students throughout Texas. The first online courses will be reviewed for credentialing this summer and the program will begin presenting classes for students in spring of 2009.

Courses for the program are designed to allow school districts to make courses available in subject areas where they cannot find a qualified teacher or it is not economically feasible to hire one, according to Kate Loughrey, TEA's director of distance learning.

"We are talking about enabling districts to offer online courses to students in a way that they can also be eligible to earn state funding," Loughrey said. "That's been the hang-up in the past. In order to earn funding for online courses, they had to meet the normal attendance accounting rule which meant kids had to be in their seats."

Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars

Claire Bugen, superintendent/executive director of the Texas School for the Deaf

Career highlights and education: August 1998 to present - Superintendent/Executive Director, Texas School for the Deaf; 1989-1997 - Asst. Supt.; 1976-1989 - TSD Middle School Principal and Upper School Principal; 1968-1976 - teacher of the deaf, New Jersey public schools and Missouri School for the Deaf. BA degree from MacMurray College in Deaf Education, Master's in Special Education Learning Disabilities from the University of Missouri and Educational Administrator training/certification from then-Southwest Texas State University.

What I like best about my job is: the variety of roles I play - public relations specialist, fundraiser, cheerleader, educator, leader and "lobbyist."

The best advice I've received for my current job is: "If you don't feed the teachers, they eat the students!"

Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Be a cheerleader - use "think" teams to solve problems - communicate, care and celebrate!

If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: wondering what the heck do people do with themselves at this time of day.

People would be surprised to know that I: was part of the many millions who marched on Washington back in 1969 in my pre-bureaucratic days.

One thing I wish more people knew about the Texas School for the Deaf: For 150 years since the days that General Custer "hung out" on our campus practicing his sign language to the current filming of Robert Rodriguez's most recent blockbuster hit in the school buildings and dorms, TSD has provided deaf Texans and their families both locally and statewide with an incredible place to learn, grow and belong.

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.

TxDOT puts toll road polices, principles in writing

Contracts with private toll road developers in Texas may no longer include a controversial non-compete clause, following action Thursday by the Texas Transportation Commission. Developers often negotiated the non-compete clause into their contracts to ensure a prohibition against construction of new roadways or improvements to current roadways near toll roads.

In her first meeting since being appointed to the Texas Transportation Commission, Chair Deidre Delisi led the commission to put toll road policies in Texas in writing. "Texans deserve a clear, straightforward explanation of what we are doing to solve our transportation challenges and how we are doing it," said Delisi.

Steve Simmons (pictured), TxDOT deputy executive director, said the principles and policies were based on input from the Corridor Advisory Committee and more than 27,000 comments received in public hearings throughout the state relative to the I-69/Trans-Texas Corridor.

Among the principles approved by the commission:

• All state highways, including the Trans-Texas Corridor, will be state-owned at all times;
• All Comprehensive Development Agreements (CDAs) will be written to allow the state to purchase or buy back the interest of a private developer in the CDA at any time if it is in the best interest of the state;
• The Commission will approve initial toll rates on toll roads of the state highway system and the method for increasing tolls. Rates will be set after consultation with appropriate local metropolitan planning organizations;
• There will be no reduction in the number of existing non-tolled lanes and only new lanes added to existing roadways can be tolled;
• The CDAs will not include the "non-compete" clause mentioned previously;
• TxDOT will consider using existing right-of-way when conducting environmental studies; and
• Where possible, TxDOT will plan and design facilities so as to ensure a property owner's property is not cut into two or more separate tracts and that the original shape of the property is preserved.

Lottery officials reporting dip in sales, revenue

The rising price of gasoline and diesel fuel may be curbing the gambling habits of motoring Texans, as gas stations and convenience stores make up a large portion of outlets for the Texas Lottery, and sales of lottery tickets have been dropping.

As gas prices heads towards $4 a gallon, drivers have less money left over to buy lottery or scratch-off tickets.

The Texas Lottery Commission's Media Director, Bobby Heith, said ticket sales have been slowly dropping off this year, but he added that fuel prices may not be the only reason.

More entities joining border fence opposition

El Paso County will join two lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding the proposed building of a fence to deter illegal immigration along the United States-Mexico border. The county will become a plaintiff in a lawsuit expected to be filed today, Friday, on behalf of the El Paso County Water Improvement District #1, El Paso County and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo (Tigua Tribe) against both DHS and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. Filing a similar federal lawsuit on Monday will be three environmental groups - the Frontera Audubon Society, the Friends of the Wildlife Corridor and the Friends of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

The lawsuit challenges Chertoff's waiving of more than 30 federal, state and local laws to speed up construction of the border fence in El Paso County. The county also will join a class action suit that was filed earlier this month by the Texas Border Coalition (TBC) against DHS and Customs and Border Protection regarding construction of the $50-billion border wall. El Paso County Attorney Jose Rodriguez (left) said the county is challenging the constitutionality of the process used by the federal government to build the fence, not the construction of the fence itself. He said the county will "denounce the method."

City officials in El Paso and Presidio this week also joined the lawsuit. Although choosing not to become a party in the suit, the Bexar County commissioners this week voted to support the TBC in its efforts to halt construction of the fence. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff (right) said the county will lend its name to support the cause, but not any money. Although not a member of TBC, Bexar County would be affected by what happens on the border.

Meanwhile, the government has invited contractors to bid on sections of the border fence in Del Rio and Eagle Pass. In the next three weeks, four pre-approved contractors are expected to bid on up to $187 million of work for two sections of the fence. The bids for Del Rio are due June 16 and for Eagle Pass on June 19.

Partnership announced to promote Texas rural tourism

Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples recently announced that the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Travel Industry Association are forming a partnership to stage a series of one-day workshops advocating rural tourism.

The first of six workshops will be held Aug. 14 in Kingsville and feature Dan Quandt of the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. The workshops will include information on the development of tourism as a viable economic engine, rural business development, creative ways to leverage local and regional tourism partnerships and managing and marketing aspects of rural tourism.

Other rural Texas communities participating in the Tourism Workshop Program include Plainview, Odessa and Tyler. Those workshops will be conducted prior to the end of the year, Staples said.

Texas Forest Service has new interim director

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has named Tom Boggus (pictured), a 28-year career executive with the Texas Forest Service (TFS), interim director of TFS. Boggus, who has served as the agency's associate director for forest resource development and sustainable forestry since 2005, succeeds James Hull, who is retiring after 12 years of leading the TFS.

Boggus joined the TFS as a forester based in Linden in 1980. He rose through the ranks to become the agency's associate director for administration in 1996. He received his forestry training at Stephen F. Austin State University, where he earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in forestry.

TEEX opens newly remodeled training center

The Texas Engineering Extension Services (TEEX) recently reopened its newly remodeled Emergency Operation Training Center in College Station. Crews spent 18 months adding a second floor and dozens of technological upgrades to the facility, which is nearly double the size of the original.

Texas A&M University System Chancellor Mike McKinney said the center is the best non-athletic asset in the A&M System. The facility trains more than 3,000 first responders from across the country each year. David Nock, training director of the facility, said the $4.4 million expansion gives trainers the ability to simultaneously communicate with the incident command post and the emergency operation center rooms. The facility's control center is full of computers that simulate natural disasters and emergency scenarios.

TABC awards grants to enforce underage drinking laws

Nearly $200,000 in federal grant funds has been awarded through the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to seven cities, universities, law enforcement and community coalitions in Texas to assist in the enforcement of underage drinking laws.

"This funding allows communities to work together to identify local needs and sustain a successful strategy to combat underage drinking," said TABC Administrator Alan Steen (pictured). Each project addresses underage drinking through a comprehensive program involving various members of the local community. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) block grant.

Recipients include:

• Austin Police Department Alcohol Control Team ($35,000), City of Austin EUDL Project;
• Bay Area Council of Drugs and Alcohol ($27,080), Brazoria County Coalition EUDL Project;
• University of Houston ($37,501), Club U II: Preventing Underage Drinking;
• New Braunfels Police Department ($29,384), Operation Intervention;
• Texas A&M University Kingsville ($18,652), Kingsville Underage Drinking Prevention Program;
• Tarleton State University ($23,887), Alcohol Education and Preventions Programming; and
• City of Grand Prairie ($26,702), Grand Prairie EUDL Project

TxDOT installing TransGuide between two major cities

The Texas Department of Transportation is installing 11 "Dynamic Message Signs" on Interstate 35 between San Antonio and Austin to warn of lane closures and other delays along their route. The TransGuide system is being installed between Loop 1604 on San Antonio's Northeast Side and Ben White Boulevard on the south side of Austin.

The signs will be linked to both San Antonio's TransGuide system and Austin's Combined Transportation and Emergency Communications Center (CTECC), an alert system similar to the one used in San Antonio. In addition, 40 closed-circuit television cameras have been installed along the highway between San Antonio and Austin. Twenty-four traffic sensor systems are also being installed to track traffic speeds and travel times along the corridor.

The wireless link between TransGuide and Austin's CTECC will allow the two centers to share the video images and data necessary to give motorists timely information on traffic conditions and travel times.

Texas Water Development Board allocates funding

The Texas Water Development Board has approved $32,968,066 in financial assistance for a variety of entities across the state, including:

• $18,455,000 from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund for wastewater system improvements for Bonham ($4,000,000) (Fannin County), Paducah ($945,000) (Cottle County), the Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 46 ($2,275,000) (Harris County), the Harris County Fresh Water Supply District No. 47 ($4,365,000) (Harris County), and Pecos City ($6,870,000) (Reeves County);
• $5,870,000 from the Texas Water Development Fund for wastewater system improvements for the Harris County Fresh Water Supply District No. 47 ($2,310,000) (Harris County), for water system improvements for Aledo ($2,060,000) (Parker County), and Eastland ($1,500,000) (Eastland County);
• $5,643,066 from the Economically Distressed Areas Program for planning, design and acquisition costs for first time wastewater service for Brownsville ($273,000) (Cameron County), for wastewater system improvements for Roma ($4,913,816) (Starr County), and for the preparation of a facility plan for the Nueces River Authority on behalf of Leakey ($456,250) (Uvalde County); and
• $3,000,000 from the Rural Water Assistance Fund for water and wastewater system improvements for Merkel (Taylor County).

UTPB offers higher education administrators' course

A new graduate course for future higher education administrators, "Public Relations in Higher Education," will be offered this summer by The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. UTPB officials expect the course might be successful enough to be the foundation for what university officials hope might become a master's degree program - Educational Leadership in Higher Education. The course will focus on increasing demands for effective communication with the public regarding accountability related to programs, people and policies.

"Today, administrators at the college level can expect to spend an inordinate amount of their time and attention communicating clearly and continuously with the many publics that comprise the typical two-year college community," said Tom Parks (standing in accompanying photo), educational leadership professor at UTPB and course coordinator. "We've designed this course to orient current and future administrators to those demands and to give them the tools they will need to respond."

Parks said the course was requested by personnel working in area junior colleges. He said if there is enough interest in these courses, the university could request that the state allow them to be offered as part of a master's degree program in Educational Leadership.

Green to serve as new dean at TAMU-Kingsville

Dr. Carolyn Green (pictured) has been named by Texas A&M University officials as dean of academic affairs at Texas A&M University: Kingsville System Center-San Antonio.

Green previously served as interim dean and executive director of the System Center from July 2005 to March 2008 when Chancellor Mike McKinney appointed her interim dean of academic affairs. The dean of academic affairs is the chief administrative officer of the center for all matters relating to academics, faculty and student affairs. Green received her bachelor's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Houston.

She joined the System Center in 2001 as associate professor of computer information systems. She also was employed at The University of Texas at Brownsville and the University of Houston before joining the Texas A&M System.

Dallas schools forced to cut 2008-09 budget

Revenue shortfalls due to declining enrollments are forcing Dallas school officials to cut an estimated $4 million from the district budget in the coming fiscal year. A spending plan outlined for trustees this week indicates that teachers would still receive their annual "step" salary increase, but most other district employees would not get a raise during the 2008-09 school year.

District officials said they are fighting a two-front battle: rising costs and declining income. The $4 million cut represents less than 1 percent of total spending from the district's general fund, which is filled by local property taxes and state aid.

Officials said they expect energy costs alone to eat up an additional $10 million next year. Increased fuel costs will also push up busing costs by about $3 million. The district hopes to offset those rising costs by reducing spending for supplies by $12 million. An additional $8 million could be saved by reducing the use of consultants and trimming equipment purchases.

Redevelopment plans under way at A&M-Kingsville

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents viewed plans during its regular meeting last week for $27 million in redevelopment to the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus. Students returning to the 83-year-old campus this fall will notice improvements such as new signage, refurbished classrooms and the start of construction on a new dorm.

Michael D. McKinney (pictured), chancellor of The Texas A&M University System, said the projects are focused on creating a quality environment for the students, adding that the system wants to provide them with the type of facilities that will help propel the campus to prominence. Short-term projects include demolition of the married student housing complex to be replaced with a new 600-bed facility; new signage throughout the university, as well as at the entrance to the campus and the city of Kingsville; new lighting added to central campus; and new, easily detected emergency call boxes throughout campus.

Long-term plans include the possible acquisition of additional land for housing needs, demolition of two more aging dormitories and relocation of the serpentarium and archives. A feasibility study also will be performed to determine if the student center should be renovated or replaced.

TAMU-Kingsville college renamed to honor Klebergs

The board of regents of the Texas A&M University System recently approved a new name for the Texas A&M College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences to honor the late Richard M. "Dick" Kleberg Jr. and his wife, Mary Lewis Kleberg. The college will now be named the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences.

The college is made up of three departments, two centers, two institutes, a University Farm and a number of projects and other units, including the Citrus Center in Weslaco; and on the Kingsville campus, the Marc Cisneros Center for Young Children, the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management and the Rabbit Research Program, the Tio and Janell Kleberg Wildlife Research Park which is home to the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, the Buddy Temple Wildlife Pathology and Diagnostic Laboratory, the Duane Leach Research Aviary, the Albert and Margaret Alkek Ungulate Research Facility and the South Texas Natives Project Research Farm.

After receiving $7.4 million in gifts over the past three years to support the college and $21 million since 1991 from the Cesar Kleberg Foundation, Texas A&M-Kingsville officials offered the Cesar Kleberg Foundation the opportunity to name the college. The foundation's board of directors recommended it be named for Dick and Mary Kleberg to honor the couple for their longtime service and support of the university.

Spong new Engineering Dean at UT Dallas

Dr. Mark W. Spong (pictured), professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will become the new dean of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas. Spong, a world leader in research on robotic control systems, will assume his duties Aug. 16.

Spong, the Donald Beggar Willett Professor of Engineering, researches robotics and the interconnected networks of microprocessors, sensors and actuators that control dozens of processes and variables inside modern engineering systems and machines. The Jonsson Engineering School has more than 90 full-time faculty and 2,600 students. The 22-year-old school has risen to become the number one graduate engineering program in North Texas and fourth-ranked in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Spong received his bachelor's degree magna cum laude Phi Beta Kappa from Hiram College, his master's from New Mexico State University and a master's and Ph.D. from Washington University. He began his academic career at Lehigh University and from 1982 to 1984 taught at Cornell University.

Round Rock to initiate intercity bus service

Officials in Round Rock are developing plans for local bus service and plan to launch a route in October that will connect riders to Capital Metro services in Austin. The service would plug into the Tech Ridge park-and-ride lot in North Austin.

Tom Word (pictured), director of public works, said initial plans call for buses to run for two to three hours in the mornings and evenings from two stops. He said the service is expected to cost about $542,000 a year. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has approved a grant that will reimburse the city for 50 percent of the costs for two years.

The City Council plans to spend up to $200,000 each of the next two years. The rest of the money for the system will come from fares, which have not been determined, Word said.

Texas A&M announces major projects in San Antonio

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents will review development plans for the future Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus on the Alamo City's Southside by August, with groundbreaking slated as early as mid-2009. Dr. Maria Hernandez Ferrier (pictured), executive director of Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center-San Antonio, said the expansion would allow students from the south side of San Antonio to have the same access to higher education as in other parts of the city.

Ferrier's remarks came during a 45-minute briefing to the board reviewing the status of site development, academic planning, and student recruitment projections for the Texas A&M University-Kingsville System Center-San Antonio, which has been in operation since 2000.

In 2003, the legislature authorized the facility to eventually become Texas A&M University-San Antonio. For that to happen, the A&M System Center must increase its enrollment to the equivalent of 1,500 full-time students. A total of 1,021 students were enrolled for the spring 2008 semester.

UNT picks Tsatsoulis as dean of College of Engineering

Dr. Costas Tsatsoulis (pictured), chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Kansas, has been named the new dean of the University of North Texas College of Engineering, effective Aug. 1.

At the University of Kansas, Tsatsoulis served as assistant professor from 1988 to 1993, associate professor from 1993 to 1999 and has been a professor since 1999. He became interim chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in August 2003, until being named permanent chair in January 2004.

He earned a doctoral degree in 1987, a master's in 1984, a bachelor's in 1987 and another in 1983, all from Purdue University.

Allen named AVP for Student Affairs at ASU

Dr. Nancy Allen (pictured), head of Angelo State University's English Department since 2003 and a member of the ASU faculty since 1984, has been named interim associate vice president for academic and student affairs.

The appointment was announced last week by ASU Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs Donald V. Coers. Allen succeeds Dr. Richard A. Beck, who has accepted the post of vice president for academic affairs at Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla.

She will oversee enrollment management, the center for academic excellence, developmental education, first-year experience, student services, student involvement, student government, continuing studies and distance education. Allen received both her doctorate and master's degrees from Texas Tech University. She received her bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at El Paso.

Bennett retiring from post at Southern Methodist

S. Leon Bennett (pictured), who has served as general counsel, vice president for legal affairs and government relations and secretary to the Board of Trustees at Southern Methodist University, has announced his retirement at the end of the year.

Bennett has led SMU's Office of Legal Affairs for 25 years and as secretary to the Board of Trustees assisted them with restructuring in the 1980s. SMU President R. Gerald Turner said Bennett was instrumental in work relating to the university's Centennial Master Plan for campus development and helped build relationships that affected higher education and SMU with elected officials in the Texas Legislature, the U.S. Congress and in government agencies. He also played an important role in preparations and negotiations for the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

Strawser chosen interim president at TAMU-Kingsville

Dr. Robert H. Strawser (pictured) was named interim president of the Texas A&M University-Kingsville campus last week by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents. Strawser, an accounting professor since 1973 at Texas A&M University, replaces Dr. Rumaldo Z. Juarez, who retires in June after almost six years as president of A&M-Kingsville.

Strawser, who has held the Anderson Chair as Professor of Accounting at the Mays Business School since 1977, will begin his duties at Texas A&M-Kingsville on July 1. He previously taught accounting at the University of Houston, Northeastern University in Boston, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., and Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa.

Kerr County may privatize jail health care

Kerr County commissioners are moving toward privatizing medical care for county jail inmates in a move to cut costs. Sheriff Rusty Hierholzer, who last month was allowed to expand his jail's medical staff by three, decided that the money could be better spent on a contractor that provides inmate medical care. Hierholzer traced "exorbitant" jumps in his 192-bed jail's medical budget to inflation, a climbing inmate population now at 180 and more inmates seeking care. He said 68 inmates are now getting care, and that boosts his payroll for detention officers because they must drive the patients to doctor offices, sometimes in San Antonio.

The jail medical staff now includes a nurse, an EMT and a clerk. A local physician makes four cell calls a month for $1,500. If three new nurses are added, as proposed last month, the cost of county inmate care could jump this year to $300,000, roughly $100,000 more than in fiscal 2006-07.

One firm's initial proposal called for the county to pay $160,000 a year for it to provide staff, supplies, over-the-counter medications and daily care for 160 inmates. It would also cover up to $30,000 for outside services such as prescriptions, hospital visits and treatment by specialists.

Podolsky named finalist for UT Southwestern presidency

Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky (pictured), a Harvard Medical School professor, has been named the sole finalist for the presidency of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas by The University of Texas System Board of Regents.

Podolsky, who also serves as chief of gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, will replace President Dr. Kern Wildenthal, who is stepping down in September. UT regents are expected to finalize Podolsky's appointment in June.

He has served as president of the American Gastroenterological Association and for the past three years has been chief academic officer for Partners HealthCare, which was founded in 1994 by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Regents approve gift for A&M Round Rock campus

The Texas A&M Health Science Center in Round Rock has been given approval by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents to accept an additional land gift and execute leasing plans for its first building. Regents also heard a presentation on the campus' master plan during their recent meeting. The action on Round Rock follows board approval in January of an initial land donation by the Avery family. The donation included a gift of 15 acres, the purchase of 10 acres and the option for an additional 25 acres, which the regents accepted.

The HSC-College of Medicine will provide clinical training for third- and fourth-year medical students in Round Rock beginning next month as part of the expansion of the college's existing campuses in Temple and College Station. The first Round Rock student completed a clinical rotation in psychiatry earlier this month.

The new 130,000-square-foot facility - built by the Avery family and leased to the A&M System - will be used for clinical teaching, simulation laboratories, student life and student service support and HSC and HSC-COM administration. The campus will support other HSC offerings through the HSC-School of Rural Public Health, HSC-Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy and others.

Estess to assume UH Interim Provost position

Ted Estess (pictured), former dean of The Honors College, has been named interim provost at the University of Houston. He will replace Donald J. Foss, who is stepping down from his position as senior vice chancellor/vice president of academic affairs and provost, effective June 16.

University of Houston President Renu Khator said Estess has recently completed his career as dean of The Honors College. Khator said as provost, Estess will assist in advancing the academic agenda of the university.

In 1977, Estess took the reins of the Honors Program and was instrumental in expanding the program into a college and increasing enrollment from 300 students to about 1,200. The college also enrolls an average of 70 new National Merit Scholars a year.

Panel suggests $294 million bond for Round Rock ISD

A Round Rock Independent School District citizen's bond committee has presented school trustees a $294 million bond proposal, significantly less than the $350 million proposition the group initially suggested.

Committee co-chair Catherine Hanna told trustees the package was cut back to make it more palatable to voters facing an uncertain economy. The 52-member committee retained a proposal for new classrooms and upgrades that would cost $42 million at Westwood High School and $40 million at Round Rock High.

One of the largest projects cut was a $38.9 million campus for students in alternative education programs. The district has more than 40,000 students, a 21 percent increase in growth over the last five years. Officials say a bond issue is needed to catch up with the increase. The bonds would likely go before voters in November.

Four seeking UH Honors College position

Four candidates for The Honors College's dean position at the University of Houston will participate in forums open to the entire campus community this week and next week.

Candidates are (from left) James Duban, professor of English and director of the Office for Nationally Competitive Scholarships at the University of North Texas; William Monroe, professor of English and executive associate dean of UH's Honors College; Marc Landy, professor of political science at Boston College; and Murray Nabors, professor of biology at the University of Mississippi and former director of the Honors Program at Colorado State University.

The new dean will replace Ted Estess, former dean of The Honors College, who has been named interim provost.

Partnership approved for new aircraft mechanics school

The Greenville City Council recently approved a partnership with Paris Junior College and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems to work together on a new Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) school at the city's municipal airport. The agreement provides that the city will lease it's former A&P campus building, hangar and parking lot at the airport to Paris Junior College, which will partner with L-3 to train individuals as aircraft mechanics.

Dr. Pamela Anglin (pictured), president of Paris Junior College, said college officials are working with L-3 to develop curriculum to meet defense contractor qualifications for entry-level aircraft mechanics. Students who graduate will hold certification in structural aircraft maintenance. L-3 is the largest tenant at Majors Field and the largest employer in Hunt County and has expressed a need to hire trained, entry-level aviation mechanics. The first 12-week class of 20 students is expected to begin in August 2008.

Under the agreement, Paris Junior College will lease the facility for an initial five-year term, starting on July 1. The college will pay the city $3,500 per month for the use of the building, with provisions for the agreement to be renewed for up to three additional five-year periods.

Firm offers to promote Brazoria County fairground plan

An architect and engineering company recently offered Brazoria County commissioners its services to promote a bond proposal for new facilities at the Brazoria County Fairgrounds. What's more, the firm's president said there will be no charge to the county for any of the services if voters reject the bond proposal. A recent survey indicates Brazoria County residents want an expo center, professional management of the fairgrounds, adequate and clean parking, an arena, auditorium, an equestrian event, a show pavilion and full staff for the fairground.

Early estimates placed the cost of the fairground facilities at $35 million, but company officials said the firm plans to produce a master plan, a financial impact study and work with the community to provide accurate information on the cost of the facilities to help promote the bonds. He recommended placing the proposal on the November 2008 ballot and guaranteed that his firm will not exceed the project's proposed budget if voters approve the project.

County Judge Joe King (pictured) said if the engineering company markets the project correctly and the timing is right, he expects voters will approve the proposal. In 2005, voters rejected by a wide margin a $38.5 million bond proposal for new fairground facilities. Construction could begin in January 2009 if voters approve the project. Commissioners took no action on the proposal that was made a recent workshop for commissioners.

Clute won't speed up bids for electronic meter reader

Claiming that city staff had not fully researched a proposed electronic meter reading system, Clute City Council members recently declined to seek bids to upgrade the city's water meter system.

City Manager Kyle McCain had argued that the new system would help employees check meters more efficiently than the current method using seven public works employees one week per month to manually read each of the 2,700 water meters and write the numbers on a log. The proposed radio-read system, which costs between $350,000 and $375,000, would allow public works employees to check meters from a computer and would be faster and more accurate than the current system, he said.

McCain also said that with the new system in place, he estimates it would take only one employee a few hours to collect the reading from electronic meters. Lake Jackson and League City have used the electronic meter-reading system for six years. McCain also argued that the city should open bids for the meter reading system and refuse to accept the bids if the city does not have all funding in place.

United ISD to get $392,000 grant to upgrade technology

The United Independent School district recently received a $392,031 E-rate grant from the Federal Communications Commission to enhance Internet services, telecommunications and e-mail resources.

The grants will be used to upgrade the district's "100-megatype pipe" that supports 16,000 online computers serving nearly 40,000 students and 5,000 employees at United ISD, said Superintendent Roberto J. "Bobby" Santos (pictured). The district increased its network capacity from 50 megatypes to 100 megatypes to allow the district to process employee applications online and begin testing thousands of students online, Santos said.

The district's participation in a state pilot program testing 5,000 students online brought its network capacity to almost 90 percent, when it normally runs between 60 and 75 percent. UISD has received nearly $10 million in E-rate grants in the past nine years.

Taylor recommended for $333,000 CDBG grant

The city of Taylor is expected to receive $333,000 in federal Community Development Block Grant funding to pay for drainage and to help fund a recently approved senior center.

Sally Bardwell, grant coordinator for Williamson County, said commissioners allocated $300,000 to continue the Dickey Street Drainage Project and $33,000 for the senior citizens center, but tabled the proposal until next week after they learned that Georgetown is no longer interested in building a low-income apartment complex that had been allocated $250,000 in grant funds. It is possible, she said, that Taylor could receive some additional funding from the money returned by Georgetown and that commissioners also could decide to fund three of 11 eligible projects in the county that previously were not recommended for funding.

The Taylor City Council recently approved $100,000 in matching funds for the drainage project and has another $100,000 from last year set aside for the project. Council members in 2004 designated the drainage project as the city's number one infrastructure priority. Since then it has spent $1.1 million on the project, $900,000 coming from federal grants. The $33,000 for the senior citizens center will be used to renovate doors and two bathrooms to make the old middle school compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Brazosport ISD announces budget cuts and layoffs

Officials of the Brazosport Independent School District recently announced plans to reduce administrative and classroom teacher positions, close classes, freeze salaries and change insurance plans to make up for an expected $3 million budget shortfall.

Superintendent Joe Ripple (pictured) said about $500,000 in reductions will come from administrative and auxiliary personnel positions and another $500,000 by eliminating some classroom teacher positions. Many of the reductions will come from the district not filling positions left by those retiring or resigning and the district will cut positions in the central office before eliminating teaching positions, he said. Positions already chosen for elimination are the director of public relations, director of fine arts and social studies and a teacher facilitator.

Ripple said several factors caused the budget shortfall, including the new school finance plan which shifted about one-third of tax funds away from some districts to the state. He also cited a $1.8 million increase for electricity this past year and a drop in enrollment of 110 students, which both negatively impacted the district's budget.

Rockwall County using $30 million in notes for center

Rockwall County commissioners recently approved issuing $30 million in tax notes to pay for a new county courts center on county-owned land along Interstate 30. The courts center will be located next to a library being paid for by bonds approved by voters.

Supporters argued that the current space for county and district court often is in violation of codes and many are concerned about how close inmates, the public, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, families, victims and defendants are to each other. Supporters also noted that construction costs go up each year 9 percent, not including fuel inflation. Each annual 9-10 percent increase translates into another $10 million for the long-term, build-out solution.

Opponents argued against the use of tax notes to pay for a project that voters have twice rejected. Commissioner Lorie Grinnan said she is adamantly opposed to tax notes for a long-term solution because commissioners have not done a cost analysis and were offered no choices in the type of building.

Lubbock considers using old farmhouse for visitor center

Faced with a $6.7 million price tag to build a new visitor center, Lubbock city officials are now discussing transforming the building currently housing the Rip Griffin Oil Company, also known as the Tara West Building, to serve as its visitor center.

After several council members said they were concerned about the high costs of the proposed center that had included a theater and walk of fame, Council member John Leonard (left) proposed moving the building which started as a farm house built in 1940 to the corner of 19th Street and Crickets Avenues, where officials had considered building a new visitor center.

Mayor Tom Martin (right) asked city staff to explore the idea of converting the Tara West building already owned by the city into a visitor center as the building was going to have to be moved or torn down because of expansion of Slide Road.

Danbury ISD may try again for bond approval

Trustees for the Danbury Independent School District are considering another try for bond issue approval after voters turned down their recent $9.47 million bond proposal. District officials blamed the bond failure on their failure to properly inform voters of the need for the projects in the proposal.

While trustees have not decided when to hold another bond issue or what proposals to include in the issue, school officials said if another bond election is scheduled the district should open facilities to the public and hold public hearings to inform voters of the needs of students. The proposals in the May bond election included a new $2 million athletic field house, $3.2 million for classroom renovations and $1.93 million for completion of the second floor at Danbury Middle School. About $2.5 million also would have been used in a second phase to enlarge and renovate some classrooms and pay for upgrades and repairs.

Superintendent Eric Grimmett said the district and community need to move fast and consider a November bond election as construction costs are projected to increase 1 percent every month.

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD considering bond proposal

Board members for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District are considering asking voters to approve a bond issue for the first time in more than 10 years to ease overcrowding.

Trustees recently ordered studies for building and roofing needs and of demographics to better predict future enrollment. The district's enrollment increased more than 4 percent in six years and a planned development is expected to include 5,000 new homes in the district. Voters last approved $171.24 million in bonds in 1997.

District officials expect a new elementary school and new junior high school will be needed in the future to accommodate children who live in the new planned development. The district has 20,382 students enrolled this school year and all schools in the district are full, said Superintendent Gene Buinger (pictured).

Hidalgo County border wall construction to begin in July

Construction of the border wall in Hidalgo County is scheduled to begin on July 26. Plans call for completing 22 miles of a cement border wall to be built on top of the county's levees by the end of December 2008.

Hidalgo County Drainage District No.1 will oversee construction and expects to complete Step 4 of a 21-step process this week when it receives feedback from federal agencies on the construction plans. The project will be broken into seven smaller projects, ranging from a 0.2 mile section to a 3.25 mile section. U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, which owns and operates the levees, will send inspectors to monitor the project.

The manager of the drainage district said a biologist also will observe construction crews to ensure they adhere to the agreement worked out with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife and DHS. Homeland Security will pay $88 million for the border wall, while Hidalgo County will pay $65 million to repair portions of the levee system, some of which will be border wall sites. County officials are seeking reimbursement, claiming the levees are a federal responsibility.

Mesquite ISD gives go ahead for new elementary school

Trustees for Mesquite Independent School District recently approved a $14.3 million guaranteed maximum price for construction of Don Achiziger Elementary School. The district's 32nd elementary school is expected to cost approximately $159 per square food compared to the $165 per square foot the district had budgeted for construction, said Michael Coffey (pictured), assistant superintendent for administrative services.

District officials originally had budgeted $13.4 million but expanded the facility by eight additional classrooms at a cost of $79 per square foot. With the cost of construction rapidly increasing, Coffee said adding the classrooms now rather than waiting for several years will result in substantial savings.

Wilmer to look for new administrator for city

The city of Wilmer will be looking for a new city administrator to replace Thom Lauer, who recently left that post. City leaders have not yet appointed a temporary administrator to replace Lauer.

Texas preparing
for hurricane season

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

All along the Texas Gulf Coast, people are bracing for hurricane season. Among the people living in the area - including, but certainly not limited to, nearly 60,000 residents in Galveston and 1,200 citizens in Tiki Island - there is an abundance of hope that this will be a calm season.

Hurricane season begins Sunday, and experience is an often tragic reminder for many coastal area cities and towns. Just last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted a 65 percent chance of an "above normal" hurricane season in the Atlantic this year. That means, according to NOAA, that coastal residents can expect a 60-70 percent chance of 12 to 16 named storms, including six to nine hurricanes and two to five major category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.

Citizens in coastal states have been advised to begin preparations for the hurricane season. Government officials in Texas - mindful of the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005 - were one step ahead of predictions. More than 2,000 state and local officials and members of volunteer organizations gathered last week in Galveston for the annual Texas Hurricane Conference, hosted by the Governor's Division of Emergency Management (GDEM), where officials from throughout the state learned the importance of advance planning and preparation.

Brazosport College approves bond sale

Brazosport College regents recently approved the sale of $28.47 million in bonds to pay for the first phase of its expansion. Voters approved the bonds last November. President Millicent Valek (pictured) said that the college needed to move quickly on the construction, considering the tight construction market and rising inflation.

The college's 10-year master plan includes building the new Dow Academic Center and the Byron and Sandra Sadler Health Professions and Science Technology complex as well as renovations to existing facilities, Valek said. The college has narrowed its search to three construction management firms, but has not made a final decision.

Aransas Pass names Sullinger interim city mgr.

The Aransas Pass City Council recently named Mike Sullinger, a municipal court judge, as the interim city manager. He replaces City Manager Tom Ginter, who recently resigned after beginning as city manager in July 2006. Sullinger has previously served twice as interim city manager in Aransas Pass.

Where are they now?

Where do folks go when they leave state government? Some go to work in the private sector or for nonprofits. Some transition to executive-level positions in higher education while others may seek elected local government positions. And some just retire and spend a lot of time with their grandkids at the fishin' hole. This column focuses on where former state government officials and employees are now.

Lynn Denton spent nearly two decades serving in a number of positions in Texas state government. She retired in 2007 as associate vice chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and moved to Montreux, Switzerland. She works in Ecublens, near Lausanne, as brand manager for Mediar, an international humanitarian organization dedicated to relief and rehabilitation in crisis situations or natural disasters in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Denton began her state government career with the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation at the San Angelo, Travis and Austin State Schools. She served as immunization strategic coordinator and later director of communications and special health initiatives for the Texas Department of Health, was a policy assistant in early childhood development in the Office of the Governor and was community and corporate support director of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the Texas Department of State Health Services. She also previously was service delivery project manager for the Medicaid/CHIP Division of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and director of the College for Texans campaign for "Closing the Gaps" at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board before moving on to Texas Tech.

Andy Sansom's career in government has been based on his lifelong efforts in conservation. His professional conservation work began right out of college at the federal level on staff of the National Recreation and Park Association in Washington, D.C., and later as special assistant to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and finally as director of conservation education at the Federal Energy Administration. Sansom returned to Texas in 1976 to become deputy director of the Energy Institute at the University of Houston. After a short stint in the private sector, Sansom returned to the public sector as executive director of the nonprofit Texas Nature Conservancy, from which he was eventually wooed away in 1987 by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to become the agency's coordinator of land acquisition and management. Three years later, he was named TPWD's executive director, a position he held for 11 years. Sansom retired from TPWD in 2001, to establish and become executive director of the River Systems Institute and Research Professor of Geography at Texas State University-San Marcos, positions he still holds.

If you are a former Texas government official or employee or know someone who was who has left state government for greener pastures, please let us know so we can feature them in an upcoming column. Send your information to editor@spartnerships.com.

Waller ISD reviews bond construction schedule

Trustees for Waller ISD recently received a construction update on $47 million in several large projects approved in a 2007 bond election.

A representative from an architectural firm reported that a new elementary school is scheduled to begin in July 2008 and be completed when the school year begins in August 2009. Renovations and remodeling at Schultz Middle School are slated to begin in September 2008 and continue until December 2009. The middle school will remain open for classes during the construction. Construction on a new football stadium to be located next to Waller High School will start in August 2008 and be completed in August 2009, the architects said.

Longview City Council shows support for new coliseum

Longview city council members recently indicated their support for a new $25 million coliseum adjacent to the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center. Longview Mayor Jay Dean (pictured) said city and Gregg County officials are expecting the results of an operational cost study being conducted by a Pennsylvania-based firm to be presented to Gregg County commissioners on June 9.

While city and county officials have agreed to share costs on the proposed coliseum, neither has disclosed how much each entity will contribute to the project. The facility is expected to seat more than 4,000 people for rodeos, more than 5,000 for concerts and at least 4,500 basketball fans. The facility also will be used for graduations and arts venues, Dean said.

Sweetwater ISD chooses Pittman as lone finalist

Trustees for the Sweetwater Independent School District recently named Terry Pittman as the lone finalist for superintendent. Pittman, who served as assistant superintendent for the district for the last five years, will replace Dr. Ronny Beard who resigned on May 8 to become the new superintendent of Cleburne ISD.

Pittman holds a bachelor's degree from New Mexico State University and a master's from Sul Ross State University. He also earned his principal and superintendent certification at Sul Ross. In his 16 years with the district, Pittman also served as a coach, teacher and a high school principal.

Killeen could land new experimental energy plant

Backers of an experimental energy plant are likely to build a prototype plant that reportedly transforms solid waste into energy in Killeen, it was announced Thursday in a news conference. The prototype plant, which will cost about $250 to $350 million, will be a research facility that, if successful, will be used to convert approximately 300,000 tons of garbage per year into energy with zero emissions. Although Texas A&M University research scientists will use the facility for research, it will be financed using private investments. The proposed plant is expected to create 200 jobs.

The cities of Fort Hood, Copperas Cove, and Harker Heights, along with Bell County, also are expected to participate in the prototype plant.

Corpus Christi approves
$22 million in tax notes

The Corpus Christi City Council recently approved $22.26 million in short-term tax notes to pay for relocating youth ball fields, performing street maintenance and facility improvements and purchasing equipment for the street and solid waste department.

The largest share of the tax notes, $9 million, will be used for street maintenance and overlays at 17 sections. The next largest share, $7.6 million, will pay for relocating youth ball fields from land the city donated to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Facilities improvements, including air conditioning and electrical upgrades for American Bank Center convention center and the Bayfront Arts and Sciences Park buildings, will be paid for with $3.5 million from the tax notes.

Riedesel retires as city manager in Cuero

Corlis Riedesel, who has served as city manager in Cuero for the past 10 years, recently announced her retirement. After 31 years as a city employee, Riedesel will retire effective May 31. Glenn Mutchler, the police chief, was appointed to fill the position of city manager until council decides otherwise.

Riedesel served as city manager with three mayors and won recognition for her handling of a flood that covered 45 to 50 percent of Cuero during her first year as city manager.

Abilene eyeing red light cameras around city

Abilene city officials are considering red-light cameras, increased enforcement, a traffic engineering study and a public information campaign to reduce the number of motorists running red lights. Assistant City Manager David Vela (pictured) said the city is now finalizing a contract for a study to determine what engineering improvements can be made at intersections to stop red-light runners. The study will include any other options available to the city to curb red-light running before proceeding with red-light cameras, Vela said.

Such studies are required under state law before a city can install cameras to catch motorists running red lights at intersections. City staff already has communicated with three companies that install and operate red-light cameras, but has not yet selected a company. Meanwhile, Vela said the city will continue with increased enforcement and education efforts to warn motorists of the danger of running red lights.

Cy-Fair ISD announces
$27 million in budget cuts

Superintendent David Anthony (pictured) of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District recently confirmed that the district cut $27 million from its budget, resulting in layoffs and elimination of raises for employees.

Anthony said 450 employee positions have been eliminated and employees will not receive a raise next year. He blamed the deficit on the state's funding formula and is lobbying the legislature to restructure school funding with the hope of securing more money for the district in northwest Harris County.

Ben Bolt-Palito ISD studies new middle school gym

Board members of the Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco ISD recently asked their superintendent to research possible avenues for a new middle school gymnasium to replace the current gym that was closed in March with roof damage from high winds. Superintendent Grace Everett told board members that a recent inspection indicated serious structural and safety concerns such as numerous cracks in the exterior walls, soft spots in the floor and numerous roof leaks that threaten electrical boxes and wiring. A 2006 bond proposal for a $1.5 million middle school gym failed with a tie vote of 300 to 300.

Everett said the district has the choice of trying another bond proposal or using a loan or lease/purchase plan for a new gym. The district is now considering an all-steel structure costing about $450,000 and an additional $40,000 for demolition.

Recent Reports

• 'Eye on Government'
• SPI's May 2008 Municipal Bond Elections Report
• SPI's Defense Appropriations Bill Earmarks Report
• SPI's November 2007 Bond Election Results Report

Event Links

• TEXAS VOAD 2008 Annual Summit
• Informational Seminar on Energy Efficiency and House Bill 3693 Compliance
• Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association 39th Annual Summer Conference
• 8th Annual DIR Information Security Forum
• Texas Citizen Corps Conference
• Texas State University Small Business Development Center training schedule
• TWC Texas Business Conferences
• LBJ School Professional Development Calendar
• Upcoming Executive Women in Texas Government events

Texas Government Insider Archives

Volume 1 - 6 Archives · 11/7/03 - 5/23/08

Grayson County approves terminals for patrol cars

Grayson County commissioners recently approved installation of mobile data terminals in patrol cars used by sheriff's deputies. The terminals will be laptop computers that can be used to access reports, write reports and check a person's driver's license and criminal history. The data terminals will be paid for with a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Cameron hires Tow
as new city manager

Richard A. Tow, Jr. of Alvord has been hired by the Cameron City Council as its new city manager. Tow, who will assume duties July 1, has spent his entire career in his Wise County hometown of 1,200.

As city administrator in Alvord, Tow has headed the city water and wastewater operations, coordinated and served as inspector for city construction projects, supervised city staff, assisted the mayor in preparing the annual city budget, served as economic development director and grant writer and served as emergency management director.

Governor's appointments

Gov. Rick Perry has made the following appointments:

• James Dyess of Austin, Texas Optometry Board
• Todd Barth of Houston, School Land Board
• Joe Cantu of Pipe Creek, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Scott Petty of Hondo, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Curtis Raabe of Poth, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Thomas Reding Jr. of Portland, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Karen Bonner of Corpus Christi, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Rebecca Bradford of Corpus Christi, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Dan Leyendecker of Corpus Christi, Nueces River Authority Board of Directors
• Patrick R. Gordon of El Paso, Rio Grande Compact Commission
• Richard Figueroa of Houston, Texas Judicial Council
• Allyson Ho of Dallas, Texas Judicial Council
• Henry Nuss of Corpus Christi, Texas Judicial Council

Madisonville starts second search for new city manager

City council members in Madisonville are looking for a new city manager after the lone finalist for the position withdrew his name from consideration.

David Jacobs, currently the water utilities projects manager in Garland, was recently named as lone finalist for the city manager position, but recently withdrew his name. Council members are now planning to meet with a consultant firm that specializes in municipal job placements to help them conduct a search.

Texas Tech medical school raises $83 million in funds

Officials at the Texas Tech Medical School in El Paso report that they have raised $83 million in two years through private donations. System Chancellor Kent Hance said Tuesday that the announcement marked the end of the fundraising Infinity Campaign, which initially set out to raise just $25 million.

More than half the amount raised, $50 million, came from Paul Foster, president and CEO of Western Refining Inc., for whom the school is named.

Jobs at SPI

SPI seeking to employ
experienced researchers

SPI is seeking experienced researchers for short-term engagements involving research in Texas and other states. The candidate should have experience in state or federal government and have an understanding of procurement processes and concepts. Tasks will vary depending on clients' needs. Applicants may send a cover letter and resume to jobs@spartnerships.com.

Prairie View named
recipient of grant

Prairie View A&M University has announced that the Tom Joyner Foundation and the National Education Association has awarded a $100,000 grant to help increase the number of fully certified teachers in minority and hard-to-staff schools. PVAMU is one of several historically black colleges and universities awarded funding from the Tom Joyner Foundation and the NEA.

The Prairie View Teacher Certification Program, housed in the university's Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, will facilitate the university's scholarship award process. PVAMU's program will focus on certification in the areas of science, mathematics and special education. The university plans to distribute funds for the program beginning summer 2008.

TAMU-Commerce finishes third year of initiative

Texas A&M University-Commerce and L-3 Communications Integrated Systems have completed a third year of operation of a science, math and technology initiative in Commerce and Greenville schools. Operation Spark, which reaches sixth through 12th grade students in Commerce, Greenville and Phoenix Charter School, sponsored a Family Science and Math Night at Greenville High School earlier this month.

Twelve A&M-Commerce chemistry, biology, math and physics students have made 25 visits to Greenville High and reached every sixth grade student in the district this school year. This fall, the Operation Spark college students will continue to visit the schools and conduct biology and chemistry experiments in which the sixth through twelfth graders take part.

Park for disabled being
developed in San Antonio

A public-private effort is under way in San Antonio to construct an 18-acre park dedicated exclusively to those with disabilities and their families. Homebuilder and philanthropist Gordon Hartman has more than $11 million committed by San Antonio and Bexar County for the facility.

Hartman is spending the next three weeks gathering public input on what the special needs park should or should not include. While the property will be publicly owned, the site will be managed and maintained by SOAR Inc., a nonprofit corporation. Hartman envisions the park's budget being supported with sponsorships by private businesses. Hartman has contributed $1 million of his own money. Construction is slated to begin at the end of the summer and be finished by August 2009. The 18-acre park will be part of a much larger 106-acre development dedicated to soccer fields.

TGI ad space available

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Bryan airport awarded $564,500 federal grant

Coulter Field in Bryan recently received a $564,500 grant from the Federal Aviation Agency for upgrades to its runway, taxiway and ramp. The grant will fund 90 percent of the cost of the projects, which are expected to begin in early June and be completed in three months.

Craig Owens resigns
as Rowlett city manager

Rowlett City Manager Craig Owens (pictured) recently resigned to accept a job as city manager in Clayton, Missouri. Owens had worked for the city five years, including the last three years as city manager. Rowlett Mayor John Harper said he expects city officials will meet to discuss the appointment of an interim city manager.

Quinlan ISD approves French as superintendent

Trustees for Quinlan Independent School district recently approved Micheal French to serve as their new superintendent to replace Larry Johnson, who is retiring at the end of the school year. French, who currently serves as superintendent at Scurry-Rosser ISD, will start his new job on July 1. French received his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M-Commerce and his master's from The University of Texas at Tyler.

Denton ISD approves costs for new childcare facility

Trustees for the Denton Independent School District recently approved the "guaranteed maximum price" on the district's $2.6 million employee childcare facility and several other projects. Other project costs approved include a $1.07 million paving package for Ryan High School renovations, $1.08 million for a utility relocation package for Denton High School and $257,377 to finish two classroom at the LaGrone Advanced Technology Center.

Voters in November 2007 approved the proposed $2 million employee childcare center with a capacity of 60 children. Rising costs of fuel and steel in addition to items not included in the original proposal, however, increased the cost of the 8,500-square-foot facility to $2,600,028. Superintendent Ray Braswell (pictured) has said he expects the child care facility to be able to fund itself because teachers will pay fair market value for their child care. Construction is set to start in June, with an opening date of January 2009, he said.

Jaklich will lead Harlandale school district as interim

Robert Jaklich, current executive director for human resources at the Harlandale ISD, has been named interim superintendent for the district.

Jaklich has worked in the district since 1997 and is a former Harlandale High School principal. The board of trustees plans to search for a permanent superintendent this summer.

Jasper ISD to search again for interim superintendent

Trustees for the Jasper Independent School District recently reopened their search for another interim superintendent after former Orangefield Superintendent Robert Montagne, who had accepted the job, withdrew his applications for personal reasons.

Superintendent Bill Dean said the board met in executive session on May 20 and decided to interview one of the prospective candidates from the original list of applicants. Dean said he expects to schedule another executive session next week to conduct that interview.

Alamo Heights selects Brown as superintendent

Trustees for the Alamo Heights Independent School District recently selected Dr. Kevin Brown as the district's new superintendent. Brown will replace Dr. Jerry Christian, who is slated to retire in June.

Brown holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin, a master's degree from Texas State University and his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. He currently serves as director of personnel and public information at Alamo Heights ISD, but also has held teaching and administrative positions at Southwest, Round Rock and New Braunfels ISDs.

Hillsboro ISD chooses Gilcrease as lone finalist

Trustees for the Hillsboro Independent School District recently approved James "Buck" Gilcrease (pictured) as the lone finalist for superintendent.

Gilcrease, who has served as the superintendent of Haskell ISD since 2007, cannot receive final approval for the position until June 16, 21 days following his designation as lone finalist. He is expected to assume the new position on July 1.

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TXVOAD summit slated June 9-11 in Austin

The first annual summit for Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (TXVOAD) will be held June 9 - 11, 2008 at the Omni South Park in Austin. The summit provides training and information for civic clubs, community organizations, faith-based agencies, disaster response agencies and emergency managers. A variety of workshops and presentations will support the interaction and coordination of voluntary organizations and emergency management organizations. The Texas VOAD Summit will provide a forum for sharing lessons learned and enhancing partnerships. For more information, click here.

Informational seminar on energy efficiency set June 5

Last year, legislation (House Bill 3693) went into effect in Texas that requires local governments to establish energy reduction goals, record their energy usage and report this information back to the state. An informational workshop hosted by Tradition Energy will explain mandates in HB 3693 and discuss plans that allow governments to become more efficient and measure their savings. Speakers include Dub Taylor of the Texas State Energy Conservation Office; Lisa Loupe of Johnson Controls; Mike Brasovan, THG Energy Solutions; and Bob Wooten of Tradition Energy. This workshop is applicable to city managers, county judges, school superintendents, purchasing agents, facilities directors, energy managers and other local government professionals responsible for energy management strategy. The seminar will be held in Irving from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 5. For more information or to register, click here.

TSABAA planning annual summer conference

The State Agency Business Administrators' Association (TSABAA) will hold its 39th Annual Summer Conference June 30-July 2 at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel. TSABAA provides an arena for issues affecting the business operations of Texas state government. This year's event features a State Board of Public Accountancy-approved ethics class from 8-11:30 a.m. on opening day. Certifications will be issued. The group also will host the 1st Annual TSABAA Golf Tournament on Sunday, June 29, at the Tierra Verde Golf Course in Arlington. The tourney will be a four-person scramble and shotgun start. Among the topics of discussion for the event are: The Expectation of Accountability for Business Administrators, Legislative Perspective featuring Ross Ramsey and Harvey Kronberg, Finance Transformation, Open Government, Performance Benchmarking, Appropriation Control, What's New with the Texas ERP Project, How to Reengineer (Improve) Processes and a legislative review. Twelve hours of continuing education credit can be earned at this event. For more information, to view the tentative agenda and to register, click here.

8th Annual DIR Information Security Forum June 3

The 8th Annual DIR Information Security Forum will be Tuesday, June 3, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at The Commons Center, Big Tex/Large Auditorium, 10100 Burnet Road in Austin. The 2008 focus will be on Protecting Data in a Mobile Environment. Among the topics are "Encryption for Business," "Security in a Virtualized Mobile Environment," "DIR Security Update," "Managing a Security Breach" and more. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. For more information, click here. To register, click here.

Texas Citizen Corps Conference slated June 3-4

The fourth annual Texas Citizen Corps Conference, sponsored by the Texas Association of Regional Councils, will be June 3-4 in San Antonio at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel. The conference is open to anyone interested in the Citizen Corps program, including regional councils of governments, local, state, and federal agencies, volunteers, emergency management professionals, first responder and other interested parties. Local elected officials and management level decision-makers will also be in attendance. Sessions will include training, strategic policy discussions, briefings from leaders in the Citizen Corps programs from across the nation, networking and best practices events and an exhibit hall. To register, or for more information, click here.