School is in Session, But Pandemic Persists
By Ross LaBenske The fall semester is now in full swing across schools in Hopkins and Rains counties. In the midst of a pandemic, how has this affected students and faculties, attempting return to a sense of normalcy? The results for the number of confirmed cases in each district Sulphur Springs Sulphur Springs ISD reports six faculty/staff cases, only one of which who was ever in a school building while being exposed. No students...
Sulphur Springs ISD To Receive Additional Funding For Connectivity
Sulphur Springs ISD and Sulphur Bluff ISD are among many school districts across Texas that have taken advantage of money funneled through the state to help with technology and connectivity purchases related to COVID-19. Sulphur Springs ISD will receive additional funding for connectivity. SSISD logo SSISD trustees this summer agreed to the purchase of 600 iPads and 100 AT&T hotspots to ensure district students have access to...
PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Campus Open for Fall Registration
By Ross LaBenske SULPHUR SPRINGS — The PJC-Sulphur Springs Center campus is open and advisors are on hand to register students for the fall semester that begins September 8, 2020. Above, new student Peyton Virgel of Sulphur Springs is being checked in by Center Office Manager Dan Smock before seeing an advisor to help her get prepared for fall classes. Dana invites prospective students to mask up and come see an advisor about starting...
Cash Prizes Awarded to Teachers in Hopkins and Rains Counties
By Ross LaBenske SULPHUR SPRINGS — Hopkins-Rains Retired School Personnel recently completed a service project in support of public educators returning to work in these challenging times. The members voted to award a $50 cash prize to one teacher in each district in Hopkins and Rains Counties. Drawings were held in each district to pick the winner of a $50 bill to be used for classroom needs. Cash prize provided by...
Sulphur Springs City Council Sept. 1 Meeting Agenda Includes Hearings For Tax Rate, Zoning Ordinances
The Sulphur Springs City Council Sept. 1 meeting agenda includes public hearings regarding the proposed tax rate, two zoning ordinances and a budget amendment ordinance. The agenda also includes numerous other items, including consideration of a contract for construction of the Grays Building, an emergency services mutual aide agreement between the cities of Sulphur Springs and Commerce, Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic...
MGISD Hires Contractor For MultiPurpose Center
Miller Grove ISD Board of Trustees took another step forward in their bond project. The school board this week chose a contractor for the MGISD multipurpose center, to be paid for with the $2 million in bond approved by the voters on May 4, 2019. “We did the competitive sealed proposals. We got 6 bids out of 10 packets that went out. One was way high. The other 5 were pretty close. They were good competitive bids,” MGISD...
SSISD Trustees Approve 2020 Tax Rate, 9 Personnel Changes, Budget Amendments
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees during a special called noon meeting Friday, Aug. 28, approved budget amendments, 9 personnel changes, the SSISD 2020 tax rate and the Virtual Academy plan. SSISD 2020 Tax Rate SSISD Tax Assessor Collector Sandra Gibby recommended a SSISD 2020 tax rate of $1.251380 per $100 cash valuation of property within SSISD, with $0.9409 of that rate going toward the local maintenance fund for daily...
A&M-Commerce Elevates Status as Leader in Physics Teacher Education
A&M-Commerce Elevates Status as Leader in Physics Teacher EducationCOMMERCE, Texas—The Texas A&M University-Commerce Department of Physics and Astronomy recently received additional funding from the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (PhysTEC) to lead the creation of a PhysTEC regional network for the state of Texas. A&M-Commerce is the lead institution in the initiative, collaborating with Texas State University, the...
SSISD Reminds Motorists, Parents To Be Aware Of School Zones, Drop Off, Pick Up Procedures
Sulphur Springs motorists are reminded to be aware of schools zones when traveling through town in the morning and afternoons starting next week, as Sulphur Springs ISD students will return to classes on Sept. 1. School Zones Motorist should be alert for students arriving and going home from school, as students will be out and about. Failure to slow down or put away cell phones school zones could result in costly fines. “Lights...
Sulphur Buff ISD Reports Additional Students Receive Positive COVID-19 Results
Sulphur Bluff ISD Superintendent Dustin Carr Thursday afternoon, Aug. 27 in a letter posted on the district website to the “Sulphur Bluff Bear Family,” reported district officials were notified Aug. 26 of additional confirmed cases of COVID-19 on campus, this time for a household. SBISD students in the household were reported to have last been present on our campus Friday, Aug. 21, and Monday morning, Aug. 24. This follows...
