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North, Central Texas inundated by floodsState, federal officials pledge support for stricken areasWith Texas weather, it's either feast or famine.
After many areas of the state suffered through drought-like conditions over the past several years, the famine turned to feast this spring and early this summer when much-needed rainfall spread throughout most areas of the state and the drought was officially declared ended. But for North and Central Texas, the feast turned to beast this week. Hundreds of residents in Parker County were evacuated earlier this week as the Brazos River continued to rise from almost endless rainfall. Ground already saturated from rain earlier in the month caused Tuesday's rainfall to further swell creeks and rivers, prompting flash flooding. More flooding is expected as the Brazos is expected to crest at above flood stage and residents along the swollen Trinity River are anticipating more flooding downstream. Earlier this week in anticipation of the storms, Gov. Rick Perry activated 150 Texas Military Forces soldiers, while 54 high-profile vehicles were deployed to assist with response efforts related to the heavy flooding and other emergencies.
Residents and business owners said a 10-foot wall of water swept through some areas, uprooting trees, sweeping vehicles off roads and destroying sections of roadways. Marble Falls resident Patti Maugham described the "rain bomb" that hit that area Tuesday as "rain that doesn't let up...buckets and buckets of rain." [more]Saathoff announced as DIR's new CFOBob Saathoff has been named the new Chief Financial Officer for the Texas Department of Information Resources (DIR), and will begin in his new position July 2. Saathoff, who has experience in both public and private sector accounting, will assist in the agency's transition to a self-funded model. Saathoff served more than eight years with the Public Utility Commission of Texas. His last four years were as CFO, where he was responsible for oversight of fiscal operations, accounting, purchasing, payroll, compliance auditing and performance measures. He served the previous four years as Director of Fiscal Services. His private sector experience includes having been executive vice president and CFO for a savings and loan institution. Other positions he held with the company were Chief Investment Officer/Senior Vice President of Finance and Vice President and Controller. He also served as accounting division manager for a private firm where he managed the division's contract with the Resolution Trust Corp. Saathoff has also done consulting work and founded his own business. The new CFO holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and is a Certified Public Accountant. $1.3 million from Emerging Technology Funds awardedAwards of more than $1.3 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF) were announced this week by Gov. Rick Perry, with two companies - Resonant Sensors Inc. of Arlington and PrincipleSoft, Inc. of Plano - receiving the grants. The TETF is a $200 million initiative created by the Texas Legislature in 2005. The recently approved state budget for the 2008-09 biennium includes $75 million in new general revenue for the fund. Added to existing funds, that means $165 million will be available from the fund in 2008-09. Resonant Sensors will benefit from a $600,000 grant to further develop and commercialize its new class of sensors for use in the production of biomedical compounds and drugs. The award is expected to leverage another $100,000 from the NSF Small Business Innovative Research program. PrincipleSoft will receive $750,000 for further development of multiple layer overlay modulation that will revolutionize lives by enabling a high-speed connection directly to the key people and information an individual is targeting. Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
This week's salute is to Alicia Key, director, Child Support Division, Office of the Attorney GeneralCareer highlights and education: I attended Texas Tech University and Texas Tech Law School. Early in my career, I served as an associate judge in Wichita Falls and adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Department at Midwestern State University. Since joining the Office of Attorney General in 1992, I have served in various capacities in the Child Support Division. From 2002 to 2004, I served as Administrative Director of the Office of Court Administration, before returning to the OAG as Director of the Child Support Division. What I like best about my job is: The opportunity to champion the mission of our agency. We help children by encouraging financial and emotional support from both parents. The best advice I've received for my current job: The best advice I've received for my current job-and every job I've ever had - came from my parents when I was very young, "Always do your absolute best and treat everyone whose path you cross with courtesy and kindness." Advice I would give a new hire in my office: Don't be overwhelmed by the huge caseloads. You CAN make a difference--one family at a time. If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: jogging on the Town Lake trail. People would be surprised to know that I: play in a Women's Kickball League. One thing I wish more people knew about our agency is: that we are not simply a "collection agency." While our primary responsibility is to enforce the payment of support, we perform numerous services that are geared towards creating strong, healthy family environments where children can thrive. We help establish paternity to ensure that children born to unmarried parents will be entitled to appropriate benefits. Our Paternity Opportunity Program provides Acknowledgment of Paternity certification training for hospitals, midwives, community-based organizations and birth center staff, so they will be able to educate unmarried parents about the importance of paternity acknowledgment. Years ago, we created a Parenting and Paternity Awareness curriculum for use in high schools across Texas, and have trained over 2,000 Texas educators and community professions in its use. And we have the most committed and caring public servants in state government doing this work! 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. Scott named interim commissioner at TEA
Scott is a former aide to the governor, and led the TEA as interim commissioner from August 2003 to January 2004 when Commissioner Felipe Alanis left the agency before Neeley's appointment by Perry in 2004. Scott, who grew up primarily in Lewisville, holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. He has worked in the education policy arena for decades. Scott began with TEA in the early 1990s in the Governmental Relations Division as a liaison between the agency and the Texas Legislature. He later was an executive assistant to Commissioner of Education Mike Moses as well as Commissioner Jim Nelson. He also previously served as an aide to U.S. Rep. Gene Green of Houston. The interim commissioner will now lead the agency that serves more than 4.5 Texas public school students until a new commissioner is named. Officials in the Governor's Office say no timetable has been set for that appointment. Neeley announced her resignation June 20 after it was revealed that she would not be reappointed by the governor. Transportation Commission rejects Cintra bidThe North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), by a vote of 4-1 from the Texas Transportation Commission (TTC), was chosen as the entity to build the Texas 121 toll road in Denton and Collin counties. In doing so, the TTC rejected the bid of Spanish construction firm Cintra, and it is now unclear if the Commission's action will lead to a lawsuit by Cintra or a call for a possible refund of millions of dollars in federal funds already committed to the project. The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) earlier this month favored the NTTA proposal over Cintra's by a 27-10 vote. Concerns were then raised as to whether federal regulations were violated when the bid process was reopened to allow NTTA to bid after the Texas Department of Transportation had already chosen Cintra's proposal as the most advantageous. A violation of federal regulations might mean the North Texas region would have to pay back some $300 million in federal funds already spent on the project. Regional officials were fearful that the TTC might override their vote in support of the NTTA. They garnered support in the form of a letter to TTC Chairman Ric Williamson from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who said he supported the NTTA proposal and added that "local control must be at the heart of these important decisions." He urged Williamson to honor the region's decision. He said the bid "shows the public sector's commitment to solving traffic problems, and not honoring the RTC's decision would be inconsistent with the opinions of North Texas' elected officials and the wishes of many of their constituents." As part of their proposal, the NTTA will pay $3.3 billion to the region and add five new toll road projects to its existing toll road system in that region within five years. White named to new post at TCEQDonna White, a former member of the senior staff in the Governor's Office, has been named Special Assistant to the Deputy of the Office of Administrative Services at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. White was with the Gov. Rick Perry's office for six years, with oversight of administration and constituent services. She previously served as a staff member for then-Lt. Gov. Rick Perry and for the late Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock. White is a magna cum laude graduate of Boston University, where she earned her bachelor's degree. She holds a master's degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where she also earned a university fellowship and school recognition for outstanding achievement. TYC director updating employees on changes
New Texas Youth Commission Executive Director Dimitria Pope is taking her message to the agency's employees across the state. Pope, who was named to head the agency just two weeks ago, wants employees of the embattled agency to know about changes that are being implemented at the TYC. So she and operational staff are conducting briefings at six locations in Texas. The agency has been under fire for months after allegations of abuse of youth residents were reported at some of the TYC facilities and a reported cover-up of those allegations was also alleged. When the allegations arose, the executive director resigned, the board chair was demoted, and eventually all members of the board resigned. A conservator was appointed and one of his many actions included appointing Pope as executive director. The TYC road trip this week has already made stops to visit with TYC employees in Odessa, Waco and Richardson. Handouts will be made available to staff members who are unable to attend the briefings and videos of the meetings will be made available to be shown to employees at TYC facilities. Upcoming meetings will be held Monday, July 9, in Houston; Tuesday, July 10 in Harlingen; and Wednesday, July 11, in Austin. Ag department awards $1.7 million in fundsMore than $1.7 million in combined Texas Capital Fund awards were made this week to the cities of Midlothian and Sunnyvale by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The money will be used for economic development efforts in the two cities, according to Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. Midlothian is the recipient of $985,000 for public infrastructure development that will allow Burlingame Industries to expand and add a concrete roof tile manufacturing facility there. More than 100 jobs are expected to be created as a result of the expansion. Sunnyvale will receive $750,000 to acquire easements and improve water, sewer and traffic infrastructure to allow American Marazzi Tile Inc. to construct a manufacturing facility. Officials expect more than 55 new jobs from the project, with a total of 107 to be added by 2011. The Texas Capital Fund is part of the federal Community Development Block Grant program. Millions of dollars in competitive awards are provided by the fund each year to assist small Texas cities and counties in their economic development efforts. The program is administered by the Office of Rural Community Affairs. TABC awards eight grants worth $234,000Eight grants totaling $234,000 were recently awarded by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) to Texas nonprofit groups, college, law enforcement and community coalitions. The grant funds will be used for underage drinking prevention initiatives, such as education, enforcement and compliance programs. Because Texas is the nation's leader in alcohol-related traffic fatalities among 15- to 20-year-olds, TABC Administrator Alan Steen (pictured) said these initiatives help reach these young Texans "to make them aware of potentially deadly consequences" related to underage drinking.
Although funding is provided by a U.S. Department of Justice Enforcement of Underage Drinking Laws (EUDL) block grant, TABC is the administrator and monitors each project for effectiveness. The 2007-08 grant recipients and their projects include:
TCEQ announces $4 million in grantsThe Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has announced that $4 million in grant funds are available to retrofit or replace rich-burn compressor engines in the oil field to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in Texas. The grants will help defray the costs of installing a NOx reduction system in these engines. More than 30 counties in East Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area have large numbers of rich-burn compressor engines, where rules have recently been implemented to reduce NOx emissions. Owners and operators of rich-burn compressor engines should contact the TCEQ for more information regarding applying for these grants. The level of reimbursement for capitol costs is 75 percent if systems are installed and emissions reductions are verified between April 30-Aug.1. Reimbursements drop to 50 percent if reductions are verified after July 31, 2007, and before April 1, 2008. State officials map emergency fuel deliveryThe specter of a second Hurricane Rita is the motivation behind plans by state leaders and oil company executives to improve gasoline delivery during emergency evacuations.
Previous to Rita's wrath in 2005, fuel supply wasn't a part of Texas' nearly 200-page evacuation plan. The fact that 3.6 million motorists used up almost all available gas in the greater Houston area made it clear that such supplies mandated inclusion in the plan. "The problem arose when the voluntary evacuation was overlaid on top of the mandatory evacuation and the roads were clogged," said Jack E. Little (pictured), who oversees the governor's Evacuation, Transportation and Logistics task force.
Proposed improvements include gas stations not operating with storage tanks that are half-full or less during an evacuation; fuel trucks being filled and parked in pre-selected locations along the coast when storm winds are five days from Texas' shore; focusing on fuel distribution to coastal cities after the storm so returning residents will be able to drive to work and run generators; and buses transporting the elderly and disabled passing through a hurricane zone more quickly to decrease gridlock. PUC authorizes summmer rate discount for someLow-income residential electric customers in areas participating in retail electric competition can reduce their electric bills by approximately $25-$30 dollars per month from July through October 2007, thanks to a summer discount approved recently by the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Customers qualify for the discount if their family income is at or below 125 percent of federal poverty level guidelines, which is $25,813 annually for a family of four. They're also eligible if they receive benefits from the Health and Human Services Commission such as food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, or low-income Medicare. Residents of master or sub-metered apartments are ineligible for the discount. Baldwin likely to lead Tech Health Sciences CenterJohn C. Baldwin, M.D. (pictured), is the sole finalist for president of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, according to Tech System Chancellor Kent Hance. Baldwin is a professor of surgery at Harvard University and president and chief executive officer of the Immune Disease Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.
Baldwin holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard, where he was Phi Beta Kappa and graduated summa cum laude. He was then awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford. Baldwin earned his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine, completing his internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Baldwin later succeeded famed heart surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey as head of surgical programs at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and also served as dean of the Dartmouth Medical School and as the university's associate provost for health affairs. "His medical skill and knowledge of the healthcare system is unparalleled," said Hance. Fort Bliss population could expand by 11,000An additional 11,000 soldiers could be coming to Fort Bliss in El Paso and the White Sands Missile Range. Army officials are studying that option as part of the "Grow the Force" military expansion plan. A decision is not likely to be made until an environmental assessment is made, probably in the fall. If approved, officials expect two brigade combat teams would be added to Fort Bliss and one to White Sands. A research firm determined the costs for buildings and infrastructure to support such an expansion at $250-$300 million. Fort Bliss already is scheduled to accommodate an additional 20,000 soldiers through 2011 due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions at the federal level, overseas redeployment and other programs. A large part of that number includes soldiers from the 1st Armored Division currently stationed in Germany. A $3.1 billion expansion to house the approximately 15,000 1st Armored Division soldiers who will arrive within the next five years is currently under way. The first phase of construction includes buildings for a brigade of 3,700 soldiers. Clearing and utility work is under way for the second complex and two more are planned, as well as a smaller complex for the Army Evaluation Task Force. Also being planned is a $400 million combat aviation brigade. El Paso officials expect a $21.7 billion boost to the area economy over the next seven years as a result of the expansion, and close to $4 million more annually in subsequent years. Texas lands wind turbine research, testing facilitiesAn alliance of Texas government agencies, corporate partners and universities will receive approximately $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy in the quest for renewable energy sources.
Members of the Lone Star Wind Alliance will design, construct and operate a research facility able to test offshore wind blades up to 330 feet in length. Approximately $18 million from state and private sources was pledged for startup costs, and the facility will be located in Ingleside, north of Corpus Christi. "This is an important first step in establishing Texas as a global leader in wind energy technology and providing an important support base for a projected half trillion dollar global industry," said Raymond Flumerfelt (top photo), dean of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston, a member of the alliance.
"Texas Tech is a leader in wind research, and as part of this coalition, our university is taking another step in ensuring that Texas and the nation have the resources to meet our future energy needs," said Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance (bottom photo). Texas cities among highest in population gainsFive Texas cities posted some of the largest population gains in the country last year, according to recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. San Antonio recorded the second highest number of new residents, with 33,100, second only to Phoenix with 43,000 new residents. The new residents in San Antonio pushed the city's population to approximately 1.3 million. In cities with populations of at least 100,000, Austin, Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth recorded significant population increases. Austin's population expanded to 709,000 after 18,600 new residents were added; Houston recorded 26,600 new residents that boosted its population to 2.14 million; Fort Worth saw the addition of 30,200 residents, upping its population figure to 653,300; and Dallas added 16,700 to push its population to 1.2 million. Forgione competing for Superintendent of YearAustin ISD Superintendent Dr. Pat Forgione, who has been at the helm of the Central Texas district for the last eight years, is one of 20 Texas superintendents who will compete for the Texas Association of School Boards-sponsored Superintendent of the Year competition.
Forgione is one of 20 regional Superintendents of the Year, nominated from throughout the state. The complete list of regional winners is expected to be announced Monday by TASB. Those 20 will then be pared down in August to five finalists, with the Superintendent of the Year to be named in September. Forgione is a former U.S. Commissioner of Education Statistics with the National Center for Education Statistics. He also previously was head of the U.S. Department of Education's National Education Goals Panel. The Austin superintendent's background includes educational endeavors in Delaware, Connecticut, Ohio, Maryland, California and New York. He has done educational consulting for numerous entities, including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Defense, the College Board and the National Center for Education and the Economy, to name a few. Forgione holds a bachelor's degree in theology and philosophy from St. Mary's Seminary and University, a master's from Loyola College and his Ph.D. from Stanford University. Blanton Museum's Hite announces retirementAfter 30 years at The University of Texas at Austin, the last 15 as director of the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art, Jessie Otto Hite has announced her retirement, effective in March 2008.
Hite became a member of the museum's staff in 1979 as a graduate student. Upon announcement of her retirement, UT President Dr. William Powers Jr., said Hite's dedication to the museum has allowed it to emerge as "one of the premier university art museums in the country." She has served the College of Fine Arts for nearly 30 years, beginning as a researcher for Huntington Art Gallery, which became the Blanton Museum of Art. The museum is the largest university art museum in the country, with the largest and most comprehensive art collection in Central Texas. SFA Provost Young announces retirementDr. Marlin C. Young, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University, has announced his retirement effective Aug. 3l.
Young began his career at SFA 40 years ago, in 1967, as an instructor in the General Business Department of the School of Business. He began his administrative career at the Nacogdoches university in 1982, when he was named associate dean of the School of Business. He later served as acting dean and then dean of the College of Business. Young served as interim vice president for academic affairs in 2002, associate provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2003, and provost and vice president for academic affairs in 2006. He also is a former chair of the Faculty Senate. Young earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from East Texas State University and his Ph.D. from Arizona State. He served on the faculty of East Texas Baptist University prior to coming to SFA. Brazos County studying jail bond issueOvercrowding at jails in Brazos County will be addressed in a bond election in November, which could result in a 2 percent property tax increase. The county commissioner's court approved a contract with architects to create designs and conduct cost analysis for a 600- to 650-bed building bordering the Sandy Point Road jail. Other ideas include the installation of 48 more beds at Sandy Point, and closing the courthouse jail and temporary annex. The project is likely to cost approximately $40 million, which could increase tax rates between 1.9 and 2.3 cents per $100 of property value beginning in fiscal year 2009. Gayle to retire from veterinary laboratoryLelve Gayle (pictured), who for more than three decades has been a part of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, has announced his retirement as executive director, effective July 31.
More than 220,000 cases are handled by the lab each year, as workers test for and diagnose diseases that infect livestock. Gayne Fearneyhough, who heads the lab's diagnostic services and informatics, will likely serve as interim director of the lab when Gayle retires. A committee to be chaired by James Hull, state forester and director of the Texas Forest Service, will search for Gayle's replacement. Lubbock DPS facility's fate in hands of votersThe corner of Yucca Lane and Interstate 27 in Lubbock might be the new home of the Texas Department of Public Safety regional headquarters if voters support a $37 million state bond in November. The state-of-the-art structure is slated to be a multi-story building of about 66,000 square feet containing the driver license division, a DNA lab, an automotive shop, a radio equipment shop and a helicopter hangar. It would be almost twice as large as Lubbock's current facility downtown. The facility would be functional in three years, and serve the needs of DPS Region 5, which includes the South Plains, the Panhandle and the New Mexico border to Weatherford. HISD votes to name school after Rod PaigeAn elementary school in the Houston ISD will soon bear the name of former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige. School board members this week voted to change the name of the James Bowie Elementary School to instead honor Paige, the HISD's first African-American superintendent. Paige also previously served as a trustee in the district.
The current 56-year-old James Bowie Elementary will be replaced by a new building that, when completed, will be named Roderick Paige Elementary. School officials said they wanted current students to see schools named after people from this century, people who could serve as role models for the students to show what they, too, can accomplish. The school serves mostly African-American and Hispanic children from poor families. Finalists named for spot at TAMU-Corpus ChristiTexas A&M-Corpus Christi has announced four finalists who are vying for the position of provost and vice president for academic affairs. The four were chosen from more than 60 applicants. The finalists include: Dr. Jay Grimes, provost and vice president for academic affairs, University of Southern Mississippi; Dr. Vish Prasad, executive dean and distinguished professor, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University; Dr. Tom Hanley, professor of chemical engineering, Auburn University; and Dr. Joe King, dean of the College of Sciences, University of New Orleans. The new provost and vice president for academic affairs will be charged with coordinating the university's instructional, research, and service programs; implementing policies and procedures that affect the Division of Academic Affairs; upholding academic and accreditation standards; and advising the university president on academic matters. Furgason retiring as executive directorDr. Robert R. Furgason (pictured), former president of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the university's first executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies (HRI), has announced his retirement from HRI effective Dec. 31.
Since it's inception in 2004, HRI has become the premier research institute for advancing the long-term sustainability and conservation of the Gulf of Mexico. As director of HRI, Furgason helped bring leading oceanic experts from the academic, government and private sectors to Corpus Christi for the first State of the Gulf of Mexico Conference in 2005. Before coming to TAMU-Corpus Christi, Furgason served as vice president for academic affairs and professor of chemical engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Idaho and a Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Trent Hill, vice president for institutional advancement, and Frank Pezold, dean of the College of Science and Technology, will co-chair a search committee to find a suitable replacement for Furgason. Sylvester will chair Workforce Investment CouncilJohn W. Sylvester of Houston has been named by Gov. Rick Perry as the chair of the Texas Workforce Investment Council. Sylvester replaces former chair Ann Hodge. |
Educational foundations boosting school revenues
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Public schools in Texas are relentless in their efforts to find innovative ways to boost dwindling revenues. Many are facing serious budget issues. In addition to finding more revenue, school executives are just as intent on protecting the additional funding so that it does not become subject to "recapture" - Texas' long-standing Robin Hood method of school finance that takes money from property rich schools and gives it to property poor districts. One of the safest ways school districts have to add non-recapture funds to their coffers is through education foundations. Foundations began in other states in the late 1980s and only became the norm in Texas in the mid 1990s. Now, they are quite common. Most educational foundations are organized as nonprofit entities and are exempt from federal income tax. Contributors get an income tax deduction. But more important to the individual districts, an educational foundation prevents donated funds from being subject to recapture by the state. [more]Oliver, Guerra join SPI consulting teamSPI this week announces the addition of two new consultants whose areas of expertise include local and state government. Harold Oliver, whose expertise is in both local and state government, currently is a principal in a legislative, regulatory and governmental consulting service.
Oliver is a former legislative assistant to the late State Sen. Frank Madla, for whom he performed research, development, analysis and monitoring of legislation. He also previously served as part of the adjunct faculty at the Alamo Community College District, where he taught comparative analysis of national, state and local government. As a special agent with the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Oliver conducted independent and joint investigation of motor carriers in foreign and interstate commerce. Oliver earned his bachelor's degree from Incarnate Word College, and his master's and law degrees from St. Mary's University. He has served as chairman of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, on the board of the Jewish Family and Children's Center Services, as a member of the San Antonio Spurs Foundation and as director of Texas Lyceum. Fred Guerra brings an extensive city government background to SPI along with strategic planning experience among state, local and federal government entities. He has held public affairs and government affairs positions with Cox Communications in Arizona and with Southwestern Bell and SBC Communications and Telecom in Dallas and Austin. He also is a former municipal affairs executive with Browning-Ferris Industries in San Antonio.
Guerra is a former president of the Texas Municipal League, a former San Marcos city councilman, former president of the Texas Association of Mayors, Councilmembers and Commissioners, chair of the Advisory Council of the National League of Cities, board member of the National Association of Local Hispanic Elected Officials and on numerous boards in Dallas, Hays County and San Antonio. Guerra also has held a variety of positions at his alma mater, Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University. Among other positions at the university, he has served as assistant dean of students and director of the university's Educational Opportunity Center. Guerra holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Southwest Texas State. Cooper named regional dean for San AntonioThe University of Texas has appointed Sharon Cooper, Ph.D, as dean of the School of Public Health's San Antonio Regional Campus, effective July 1. Cooper is returning to the UT School of Public Health after serving as a faculty member from 1985 to 2002, and as assistant dean for academic affairs from 1999 to 2001.
Cooper most recently was professor and head of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Texas A&M University Rural School of Public Health. Cooper is a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, and she has been a consultant for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. She succeeds two faculty members who served separate stints as interim regional dean for the campus since January 2004. Some students allowed fixed fees, tuitionThe University of Texas at Dallas agreed to allow students at 18 Texas community colleges fixed tuition and fees at UT-Dallas for four years and extend enrollment benefits to transfer students. Comet Connection allows students to join the program by registering with their community college and with UT-Dallas, which locks in the current tuition rate for four years. This also applies to graduate students, including those who do their undergraduate work at UT-Dallas. Additional benefits include students not being charged for credit hours exceeding 15 per semester, access to the Pre-Health and Pre-Law Resource Center, access to UT-Dallas libraries, Enrollment Services events and one-on-one access to academic advisors on the UT-Dallas campus. TWU receives grants to aid librariansGrants totaling more than $700,000 have been received by the Texas Woman's University School of Library and Information Studies to implement a Professional Education for Librarians in Small Communities (PELSC) project. The bulk of the funding comes from a $691,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, while an additional $38,000 grant came from the Tocker Foundation. Matching funds and in-kind donations will be provided by TWU, the Texas Library Association and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
"This truly leverages the potential for online learning at the advanced degree level, and builds on what the State Library has already accomplished with its Small Library Management Training Program," said Dr. Robert Martin (pictured), the Lillian Bradshaw Professor of Library Science at TWU and the principal investigator of the project. The project offers an online degree program for librarians in small and rural communities in the state to earn a master's degree in library science. It supports tuition, fees and travel stipends. Martinez leaving advancement positionSonia Martinez (pictured), University of Texas at San Antonio vice president for university advancement, will leave her post on June 30. In September she will return to UTSA part-time to work with President Ricardo Romo on strategic initiatives.
Janice Odom, UTSA director of development for foundation and organization relations, will serve as interim vice president while the school searches nationally to fill the vacancy. Spector named to post at UT-DallasDr. Magaly Spector has been appointed vice president for diversity and community engagement at The University of Texas at Dallas. Her newly created position will develop diversity at all university levels.
The Cuba native holds a License in Physics from Havana University, and a master's and Ph.D. in physics from Lehigh University. She also has studied business at Harvard University. While at Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies, Spector was global manager for product quality and reliability, which involved creating new technologies enabling high-speed Internet, optical and wireless networking communications. She was also involved in diversity initiatives including a mentoring program for Hispanics and educational outreach programs for women and minorities. Burns re-elected by law enforcement group
Heintze selected for national task forceMichael Heintze, associate vice president for enrollment management at Texas State University-San Marcos, has been appointed to a national task force focused on admission issues sponsored by the College Board. Heintze will work with 40 committee members to provide prospective students and parents with information about admissions, college costs and reasons behind the decrease in enrollment for higher education schools and high schools. Texas A&M System posting expenditures onlineThe Texas A&M University System has joined a growing number of state agencies to begin posting its expenditures online. TAMU becomes the first university system to do so.
Numerous state agencies are conforming to State Comptroller Susan Combs' effort to ensure more transparency so that citizens can see where their tax dollars are being spent. The TAMU System is reporting figures for salaries, employee benefits, and other expenditures from 2005-07. Included are figures from the system's nine universities, seven state agencies and the TAMU Health Science Center. System Chancellor Mike McKinney said Texans deserve to know "exactly how their tax dollars are being spent" at the member institutions and agencies. S.A. sites considered for federal courthouseThe U.S. General Services Administration recently named three downtown locations under consideration in the hunt for a new home for San Antonio's federal courthouse. Potential plots include a rehabilitated 101-year-old home on Dwyer Street near the San Antonio River, the downtown San Antonio Police Department headquarters and land east of the Federal Building on Durango Street. A study analyzing the environmental and cultural impact of the three sites is currently being conducted. Recent Reports
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Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 1 - 5 Archives · 11/7/03 - 6/22/07 Resources
Hopper lone finalist at Bosqueville ISDJames Hopper is the lone finalist for the Bosqueville Independent School District's superintendent position. The 23-year educator is the principal of the high school in Hamilton and was one of 54 applicants for the district's top administrative post. A graduate of Angelo State University and the University of North Texas, Hopper has been a teacher and coach at a junior high in Denton, assistant principal in the Lake Dallas school district and administrator in the Muenster and Sundown school districts. Williamson to assume vice provost officeDr. Celia Williamson (pictured) will become vice provost and associate vice president for academic affairs at the University of North Texas, effective July 1. She has served on an interim basis in the position since Aug. 1, 2006, replacing Suzanne LaBrecque, who is now provost and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Houston-Victoria.
Williamson's work involves academic program oversight and development, and working with deans and academic support services. She served in several administrative, teaching and scholarly positions at the university during her 18-year tenure. Before joining UNT, Williamson was a social worker for children and adults with mental and emotional problems. She holds a bachelor's degree in social work from Abilene Christian University and master's and doctoral degrees in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. County offers land to city for law enforcementKerr County's offer to allow the City of Kerrville's emergency dispatch operations to use a parcel of county land would consolidate county and city law enforcement resources. This could improve communication capability and bring budget savings through joint facilities including classrooms, courtrooms and break rooms. Current conditions involve the city answering all 911 calls and forwarding county-related calls to the County Sheriff's Department. Kerrville's five-year capital improvement plan doesn't include new police facilities, though $500,000 is designated to address City Hall space needs. City officials were noncommittal about the offer of the land. Hensley to retire from TAMU-Texarkana presidencyDr. Stephen Hensley (pictured) will end a 40-year education career on Aug. 31 when he retires from the presidency at Texas A&M University-Texarkana. Hensley has been president of the university since 1994.
Hensley began his education career as a high school teacher in Kansas. He served as president of Western Oklahoma State College before coming to TAMU-Texarkana. He holds a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University, and his master's and Ed.D. from Oklahoma State University. TAMU System Chancellor Mike McKinney praised Hensley for guiding the university "through an incredible period of growth" and for his "leadership and dedication" while serving the university. Harrison likely next Bridge City superintendentDr. Jamey G. Harrison is the lone superintendent finalist for Bridge City Independent School District. His role is expected to become official at the next BCISD school board meeting on July 16. Currently employed as deputy superintendent of the Hardin-Jefferson ISD, Harrison has also been principal of Hardin-Jefferson High School, assistant principal in the Lumberton school district and a teacher and head boys basketball coach at Buna High School. Hardin replaces Dr. Darrell Myers, who will become the superintendent of the Livingston Independent School District.
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Texas Citizen Corps Conference slated July 19-20State Sen. John Carona and Texas Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw will be guest speakers at the third annual Texas Citizen Corps Conference slated July 19 and 20 in Austin. Spearheading the event is the Texas Association of Regional Councils with guidance from the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. The event will be at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake. The conference is open to anyone interested in the Citizen Corp program, including regional councils of governments, local, state, and federal agencies, volunteers, emergency management professionals, first responders and others. Citizen Corps offers volunteer opportunities in support of local fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services and community public health efforts regarding emergency management. Local elected officials and management level decision-makers will also attend. The agenda will include briefings from leaders in Citizen Corps programs throughout the country, and networking and best practices events will be held. There will also be an exhibit hall. To register, or for more information, click here, or contact Regina Chapline or Cristina Ramos at 512-275-9309. San Antonio BRAC-related procurement fair canceledThe procurement fair planned for Aug. 1 for all local businesses seeking to bid on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)-related contracts that was to be hosted by the city of San Antonio's Office of Military Transformation, in conjunction with Bexar County, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and other community partners, has been canceled. The new date has not yet been selected. The San Antonio Military Transformation Task Force (MTTF) is working to get San Antonio prime contractors and small businesses involved in Department of Defense contracts as much as possible, and is looking forward to participating at a future time. Attorney General's Office hosts fatherhood conferenceThe Texas Attorney General's Office is hosting a national conference on "The First Nine Months of Fatherhood: Paternal Contributions to Maternal and Infant Outcomes" August 20-21 in Houston. The conference is designed to present a sampling of the emerging research findings on the impact of paternal involvement and promising field practices. Legislative and policy staff, Health & Human Services/Administration for Children & Families administrators, health, social science, and public policy researchers, public agency administrators and others are welcome. For more information, visit http://www.oag.state.tx.us/conferences/fatherhood/. |
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One of the hardest hit sections of the state this week was Marble Falls in Central Texas, where upwards of 18 inches of rainfall was recorded in some areas overnight Tuesday. Thousands of residents were without power for hours and as late as this morning, Friday, residents were still without city water and relying on hundreds of cases of bottled water being distributed. There were nearly three-dozen water rescues as victims were picked up off rooftops, out of their vehicles and from their flooded homes. Even those with private wells are being asked to have their water tested, and residents of the area are also being urged to get precautionary tetanus shots.
Deputy Commissioner Robert Scott (pictured) has been named by Gov. Rick Perry to serve as interim commissioner of the Texas Education Agency until a successor is chosen to replace Commissioner Shirley Neeley, whose resignation becomes effective July 1.
Texas Tech's Wind Science and Engineering Research Center - another grant recipient and alliance member - will be involved in determining the wind pressure that turbines are likely to bear and wind resource assessments.
Shawn Burns was recently elected president of the Texas A&M University System Law Enforcement Administrators for a two-year term. Currently serving as the chief of police at West Texas A&M at Canyon, Burns is also serving his second term as secretary of the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators.
