Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
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| Preferred Management staff, hospital staff, Culberson Hospital Board of Directors, other dignataries and Chamber of Commerce representatives all had a hand in last Saturday’s ribbon cutting ceremony which opened the hospital’s new addition to the public. Numerous well wishers and others were also in attendance. |
- Culberson Hospital opened the doors of its new hospital addition last weekend to the community during a celebration that included a dedication program and tours of the new facility. Nearly 150 community members and Jubilee visitors attended the grand opening celebration. By the end of the day on Saturday nearly 300 people had visited the hospital for a tour.
“We had so many compliments on the new facility during the tours,” said Culberson Hospital Administrator Ladelle Bates. “Everyone was so in awe and appreciative of this new, modern medical facility they can call their own. Taking into account the quality, high-tech medical equipment, updated emergency room and the wonderfully furnished patient rooms, everyone feels more confident and excited about the improved quality of healthcare available to them.“
Some very special moments occurred during the hospital tours such as the presentation of a photo of a baby that was the first baby girl born to the hospital when it opened its doors in October of 1970.
”This was a very humbling experience because the parents of this child made the effort to put together special framed pictures with some touching words to commentate the moment so we would have it as a reminder of Culberson Hospital’s history. They traveled back to Van Horn for the Jubilee and made it a point to stop by the hospital,” said Bates.
”This hospital addition that includes 10 new patient rooms, a new emergency department and state-of-the-art- 16 slice CT scanner is significant for Culberson County and it was made possible for two reasons. One is the taxpayers of Culberson County that have had faith in the Hospital District and Preferred Management to build this addition and supported us all from the beginning. The second reason is our legislators who have worked tirelessly to make rural healthcare a priority for our country,” said Andy Freeman, CEO of Preferred Management, Corp. “We’re very happy for this community.”
Several elected officials attended the grand opening ceremony including Daniel Mezza, a representative from U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s office, who presented the hospital with a plaque acknowledging the opening of the hospital addition. Texas State Representative Pete Gallego gifted a Texas state flag to the hospital; a flag that has flown over the state capital. U.S. Representative Ciro Rodriguez shared words of encouragement to the community of Culberson County as residents take on a leadership role in delivering quality medical services to rural communities.
Representatives from University Hospital and Del Sol Hospital in El Paso and Reeves County Hospital in Pecos also attended the event.
Trustees learn of enormous challenges in years ahead
Trustees of Culberson County-Allamoore ISD met Monday evening and learned that significant progress has been made toward improving district Texas Assessment of Knowledge & Skills (TAKS) test scores.
In fact, Superintendent Mancha reported that the improvement has the district flirting with recognized status. The final TAKS scores, after all state adjustments, are due out in August.
Following the TAKS report, Dr. Charles Carter, the district’s consultant from the Texas Education Agency, spoke to trustees about what is coming down the pike.
Carter told trustees not to rest on their laurels when it comes to TAKS improvements. The state is moving away from the TAKS tests and going to End of Course exams for high school and Staar testing for junior high and elementary.
According to Carter, the End of Course emphasis will be on college preparedness and these tests will be counted as part of the students final scores.
They will emphasize analytical thinking and evaluation of thought processes.
In essence, Carter told trustees, you’ll have about two years to begin making preparation for these new tests. It all stems from the “No Child Left Behind” thinking and it will challenge the district at a time when it is already faced with financial challenges.
And as soon as Dr. Carter concluded his remarks, the school’s financial consultant, Dr. Doug Karr, addressed trustees concerning what the financial picture looks like into the next two biennieums.
Dr. Karr noted that the district has been pretty frugal in the last couple of years, enabling it to add money to the fund balance. And, it looks like you may do it again this year.
But, he noted, “I feel that you’ve about cut to the bare bone and further saving are almost impossible when faced with higher teacher salaries and less money headed your way from the state.”
Karr went on to note that the state’s funding mechanism for schools across the state has not been good. In essence, it keeps revenues about the same while expenses continue to increase.
What we’re seeing across the state is district’s being forced to adopt deficit budgets, and you probably will have to as well.
Karr concluded his comments by noting that the state will almost certainly have to address school finance and district funding within the next couple of years because of the deficit budget situation in districts.
Karr did suggest that the district might give consideration of a 13 cent tax hike which would help but not be the answer to the situation.
Trustees are expected to consider such action at next month’s meeting.
Deborah Faulknor, the district’s insurance agent with Wells Fargo, appeared before trustees to talk some about bids she has received for the district’s self insurance program.
Faulknor told trustees, “I cannot in good conscience recommend that you stay self funded any longer. The risks to the district are greater and your funds are dwindling.”
Faulknor went on to say, “I’m asking you to fire me and go with the TRS Active Care insurance plan.”
She noted that the carriers wanted almost $400,000 more to insure the district this next year. And, “You’ll save that amount if you go with the state.”
Trustees have until next month to make up their minds and Faulknor said the carriers needed another month of experience before they finalize their bids.
Suffice it to say that it now looks like the district will move away from self insurance and go with the state plan.
With regard to other agenda matters considered at the meeting, the following actions were taken:
* Trustees agreed to take July 5th as a holiday because July 4th falls on a weekend day.
* Trustees heard Elementary principal Dolores Upchurch report on the district Parent Involvement Policy and then they approved it as presented.
* Business Manager Julie Uranga reported that the district receives about $411,000 in federal Title I and Title II Part A funding. She noted that the bulk of these funds go to fund salaries and supplies, which in turn makes the maintenance and operation money go farther. She did note that these federal funds do come with stipulations, which she adheres to.
* Superintendent Guillermo Mancha reported that the district had received preliminary results of the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) and that we had achieved a “Superior” rating. He thanked Business Manager Julie Uranga for her efforts in achieving this honor.
* Trustees, upon the urging of Business Manager Julie Uranga, approved the contract with Texas Educational Consulting Services for the 2010-2011 school year. They are the folks who submit and track all the district’s federal applications for funding. They get 2.2% of the funds they get for the district for performing this function.
* Trustees also approved the Region 18 Education Service Center program of services for next school year as presented by Superintendent Mancha.
* Trustees nominated Paul Uranga to take the vacant post on the Culberson County Appraisal District’s board of directors.
And, they approved of a sale of land to an individual to get the property back on the tax roll.
* And, following a behind-closed-doors executive session, trustees reconvened in open session and tabled action, pending legal review, for changing the policy of the superintendent hiring, promoting and terminating all CCAISD employees.
* And, after reviewing resignations and hirings thus far, trustees set July 8th as the date for their next meeting and adjourned the session.