Monitor Photo/Di Johnson
Eustace Middle School Principal Michael Rowland (center) presents March Star Student awards to eighth-graders Audrey Kilcrease (left) and Mitchell Franklin (right).

EUSTACE– At the meeting of the Eustace ISD Board of Trustees March 27, board members honored this month’s Star Students and Teacher of the Month from Eustace Middle School and gave recognition to a district employee they feel goes above and beyond.
Eighth-graders Mitchell Franklin and Audrey Kilcrease were selected as March Star Students. Principal Michael Rowland told the audience that Franklin is in five honors classes and will leave the middle school with five high school credits. Franklin is involved in band, competes on the robotics team and the math counts team and is also in the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). 
“He has straight As the entire year, and I mean, like, progress reports, everything. He also has perfect attendance,” Rowland said. “Outside of that, he’s kind, he’s caring; he gets along with his peers. He sets a good example for everyone around him.”
Of Kilcrease, Rowland told the crowd that she is also in five honors classes and will leave middle school with two high school credits. She is in band and plays four different sports. Kilcrease is Vice President of NJHS, a straight-A student and is in 4H. She recently won Best in Class for cake decorating at the Henderson County Livestock Show.
“I’ll tell you, she is a part of a group that’s going to leave me this year, and I will be sad to see them go,” said Rowland.
Rowland said that selecting a teacher at the middle school can be difficult, especially during this time of year in which each teacher is working their hardest, utilizing every moment with their students; however, he chose a teacher who goes above and beyond for her students, often spending her conference periods working with them and putting in overtime for the kids, whether they’re in her class or in her tutorials.
“I wanted to recognize Mrs. Lauri Pitman for her dedication to the students at Eustace Middle School,” Rowland said. Pitman has been with the district for three years.
Eustace ISD Superintendent Dr. Julia McMains also took time during the meeting to honor an outstanding employee with the district, Facilities Director Bill Carpenter. Carpenter has been with Eustace ISD since January 2022 and has worked on improvements within the district since. Dr. McMains said Carpenter works day in and day out, night in and night out, going above and beyond in services to the district.
“Rain, shine, snow, water damage, ice, it matters not,” Dr. McMains said. She presented Carpenter with a certificate of appreciation and a backpack of new tools and supplies to show the gratitude of the administrative office, the primary school and administration, and the kindergarten teachers.
In other business, board members:
• Heard reports on safety, security, facilities, transportation and construction from Carpenter.
• Approved consent agenda items, including previous meeting minutes, a Lifetouch contract, the certification of Dr. McMains to the Region 7 Advisory Committee, MOU Henderson County Task Force, a contract for communications services, and a service agreement with Skyward for software.
In other business, council members:
• Approved personnel contracts.
• Approved TASB policy updates.
• Approved resolution extending depository contract for funds of the ISD under Texas Education code.
• Heard business reports and superintendent’s reports.