Written by Laura Lawley on April 12, 2011.
The news that Texas likely will receive $830 million in federal aid for public schools was greeted warmly by local educators and other officials as the state struggles with a massive budget shortfall.
The Texas Legislature is working on a final budget plan — in which one option is to cut spending on public education by as much as $10 billion. Overall, the state is facing a budget shortfall of as much as $27 billion.
The federal money earmarked for Texas comes as part of the budget deal negotiated to avoid a federal government shutdown. If passed into law, the deal would remove the strings a Democratic congressman had attached to the money in hopes of forcing Gov. Rick Perry to spend it on public education.
The congressman in question, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said in a statement Tuesday that he hoped Texas lawmakers would use the money to fill an $8 billion gap in public school funding over the next two years.
State Rep. S
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Written by Gabrielle Batchelor on April 7, 2011.
One Texas school district is making it clear: Nothing is off the table when dealing with its budget crisis.
That includes its own high school football programs. Keller ISD plans to cut about $800,000 from its athletic budget.
The district spends more than $2.1 million on a year on sports and even more on stipends and coaches’ salaries.
Cutting sports spending, not people. That’s what we’re talking about in our FOX in Focus debate.
Watch the video to learn more.
Written by Laura Lawley on April 6, 2011.
Phil Ashby provided the following information about happenings in the Abilene school district:
- Last weekend, Cooper ROTC Drill Team set a new school record by winning 10 awards at the Texas Tech Drill Meet in Lubbock.
The armed team placed second in inspection, third in regulation and second in exhibition, earning second place in the Armed Sweepstakes.
The Unarmed Team placed third in inspection, second in regulation and first in exhibition, garnering first place in the Unarmed Sweepstakes.
The Color Guard won first place. Additionally, Cadet Lt. Col. Tyler Foster won the knockout drill competition.
- Thomas Elementary School has been recognized as a Title I Distinguished Performance School in Texas.
The criteria for this recognition include:
Achieved a campus rating in spring 2010 of exemplary
Achieved a campus rating in spring 2009 of exemplary
Achieved a campus rating in spring 2008 of recognized
Maintained a campus residing population of 40 percent or more low income in 2010-11
- Abilene High School junior Adam Gonzales brought home a second-place finish from the SkillsUSA state leadership and skills championships last weekend in Corpus Christi.
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Written by Laura Lawley on April 3, 2011.
The McMurry University senior class’ gift to the school — a ga-ga pit — was presented to the school in the recreation area behind Hunt Residence Hall on Friday.
Ga-ga (or ga-ga ball) is a form of dodgeball. It can involve a large group of people playing individually, opposing teams or one-on-one matches.
“It is Israeli dodgeball, and ga-ga stands for ‘hit, hit’,” according to Jessica Collins-Heath, a member of the McMurry student government. “The senior class chose this gift because the freshman class and all the students that attended Camp Butman during Vision Quest (the school’s four-day orientation program) were able to play ga-ga ball. Everyone that had this opportunity really enjoyed the sport and showed desire to have one on campus.”
Jim Ned kindergarten registration
Jim Ned Elementary School has scheduled an April 15 kindergarten roundup to test students and to provide information to parents.
Any child who is 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 and lives in the Jim Ned school district is invited to attend. The
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Written by Gabrielle Batchelor on April 1, 2011.
HOUSTON – Thanks to Prom Closet it’s all about dresses and diplomas. For 7 years, Friends of the Library President Nancy Flanakin and teen librarian Elise Shepherd have been the driving force behind the effort to give free prom dresses to anyone who needs one.
Seven years ago, the duo started with just 25 dresses. But they persevered knowing that big events cost big bucks.
“Over the years, with the help of the patrons of the library and other sources, we’ve been able to grow now this year with 800 dresses,” remembered Flanakin.
The gorgeous gowns, some of them brand new, and accessories are collected and kept at the Lone Star College – Cy Fair Branch Library. That’s important because when the girls come to try everything on, it gives the staff a chance to speak with them about getting a college education and funding for it.
Flanakin said they may not get access to these girls any other way.
“When they do come on campus, it’s very, very enlightening to them because they see kids their own age and they know they’re going to have an opportunity in life.”
Jana Henney donated 6 dresses that she originally bought for her 2 daughters.
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