Early Voting for MWP-ISD District 5 Begins Today
     By MyrtleAnn Anderson, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, April 28,2008

The Monahans-Wickett-Pyote Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, April 16 with President Bo Rose presiding.  Also present at the meeting were Trustees Dave Poynor, Raymond Reyes, Denny Latham, Donna Garcia, Bill Clayton and Superintendent Keith Richardson.  Trustee Kay Rankin was not present for the meeting.

The board declared an unopposed election for Trustee candidates District 1, Bill Clayton, and District 3, Donna Garcia.  Both elections were cancelled, and Clayton and Garcia were declared office holders for a new term.

Early voting for District 5 Trustee, a race between incumbent Dave Poynor and Bobby Almanza, will begin on Monday, April 28 through Tuesday, May 6 at the MWP-ISD Administration building, 606 S. Betty, from 8 am to 4 pm.  Election day will be on Saturday, May 10 from 7 am to 7 pm.  Canvas of the election was set for Wednesday, May 21.

Summer school dates were approved and will start on Monday, June 2. Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade will meet at Sudderth Elementary and ninth through 12 grades will meet at Monahans High School from 7:30 am to 12 noon, Monday through Thursday.

The last day of class will be on Wednesday, July 2, and a Parent Conference Day will be held on Thursday, July 3.

The board discussed passing a Resolution to allow Iraan-Sheffield ISD to take over the educational functions at TYC Facility (West Texas State School) in Pyote.

Richardson told the board that the Iraan-Sheffield ISD had approached the State Texas Youth Commission after the Sheffield TYC facility closed, to see if the State would allow them to take over the education contracts for Pyote's TYC.  Some of the former teachers at the Sheffield facility have transferred to Pyote.

The State told them, they needed to obtain a resolution from MWP-ISD saying there would be no challenge to their contract.  This action was necessary as the Pyote facility is located within the boundaries of the MWP-ISD school district, Richardson said.

The board approved the request.

In other business, Assistant Superintendent Glenna Applewhite gave a report on the school district's Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for reading, grades three, five and eight.

Third graders accountability standard was 90 percent; fifth graders-88 percent and eighth graders-96 percent.

The final form for both the Annual Yearly Progress and the Academic Excellence Indicator System will be released during the fall semester, according to Applewhite.

During the Superintendents Report, State Science Participants, the Monahans High School UIL Academic participants, One-Act Play cast, tennis teams, golf teams and regional track qualifiers were recognized by the board.

Enrollment figures continue to increase, showing 1,948 students compared to last year's enrollment of 1,909, and increase of 39 students.

Resignations were acceptable for Jo Ellen Ham, who is retiring at the end of this school term at Edwards Elementary and Dee Smith at Walker Junior High School.

Britney McCutchen was hired subject to assignment at Walker Junior High School.  She has a bachelor degree from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Waivers for eight employees living outside of the MWP-ISD District were approved, and one was denied.

The sale tax of delinquent property Cause # 19,326, Lot 10, Blk. 56, Original Town of Wickett, 108 Dumas in Wickett to Kenneth Palmateer for $250 was approved.

Bids on five other properties were not acted on, as the Commissioners Court had previously voted not to approve the sale of the properties.

The 2008 Summer Leadership training in San Antonio, June 12-14 for the Trustees was discussed.

The next meeting of the MWP-ISD board will be held on Wednesday, May, 21m 7:30 pm.