Students to Attend on Labor, Memorial Day Holidays
    By Myrtleann Anderson, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, March 3, 2008

The Monahans-Wickett-Pyote ISD met on Wednesday, February 27 with President Bo Rose presiding, Superintendent Keith Richardson and Trustees Bill Clayton, Donna Garcia, Denny Latham, Raymond Reyes, Kay Rankin and Dave Poynor in attendance.

Richardson gave the trustees an update on the bond construction in the absence of Monte Hunters.

"We are having an open house on March 11 for both Sudderth Elementary and the high school field house," Richardson said.  "That is our parent report card day, so there's going to be a ribbon cutting at Sudderth at 1 pm and at 2 pm refreshments will be served at the field house."

He went on to say that the scheduling of the Tatom Elementary construction sight is going great, and crews are currently working on the foundations and plumbing.

"At the high school, the physical education gym is done, painted, and the floor is in.  It looks extremely nice, and the changes have made a world of difference.

Latham asked Richardson about the budget for the construct project.

Richardson responded by saying the project was $560,000 under budget.

"It's looking good.  We are on budget and in excellent shape as far as the budget goes," he told Latham.

Richardson announced that the district's enrollment figures were up 11 students from this time last year.

"That's where we've been for the last several months," he explained.  "We have 10 to 15 more students than we had last year.

A school calendar was adopted for the 2008-2009 school year.  Students will attend school on both Labor Day and Memorial Day but have an additional day at Thanksgiving.

Request were made for the Monahans High School A Cappella Choir to take a trip to Space City Showcase of Music in Houston from Friday, May 2 to Monday, May 5, and for the Monahans High School Band to travel to Los Angeles, CA to participate in the Heritage Festivals at Fullerton College from Thursday, May 8 through Monday, May 12.  Both trips were approved.

The board approved the following sales of property from the tax rolls:  Cause #20,998, Lot 8, Blk. 5, Knox Addition, 602 E. "B," to Reginald Brown for $350; Cause #20,647, S. 85' of Lot 1, E. 8' of S. 100' of Lot 2, Blk. 3, Neill, 205 S. Janice to Daniel Meza for $100; Cause # 21,204, Blk. 34, Section 175, 10 acres to Del Brandenburg for bid of $500.  A bid of $50 by Ernesto Muniz for Cause #21,208, Lot 2, Blk. 1, Edd Duffey Addition, 702 N. Allen was rejected.

Assistant Superintendent Glenna Applewhite gave the board an update on the district's search to hire a high school English teacher as the current English/Health teacher Carie Stoker has announced her resignation at the end of the 2007-2008 term.

In other business, the board approved a TASB Energy Cooperative Inter-Local Participation Agreement and Notice of Intent to Participate -- a local government cooperative purchasing program for electricity.

Richardson brought the trustees up-to-date on Texas Association of School Boards Legal and Loca Policy changes.

New policy changes state that superintendents are required to report employee indictments and deferred adjudication of employees of the school district, along with notification to a supervisor by an employee who might have a conflict of interest with a company doing business with the school district.

School districts that post student handbooks on district web sites are required to present parents with a hard copy of the handbook, if parents request a copy.  School authorities now have the right to restrict students from wearing clothing that has anything printed that relates to drugs.

Richardson announced that all the school board members had exceeded their continuing education requirements; school trustee elections will be held on May 10 and the elections judges will be Maria Fuentes, Nancy Upchurch and Nancy Winkler.

Also approved was a waiver for a modified schedule for the TAKS Testing Days, and a request for the 2007-2008 spring school semester.

According to Richardson, first grade at Edwards Elementary is three students over the state limit of 22 students per class, so another teacher was needed for the school district to be in compliance.

Applewhite said MWP-ISD administration advertised three months for a teacher, but were unable to find anyone suitable for the position.  The waiver will give the board more time to find a teacher.

After reconvening from an executive session, the trustees approved renewal of one-year term contracts for assistant principals. counselors, diagnostician, liaison officer/AEP director and technology coordinator for the 2008-2009 school year.

The next school board meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 26th at the school administration office.