MISD board members learn of accomplishments
Student EMTs and pharmacy techs have opportunities
Susan Harrison
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK – During a public hearing October 24, Mabank school trustees heard that Mabank Independent School District received a superior rating from the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas.
“We have always received a superior rating but in the future it will be harder,” said school superintendent Russell Marshall.
“Currently we are required to earn $15 in interest for our average daily attendance count for the year. I expect this to change for the next year because of the economy,” assistant superintendent of finances Scott Adams said.
Adams told the board that about 90 percent of the school districts receive a superior rating.
School paramedic Jim McKee praised Mabank High School students Preston Burcham and Toby Grimes for obtaining Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) credentials through the TEEN Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program during the board meeting that followed the public hearing.
Burcham and Grimes are EMT-Basic students which is part of the school’s health science department.

Monitor Photo/Susan Harrison
School board trustees Todd Grimes (left) and president Kenneth Odom (right) stand with Mabank student Toby Grimes (second left), Jim McKee (center) and Mabank student Preston Burcham after receiving Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) credentials through the TEEN Community Emergency Response Team. Grimes and Burcham are the first teens in the tri-county area to receive the credentials.

“Both attended the training in Midlothian and are the first in the tri-county area to receive their TEEN CERT credentials. Their training was extensive and included strategies for lifting and moving victims, search and rescue procedures, disaster first aid, fire suppression, leadership responsibilities and a full disaster drill,” said McKee.
McKee also informed the board that the pharmacy tech students will have a new opportunity.
“The pharmacy tech program has taken a step up. CVS has a new team to handle educational students. Our students will receive 24 hours of hands-on experience at CVS,” explained McKee.
“This opens up networking and career opportunities and will pay off in dividends for our pharmacy tech students.”
Trustees voted to join unincorporated association concerning the Texas school finance system and potential litigation to protect the taxpayers and school children of Texas.
“All districts took a financial hit this past session,” said Marshall and that 250 plus districts have joined the association.
In other business, Trustees:
• approved consent items, Sept. 26, 2011 minutes, September disbursements and property tax resale,
• approved application for Ginger Murchison Grant for Child Development Center,
• approved annual investment policy and evaluation resolution,
• approved amendment to Mabank ISD Policy DEC (LOCAL) academic Achievement: Grading/Progress Reports to Parents – First Reading for special education students and amendment to DEC (LOCAL) Compensation and Benefits: Leaves and Absences – First Reading, whereby staff with extended absences would, at the most, be charged 50 percent of their daily pay for substitutes,
• Marshall referred trustees to the school’s website calendar for important dates,
• accepted all employment and resignations as presented by Marshall.

Public law library to get new Texas Statutes books
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
KAUFMAN–Nothing lasts forever, not even law research books and Judge David Lewis, County Court at Law No.2, who is in charge of the law library, said the research books currently in the library are woefully obsolete.
Oct. 24, Kaufman County commissioners approved the purchase of Vernon’s Texas Statutes and Texas Jurisprudence 3rd for the law library, at a cost of $6,716 for both sets.
“This will not require any tax dollars as it will be paid with money that flows into the library from fees,” Lewis explained.
The law library is open to attorneys and to residents needing to look up laws and statutes.
“The books are very handy for the public,” he said.
In other business, commissioners:
• approved a resolution recognizing Christopher Lee Callahan upon earning the Eagle Scout designation
• approved ongoing investigation into the purchase of software and ticket writers for Precinct 2 Constable patrol cars, along with a credit card scanner.
Equipment costs are to come from the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace technology fund.
The equipment will also be used to expedite the issuing of warrants.
“It sounds like a time saving situation. This could be like a test for the rest of the (constable) precincts,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Jerry Rowden said.
• heard a followup discussion on refurbishing the upstairs portion of the annex, containing about 5,000 square feet of space.
“Rumors are that it is not real sturdy but we will get an engineer to look at it,” County Judge Bruce Wood said.
“We will not move the walls but honor the historical makeup of the area,” he said.
• heard an update from technology director George York and improvements being considered for a central information storage system.
The equipment necessary to network and store materials from all county offices will cost approximately $4,245,187, he said.
However, York asked permission to negotiate with Southern Software, who has the technology available.
“We will be pursuing grants, and the funds will not come out of this year’s budget, but be spread over four to five years,” he explained.
• accepted the treasurer’s report as presented by Johnny Countryman including September’s financial, the quarterly report ending Sept. 30 and the quarterly investment report.
• accepted the tax assessor/collector’s report for September, as presented by Richard Murphy.
With 97 percent of the current taxes collected, Murphy reported $29,125,412 collected for the general fund and $2,824,215 for road and bridge.
• approved the purchase of a motor grader for Precinct 2 through the Buy Board Purchasing Cooperative at a cost of $190,000 with a $50,000 grant as part of the lease purchase cost.
The new grader will replace a 1995 machine.
• approved seeking bids to install communications equipment on a tower located at the sheriff’s office.
• approved the donation of county surplus property/furniture to the county Senior Citizens Services as per the local government code.
• tabled for the second time, a request to accept Bedrick Lane as a county road.
The half mile long rock road becomes impassable during inclement weather, Rowden explained. He wants the county to accept and maintain the road to insure passage by emergency vehicles and school buses. The road would fall in Rowden’s precinct.
However, the other commissioners were concerned the action might set a precedent.
Wood suggested the item be added to the lengthy “work shop agenda,” to be scheduled.
• accepted a resolution needed in order to apply for a $50,000 Indigent Defense Grant Program formula grant.

 

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