Balancing the Budget: Part III – The Monsters at Middle School

If you are associated with Whitesboro Middle School, you know that there are monsters disrupting the educational process within the school. No matter how much time, effort, and intervention is given to these monsters, they continue to wreak havoc throughout the school. These monsters truly have a negative impact on both students and teachers.

These monsters do not work alone… they have accomplices.

As you drive by the Middle School, you can see these monsters

The Political Frame

The recent cuts in school funding have created unrest within communities and school districts across the State. I’m sure that if you listen to the patrons at the local coffee shop you would hear statements like this…

“What on Earth is going on up there at that school?”

To the untrained eye, the things that are occurring within schools and communities across this great State of Texas may seem unnatural and alarming. But actually, the harangues

Balancing the Budget – Part 2 (2012-13)

When analyzing “Phase II of the Plan to Balance the 2012-2013 Budget,” the plan appears to be fairly innocuous. The Class Size Limits (CSL) and the Pupil Teacher Ratios (PTR) are very student and teacher friendly.

A CSL of 18:1 in grades K-3

Balancing the Budget – Part 1 (2012-13)

Unless you have been vacationing on the dusty shores along the banks of the Sea of Tranquility for the last 14 months, you know that schools across Texas are experiencing drastic cuts (around $5.4 Billion) in school funding from the State.

Nearly every district in the State either took steps to completely balance their budgets last year, or they are taking those steps

A Concerned Parent

I received an email from a parent yesterday that voiced concerns over the District deciding to move from a 7 period day to an 8 period day at Whitesboro High School. As I read the concerns and comments, I realized that there is some confusion regarding certain aspects of an 8 period day.

The parent’s 1^st concern: By moving to an 8 period day, students will lose educational opportunities, like A.P. Classes and Dual Credit Classes…

To assume this would be a mistake. Actually an 8 period day provides

WE ARE… History!

As I pulled into the stadium parking lot this past Friday night I thought I was late. The parking lot was full, and the stadium was packed. I looked down at my watch, and it was still 49 minutes until game time.

As I walked up the stadium steps, I could see so many emotions on the faces of the Bearcat Fans. On some faces I saw excitement, anticipation, hope, and optimism; on other faces I saw worry, apprehension, trepidation, and anxiety. You know, I bet there were 100 reasons why these emotions were reverberating through the fans and the stadium… Because… “NEVER” is a long time!

Wow! Wasn’t it great to break the shackles that have kept the Bearcats bound for 100 years!

I am so excited and proud of Coach Gill and the Mighty Bearcats! What a great season, and what an impressive win over Pilot Point.

I am sure that people around the community, and people who have previously donned a Bearcat helmet, have been hashing it out about this team. While they are excited about this year’s team, I’m sure they are asking things like… Is this the best ever Whitesboro team?

While there is no way to answer this question, there is one simple truth about this team. For this team, and this season… PREPARATION, PERSEVERANCE, and DETERMINATION… MET OPPORTUNITY!

As I think back on this spectacular season, it reminds me of the reason that extracurricular activities are so important. Schools are in the business to develop well-rounded students, and there are no better ways

Girls’ Cross Country Team Advances to the Regional Meet

The Girls’ Cross Country Team has qualified to compete at the Regional Meet. Coach Worley shared the following information with me about this year’s team…

The Tradition Begins! Good luck to our Lady Cats varsity Cross Country team this Saturday as they advance to the Regional meet at Vandergrif Park in Arlington! The girls competed in the district meet at North Lakes Park in Denton on Thursday Oct. 27 and earned much respect. The runners knew competing in a conference which includes two of the top ranked 3A girls varsity teams in the state would pose a challenge and they proved they were ready. The varsity girls stepped up and placed third behind

The Lady Cats Volleyball Team Enters the Playoffs Tonight!

Tonight the Lady Cats play Bonham in the 1st round of the State Playoffs (Sherman High School @ 7:00 PM).

I asked Coach Cherry about this year’s team, and she said… The Lady Cats volleyball team is excited about being back in the playoffs. They go into tonight’s playoff match with a 25-10 record (the most wins in 8 years), a district 9-3A runner-up finish (back to back), a #21 class 3A ranking from the Texas Girl’s Coaches Association (1st time in 8 years), and a back to back playoff berth (1st time in 8 years). The Lady Cats know tonight will not be an easy game, but they have prepared all season for this and are ready to get started. The coaches and players have had amazing

Electrifying…

Last week, three local superintendents had the privilege of speaking to the West Grayson Retired School Personnel Association. Dwain Milam (Collinsville), Robert Steeber(S and S), and I spoke concerning our schools, and how we have been impacted by the recent cuts in school funding.

During Dwain’s presentation, he spoke about Collinsville’s new electricity rates. As he presented his data, two emotions came over me…

1)      I was thrilled that Collinsville ISD was able to bid out and secure an electrical rate of $.0625 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for the next two years, and a rate of $.05936 per kWh for the following two years. This is a terrific rate and an enormous savings for their District. In addition to these great rates, Collinsville ISD is not saddled with “demand meters.“ These “demand meters” significantly drive up the effective per kWh cost of electricity for schools.

2)      I was disheartened when I remembered that the cost of our electricity last year was around $0.156 per kWh.

You may be asking… Why doesn’t Whitesboro ISD go out and find a cheaper rate? The answer is simple,

In-Service 2011 – Accountability, STAAR Test, and School Finance

Yesterday, the District officially kicked off the 2011-12 school year.

The highlight of the day without a doubt was the presentation made by Ronnie Jung, the current but retiring Executive Director of the Texas Teacher Retirement System.

We are fortunate to have a T.R.S. Board of Trustees member (Nanette Sissney)  working in our District. Nanette was able to convince Ronnie to travel to North Texas and discuss important issues