| |
|
EISD okays intramural soccer, eyes
varsity soccer
Monitor Staff Reports
EUSTACE–Eustace School Board members agreed to consider establishing a
soccer program at the high school, and agreed to add soccer and
basketball as intermural sports at the Intermediate campus.
Trustees unanimously agreed to establish a soccer and basketball
intermural sports program for fifth- and sixth-grade students at the
board’s regular session July 18.
Board members heard the estimated costs to establish the programs would
be $11,830 for soccer and $8,450 for basketball the first year. Coaches
would have to be school district employees, trustees heard.
In the second and subsequent years, costs would decrease to $8,150 for
soccer, while the costs for basketball would remain at $8,450 per year.
As proposed, the two sports programs would begin an hour after the
school day ends.
Earlier, a number of parents asked the trustees to consider establishing
a varsity soccer program at the high school.
Lisa Rhodes pointed out many Eustace Independent School District
students already participate in Tri-County Soccer Association
competition.
Soccer provides an excellent chance for girls to compete for college
scholarships, Rhodes said, adding her daughter, Amber, received a
scholarship to Navarro Junior College to play soccer, and was able to
compete for a national championship.
Bruce Arambula reminded the trustees he had three sons in school, and
said he would like to see a varsity soccer program established.
Kim Purselley, Dan Lowry and Donna Ward also said they would like to see
a high school soccer program.
Superintendent Coy Holcombe complemented the Tri-County Soccer
Association program, adding trustees have discussed creating a varsity
soccer program in the past.
It may be too late to add a soccer program for the 2006-07 school year,
due to UIL rules, Holcombe said, but added he would contact the UIL to
see what could be done before bringing the item back to the trustees at
a later meeting.
In other business, the trustees:
• reviewed a preliminary budget for the 2006-07 school year, totaling
just under $10.5 million, and approved a proposed tax rate of $1.5291
per $100 valuation.
The proposed tax rate – $1.3257 for Maintenance & Operations and 20.34
cents for Interest & Sinking (debt payments) – would be a decrease of 14
cents from the current rate of $1.67 per $100, Holcombe pointed out.
• reviewed specifications of a list of computers and other equipment
needed to implement the math Infinity Project for the coming year at the
high school.
Trustees heard the program would be based on a wireless laptop computer
network, as there is not a room for a separate computer lab and 10
workstations.
Trustees unanimously agreed to fund the $15,061 cost for the system.
• accepted bids for three lots held in trust, and rejected bids on two
other lots.
• accepted a $100 bid (the only one submitted) from Elmer Martin for a
step van formerly used by the maintenance department. The van will not
pass inspection, and would not be worth the cost of repairs, trustees
heard.
• accepted the Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct for the
coming school year.
In a related action, the board reviewed a high school band members’
handbook, and complemented band director Todd Felty’s efforts on
preparing the first such handbook.
• renewed an agreement with Mabank ISD for a non-disciplinary
alternative education program – known as the Alpha Program – for the
coming school year.
The program was formerly administered by Trinity Valley Community
College, and the district usually reserves 10 seats, trustees heard.
• accepted a proposal from Assurant Employee Benefits for the district
to provide a $20,000 life insurance policy for all employees at a cost
of $6,969.60.
• agreed to remain with Texas Monarch Management for student accident
insurance at a cost of $27,027.
• accepted resignations from intermediate school ESL (English as a
second language) teacher Lisa Ashton, high school business teacher Amy
Hill and assistant high school band director Ryan Johnstone.
• hired high school teacher/coach Jeremy Bullard, middle school PE
teacher/coach Clinton Farrell, high school special education
teacher/coach Greg Henry, high school technology applications teacher
Kathleen Krumm, high school special education teacher Cyndi Wanek, and
intermediate school special education aide, pending completion of all
paperwork and submission of required credentials.
• approved transfers of three students.
• approved salary proposals for the 2006-07 school year as presented.
Kemp HS
freshman orientation Aug. 8
Special to The Monitor
KEMP–Kemp High School will be hosting an orientation for all incoming
freshmen from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, in the high school
cafetorium.
Students and parents are encouraged to participate in this fun and
informative event to be prepared for the first day of high school.
The orientation will include academic planning, information about clubs
and organizations, refreshments and a tour of the campus.
RootSeekers hear Taylor
Special to The Monitor
MABANK–This month’s RootSeekers guest speaker was Carol Taylor. She is
an accomplished genealogist and is Director of Northeast Texas Genealogy
Center in Greenville.
Her job includes archival work, oral histories, writing a weekly
newspaper column about local and family history and spearheading a film
project about local historical sites.
She is currently a graduate student at Texas A&M University at Commerce
seeking a master’s in history.
Her special interest is in preservation of historic cemeteries,
especially those that have been abandoned. Her topic was 19th century
funeral practices.
She began by telling what kind of funeral George Washington had.
Back in those days, you had to have an invitation from the family to go
to the funeral. Martha Washington made sure that everyone had an
invitation, – she did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
Washington had a band, Revolutionary War soldiers that he fought with,
his fellow Masons, friends and relatives.
The local church bells rang out nine times for men, six for women.
Depending on how rich you were, tokens were handed out to guests, such
as cone shape sugar.
Food has always been an important part of funerals.
Flowers have always been important, along with burning candles, mostly
to mask the odor of the body.
Abe Lincoln did not have it so good. His body was put on a train and
made the rounds from Washington, New York, Chicago and many more towns
before it made it to the burial place.
Seems his body was embalmed at each city where he was put on display.
Burial rites and mourning customs evolved as time went on.
Mothers and wives would cut a lock of their loved one’s hair. Women
would wear black for at least one year.
Morticians or embalmers were not common in rural or back country areas
until the late 1930s and 1940s.
Our earliest ancestors were not buried in coffins, but were placed in
the grave wrapped in cloth, hides, shrouding or quilts.
The most common covers for women were quilts, and all too often it was a
wedding quilt.
The next meeting of RootSeekers will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, at
the Tri-County Library in downtown Mabank.
All are welcome to attend.
Tamarack night out against crime
Special to The Monitor
GUN BARREL CITY–From 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, the Tamarack Crime
Watch will host National Night Out, featuring hot dogs and refreshments.
Guest speaker will be Judge Dale Blaylock.
This is a night for America to stand together to promote awareness,
safety and neighborhood unity.
National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police-community
partnerships and citizens involvement in our fight to build a safer
nation.
Tamarack residents are asked to lock their doors, turn on outside lights
and spend the evening with neighbors, police, code and fire departments
at the Property Owners Association park.
Join your neighbors in “Giving Crime and Drugs a Going-away Party.”
Boy Scouts will do the flag presentation.
All Tamarack families are welcome.
|