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Texas to benefit from homeland security grantsState, local governments eligible for millions in fundingThe final installment for the $1.7 billion FY 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), announced this week by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), includes millions of dollars for Texas. The funding will go to assist governments throughout the country in preventing and protecting against - as well as responding to and recovering from - terrorist attacks or disasters.
UASI funds support the planning, equipment, training and exercise needs of heavily populated areas considered high-threat. For FY 2007, $746.9 million will be distributed to 45 urban areas eligible for funding, with $411 million, or 55 percent of the funds, allocated to Tier I urban areas, or those deemed at highest risk of a terrorist attack. Houston is among those Tier I areas and will receive $25 million. [more]Texas to receive $65 million for interoperability
The one-time, formula-based matching grant program was established with a $1 billion congressional authorization. Applications are due in 30 days and will be awarded by Sept. 30. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the grants will be used by cities and states "to purchase equipment, conduct training and exercises, and develop effective interoperable communications." The use of non-compatible communications technologies in the past has impeded communication among first responders during emergencies. The following six urban areas throughout the country have been allocated dedicated funding:
Once the Houston funds are allocated, the state will have a little more than $50 million to distribute among public safety agencies at the state and local levels. Grant recipients are required to meet a 20 percent statutory match. Wilson sworn in as new Secretary of StateAs family, friends, state elected officials, foreign dignitaries and former Texas Secretaries of State looked on, Phil Wilson Wednesday was sworn in as Texas' 106th Secretary of State. The oath was administered in the Texas House chamber by Gov. Rick Perry, who appointed Wilson to the position when former Secretary of State Roger Williams resigned last month.
"There is no doubt that Phil Wilson is a man of integrity and a leader that Texas can count on," said Rep. Tan Parker of Flower Mound. "I've seen first-hand his devotion to the state and his dedication to getting the job done. We can all look forward to a better and brighter Texas because of his leadership." Perry called Wilson "a Texan who is the embodiment of character" and whose career "demonstrates the fact that public service remains an honorable pursuit." Calling Wilson a man of high ethical standards, Perry said the new Secretary of State has "chosen to use his time to make the greatest difference for as many people as possible" and that he is "driven to use every opportunity to do the greatest good." [more]Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
This week's salute is to Julia Rathgeber, Director of Policy for Lt. Governor David DewhurstCareer highlights and education: I have worked in state government for over 16 years, joining the Lt. Governor's office when Gov. Dewhurst took office in 2003. Prior to that, I worked at the General Land Office; the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, where I was director of long-term planning for the management of air, water and waste; and the Senate Research Center, where I served as director for over seven years. I have a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin. What I like best about my job is: Every day is different. I get to work on legislation that affects every aspect of our lives, and, on occasion, I feel like I help make Texas a better place. The best advice I've received for my current job: Lt. Governor Bob Bullock once told me that I didn't understand an issue until I could "put it on a bumper sticker." The ability to reduce complex issues to basic, readily understandable statements has helped me immeasurably, when I manage to accomplish it. Advice I would give a new hire in my office: I encourage new staff to share information and to think of colleagues as a network of resources. I believe that most of the issues facing Texas benefit from more than one perspective, so I encourage staff to form fluid teams when addressing problems or legislative issues. In the past, I've seen individuals refuse to share information because they believe information is their primary source of power. To me, this approach fails to generate the broadest options for solutions. If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: spending time with my family or jogging around Town Lake. People would be surprised to know that I: I have an uncle who is an expert on wild mushrooms and he has taught me to identify over a dozen edible wild mushrooms. (None are the hallucinogenic variety!) One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: I wish that people knew how easy it is to participate in the legislative process and how much their input matters. Our staff really does listen to testimony and we really do make changes in legislation based upon public input. 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. Perry could call special session on divestitureSpecial session? Surely not. Maybe, says Gov. Rick Perry. It's not out of the question, he says, if that's what it takes to make state pension funds divest any holdings in companies doing business with Iran. Perry said divesting the Teacher Retirement System and the Employees Retirement System of Texas of investments in companies that have ties to Iran would be an "important statement" from the Lone Star State. Legislation passed during the 80th Texas Legislature mandated that the pension systems divest from companies tied to Sudan, where more than two million people have been displaced and 200,000 killed in a civil war there. A bill seeking divestment from Iran did not pass. A special session would be necessary since the divestiture action cannot be ordered without legislative approval. Williams to again chair Railroad CommissionMichael Williams has once again been named chair of the Railroad Commission of Texas. He succeeds former chair Elizabeth Ames Jones.
Appointed to the RRC in 1998 by then-Gov. George W. Bush, Williams was named chair by his fellow commissioners in 1999. The people of Texas elected Williams in 2000 to complete the term to which he had been appointed. He was re-elected to a full six-year term in 2002. Williams also chairs the Governor's Clean Coal Technology Council, the Texas FutureGen advisory board, and is a member of the Southern States Energy Board, the Interstate Mining Compact Commission and the National Coal Council, and advisory board to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. Williams is a former Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights with the U.S. Department of Education and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement at the U.S. Treasury Department. He has served as a special assistant to a former U.S. Attorney General, a former federal prosecutor and a former assistant district attorney. He holds a bachelor's, master's and law degree from the University of Southern California. Election management system to be testedTexas Secretary of State Phil Wilson has announced a test of the state's election management system. Upcoming elections have placed a greater burden on legislators to analyze why the $12 million technology for processing voter records is still not working. "It is vital that we get an assessment of the system's performance well in advance of an election," Wilson said in a statement. "This test will not be a perfect test of what happens, but at least it's a lot better than sticking your head in the sand and ignoring the problem." During local elections in May, hundreds of people were affected by voter record issues in the Southeast Texas area. Officials expect that number to jump significantly during the upcoming Presidential election. Wilson's office wants to simulate the load that the Texas Election Administration Management system, or TEAM, will handle during a presidential election cycle. He's asking counties to use the system to log voter records at the same volume they would during a real election. The hassle and expense was so great that some counties, including Tarrant, the largest county using TEAM, spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to abandon the state system and purchase their own election management software. McLeroy named chair of State Board of Education
Don McLeroy of College Station, a member of the State Board of Education since 1998, has been named by Gov. Rick Perry to chair the SBOE. McLeroy was first elected to the board in 1998 and was re-elected in 2002 and 2006. The Bryan-College Station area dentist is a member of the SBOE Committee on School Finance/Permanent School Fund and a former member of the Committee on Planning. He also has previously served the SBOE as vice chair. As a member of the SBOE, McLeroy represents Anderson, Brazos, Camp, Cherokee, Delta, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Grimes, Henderson, Hopkins, Houston, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Leon, Limestone, Madison, Navarro, Rains, Red River, Robertson, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Walker, and Wood counties and part of Collin County. Some drivers aren't going to like this...Folks who have ranted and raved about the increasing number of toll roads in Texas today and on the horizon for the future should know that an independent audit of management and business operations of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has suggested that toll facilities in Texas are "generally underpriced." The more than $3.5 million audit, required by law every 12 years to coincide with the Sunset Review cycle, not only suggests that toll fares increase, but also that the state should transition from a motor fuel tax to a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) charge - a fee based on miles traveled per vehicle.
Gov. Rick Perry agrees. He told attendees at this week's Texas Transportation Forum that he continues to believe that increased toll roads and public-private partnerships can help the state meet its transportation infrastructure needs. Texas Transportation Commission Chair Ric Williamson (pictured) says the audit results and recommendations are being taken seriously and provide "an excellent opportunity to step outside our department and take an objective look inside to see where we can improve." In the meantime, state officials report that toll road usage has exceeded their predictions. The three state-operated toll roads in Texas have exceeded traffic predictions from 30 to nearly 170 percent. Traffic on the toll roads - Loop 1, Texas 45 North and Texas 130 - has produced $9 million since they opened. [more]Border fence construction should begin this fallFencing along the United States-Mexico border intended to be a security barrier should be under construction by the end of September, according to federal officials. Some border leaders have expressed their opposition to the fence, saying it is not necessary and could strain American relations with Mexico. Leaders in border area cities and towns say they still do not know where the fence will be located. Federal officials say they will consult with city leaders on the design of the fence, but indicate the feds would have the last word. Some 370 miles of fence are planned along the Mexico border from a $1.2 billion congressional allocation, with approximately 150 miles of it in Texas. Opponents also are worried that government officials will use their powers of eminent domain to claim private property for the fence. Steroid testing may be put off one more seasonThe new state law mandating random steroid testing for high school athletes may not be ready in time for the upcoming football season. Sen. Kyle Janek (pictured) of Houston said the state should consider halting the tests amid concerns about over-the-counter supplements that could produce a false positive. Under the new law, the University Interscholastic League must implement what will be the nation's largest high school steroid testing program in the coming school year.
Gov. Rick Perry said the state should not launch a new steroid testing program for high school athletes until UIL officials are confident of its results. However, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said he sees no reason to delay the random tests despite concerns that certain dietary supplements might trigger positive results. Janek said the state needs time to either alert parents and students about approved supplements that can trigger positive test results, or find a way to accommodate for the supplements when testing. Texas gets $56 million for public health emergenciesTexas and California garnered the lion's share of more than $896 million allocated to states, territories and four metropolitan areas by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help them improve and sustain their ability to respond to public health emergencies. Texas received more than $56.2 million in funding, second only to California with more than $65.3 million. Pennsylvania received the third largest sum at more than $31.3 million. Ohio and New York each received more than $28 million, as did New York City. The $896 million allocated includes: $175 million for pandemic influenza preparedness to assist public health departments in their pandemic influenza planning efforts; $57.3 million to support the Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) to ensure that selected cities provide oral medications during a public health emergency to 100 percent of their affected populations; $35 million to improve the early detection, surveillance, and investigative capabilities of poison control centers to provide information to health care providers and the public to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events; and $5.4 million for states bordering Mexico and Canada (including the Great Lakes States) for the development and implementation of a program to provide effective detection, investigation, and reporting of urgent infectious disease cases in the three nations' shared border regions. An additional $430 million was allocated in June to assist hospitals and healthcare facilities to respond to bioterror attacks, infectious diseases and natural disasters. It is all part of the more than $7 billion allocated by HHS for preparedness-related programs since 2002. TCEQ chair won't seek another termKathleen Hartnett White, who has served as chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality since October 2003, has indicated she will not seek reappointment when her term expires next month.
A previous appointee to the Texas Water Development Board, White also serves on the board of the Texas Water Foundation and the Texas Natural Resource Foundation. She is a former Director of Private Lands and the Environment for the National Cattlemen's Association, a former director of the Ranching Heritage Association and was a special assistant in the white House Office of First Lady Nancy Reagan. White earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University. Sales Tax Holiday to be third weekend in AugustThe annual sales tax holiday has been set for the third weekend of August. Changes this year include the sales tax-free purchase of backpacks, an item previously not on the tax-free list. During the sales tax weekend, children's and adults' clothing and shoes priced less than $100 - and now backpacks that cost less than $100 - are exempt from state and local sales taxes. Beginning this year, the sales tax holiday will occur on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday of August. Since many school districts are now starting their school year later, the 80th Legislature changed the date of the sales tax holiday to move it closer to the first day of school. Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs also announced that, starting in May 2008, energy-efficient appliances will be exempt from sales tax during the three-day Memorial Day weekend. Certain appliances with a federal Energy Star rating will be tax-free, including washing machines, dishwashers, ceiling fans, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats and incandescent fluorescent light bulbs. "Texas consumers will save about $8 for every $100 they spend on qualifying appliances," Combs said. "Even more importantly, they will reap savings on their utility bills by purchasing energy-efficient appliances, and the demand for electricity will be reduced." Nine assistant attorneys general honored by AbbottNine Assistant Attorneys General have been named "Assistant Attorney General of the Year" in their respective Child Support Division offices. The nine recognized by Attorney General Greg Abbott at the Statewide Assistant Attorneys General Conference in San Antonio include: Barry Brooks of Austin; Charles Collins II of Houston; Cherami Jenkins of Fort Worth; William Koos of San Antonio; Gayle Shackleford of Odessa; Donna O'Shea of Victoria; Troy Martin of Tyler; Lynda Boyett of Corpus Christi; and Terrell Thompson of Lubbock. Abbott recognized one assistant attorney general from each of the state's eight child support regions and the main office in Austin. Recipients were selected based on recommendations from their peers and supervisors, with an emphasis on employees willing to go beyond the normal requirements of their jobs. Brooks joined the OAG in 1991, and coordinates the establishment, enforcement and modification of child support court orders when one of the parents lives outside of Texas. Collins, who joined OAG in 2005, Jenkins, who joined the OAG in 2003 as a child support officer and was promoted to assistant attorney general, Koos, on the staff of the OAG since 2000, and Shackelford, who joined the OAG in 2004, are responsible for establishing legally recognized relationships between children and their unmarried parents. O'Shea joined the OAG in 2001 as a staff attorney and was promoted to managing attorney in 2002. She and Martin, who joined the Office of the Attorney General in 2004, Boyett who joined the OAG in 1998 and Thompson, who joined the OAG in 2005, also are all responsible for establishing legally recognized relationships between children and their unmarried parents. Austin City Manager Toby Futrell to retireAustin City Manager Toby Futrell recently announced her retirement effective in May 2008 and the city has already begun a national search for her successor. With more than 25 years of service, Futrell successfully moved up the ranks in Austin city government, serving previously as both assistant city manager and deputy city manager.
She has worked on several projects during her career with the city, including the city's Smart Growth Initiative, residential/retail development and major environmental projects. Futrell's position will be open for a short 10-month time period, eliminating the need to appoint an interim manager. Mayor Will Wynn said he expects there will be many candidates for the position. The council has also identified several possible internal successors, including Assistant City Managers Laura Huffman and Rudy Garza, Austin Energy General Manager Juan Garza and Chief of Staff Kristen Vassallo. Hutchison favors disaster response center at KellyAn amendment to the FY 2008 U.S. Department of Defense Authorization bill in Congress would require a feasibility study to be completed by March 31 of next year for housing a National Disaster Response Center (NDRC) at Kelly Air Field in San Antonio. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, who filed the amendment, said that before an NDRC can be built, a feasibility study would have to be conducted to examine the location for personnel, capacity, assets, deficiencies and cost estimates. Hutchison said Kelly and San Antonio are an ideal location for coordinating response by local, state and federal governments. "Texas has a lot of experience dealing with disasters, and the capacity and strategic location of Kelly Air Field will bring the assets and resources together to improve disaster response and recovery for our nation," she said. The report would determine the feasibility of using existing and new infrastructure at Kelly for an NDRC. It also would include information on how existing facilities, forces and organizations - such as Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio Metro Health Department, the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and others - could be leveraged. A report also would address the number of personnel necessary to run an NDRC and the costs of improving current infrastructure at Kelly to meet the needs of displaced victims of a disaster of the nature and scope of a Hurricane Rita or Katrina. Schoephoerster named new UTEP engineering dean
UTEP Provost Richard Jarvis said Schoephoerster's experience in creating new programs and building industry relationships will be "critically important" for the College of Engineering. Schoephoerster has significant research experience in biofluid mechanics and cardiovascular devices. He has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, the National Research Council and the biomedical industry. Round Rock survey addresses bus serviceThe City of Round Rock is distributing surveys to help evaluate the possibility of providing bus service for residents who work outside of the city and for others interested in commuting to Round Rock. The survey asks from what locations residents might ride a bus to a Capital Metro of Austin connection, how many times per week they might ride such a bus, the time of day they would ride the bus and the optimal time for catching a bus. City officials hope to be able to use the survey information to determine the feasibility of providing bus service for residents and major employers. TSTC to participate in windmill turbine training site
Texas State Technical College West Texas and the City of Sweetwater have formed a partnership to provide a training site for wind turbine workers. As the wind energy industry takes off in West Texas and with wind farms already existing in the Sweetwater area, the need for industry workers is increasing. The city will develop a contract with TSTC and a wind turbine manufacturer to build a hands-on, high-tech training site. TSTC West Texas President Mike Reeser (pictured) hailed the hands-on training at the projected site, which could eventually have as many as 10 turbines and will provide training for both tower repair and maintenance. The city is expected to lease property to TSTC for the training site, which will allow TSTC to expand on its new degree program that began this year in wind energy and turbine technology Seven Texas hospitals ranked among bestThe University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the nation's premier cancer hospital. The renowned cancer facility is one of seven Texas hospitals named to the Top 10 in a number of categories in the magazine's 2007 hospital rankings. M.D. Anderson also ranked No. 7 among the best hospitals for ear, nose and throat treatment, No. 8 among gynecology hospitals and No. 7 among best urology hospitals. Methodist Hospital in Houston ranked No. 10 among urology hospitals and No. 9 among neurology and neurosurgery hospitals, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston was No. 8 among the best heart hospitals, the Menninger Clinic was ranked No. 7 among psychiatry hospitals and Memorial Hermann's The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research was ranked No. 4 among rehabilitation hospitals. More than 5,400 medical centers were used to determine 16 hospital specialty rankings from which the top hospitals were chosen. UH professor to evaluate science medal nominees
Paul Ching-Wu Chu (pictured), a physics professor and the T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science at the University of Houston, has been appointed by President George W. Bush as one of 12 scientists who will evaluate nominees for the National Medal of Science, the nation's most prestigious science award. Named previously by U.S. News and World Report as the best researcher in the country and a former winner of the National Medal of Science, Chu will serve on the evaluation committee through 2009. Texas State ALERRT program garners fundsTexas State University's Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) program has been awarded nearly $300,000 from the federal Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Fund, distributed by the Governor's Criminal Justice Division. The Texas State program trains law enforcement officers throughout Texas for responding to terrorist situations. Texas State and the Texas School Safety Center will now coordinate their efforts to promote school safety and respond to school violence. Local and campus law enforcement officers will be trained to keep public schools safe and provide a protected environment in which students can learn. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act supports programs that help prevent or reduce violence in schools and communities and that also develop a drug-free environment for youth. They also support alternative education programs, intervention services for children with behavior or substance abuse problems and counseling services for children who are victims of family violence or child abuse. Lancaster considers four-day school weekStudents in the Lancaster school district could soon have three-day weekends every weekend. School officials there are considering the possibility of a four-day school week they say would help the district save nearly $2 million. Although weekends would be longer, so would school days. Elementary school students would face a 7:45 a.m. to 4:25 p.m. instructional day, while secondary students would be in school from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. While school officials are testing the waters with state education authorities on the proposal, their biggest hurdle could be from the public. Approximately 1,000 parents and students in the district attended a hearing Thursday night to hear the particulars about the proposal, which would be a one-year pilot. While some were not opposed to the new four-day school week, others said having an additional day off each week would lead to some students having more time to get into trouble. Others complained that they would have to pay for child care for the extra day that students were off. Officials estimate the school district could save $1.1 million in staffing in secondary schools and $250,000 in electric costs. A&M's Borlaug receives Congressional Gold Medal
Texas A&M professor and Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug was this week awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal. Borlaug was honored by President George W. Bush in a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for his work in combating world hunger. He will join an elite number of approximately 150 recipients of the award - including such notables as George Washington (the first award winner), Lady Bird Johnson and President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan. Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1970 for his work to ease world hunger through the development of numerous varieties of high-yielding, disease-resistant wheat in Mexico. His technology then was used in other developing countries to help them become self-sufficient and to curb famine. At age 93, Borlaug is battling health issues but hopes to continue teaching at TAMU during the fall and working at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico in the spring. He also is involved in the Sasakawa Global 2000 project whose goal is to find solutions to farming problems in Africa. In 1984, he established the World Food Prize, which awards $250,000 to an individual for his or her achievements in agriculture. Sales tax revenue strengthens state economyTexas has collected $1.63 billion in sales tax revenue in June, up 9.3 percent from June 2006 as reported by Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, who recently sent out tax payments across the state. Texas counties received sales tax payments of $27.4 million, up 7.4 percent compared to last July. City sales tax allocations were reported at $304 million and up 9.5 percent compared to the same period in 2006. Combs also sent $14.7 million to 121 special purpose taxing districts and $100 million in sales tax allocations to 10 local transit systems. So far this calendar year, city sales tax allocations are up 7.3 percent compared to the same time period last year. Also, sales tax allocations to counties are up 8.1 percent compared to 2006. Corsicana City Council to discuss bondsThe Corsicana City Council will meet in a work session today, Friday, to discuss the possibility of a bond election this fall. If the council decides to pursue a November election, some options could be street repairs, the first master plan improvements, public safety and even some park work, said Connie Standridge, city manager. A bare-bones bond issue would cost approximately $15 million over the course of five years. However, the passage of the more complete bond item list would cost $24 million, spread out over eight years. Corpus Christi likely to donate land to TAMUAlthough no action was taken during a city council meeting this week, the city of Corpus Christi is expected to donate more than 150 acres of land to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Noting that TAMU officials were looking for a commitment they could report to their board, Mayor Henry Garrett (right) said, "We intend to do that."
TAMU-CC President Flavius Killebrew (left) said the donation would be "an investment in the future of young people in the city" that is key to the university's growth. He could not say what the university plans might be for use of the land, as it has to be donated to the university and accepted, and then can become part of the university's overall master plan. However, a previous plan centered around another proposed expansion is still possibly in the works. It would include housing, a research park, athletic fields and a research center. UTMB Galveston receives Institute grantA $750,000 grant was recently awarded to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston by The Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The grant will be used to support pre-college science education programs. The grant will be used over a five-year period to increase the availability and interest of science for students, teachers and the community. The funds will be used specifically for an interconnecting series of programs that serve as a pipeline to channel students into science-related careers. The student programs include Summer Science Camps, the High School Summer Research Program, Saturday Biomedical Science Academy and the Expanding Your Horizons Conference. Tyler hires McDaniel as deputy superintendent
Cecil McDaniel is Tyler ISD's new deputy superintendent of operations, which involves oversight of non-curriculum areas such as communications, facilities, human resources and technology. He comes to Tyler from Richardson ISD where he served in roles such as executive director of secondary operations and student services, executive director of student services, coordinating director of student services, director of customer relations and district and community liaison. McDaniel holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Oklahoma and a master's degree from Amber University. McCuistion selected city manager for CantonAndy McCuistion won out over 70 other applicants for the position of Canton city manager, which has been vacant for more than a year. McCuistion has been controller at a private corporation in Waxahachie where he oversaw finance and accounting, human resources, facilities management and legal departments. During his 32-year career, he has worked in finance, accounting and city management for several Texas communities including Irving and Palestine. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. Gun Barrel City picks Boren as new city managerGerry Boren is Gun Barrel City's new city manager. Until he begins his job in August, Boren will finish a city budget for Fate, where he is city manager and administrator. Previously he has also served as Fate's councilman, mayor and city administrator. Former jobs held by Boren include being production manager at a private business and spending six years in the Air Force as a dog handler with the military police. Boren attended Trinity Valley Community College and Navarro College, and is currently enrolled at the University of Texas at Arlington to become a certified public manager. Restine appointed new dean at TWUTexas Woman's University has appointed Nan Restine as dean of the College of Professional Education (COPE), a position she has held on an interim basis for the past year. She will also continue to serve as interim chair of the Department of Teacher Education until the post is filled.
Previous to joining TWU in July 2004, Restine served as the associate dean of the College of Education at the University of Alabama; as interim associate dean in the College of Education and associate head of the School of Curriculum and Educational Leadership at Oklahoma State University; and as an assistant professor of educational leadership in the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Western Kentucky University. She also taught and coached for more than 15 years in public schools in Texas and New Mexico. Restine received her bachelor's degree from Eastern New Mexico University. She holds a master's degree from New Mexico State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico. Consolidation of health agencies consideredThe consolidation of services between San Antonio's Metropolitan Health District and the tax-supported University Health System is moving forward. Recommendations from a committee of staff from both agencies could be presented to the health system's board of managers this month and the City Council the next month. The merger would combine the city's public health department, with the county-led hospital district. The transition would require the transfer of approximately 125 public health employees to the university system. The employees are involved in prenatal care, women's cancer screening, well-baby care, family planning and other patient care services at the health district's clinics across town. Some issues still need to be resolved. While the university system's pay scale is generally higher, the city's retirement plan is more generous - and employees want to maintain their seniority. It's also not clear whether the university system will be able to retain some of the city's clinics, which number more than a dozen. Cap Metro to benefit from $6 million grantA $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation will help the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Cap Metro) construct a South Central Transit Center in Austin and purchase new buses. The expanded bus service in that area is expected to help relieve some of the traffic problems in that growing area of Austin. Sherman Council appoints new city managerAfter serving two months as acting city manager, George Olson has officially taken the position of Sherman city manager. After a lengthy closed session this week, the Sherman City Council unanimously appointed Olson. A Sherman native, Olson, had previously been praised by fellow council members for his leadership. Cooper ISD appoints interim superintendentAt a special board meeting, Cooper Independent School District trustees named long-time educator Mike Harper as interim superintendent. He is taking over the position of Lynn Burton, who resigned effective July 9, to accept an assistant superintendent position in Sherman. Get your free copy of the Texas Government InsiderThe Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter. If you are not a subscriber, or if you would like to sign up your friends or co-workers to receive a free copy, click here. |
Talk about innovative recruiting...
By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc. Here's something for the textbooks. Texas schools have such a historic need for bilingual teachers that many school districts are finding success through unconventional methods. In spite of stipends, signing bonuses and tuition reimbursement to teacher recruits in the United States, the problem of too few applicants has caused districts to struggle to fill bilingual teacher vacancies. During the 2005-06 school year, more than 700,000 of the 4 million public school students in Texas were classified as having limited English-speaking skills. That has led some schools districts - such as Dallas, Houston, Alief and Henderson - to recruit internationally. Last summer, recruiters from Dallas engineered a four-city tour across the state in search of certified bilingual teachers for 450 positions in the math and science fields. The district offered a $4,000 stipend for certified bilingual teachers, $3,500 for secondary science and math-certified bilingual teachers and $3,000 for Spanish-certified teachers. Another $1,500 was offered to teachers who met a signing deadline. Dallas ISD not only has searched across Texas for bilingual teachers, but also has sought qualified instructors from Mexico and even Puerto Rico. [more] Interested in contracting opportunities? Calaway elected HISD Foundation chairman
James D. Calaway (pictured), president and CEO of Calaway Interests LLC, has been elected chairman of the board of the Houston Independent School District Foundation. He replaces former Texas Gov. Mark White. In addition to running a successful investment and development company that he founded, Calaway also was founding CEO for the Center for Houston's Future, a nonprofit that deals in business development and strategic planning. He has developed a number of private and public companies while serving on numerous civic boards and commissions. A native of Houston, Calaway holds a bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a master's degree from Oxford University. The HISD Foundation, like many other public school district foundations, raises private funds to support districtwide programs and initiatives not funded by the state. Temple College institute wins national awardTemple College was recently awarded a Bellwether Award for innovation in workforce development, the nation's premier community college award. The college's program - "The Central Texas Biotechnology Education to Employment Model: The Texas Bioscience Institute" - was cited the top program out of 1,200 community colleges in the nation. The Temple award was for the college's efforts to create alliances that promote community and economic development and for innovation in workforce development. One of the aspects of the Temple entry that drew attention was the wide number and variety of community partners involved in the project. Participants with the college were the Texas A&M College of Medicine, Scott and White Hospital, the Bioscience District, the Reinvestment Zone and local school districts. That alliance helped the college defray much of the costs for the institute, allowing the college to concentrate its funds on instruction. Temple officials plan to continue to grow the program in the future, with their sites set on a student body of up to 250 and students taking classes working toward an associate degree in biotechnology. Documents held by state may have sensitive infoStaff at the Texas Secretary of State's office is busy removing "sensitive information" from documents held by the agency after it was revealed that some Social Security number of individuals remain on some of the documents. The push to remove sensitive information is an effort to avoid instances of identity theft. Other such information may also be on documents at other state agencies. In 2005, state agencies were authorized to voluntarily remove Social Security numbers from public documents in their offices. Some did, some didn't. Members of the public can contact the Secretary of State's office and other state agencies to request that their personal information be removed from documents. Rockport planning for new EMS facilityAransas County last week held a groundbreaking to kick off construction of its $1.3 million Emergency Medical Services facility. The 12,000 square foot facility will provide office space, work areas, storage, an emergency treatment room and waiting area. Sleeping quarters for EMS personnel will also be part of the structure, as will showers and a dining area. With 22 EMTs and five ambulances, the EMS service has outgrown its facility built in 1982. The new facility, built so far almost entirely from donations, can accommodate as many as 10 ambulances. Officials hope the building will be open in the spring. Wimberley seeking new superintendentThe Wimberley ISD is seeking a new superintendent following the resignation this week of Marian Strauss. Strauss headed up the Central Texas school district for seven years. The board will now seek a new superintendent as it also prepares for an upcoming bond election. Governor announces appointments this weekGovernor Rick Perry this week made the following appointments:
Austin's chief financial officer to retire
Austin's Chief Financial Officer John Stephens announced recently that he will begin retirement at the end of August. A city employee for more than two decades, Stephens will be concluding his seventh year in the finance department. City Manager Toby Futrell said Stephens is the "consummate problem solver" and has a deep understanding of the city and its operations. Futrell praised Stephens' service to the city, lauding his ability to work as part of a team to solve problems quickly. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Leslie Browder will succeed Stephens. Browder previously served as the chief financial officer of the city's aviation department and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Seabrook residents may face bond electionVoters in the city of Seabrook could face a $2.5 million bond election in November for purchase of a site to be converted into a nature center and community space. The property is valued at $2.25 million, but the remaining portion of the bond funds would be used to bring the property up to federal codes. Galveston first to request storm-disaster loanAs New Orleans continues to struggle with hurricane disaster recovery, Galveston has become the first city in the nation to seek a pre-approved storm-disaster loan. The request is due to a new state law, sparked by the difficulties spawned by Hurricane Katrina. The new legislation was signed into law June 17 and allows any city within 70 miles of the Gulf Coast to enter into an agreement for a pre-approved line of credit. The loan may be requested only if the governor declares a state of emergency. The Galveston City Council asked City Manager Steve LeBlanc to begin negotiating with banks for a $20 million loan, after witnessing the difficulty New Orleans had in borrowing money in 2005. Lyons takes over as Detroit ISD superintendentMorris Lyons is the new superintendent at the Detroit ISD, assuming the position occupied on an interim basis by Curtis Barnett. Lyons brings small school experience to his new job, which he began last month. Houston land purchase will be home to police divisionThe Houston City Council has approved the purchase of 2.26 acres for $4.17 million for the Houston Police Department's new Uptown division. It will take up to three years for the new station to open. Uptown's District 18 became a separate entity on June 30. It was previously covered by the Westside division, which was reorganized to improve HPD's use of resources given the large geographic area it covered. The new division's leader is Capt. David Williams, a 29-year veteran with HPD and captain of the Southwest and Southeast divisions for nine years. Hartmeister to serve as Tech grad school dean
Fred Hartmeister's new post as dean of the Graduate School at Texas Tech University will begin Aug. 1. Until then he will continue his current job as chairman of Texas Tech's Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership. Hartmeister earned a master's degree from the University of Denver and received his doctorate and law degree from the University of Wyoming. New judge appointed in Fannin CountyAfter saying goodbye to Judge Darrell Hall, Fannin County has welcomed his successor Judge Butch Henderson. Henderson was appointed after Hall announced his resignation last month following 23 years in city government. Henderson is a lifelong resident of Fannin County and previously spent more than nine years as city administrator in Leonard. Before his stint as city administrator, Henderson spent more than a year with the school district in Leonard, and more than nine years with the Internal Revenue Service. Temporary superintendent named for Ector CountyThe Ector County Independent School District's board of trustees recently appointed Assistant Superintendent Hector Mendez as temporary interim superintendent. Board president Carol Gregg said the choice of an interim needed to be made quickly because school starts in late August. Gregg said trustees would review possible interim superintendent and superintendent candidates at a later date. Senate confirms Geren as Army SecretaryPete Geren has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Secretary of the Army. He has served as acting secretary since March, when Francis J. Harvey resigned. Geren is a resident of Fort Worth and served as a member of the U.S House from 1989-97. He previously served as special assistant to then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Texarkanas could hire one 'super manager'Larry Sullivan, Texarkana's new city manager, could become city manager for the Texarkana on both sides of the Texas-Arkansas border. The city's chamber of commerce is exploring the possibility of having Sullivan's position preside over both cities. Researching how a governing administration would work with a super city manager over both cities is the next step in exploring this option. SPI announces job opportunitiesFederal expertsStrategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI) has immediate needs and is conducting a search to find subject matter experts with a high level understanding of the Federal Government procurement process. To apply, please e-mail a resume and cover letter explaining your background and qualifications to jobs@spartnerships.com and type "Federal" in the subject line. K-12 and local government consultantsSPI has additional needs for individuals with well-established credentials who are interested in assisting its consulting teams throughout Texas. SPI has immediate openings for subject matter experts who can assist part-time in the K-12 education arena in Texas. SPI also is seeking part-time consultants who have strong connections to local government in the state, particularly the San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston areas. To apply for these part-time consulting positions at SPI, please send a brief cover letter and a copy of your resume to J. Lyn Carl at jcarl@spartnerships.com and put "Application for (either) K-12 Consultant or Local Government Consultant" in the subject line, or for more information, send an e-mail to the same address. Hospital consultantsSPI is seeking individuals with well-established credentials, healthcare industry expertise and strong connections and relationships at hospitals throughout Texas who are interested in assisting its consulting teams. To apply for this part-time consulting position, please send a brief cover letter and a copy of your resume to J. Lyn Carl at jcarl@spartnerships.com and put "Application for Hospital Consultant" in the subject line, or for more information, send an e-mail to the same address. Recent Reports
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Texas Government Insider ArchivesVolume 1 - 5 Archives · 11/7/03 - 7/13/07 Resources
Smith lone finalist for job at Center Point ISDDonna Smith has been named the lone finalist for the superintendent position at Center Point ISD. She retired in 2005 after serving as superintendent in the Clint ISD. She replaces Lee Ann Ray, who resigned to take a position with the Texas A&M Health Science Center. Smith holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Wesleyan University, a master's from the University of North Texas and a Ph.D. from Pacific Western University in San Diego. She began her education career as a third grade teacher, and progressed up the ranks to elementary and middle school principal, assistant superintendent and then to superintendent. In addition to serving as Clint ISD superintendent, she has held the same role in the Tornillo ISD. Aransas Pass hires Corpus Christi firm for harborThe Aransas Pass City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to hire a Corpus Christi-based firm to manage the Conn Brown Harbor. The newly hired company will work to market the land on a national level. Hiring the firm paved the way for increased city revenue through harbor leases. Approximately 22 harbor leases generate some $200,000 in revenue per year for the city, officials said. The harbor, which primarily has marine-related businesses, previously was managed by city officials. However, the city was in need of more manpower and experienced professionals. City officials also have made harbor cleanup a priority and removed or demolished 18 abandoned vessels to date, and plan to remove at least eight more. Curtis assumes duties as newest UTEP deanKathleen A. Curtis has assumed her duties as the new dean of the College of Health Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso. Curtis' UTEP position involves leading nearly 50 faculty members in educating the more than 1,300 students enrolled in the College of Health Sciences.
At California State University in Fresno, Curtis' posts included serving as interim associate dean for the College of Health and Human Services, director of the Central California Center for Health and Human Services and professor and chair in the Department of Physical Therapy. Curtis holds a doctorate from the University of California-Los Angeles, a master's from San Jose State University and a bachelor's degree from Northeastern University, Boston, Mass. Steps to ensure delivery of SPI weekly newsletter
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'Profiles in Power' awards, leadership seminar slatedThe 13th annual Profiles in Power awards and leadership seminar is set for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 2, at the Sheraton Hotel in Austin. This year's event, "The Leadership Edge: Developing Tomorrow's Leaders Today," includes keynote speaker Sharon Allen, chairman of the board of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP. Other speakers of note include former University of Texas at Austin Athletic Director and Lady Longhorns Head Basketball Coach Jody Conradt, who along with Ann Daly will address "Clarity: How to Accomplish What Matters Most." The seminar also will feature time for networking and visiting exhibitor booths. Highlight of the event will be the naming of the 2007 Profiles in Power award nominees, finalists and winners. The event is sponsored by the Austin Business Journal, South Texas Money Management, L.T.D., CitiBank and KVUE Austin. To register, click here. 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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The HSGP is comprised of five separate grant programs: Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program (LETPP), Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS), and Citizens Corps Program (CCP). This week's announcement outlines only the competitive bid portions: UASI, SHSP, and LETPP. The remaining two programs were funded in January.
Texas will receive $65 million in Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) grant funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Commerce, it was announced this week. Texas' share of the $968 million in grant funds ranks second only to California, which was awarded $94 million. Florida ranked third, receiving $42 million. The funds will be used to help local and state first responders improve public safety communications and coordination during disasters.
Dr. Richard T. Schoephoerster (pictured) has been named Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso. He comes to UTEP after a 17-year career at Florida International University, where he most recently served as chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. While at FIU, Schoephoerster led efforts to establish both undergraduate and graduate programs in biomedical engineering. He also helped write a winning grant proposal that led to the establishment of FIU's Biomedical Engineering Institute, where he served as director.
