Wednesday's Internet Edition, September 08, 2010.
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- Trustees of Culberson County-Allamoore Independent School District met Monday evening and spent most of their time talking long-term, lofty goals and behind closed doors.
John Petree, of Region 18 Education Service Center, was on hand to talk with trustees about where they would like to see the district in 2015.
Petree, after showing trustees a video entitled “Shift Happens,’ explained that what we’re teaching kids today will probably be obsolete or old hat in 4 or 5 years. He noted that technological advances are occurring at exponential rates right now.
And, that means that trustees must be looking ahead in order to make sure the district keeps up with the times. In fact, Petree told board members that your job is to set goals, set budgets, and determine direction. You hire administrators to carry them out and you simply check of them.
Trustees told Petree they would like to see every campus as “Exemplary” by 2015. The recognized that there would have to be some intermediate goals in order to achieve the lofty goal of “Exemplary.”
Petree told trustees, “As you are doing your job, you must become proactive and not reactive in your thinking and planning.”
Following the nearly hour long session with Petree, trustees then went behind closed doors for an executive session on personnel matters.
After nearly an hour behind closed doors, trustees reconvened in open session and on a 4 to 2 (trustees Clark and Cottrell voted against) vote accepted the resignation of high school math teacher, Mr. McWilliams.
They then announced that no further action would be taken regarding any other matters discussed in the executive session.
With respect to other agenda items which trustees considered during the Monday meeting, the following actions were taken:
* They congratulated football head coach Joe Salinas on his season and they also congratulated those players who were named to the All District squads.
* Trustees received an update on the district’s special education efforts from Becky Watley of the 588 Coop in Alpine. According to Watley, the district has come a long way and is to be congratulated for their efforts.
* Trustees approved of an interlocal agreement with the county for use of the Veteran’s Memorial Softball Field during the period January through May.
Attorney Steve Mitchell advised that the county wanted to see, in addition to what they had already agreed, the district assume liability insurance protection on the field during the time specified.
* Trustees approved the monthly financial report with trustee John Clark voting against the motion. The report was in the format previously agreed upon, however it still did not address the Weighted Average Daily Attendance figure which Clark wanted.
Superintendent Guillermo Mancha, Jr. reported that, as of the 2nd six weeks, the district’s average daily attendance was around 449, down about 50 from the first of the school year. He reported that would translate into a monetary loss of state funds if it continues.
Trustees urged campus principals and Superintendent Mancha to look for ways to get the attendance figures up.
* Superintendent Mancha presented trustees with a Superintendent Evaluation Instrument with which to evaluate him for the January meeting. The instrument is the one already in place within the district and trustees decided to continue with this evaluation form.
Council to hire Alpine auditor for Hudspeth Water District work
Van Horn City Council members met Tuesday evening and voted to engage J. Shaw Skinner as an independent auditor to audit the Hudspeth County Joint Water System.
The city contends that the costs of operation of the system are not being accurately reflected in the Hudspeth County Districts records and thus the city is losing large amounts of money.
The audit was agreed to in a joint meeting between Van Horn Mayor Flanagan and the Hudspeth County Water District.
It was noted that Skinner does the audit work for Hudspeth County and they are satisfied with him, even though the Hudspeth County Water District has voiced some concerns.
Skinner will charge both Van Horn and Hudspeth County Water District $2,500 each to perform the audit.
Council members learned that Mayor Flanagan and County Judge Molinar had interviewed 5 or 6 folks for the position of Emergency Management Coordinator.
Mayor Flanagan reported that Joe Aguilar was the most knowledgeable and qualified and he recommended that the city hire him, especially since the county has already hired him.
Council agreed, learning that they will pay him $500 for his services, which goes along with the $500 a month the county will pay him.
With respect to other agenda items considered by council members, the following actions were taken during the Tuesday meeting:
* Council members denied a zoning variance request submitted by Ramon Ruiz when the motion to grant the variance did not receive a second. He was seeking a variance for put in a mobile home park.
* Council, at the request of Mayor Flanagan, approved a resolution in support of the Dairy Cattle facility being planned for out in Wildhorse Valley. It was noted that the county had already adopted a similar resolution of support.
* Council members were presented with details of City Administrator Becky Brewster’s retirement plans. Council approved the document although details of the plan were not made public.
* Council also voted to increase the amount of money they’ll get paid after the May elections. Only the new council members will get the increase. All others will have to wait until they are elected again to get the increase.
The ordinance was adopted.
* Council members opted to continue with the current lease agreement which they have with cell phone carrier Alltel. Alltel had hoped that it might negotiate a lower monthly lease payment.
* Council voted to write-off unpaid bank drafts for golf course membership. They will start fresh again in January.
* Mayor Flanagan reported that, after the grant period was over and with additional extensions, AdventGX had not fulfilled the terms of their contract to produce a valid planning document for the city.
As such, and to make sure the city is not penalized in future grants, City Administrator Becky Brewster had terminated the city’s 2006 planning grant project.
AdventGX will not be paid for work they may have done on that grant project since no planning document was ever produced.
* And, before concluding the session, council members heard from Carlos Vargas, a grant services provider. Vargas introduced himself and asked council to consider the services his firm could offer in future grant writing and administration efforts. Council thanked Vargas for coming and asked him to submit references.
Advocate will not publish next week
This week’s issue of the Van Horn Advocate bears two datelines. That is indicative of the fact that we will not publish an issue next Thursday, December 25th.
The reason should be obvious but if it is not, it is because next Thursday is Christmas and the post office will be closed.
We will, however, publish an issue for the week of January 1, 2009. That issue will be distributed on December 31st so that they can be mailed before the January 1st holiday.
Because we will be publishing a day early that week, our news and advertising deadlines will be moved up. The deadline to get any news item of advertising in the January 1st issue will be 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30th.
Please take note of these changes to our schedule for that week.