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Education chess match:
Lawsuit threatened if Texas funds not released; $830 million for schools at stake
 The U.S. House this week passed an emergency jobs protection bill that will send $26 billion to the states - but not everyone is celebrating. Texas stands to lose the $830 million for which it qualified for education spending, thanks to an amendment singling out the Lone Star State.
 Before the House vote on Tuesday, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus (pictured) joined Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in voicing their opposition to the bill because of an amendment by Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett. The Doggett amendment seeks to ensure that before any of the education funding heads to Texas, the state must pledge to continue a certain level of education spending for several years, which Doggett says will prevent the state from using any of the money to plug holes in the state budget. That "hole" is a deficit some say will be as high as $18 billion.
Straus said the bill "unfairly targets Texas, punishes our kids and teachers and attempts to micro-manage Texas schools from Washington, D.C." Before the vote on the bill, Straus called on members of the Texas congressional delegation to remove that provision and "refrain from imposing Washington mandates on Texas schools." The U.S. Department of Education estimated the funds scheduled to come to Texas could keep some 14,000 Texas teachers on the job.
And now a chess match has ensued between the state and the federal government. [more]
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| Texas Department of Public Safety celebrates 75th anniversary
More than 3,000 gather at Austin headquarters; hundreds more in local districts
 In spite of triple-digit heat, last weekend's celebration of the Texas Department of Public Safety's (DPS) 75th anniversary went off "seamlessly," according to event co-chair Barbara Hinesley. Approximately 3,000 were on hand for the celebration in Austin, with hundreds more participating in local events in districts throughout the state.
The only complaint from those attending? "That there was so much going on that they couldn't see everything," beamed Hinesley.
Hinesley said one of the favorite attractions during the Austin event was the Kids Zone, where youngsters participated in face painting, fingerprinting, a Dunk a Trooper booth, a drug detection dog demonstration and more. Some members of the Texas Rangers, the agency's elite law enforcement group, brought their horses and treated youngsters to horseback rides.
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Strategic Partnerships salutes Texas' Lone Stars
 Gilbert Garcia, chair, Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO)
Career highlights and education: I'm a native Texan and was one of five kids growing up in Corpus Christi. My parents didn't have the opportunity to go to college, so they impressed upon all of us the importance of education. One of my greatest highlights was attending Yale University. It changed my life. One summer, I participated in an internship program on Wall Street. I was 19 years old and worked on the trading floor at the greatest bond house in the world - Salomon Brothers. When I first saw the ticker tapes, the paper thrown all over the trading floor and the people screaming out orders, I knew I wanted to be one of those guys on the trading floor. And, I've been one ever since. After 10 years on the East Coast, I left New York and moved to Houston in 1990 to start a money management firm with former Mayor Henry Cisneros. That was another great highlight because Henry is such a wonderful man and a great inspiration to so many. I joined my firm in January '02 as the fixed-income portfolio manager. Since that time, I've become the firm's managing partner, and we now manage more than $2.2 billion of assets. We just purchased the last outside interest of our firm and are now 100 percent employee-owned. In addition, we changed our name to Garcia Hamilton & Associates. Almost two years ago, Annise Parker asked me to chair her campaign for mayor. After the victory, the mayor asked me to co-chair her transition committee process, and I was honored to be her choice for chairman of the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority. I am particularly humbled to be the first Hispanic chairman. It has all been a magical experience.
What I like best about my job is: I love my job. Every day is different and exciting. The market brings new opportunities or new pain, depending on the day. Similarly, I love my involvement with METRO. Every day brings something new and interesting to the agency. More importantly, public transportation touches the lives of so many in the region, and it is exciting and challenging to make a difference.
The best advice I've received for my current job is: Have a positive attitude. It's contagious. People can feel enthusiasm if it's genuine. The best advice I received regarding my role at METRO is "pace yourself."
Advice you would give a new hire in your office: Your mind is one big sponge. So, learn from everybody and everything. Ask lots of questions. My advice to a new hire at METRO would be to focus on the future. METRO offers so many dynamic opportunities with the energy from the new board, the new president and the upcoming rail lines. All of it is so exciting.
If I ever snuck out of work early, I could probably be found: Playing soccer with my kids. I spend a lot of time with them. While I often wish I could freeze them the way they are today, I know the best times are still ahead!
People would be surprised to know that I: Have been coaching soccer for my boys for more than 10 years and love brushing my 3-year-old daughter's long curly hair. I am also a preliminary black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
One thing I wish more people knew about my agency: We have more than 3,000 wonderful faces behind METRO - good people, honest people, hard-working people - who help make this city function every day. The community can depend on METRO on holidays, hot days, cold days or rain. We have a great story to tell about METRO. And, it's now my job to tell it!
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TASSCC holds annual convention, presents awards
Debby Wattman named winner of President's Award for IT Excellence
Debby Wattman and Bowden Hight |
Debby Wattman, CIO for the Department of Family and Protective Services, was awarded the President's Award for IT Excellence at the recent Texas Association of State Systems for Communications and Computing (TASSCC) 2010 Annual Conference in Dallas. Wattman received her award from Bowden Hight, CIO of the Texas Railroad Commission and outgoing TASSCC president.
Joy Hall Bryant and Bowden Hight |
"Cowboy I.T. Up" was the theme for this year's conference, which featured research firm owner Gordon Graham as one of the speakers. Graham addressed how to prevent mistakes through a risk management-based training program in his "The Five Concurrent Themes for Success" presentation.
In addition to Wattman's award, the TASSCC Excellence Award for the Innovative Use of Technology in State Agencies and Higher Education was given to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Nutrition Services Section and the Health
Tien Tran and Robb McKenzie (R) accept award from Hight  |
and Human Services Commission (HHSC) IT group for the DSHS Women's Infants and Children (WIC) Interactive Voice Response Application. Accepting the award from Hight were Tien Tran, DSHS Nutrition Services Section Project Manager, and Robb McKenzie, Telecommunications Manager with HHSC IT.
The final award was the TASSCC Appreciation Award for 2010, which was presented to Joy Hall Bryant, Department of Information Resources Program Manager for IRM Outreach. The award was in special recognition for ongoing support of CIO and TASSCC education programs. It was also presented by Hight.
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| As temperatures climb, another electricty demand record set
It's deja vu all over again! Remember that record for electricity demand in the state that was set last week? Records are meant to be broken, and this one lasted less than a week. As temperatures in many areas of the state have climbed past the century mark for several consecutive days recently, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT) reports that the demand record set last Wednesday was broken just six days later. The new demand record, set Tuesday, was 63,830 megawatts (MW). ERCOT is the electric grid operator for most of the state.
That figure exceeds last week's all-time record of 63,594 MW by 236 MW and broke last year's record by 430 MW.
In spite of demand records, ERCOT officials say the region has adequate generation to cover an expected summer peak demand and still maintain a cushion of reserves to cover unexpected major outages. They also note that during the peak hour when the record demand was recorded, wind output averaged 1,200 MW. ERCOT has the highest amount of installed wind capacity of any state.
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Texas State, City of San Marcos awarded grant for STAR building
 Texas State University-San Marcos and the City of San Marcos have been awarded a $1.85 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to support construction of a new Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) building on the Texas State campus. The state-of-the-art research and commercialization center will serve as a technology accelerator for start-up and early-stage businesses and will provide both the university and STAR tenants secure wet labs, clean rooms and office space.
"This building will house 'spin-offs' from research conducted and intellectual property generated by university faculty, and 'spin-ins' from companies outside the state that want to come in and strategically work with the university," said Terry Golding (pictured), executive director of Texas State's Office of Commercialization and Industrial Relations.
Texas State has committed $5 million to the project's overall $6 million cost. The university's share will provide for construction of wet lab and clean room facilities. The city's share will provide infrastructure improvements at the site.
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Act now or you could miss 7th Biennial Legislative Conference
Tickets selling fast! Three-fourths of available seats already reported sold
More than three-fourths of the available seats for the 7th Biennial Legislative Communications Conference in October have already been sold. With the upcoming legislature facing hot ticket items such as the biennial budget and redistricting, this event is one agency heads, board members and other senior state officials won't want to miss. House Appropriations Committee Chair Jim Pitts will deliver the morning keynote address at the event sponsored by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. and The University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs. A panel of staff from the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and House Speaker will address the 2011 budget and what to expect. Members of the Legislature will offer legislative insights and tips for working with government leaders, while state agency executives will weigh in on their changing roles in state government. Other invited participants are representatives of the State Comptroller's Office, the Legislative Budget Board, the Health and Human Services Commission, the Employees Retirement System of Texas, the Texas Department of Information Resources and the Texas Preservation Board. A panel of political pundits will also offer their predictions on the upcoming legislative session. The event will feature a networking luncheon. Those attending will also receive a CD with materials that will provide support through the upcoming legislative session. The conference is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Seats are going fast! To register and for more information, click here.
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Emerging Technology Fund starts again; director resigns
Companies seeking state grants can apply for funds from the state's Emerging Technology Funds beginning Oct. 5. Officials stopped accepting applications when the fund ran out of money last month, caused by what state officials said was a $50 million mistake in last year's legislative appropriation and a slower-than-expected reimbursement of $50 million in Hurricane Ike costs.
On the heels of that announcement came word that Alan Kirchhoff, director of the fund, has resigned. His position will be filled by Deputy Director Jonathan Taylor on an interim basis. Kirchhoff joined the ETF in 2005 as deputy director and chief operating officer. He was promoted to director in 2008.
The legislature will decide whether to continue the technology fund, which was started as an incentive to attract and retain businesses, when it returns in January.
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Texas Comptroller says July sales tax revenue up 2.2 percent
State sales tax revenue in July was up 2.2 percent, compared to a year ago, at $1.69 billion, according to figures released this week by State Comptroller Susan Combs.
The Comptroller's Office will distribute $556.3 million in August sales tax allocations to local governments, $375.5 million to Texas cities and $33.7 million to Texas counties. Additionally, $23.5 million in sales tax revenue will be allocated to 169 special-purpose taxing districts and 10 local transit systems will receive $123.5 million. Those figures represent an 11.1 percent and 1.6 percent increase from last year, respectively.
To view the allocations by city, click here. To view the allocations by county, click here.
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Ceremony will honor new Women's Hall of Fame recipients
   The Governor's Commission for Women recently selected Dr. Nancy Dickey, Erma Chansler Johnson Hadley, Dr. Teresa Long, Judy Castle Scott and the Hon. Pamela Willeford as 2010 Texas Women's Hall of Fame recipients. The women will be recognized in a ceremony to be held Monday, Sept. 13, on the Texas Woman's University campus.
Dickey (top left) is the first female president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center and also serves as vice chancellor for Health Affairs for the Texas A&M System. She served as the first woman elected president of the American Medical Association and holds five honorary doctoral degrees. She is a member of the Institute of Medicine and the Society for Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine.
Johnson Hadley (top center) is the first woman and African-American to lead the Tarrant County College (TCC) District as chancellor. She holds a bachelor's degree from Prairie View A&M University and a master's degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
  Teresa Lozano Long (top right), who holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from The University of Texas at Austin, created the Long Foundation with her husband, Joe Long. The Foundation's Lozano Long $10 million Promise to Hispanic Texas serves as a permanent endowment for Hispanic youths, providing education scholarships and support for arts and civic programs. She has served on both the National Endowment of the Arts and the National Council on the Arts by presidential appointment.
Blind since childhood, Judy Scott (bottom left) earned bachelor's and master's degrees at East Texas State University. Today she serves as director of the American Foundation for the Blind Center on Vision Loss in Dallas, which she created. She previously worked with the Texas Commission for the Blind as director of the Independent Living Program for older, visually impaired Texans.
From 2003 until 2006, Pamela Willeford (bottom right) served as ambassador to Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein as appointed by President Bush. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree from UT-Austin. After working as a school teacher, Willeford moved into policy and chaired the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. She currently chairs the Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries.
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Additional $1B available to Texas in ARRA funds
An additional $1,072,589,804 is available for Texas under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, according to U. S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
ARRA funds have gone to fund more than 28,000 education jobs and drive education reform between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2010, according to a recent report. "With this application, Texas provided us with basic information on what is working in their classrooms," said Duncan. "This data is a critical tool in helping us work together-with students, parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders and elected officials at every level-to improve education for Texas's students." The application required states to provide data that will lay the foundation for reform. |
Texas Forest Service's Davis tapped to work for federal branch
 The U.S. Forest Service has selected Jan Davis (pictured) to serve as assistant director of the USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program.
Davis, a 17-year veteran of the Texas Forest Service, currently works as the agency's planning and forest policy coordinator and as its state stewardship coordinator. She coordinates the Texas Statewide Forest Resource Strategy for the Service and leads policy and planning for the agency's farm bill and stewardship initiatives. She recently helped develop the Texas Forest Service 2010-2015 Strategic Plan submitted to the Texas A&M University System.
Davis begins her new role with the federal agency in September.
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TxDOT launches voice-response travel information hotline
 The Texas Department of Transportation has launched an interactive voice response (IVR) interface for the Texas Travel Information Line at 800-452-9292. The hotline provides information regarding road conditions and travel information.
The first 10,000 calls to the hotline will replace rounds of extensive beta testing by TxDOT employees in helping the automated system differentiate various voices, tones and accents. Steve Simmons (pictured), TxDOT deputy executive director, said Texans seem to "have our own language with accents from every corner of the state."
The automated IVR system, which will be available 24 hours a day, will direct callers to a TxDOT travel counselor from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.
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TSTC Chancellor Segura announces retirement plans
 Dr. Bill Segura (pictured) has announced plans to retire as chancellor of Texas State Technical College, effective no later than June 30, 2011.
Segura joined TSTC in 1998 as the eighth and longest-tenured president/chancellor of the TSTC System, where he headed the System's four colleges and seven campuses, and oversaw a budget of more than $135 million with some 1,700 employees. With more than 40 years experience in education, Segura has held tenures as assistant to the provost at the University of Oregon and as president of Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, and at Austin Community College.
Segura holds a bachelor's degree from Lindfield College, a master's degree from Western Oregon State College and a doctoral degree from the University of Oregon.
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UT regents approve $800M hospital for UT Southwestern
Plans for an $800 million hospital on the campus of The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas have been approved by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. The proposal must now go to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for approval.
The hospital plans call for a 12-story, 1.3 million-square-foot facility with 424 beds, 24 operating rooms, a helicopter pad and a 450-car parking garage. Officials are hoping for a quick OK for construction and will likely issue fixed-rate bonds to get an interest rate of less than 4 percent. If construction starts in March, as planned, the facility could be completed in September 2014. Paying for the hospital is expected to be accomplished with $400 million in bonds, $200 million in gifts and $200 million from designated funds. The St. Paul hospital, which opened in 1963, will remain fully functional until the new hospital is built. Officials said rehabilitation and upgrades at St. Paul would be too costly and thus opted for a new facility.
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Chen named to post at A&M HSC College of Medicine
 Dr. Wei-Jung A. Chen (pictured) has been selected to serve as assistant dean for student affairs for the Temple Campus of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
Chen has taught the gross anatomy course at the College for more than 10 years and served as the course's director since 2006. He joined the College of Medicine in 1999 and received the College's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2002. He will continue to serve as associate professor of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapuetics.
Chen holds a doctoral degree from the State University of New York.
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MSU regents OK purchase for Nurses Training Simulation Center
 Midwestern State University regents have approved the purchase of a former surgical facility to house the Regional Nurses Training Simulation Center. The Center is one of the few in the nation to offer a collaborative of nursing programs between a major university, community college and hospital. Members of Vernon College and United Regional Health Care System also comprise staff and faculty at the Center.
MSU will pay for the 14,157-square-foot facility with funds from an $11 million fund balance; its price was not to exceed an appraised value of $702,929. The purchase money will be reimbursed with gifts and usage fees.
MSU President Jesse Rogers (pictured) recommended the purchase of the facility and included the Center and its two-year budget of $950,000 as special requests of the legislature for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. MSU graduates about 120 nurses per year.
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UNT-Dallas announces four as new department chairs
  The University of North Texas at Dallas has hired Vinod Arya (top left), Jennifer Baggerly (top right), Sura Rath (bottom right) and John Wong (bottom left) as department chairs.
Arya has been named professor and chair of the department of mathematics and information sciences. He previously served as professor and chair of the department of mathematics and computer science at Fayetteville State University.
  Baggerly has been named associate professor and chair of the department of counseling and human services. She previously worked as program coordinator and associate professor in the counseling program at the University of South Florida in Tampa and as assistant director of the Center for Play Therapy at UNT.
Rath has been named professor and chair of the department of languages and communication. Before this new charge, he served as professor and director of the William O. Douglas Honors College at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., and served 18 years at Louisiana State University in Shreveport in a variety of posts.
Wong will serve as a professor and chair of the department of urban and public leadership. He previously served as professor and interim director of the Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs and interim director of the Kansas Public Finance Center at Wichita State University.
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A&M HSC College of Medicine-Temple appoints Bush
 Dr. Ruth Bush (pictured) has been selected to serve as associate dean for education for the Temple Campus of the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
Bush, a specialist in vascular surgery and a board-certified vascular surgeon, serves as director of the Vein Care Center at Scott & White Hospital and as chief of vascular surgery at the Olin E. Teague Veterans Affairs Hospital in Temple.
Bush earned her medical degree at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She completed her general surgery residency at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento and a vascular surgery fellowship at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
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Tim Hudson to lead international programs for UH System
 University of Houston-Victoria President Tim Hudson (pictured) has been appointed to a new position in the UH-System, special assistant to the chancellor for international programs and initiatives.
Hudson, who is scheduled to begin his new job Sept. 1, will work with leaders throughout the UH-System to establish international programs.
Hudson, who has an academic background in geography and international relations, received a doctorate from Clark University. He served at the University of Southern Mississippi before taking over as president of UH-Victoria in 2004.
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UNT-Dallas names Buchanan executive director of admissions
 Shasta Buchanan (pictured) has joined the staff of the University of North Texas at Dallas as executive director of admissions and enrollment management.
Buchanan previously worked as associate director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Texas Tech University and as director of recruitment at The University of Texas at Dallas. Before those charges, she served as assistant director of honors and academic scholarships at Texas A&M University, where she oversaw scholarship awards and a team of scholarship administrators.
Buchanan holds a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and is a member of the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC) and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO).
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HRSA awards TWU weekend nursing program $744K grant
 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded Texas Woman's University $744,422 through the recently enacted Affordable Care Act of 2010. The money arrives as part of the Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention Program and will be used to fund 80 nursing students in the TWU Weekend Nursing Program.
Dr. Susan Chaney (pictured), nursing professor and program director, said recruiters will seek out "racial and ethnic minority students whose clinical experiences will be with underserved populations."
The TWU Weekend Nurses Program, offered through the TWU Dallas-Parkland Center, combines weekend and online classes designed for individuals with non-nursing bachelor's degrees who want to become registered nurses. For more information, click here.
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HGAC luncheon to feature Green; highlight commuter successes
 As gas prices and congestion continue to increase, so do the number of Houstonians trying commute alternatives. Whether carpooling, vanpooling, taking public transit or teleworking, there are alternatives to meet the needs of all Houston-Galveston area commuters. At the 10th annual Clean Air Action Leadership Awards Luncheon, the Air Quality Program administered by the Houston-Galveston Area Council seeks to recognize employers and local governments that go above and beyond in offering commuter benefits to their employees and those who adopt clean fleet policies.
The 2010 Clean Air Action Leadership Awards Luncheon will spotlight employers and local governments in the eight-county nonattainment region which have demonstrated their commitment to improving air quality and the quality of life for commuters. Commute and Clean Air Champion participants are recognized at an annual awards luncheon and through an annual insert in a leading regional news publication.
This year's luncheon will feature U.S. Congressman Gene Green of congressional district 29 as a keynote speaker and will be held at the Hilton Americas - Houston on Aug. 19. To register for the luncheon, click here.
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SECO awards Boerne ISD $164K grant for solar roof
The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) has awarded Boerne Independent School District a $164,000 Renewable Energy Technology Grant with the goal of "accelerating the acceptance of renewable energy," according to SECO Program Manager Pam Groce.
With the funds, the district will install 177 solar panels on the roof of Fair Oaks Ranch Elementary School. The system is geared to generate 59,101 kilowatt hours per year, saving the school more than $5,700 in energy costs, or about 8 percent of the school's yearly electric bill. The measure also stands to prevent 38 tons of CO2 from entering the air every year - the environmental equivalent of 67,115 miles driven on Texas roadways.
Total cost of the project is set at $264,000, with remaining costs funded by City Public Service Energy (CPS) in San Antonio.
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Waco city officials making plans to improve road
 Waco city officials want to put $2.6 million toward the expansion of a small, two-lane road that runs between two large, traffic-drawing businesses.
Beverly Drive, currently used by about 3,000 vehicles a day, is expected to become increasingly crowded with employees of the two companies, the Owens-Illinois glass plant and the Waco Veterans Affairs hospital, Waco City Manager Larry Groth (pictured) said.
Construction costs, split equally by the city and Waco-McLennan County Economic Development Corporation, would pay to widen the shoulders, improve the surface and add curbs and gutters to the drive. Although city council members know project details, they will not vote until the EDC discusses and supports the expansion.
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San Marcos budget includes park improvements, infrastructure
Many San Marcos city employees will receive a pay hike thanks to a new compensation plan built into the proposed $145.3 million budget. The plan, which aims to adjust under-paid non-civil service employees, calls for a small, across-the-board raise and a merit program.
Highlights of the 2011 budget include: park improvement, tourist marketing programs, programs for water conservation and energy efficiency, a partnership with the county for downtown facilities and capital projects that include road, bike and pedestrian items.
The budget is expected to be adopted Sept. 21 and take effect on Oct. 1.
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Tarrant County Hospital Board approves budget
 Despite an estimated $10 million loss in revenue, leaders at the JPS Health Network in Fort Worth want to squeeze costs for two new operating rooms into a $649 million budget, which the Tarrant County Hospital Board recently approved.
The additional two rooms, which would give the hospital 12 total, should get patients into surgery suites in less time. For some procedures, like knee and hip replacements, wait times can span nine months. The new rooms can be built without raising the tax rate, 22.7 cents per $100 of property value, said CEO Robert Earley (pictured).
The budget will next go to Tarrant County commissioners, who appoint members of the hospital board.
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San Antonio ISD discusses Alamo Stadium upgrade
Spurs Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of San Antonio's NBA franchise, wants to partner with an area school district to bring professional soccer to the city.
The company has talked to several districts, including the San Antonio Independent School District, that could put up $35 million for renovations to Alamo Stadium if voters OK a $515 million bond package in November.
At this time, there are no plans to modify the 23,000-seat facility for professional soccer. District officials remain open to the possibility, but can only consider the partnership if the bond issue passes.
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Rio Grande Valley partnership wins education grant
A partnership between the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo school district, Teach for America and IDEA Public Schools has been awarded a $5 million education grant - plus an expected $3 million private match - to establish the Rio Grande Valley Center for Teaching and Leading Excellence.
The center, which aims to attract, train and keep excellent teachers and principals, is expected to bring in 1,500 new teachers over the next four years.
This partnership is the only one in Texas to receive the U.S. Department of Education's Investing in Innovation grant. The education department selected 49 proposals from nearly 1,700 applicants nationwide.
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Marshall EDC makes $8.2M land donation to TSTC-Marshall
 Texas State Technical College-Marshall, the fastest growing community college in the state, recently accepted an $8.2 million land donation that will allow for further growth.
The land was donated by the Marshall Economic Development Corporation, which helped establish the technical college in 1991 with a $10 million investment.
The technical college and EDC have a long-standing relationship built upon a common goal - creating and continuing economic vitality in the Marshall area, said TSTC President Randy Wooten (pictured).
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Nancy Scott to lead staff development at Leander ISD
Nancy Scott has been named the Leander school district's executive director of staff development. Scott, who most recently served as principal of Rouse High School, has also been top executive at Cedar Park and Vista Ridge high schools. Scott holds a bachelor's degree from Texas Tech University and a master's degree from Angelo State University.
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Addition to Kaufman County courthouse may have to be removed
 A grant-funded addition to the Kaufman County Courthouse may have to be removed after the Texas Historical Commission deemed it a defamation to the greater structure, County Judge Wayne Gent (pictured) recently told county commissioners.
The addition, a security vestibule at the main entrance, "seriously detracts" from the courthouse's historical and architectural integrity, a project reviewer in the commission's preservation program said.
Commission representatives have suggested that two adjacent bathrooms could be renovated into one space to hold the vestibule's metal detectors and conveyor belt. County funds would pay construction costs.
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State Library, Archives Commission awards grants
Nearly 550 public libraries across the state will soon receive a combined $6 million via the Texas State Library and Archives Commission's Loan Star Libraries grants, which are awarded based on operating expenses, service and resource sharing. Additionally, the library commission will hand out another $789,261 through four competitive grant programs.
Special Projects grants are earmarked for expansion projects that include community members with special needs. A combined $328,260 will go to six applicants: Central Texas Library System, El Paso Community College, North Texas Library Partners, Arlington Public Library System, Alpine Public Library and Dallas Public Library.
Library Cooperation grants fund programs that improve information access and cooperative learning. A combined $274,536 was awarded to four organizations: Weatherford Public Library, Arlington Public Library System, Texas A&M University-Commerce and North Texas Library Partnerships. TexTreasures grants go toward programs that provide access to libraries' special holdings and spread information about these unique collections across the state. Ten applicants captured a combined $166,461. They are: Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at The University of Texas at Austin, Houston Public Library, University of North Texas-Denton, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Southern Methodist University, The University of Texas-El Paso, the University of Houston, Helen Hall Library in League City, Victoria College and Sam Houston State University.
The Texas Reads grants, primarily funded through specialty license plate sales, fund literacy programs. A total of $20,004 was awarded to nine libraries: Longview Public Library, Harlingen Public Library, Alpine Public Library, Bastrop Public Library, J.R. Huffman Public Library, Hemphill, Allen Public Library, Sachse Public Library, Helen Hall Library, Huntsville and Watauga Public Library.
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Amarillo Zoo officials unveil capital improvement plan
Amarillo Zoo officials have unveiled a host of capital-improvement projects slated through 2011, which visitors, donors and grants will help fund. Those ventures include the construction of an estimated $400,000 education center, a $50,000 expansion of the tiger exhibit and $10,000 in improvements to the leopard exhibit, according to Parks and Recreation Director Larry Offerdahl.
The Amarillo City Commission will consider the projects during an upcoming municipal budget discussion.
Admission revenues, which will cover the tiger exhibit expansion, have exceeded projections, according to City Manager Jarrett Atkinson. Almost $156,400 has been collected from last October, when the fees were implemented, through June. Entrance fees, grants, donations and Amarillo Zoological Society funds will cover the bulk of the cost of the education center.
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Tyler school district looking at $89.9 million bond issue
 Tyler school superintendent Dr. Randy Reid (pictured) wants to hold a November election on a bond package that could finance the building of three new schools.
An estimated $89.9 million bond package would pay for a new middle school and also the rebuilding of two existing elementary schools, possibly in different locations. A $77.6 million bond issue would fund the new middle school in southwest Tyler and less expensive additions and renovations of Rice and Dixie elementary schools.
The district could borrow as much as $100 million without raising taxes, an investment bank representative said. Board members, who recently voiced support for new elementary schools, will decide Aug. 23 on the bond election.
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Pecos County to help Fort Stockton build water tower
Pecos County intends to give the city of Fort Stockton $3 million to build a new water tank, County Judge Joe Shuster said.
Before any official action is taken, the city engineer will survey the existing infrastructure - a 3 million gallon tank and a 2 million gallon tank - and give both entities a cost estimate. If both the city and county affirm the project, construction could finish before summer next year, when water usage spikes.
The city uses about 4 million gallons of water a day, so can only hold one day's supply in its tanks. That became a problem in June when the city shut off the water for several days while repairing a crack in the town's only water main.
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FEMA awards Harlingen $1.7M for drainage improvements
 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a $1.7 million grant to help curb flooding in downtown Harlingen. State and local funds totaling $575,000 will supplement the award.
City Engineer Ponciano Longoria (pictured) said the downtown area is in "dire need" of flood-detering measures. Drainage problems surfaced after the deluge from Hurricane Dolly in the area in 2008.
Officals plan to widen a drainage canal that runs from Business 77 to 17th Street and Loop 499 with the funds.
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Kilgore police chief named interim assistant city manager
Kilgore Police Chief Ronnie Moore will serve as the city's interim assistant city manager. Another Kilgore leader, city clerk Karen Custer, also has plans to retire. Yet, to help the city, she has agreed to stay up to one year after a January retirement party.
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Oak Ridge North to invest $4.6 million for sewer system upgrades
Oak Ridge North city leaders will spend $4.6 million for the replacement of about 75 percent of city sewer lines. The money comes through bonds from the Texas Water Development Board.
Mayor Joe Michels said the sewers have been a problem for nearly a decade. "It's a 40- to 50-year-old structure and it's outlived its use," he said. Currently, groundwater can get into sewage lines and flow to the sewage plants. The extra water has caused problems at sewer control.
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TSABAA bi-monthly meeting to focus on 'Building Trust'
"Building Trust" will be the subject of the presentation for the bi-monthly meeting of the Texas State Agency Business Administrators' Association from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16. Those attending will hear a presentation on the benefits of developing trust with employees, peers and external customers. Tips will be given for developing strategies for maintaining and/or rebuilding relationships damaged by lack of trust. The presentation will be offered by Cindy Miller, training specialist with the State Comptroller's Office. Two hours of free CPE credit is available. No prerequisites or registration required.
Workshop set for planning commissioners, elected officials, others
A workshop for planning commissioners, elected officials and staff is slated for Monday, Aug. 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Al J. Notzon III Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100 in San Antonio. The workshop is being held in cooperation with the Alamo Area Council of Governments, the City Planners Association of Texas and the Texas Association of Regional Councils and is sponsored by the Texas Chapter American Planning Association. Session topics include the importance of planning, roles and responsibilities of a planning commissioner, a comprehensive plan that works, planning in communities with limited staff and tools to implement planning. To register, click here. Registration fee is $50. For more information, contact Cora Kimble at 210-362-5243 or ckimble@aacog.com.
Registrations being accepted for CATEE Conference set Aug. 24-26 Register for the seventh annual Clean Air Through Energy Efficiency Conference (CATEE) which is being co-staged with the 17th Symposium on Improving Building Systems in Hot and Humid Climates. Both conferences are hosted by the Energy Systems Laboratory of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station, a division of the Texas A&M University System. In addition, the Energy Systems Laboratory is partnering with the regional working group of the HUD-DOT-EPA Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities to highlight national and regional joint initiatives. Keynote speakers include Mayor Lee Leffingwell, City of Austin; C. Donald Babers, Regional Administrator for Region VI, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; Chairman Barry Smitherman, Public Utility Commission of Texas; Mike Savonis, Team Leader, Federal Highway Administration; Guy Donaldson, Section Chief, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region 6 and James M. Crites, Executive V.P., Operations, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Register at http://catee.tamu.edu.
TxDOT Business Outreach & Program Services hosts webinars
The Texas Department of Transportation's Business Outreach & Program (BOP) Services branch is still conducting its webinars targeting small, minority and women business-owners in the field of construction and professional services in Texas. Only three webinars remaining for the 2010 fiscal year. The external online seminars topics range from how to become a pre-qualified bidder on TxDOT contracts to online access of bid lettings and contract plans and much more. Each session aims to provide valuable information to contractors, suppliers and small businesses on how TxDOT operates with external parties, how to better understand processes and procedures and improve opportunities to bid and obtain contracts with TxDOT. Invited parties include potential contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, DBEs and any other small businesses. Each free webinar is limited and registration slots are on a first-come-first-serve basis. More information on each webinar can be found at www.txdot.gov. Questions should be forwarded to TxDOT-BOP-Webinars@dot.state.tx.us or call 1.866.480.2518, Option 2 for more information.
CEVS 2010, 'Re-Imagining the Built Environment' in Austin
Austin Energy and the Clean Energy Incubator announce the fourth annual Clean Energy Venture Summit on September 29-30, 2010. Early stage clean-energy companies will audition their technologies for inclusion in Austin's $10.4M DOE smart-grid/smart-home demonstration project, a product of the Pecan Street Project, the nation's most ambitious city-wide clean-energy laboratory. "The feedback EcoFit Lighting received during the 2009 conference helped us refine our investor pitch, leading to the close of a $2M round of funding," said Cason Coplin, CEO of 2009 CEVS winner Ecofit Lighting, a Kansas-based firm.
National Association of Social Workers, Texas plans conference
The 2010 National Association of Social Workers, Texas Annual Conference is slated for Oct. 8-10 at the Westin Galleria in Houston. Houston Mayor Annise Parker will be the opening plenary speaker and will address "Inspiring Community Action for a Better Quality of Life." Some of the pre-conference sessions planned, for which continuing education hours can be earned, include topics such as suicide prevention and postvention, overview of psychotropic medication for treating mental illness and teaching the next generation of social workers. inspiring community action for a better quality of life. There will also be numerous break-out sessions during the three days that cover everything from motivational interviewing to challenges facing children with incarcerated parents. The closing plenary session will feature Vicki Hansen, LMSW-AP, ACSW addressing "Advancing the Profession: Inspiring Social Workers. The closing plenary will provide attendees with a "State of the Chapter" to bring you up to date with NASW/Texas challenges and accomplishments. For more information on the conference schedules, click here. For registration information, click here. |
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An often overlooked education resource...
 By Mary Scott Nabers, CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc.
Since 1967, when they were created by the Texas Legislature, regional education service centers (ESCs) have provided services to the state's public school districts. Their mission is to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness and performance of school students, teachers, administrators and other school personnel.
When the Texas Legislature convenes in January, it will face a budget deficit that could conceivably be as high as $18 billion. Public schools fear significant cuts in state funding. If that happens, the role of ESCs could expand. Some have even suggested that school districts might look at consolidation of certain types of services through ESCs.
There are 20 ESCs in Texas. The largest is Region IV which is located in Houston. It services 54 school districts representing more than 1 million students and about 88,000 professional educators. The center provides professional development, technical assistance services and a variety of products. It also offers printing services.
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Houston PD acquires decommissioned plane
 The Houston Police Department recently acquired a decommissioned Boeing 737 aircraft that will act as a training platform for several units within the departments, as well as regional law enforcement agencies.
The plane, once used by navigators at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, will be the first fully functional aircraft that the Department of Defense gives to a law enforcement agency. This acquisition adds variety to HPD's training platforms, which are used to prepare officers for as many situations as possible, said HPD Assistant Chief Vicki King (pictured), Tactical Support Command.
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Plaster chosen as new city attorney in Lewisville Lizbeth Plaster has been named Lewisville city attorney following a three-month search. She succeeds longtime city attorney Ron Neiman.
Plaster previously served as assistant city attorney since 2005 and has more than 17 years of experience practicing law. Nine of those years were spent with the city of Dallas and two years as a judicial law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Sam A. Lindsay. Plaster graduated from Baylor University and earned her law degree at The University of Texas at Austin School of Law.
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Galveston district gets Hurricane Ike disaster recovery money
The Galveston school district, which last year collected about $6 million in Hurricane Ike disaster relief, recently received an additional $9.6 million for repair projects.
The district, which faces a $16.5 million budget deficit, received the money from Texas Education Agency after a financial recalculation for the 2008-2009 school year.
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Sugar Land looking for stadium builder for baseball team
Sugar Land city officials are looking for a company to design and build a new $30 million minor league baseball stadium, the future home of an Atlantic League expansion team. The structure should be complete for opening day in spring of 2012.
Sugar Land officials have posted a request for qualifications application on the city Web site. Submission deadline is 11 a.m. Sept. 2.
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TAMU-San Antonio names Coleman chief of police
 Eric Coleman (pictured) has been named chief of police at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Coleman currently serves as an assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of North Texas at Dallas. He has some 17 years experience in law enforcement, holding posts as administrative captain, regional commander, patrol sergeant and patrol deputy for the Jones County Sheriff's Department, and as chief of the Haskell Independent School District police department. He has 14 years of criminal justice education experience.
Coleman earned his Master Peace Officer Certification at the Leadership and Command College of the Law Enforcement Institute of Texas at Sam Houston State University.
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Carlisle ISD mulls over bond issue to put before voters
The Carlisle school district's increasing student population, now at 640, has outgrown all available space, which has district leaders considering a November bond election. The bonds would pay for new classrooms that are needed at every level, as well as renovations to some 70- and 80-year-old structures, Superintendent Mike Payne said.
A particular bond issue amount has not been set and Payne isn't sure the community can afford it. The district would have difficulty paying back bonds if property values, which are currently unstable, fall too much. If the district does not hold a November election, which the school board must call by Aug. 24, Payne expects the issue to resurface in May.
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UT-Tyler names special assistant to president for external affairs
 Laura Jackson (pictured) is set to serve as special assistant to the president for external affairs at The University of Texas at Tyler. She will serve as a liaison to the community and oversee all legislative affairs in her new role.
Jackson served as campaign manager for a state senator before becoming field coordinator and legislative assistant in the office of another state senator. She has also served as a political consultant to eight legislators, a Supreme Court justice and an attorney general. Jackson holds a bachelor's and master's degree from Texas A&M University.
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CCISD school board discuss
new high school options
Corpus Christi school leaders recently aired their latest idea on how to respond to a population shift within the district - construction of a new Southside-area high school that would replace Carroll High School and conversion of Carroll into a middle school that would take Browne and South Park students.
This new high school would cost up to $90 million, a bill picked up by taxpayers if a proposed November bond election passes. The bond issue could be paid for without a tax increase, district officials said. District trustees will discuss this plan and others at an Aug. 23 meeting. They will also decide if a bond election will go to voters in November.
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Stephenville school board discusses November bond
 The Stephenville school board recently settled on a $34 million campus renovation plan that it wants to put before voters in a November bond election. The plan calls for the closure of Central Elementary, the district's oldest school, and renovations that would allow for a combined 500 more students at three of the district's six campuses. The plan includes spending an estimated $15.7 million on upgrades to Chamberlin Elementary, the pre-kindergarten through first-grade school; about $12 million at Hook Elementary, the second-, third- and fourth-grade school; and another $6.2 million for improvements at Gilbert Intermediate, home to fifth- and sixth-graders. Superintendent Dr. Darrell Floyd (pictured) recommended that the board delay the bond election until next spring, which would give the district time to assemble a larger bond package with improvements to the high school. But several board members who don't want a more expensive bond issue plan to move ahead for a November election. |
| Bonham City Council votes
to build City Hall, senior center The Bonham City Council recently OK'd a $2 million plan to build a new City Hall and senior center. City Hall employees, who currently share a building with the Bonham Police Department, have needed a facility upgrade for 15 years, officials said.
The city already owns the necessary land and will pay construction costs via the city's capital fund.
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Coryell County continues jail application to federal agency
Coryell County commissioners continue to make progress on a federal grant application that, if approved, would pay 15 percent of costs for a new county jail. Per application requirements, the court oversaw an environmental impact study of land for the proposed jail, and approved a contract with a San Antonio-based architectural firm. The company's initial floor plan, which cost $20,000, depicts a 64,000-square-foot jail with a 240-bed capacity. Currently, the county pays other counties to house inmates.
The application is due to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office Aug. 23. Even if the grant is approved, the county might have difficulty finding its 85 percent of costs and shelve the jail plans for future use.
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Orange County moves forward on CHAMPS building project
 Orange County leaders recently agreed to pay $600,000 for engineering work that will put a price on a proposed multi-purpose facility. The center will serve as a venue for community meetings and events, as an Emergency Operations Center and shelter, and home to several county departments including Emergency Management and Road and Bridge.
The county has struggled to begin the huge project of unknown cost, but County Judge Carl Thibodeaux (pictured) has fought to move forward. "This is too important a project to kill," Thibodeaux said. "We need to get this building built one way or another."
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Longview school district rehires Brewer for assistant position
The Longview school board recently rehired James Brewer, a retired school and district administrator, to immediately take over as assistant superintendent of secondary education.
Although Brewer is not a principal in title, his office will be inside the high school and he will supervise that campus. Brewer, who retired in 2007, has served the district as a high school principal and assistant superintendent.
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| Kuss brings grant expertise
to consulting position with SPI
 Grant expert Mary Kay Kuss (pictured) is the newest addition to the Strategic Partnerships, Inc. consulting team. Kuss brings years of experience in grant and technical research and writing to SPI, having developed and managed grants, projects, programs, contracts and requests for proposals (RFPs).
Kuss is also adept at conducting grant reviews and evaluations, evaluating responses to RFPs and administering grants and contracts. Kuss is familiar with processes and procedures of state government after having worked for two major state agencies. She also has dealt with workforce entities, where she assisted with their strategic plans and conducted planning and resource development.
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Temple school district to hold bond election in May
During recent discussions about campuses that need renovation, the Temple school trustees agreed they should put a bond issue before voters in May 2011.
Before the board officially calls an election, district officials will inspect school buildings to determine the necessary bond issue amount.
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Texas Government Insider Archives
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Program for underrepresented students to continue for CBC
The TRiO Student Support Services program, funded under the Federal Higher Education Act of 1965, will continue for at least another five years at Coastal Bend College. TRiO's services are aimed at low-income, first-generation and underrepresented college students in need of assistance and outreach. Officials say students enrolled in the service's programs are twice as likely to remain in college as opposed to those from similar backgrounds who do not participate.
CBC's Student Support Services Project Director Jeri Morton said it is the college's goal for students enrolled in the program to transfer to four-year colleges to pursue their bachelor's degrees.
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Brownsboro ISD school bond
to have two propositions
The Brownsboro school board has plans to bring two bond propositions, with projects totaling nearly $30 million, to voters in November.
Proposition 1 would fund several renovation and expansion projects at several campuses, as well as the construction of a new Brownsboro Elementary, estimated to cost $27.3 million. Proposition 2 includes building a $2.35 million field house and weight room. The bond package is based on recent recommendations from a district-formed committee of community members.
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Texas Military Preparedness Commission awards CBC grant
 The Texas Military Preparedness Commission (TMPC) has awarded Coastal Bend College $447,000 for power technology equipment. The grant is designed to help communities impacted by Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) activities by providing equipment to community colleges so faculty can train veterans and people living in defense-industry communities. The funds will help provide simulators and other lab equipment allowing students to train in power technology.
CBC President Dr. Thomas Baynum (pictured) said the grant should "greatly increase learning and skills-building opportunities for students in the airframe and power technology program."
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| Kerr County commissioners
OK construction of gym
 Kerr County commissioners recently approved $43,000 for the construction of a 40 X 40 foot gym that can be used by all county employees. The fitness area, which will be located in the new Kerr County Sherriff's Office Annex, will be stocked with about $40,000 worth of new exercise equipment bought with funds from the sheriff's office seizure account, Sherriff Rusty Hierholzer (pictured) said.
If county employees use the gym to become fit, Hierholzer believes the county will spend less money on health insurance claims.
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Mitchell named Bexar operations, planning manager
Seth Mitchell, a former top aide to Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff who resigned less than three months ago, has been named operations and planning manager under David L. Smith, head of the county's Planning and Resource Management Department.
In his new role, Mitchell will oversee the court's agenda-setting process and assist with emergency management. He will also work on the planning of a proposed Central Magistration project and other legislative initiatives. Mitchell began serving as Judge Wolff's aide in 2004. He has also worked for former County Judge Cyndi Taylor Krier.
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Liberty moves forward on public works building renovations
 The Liberty City Council recently took steps to renovate and beautify the public works building, which was originally designed for - and still has the layout of - a car dealership. The city has hired a Houston-based architectural firm to make renovations within a $350,000 budget. The project is financed with Federal Emergency Management Agency funds and a city insurance claim, which were both given after Hurricane Ike destroyed the city's electric station.
Although structural renovations will take months to complete, the council wants immediate changes to the building's facade. A freshly-painted structure provides a better example to neighboring businesses, Mayor Carl Pickett (pictured) said.
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| Lewisville board to invest
in superintendent search
The Lewisville school board recently decided to hire a search firm that will help find a replacement for Superintendent Dr. Jerry Roy, who left the position last month. Board members discussed the merit of paying for a search firm when the district faces a budget deficit and could save money by hiring from within. Yet members agreed when trustee Amber Fulton said, "We're a world-class district, and we deserve a world-class candidate."
The board plans to contract with a search firm by mid-October. In the meantime, Roy will continue to serve as district leader and plans to stay through February.
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Federal funds secured
for Lake Waco cleanup
Federal funds of $1 million have been secured for a new environmental program that will help clean up the North Bosque River and improve Lake Waco's water quality.
Under the new program, private landowners in the watershed will learn how to build water-filtering structures from experts at the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service. The addition of earthen terracing, lagoons and wetlands will cut down runoff, which sometimes gives Lake Waco water an earthy taste and moldy smell. This money comes through the Energy and Water Appropriations bill.
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Austin retrofits parking meters with new solar components
 The City of Austin Transportation Department has begun installing 500 solar-powered single-spaced parking meters such as the one pictured as part of a technology upgrade to the city's parking system. The meters will accept coins and credit/debit cards.
Staff has replaced 120 parking meter heads near The University of Texas at Austin campus and will continue until all meters have been replaced. The city began overhauling and retrofitting outdated meters last year. Perks of the measure include a 36 percent reduction in meter citations and 60 percent of sales accounted for by credit card.
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Officials to break ground on Dynamo stadium by end of year
Tim Leiweke, president of sports and entertainment presenter Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), said officials are set to break ground on the new Houston Dynamo soccer stadium by the end of the year. He said the naming rights would be the next task at hand and that construction should also be under way at the end of the year. Designs have been completed.
"The fact that we are sitting here talking about a ground-breaking by the end of the year and playing soccer and football for TSU (Texas Southern University) by June of 2012 is amazing," Leiweke said. Agreements with the county and city and sports authority have yet to be entered into.
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Hunt Family Foundation pledges $5M to UTEP for research center
The Hunt Family Foundation has pledged $5 million to establish the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness, which will support graduate programs and research at The University of Texas at El Paso. UTEP President Diana Natalicio said the Institute will allow the university to realize its full potential "as a source of research at the interface between education and economic development, and to serve as a catalyst for strategically developing the global competitiveness and quality of life of the Paso del Norte region."
Of the $5 million gift, $1 million, coupled with a match by the Texas Research Incentive Program (TRIP), will establish the Marcus Jonathan Hunt Graduate Fellows Program in Business and an endowed chair in international business.
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Sean Pate named Gladewater city manager, effective Oct. 11
 Sean Pate (pictured) was recently named the City of Gladewater's top administrator, a position he takes over Oct. 11. Pate, who has been working as city manager in San Antonio-enclave Balcones Heights, holds the distinction of being one of the youngest top city administrators in Texas history. He was 23 when hired to lead Dalworthington Gardens in 2002.
Pate holds a bachelor's degree from West Texas A&M University and a master's degree from Bellevue University in Nebraska.
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Blanco school leaders discuss bond issue for November
The Blanco school board, after hearing from a district-organized advisory committee, will consider holding an estimated $8.6 million bond election in November to pay for the gutting and renovation of Blanco Elementary School.
The more than 100-year-old school, nicknamed "Old Yellow," is a community favorite that the advisory committee wants to save and remodel. The facility's problems include: inadequate computer and science labs, a small library, far too many portable buildings and a poor overall design. Board members, who have not yet called a bond election, seem to favor an upgraded "Old Yellow" over a new elementary building.
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Dallas considers creating retail electric provider of its own
The City of Dallas is considering creating its own retail electric provider for its facilities that would eventually provide power for customers outside of city government. The move stands to slash the city's annual budget by $4 million, but would require expertise to operate.
Organizing the company will take a few years. In the meantime the city has signed a three-year contract with a local energy company to buy electricity for less than 9 cents per kilowatt-hour. The contract will save taxpayers as much as $7 million a year.
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The Texas Government Insider is a free weekly e-newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government.
Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers
The Insider is published by Strategic Partnerships, Inc. (SPI), a research and consulting firm. Founded in Texas in 1994 by former government executives and public sector experts, SPI has developed a national reputation as the premier marketing partner dedicated to helping companies secure contracts in the $1.5 trillion state and local government marketplace.
To learn more about SPI services click here or contact our sales department at 512-531-3900.
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