Student Enrollment Continues to Climb Within the District
By Danielle Pardue, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, February 23, 2009

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Monahans Wicket Pyote Independent School District board of trustees met for a regular meeting with President Bo Rose presiding.

Superintendent Keith Richardson gave a report on enrollment, which is at 1988, up five from this time last year.  Richardson stated first grade is over the 22 to 1 ration by four students and gaining.   Rebecca Carnero was employed as a first grade teacher at the Wednesday night meeting.  Carnero has been with the district as an aide for 19 years and has just completed her teaching certification

Construction on the baseball field is almost complete with restroom floors needing painted, toilets installed and nets up on the backstops.

Trenches have been dug and holes cut in the building for doorways has begun on the high school construction and Richardson stated the high school construction is going well.

Drawings for construction on Walker Junior High and Sudderth Elementary will be completed on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and then will be ready to go out for bids on these projects at that time.

Monahans Education Center Principal Daryl Skinner was present at the meeting to discuss goals for his campus.  Skinner gave much credit to his staff stating they do a great job and make things work on the campus.  MEC currently serves 29 students, and as of meeting time on Wednesday, eight students completed credits and passed TAKS test and will walk the stage, according to Skinner.  He stated on average, MEC has about 20 students a year that walk the stage, but they are not in a panic yet as 12 students on campus are testing and two have already completed testing and need to finish credits.

Special Education Director Kim Gilliam was also present to discuss goals for the Special Education Department.  She stated the campus is starting Artic lab, which is speech tutoring in showing the speech therapy students how to form their mouth when saying words. She stated just in doing this, the students progress has improved dramatically.  "I think this program is going to be very successful, " said Gilliam.

The board approved a waiver request to the Texas Education Agency for three additional staff development days and six early dismissal days for the 2009-20012 school years.  The district will substitute three instructional days for staff development and use two early dismissal days for parent report card day, three for out of town football games and one for stock show early dismissal.

A modified schedule/TAKS testing day waiver was also approved for Monahans High School.  This waiver allows the district to modify the schedule on TAKS testing days during the current year only to reduce interruptions during testing periods.  The waiver is approved for only one year at a time.

The board approved the annual spring trip for the Acappella choir.  The choir will participate in the Spring in the Park Music Festival in Dallas.  The choir will depart on Thursday, May 7 and return on Monday, May 10.

Rose announced an election is called for Saturday, May 9 for electing two trustees, Bo Rose, incumbent, District 6 and Kay Rankin, incumbent District 7.  The board approved judges for the election, early voting; Maria Fuentes-judge and Karon Doshier-alternate judge; election day; Nancy Upchurch-judge and Lenora Terrasas-alternate judge.

After discussion in a closed session, the board approved the renewal of one year contracts for:  Assistant Principals: Roy Rutledge-Monahans High School, Kathy Lewallen Walker Junior High, Dianna Scott-Sudderth Elementary; Counselors:  Kim Thomas-Monahans High School Debbie Gambino-Monahans High School, Kristi Bowman-Walker Junior High, Bonnie Benad-Sudderth Elementary and Carmen Olibas-Elemntary; Diagnosticians:  Glynda Hardcastle and Amy Lloyd;  Liason Officer/AEP Director: Tommy King and Technology Coordinator Nancy Upchurch

In other business, the board approved minutes from the previous meeting, acknowledged completion of education hours for board trustees, adoption of 2009-2010 school calendar and budged amendments.

Trustees present at the meeting include Bobby Almanza, Kay Rankin, Raymond Reyes, Bo Rose, Donna Garcia and Superintendent Keith Richardson.  Trustees Denny Latham and Bill Clayton were not present.

Keyed by Blake Hughes, Senior '09