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34 Resignations, 26 New Hires, 15 Other Personnel Changes Approved For SSISD

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34 Resignations, 26 New Hires, 15 Other Personnel Changes Approved For SSISD

Trustees accepted 34 resignations, approved 26 new hires and 15 other personnel changes for Sulphur Springs ISD during the regular school board meeting Monday evening May 9, 2022. The 75 personnel changes will affect every campus, including administration.

Bush Primary

First grade self-contained classroom teacher Monica Armstrong, kindergarten self-contained personnel Angel McCoy, third grade teacher Aleesa Morris, special education teacher Jessica Takacs and special education aide Leticia Burnside will not be returning to Bush Primary for the fall semester.

Barbara Bush Primary

Jessica Grace was approved to join the faculty as a third grade teacher at Barbara Bush Primary. Brittany Rice and Nina Smith will join the BBP staff a special education aides.

Yesenia Mata will be continue working on the BBP campus, but will move from food service to a classroom, where she will serve as a special education aide.

Bowie Primary

The school board accepted resignations from Bowie Secretary Kristin Brown, special education aide Ester Gall and first grade teacher Kimberly Littleton.

Bowie Primary

New hires for Bowie Primary include Linnie Akins as Campus Secretary Bowie Primary, Emily Faircloth as counselor, Constance Stieber as a Title 1 Aide and Cassie Wilson as a third grade teacher.

Carissa Williams will be moving from Bowie, where she serves as a behavior interventionist to Barbara Bush Primary, where she will work in special ed in resource department. Kodeann Crawford will go from teaching fifth grade special education classes at Sulphur Springs Elementary to serve as a math Interventionist at Bowie. Shara Roden will continue as counselor but will be assigned to SSES next year instead of Bowie next year.

Kassandra Smith will remain at Bowie, but will be switching from teaching in a second grade classroom to a first grade classroom. Kayla Emerine will also remain on the Bowie campus, but instead of serving as a Title 1 aide, will be a special education aide.

Rowena Johnson Primary

Rowena Johnson Primary

Only two of the 75 personnel decisions were for Rowena Johnson Primary.

Amber Harmon resigned her position as music teacher and Dolores Renee Smith was approved to join the staff as a Title I Aide at Rowena Johnson Primary.

Travis Primary

Travis Primary School

Two personnel changes were reported for Travis Primary as well.

Heather Wantland was approved as a new first grade teacher. Renee Johnson is resigning from her position as a second grade 2 teacher at Travis Primary.

Sulphur Springs Elementary

Leaving Sulphur Springs Elementary will be fourth grade teacher Karley Easley, fifth grade teacher Jill Sapaugh, instructional interventionist Julie Silman, fifth grade teacher Jaci Sorley and instructional aide Erick Perez Rivera.

Sulphur Springs Elementary

New SSES staff will include Martha Campos, Harlan Hill and Shelby Ladd as fourth grade teachers, Kaley Lyday as a fifth grade teacher and Heather Willey as Title 1 Aide.

Karen Jasmer will continue to work in the special education department, but will be swapping campuses, moving from SEES to High School.

Stephanie Hughes will be switching jobs, going from SSES secretary to the transportation department, where she will serve as route coordinator. Sherry Baugh will continue to teach fourth grade, but will switch from a regular fourth grade classroom at SSES to fourth grade dual language enrichment class.

Middle School

Resignations were accepted from Sulphur Srpings Middle School special education teacher Lee Ann Frazier, seventh grade teacher Shelby Gammill, eighth grade teacher Jeff Harris, physical education teacher and coach Breanna Hodges, visual arts teacher Ashleigh Luke, attendance clerk Tammy Pearson, and technology specialist Jonathan Stevenson.

Sulphur Springs Middle School

Approved to join the SSMS staff were Raygan Morris as a sixth grade teacher, Rebekah Newton as a seventh grade teacher and Cody Rozell as a PE teacher and coach.

Special education teacher Michelle Fuselier will soon be over special programs at SSMS. Brynn Offutt will step up from special education aide to eighth grade teacher. Amy Peters will switch grade levels, from seventh grade co-teacher to eighth grade co-teacher.

High School

Resigning are English teacher Jennifer Bunch, Principal Derek Driver, math teacher Taylor Harden, English teacher Patti Laeding, math teacher and coach Kurt McCain, biology teacher Morgan Owens, special education teacher Joshua Peugh, English teacher Melissa Peugh, geography teacher and coach Bruce Silman, and special education teacher and coach Jason Stephenson.

Sulphur Springs High School

New hires approved for SSHS by SSISD school board Monday night include Adriana Brena as a teacher and the new head girls soccer coach High School, Brinklee Driver as a science teacher, Andrew Dunn as a social studies teacher and coach, Rebecca Huffman as a teacher and girls soccer coach, and Rebecca Medlock as an English teacher.

Hannah Graves will remain a special education resource teacher but instead of working with high school students will be working with fourth and fifth graders at SSES.

Douglass ECLC

Other Campuses

Amanda Ridner will be swapping jobs at Douglass ECLC to become the assistant Head Start director and academic specialist.

Austin Academic Center is getting two new teachers, Tamyla Hasbrouck as a secondary teacher and Danielle Lopez as a teacher.

Austin Academic Center

Haley Papez, a Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, resigned from the Special Services department.

Tabitha Barker, purchasing coordinator at the Administration Building, also resigned.

SSISD Administration Building

Amelia Hasbrouck and Jonathan Tingle will be joining the staff at the Administrative Building, Hasbrouck as an innovative learning specialist and Tingle as a technology specialist.

Lyndsay Anderson will have a different job title as well. Anderson, a LSSP and team supervisor, will be the special programs director.

New Landowners Seminar Series 2022

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New Landowners Seminar Series 2022

By Dr. Mario Villarino, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Hopkins County, [email protected]

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Hopkins County has developed a series of educational programs to assist new landowners with the concept of agriculture production and rural living. 

The New Landowner Seminar Series is designed with you in mind, providing opportunities to hear from leading experts and successful producers in the field of agriculture on what it takes to start, manage, and maintain your own agricultural enterprise and effectively manage your natural resources. 

You will hear from AgriLife Extension Specialists, County Extension Agents, and others on concepts related to Soil Management, Pond Management, Honey Bees, Gardening and livestock and much more.

Networking is another great opportunity provided through this program series – bringing landowners from the four-county-area together to talk about plans, successes, and challenges in an effort to help one another.

All sessions are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (noon) at the Hopkins County Extension Office, located at 1200B Houston Street in Sulphur Springs. Cost for the series is $20. Single Sessions are $10.

Topics currently scheduled are:

  • May 26 – Soils in Hopkins County
  • June 23 – Pond Management
  • July 28 – Bees in Hopkins County
  • August 25 – Gardening in Hopkins County
  • September 29 – Livestock for small acreage
  • October 27 – Livestock in Hopkins County

Register by calling 903-885-3443 by May 23, 2022.

ksst ksstradio.com

Como-Pickton CISD Recognizes Top Teachers, Staff With Awards

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Como-Pickton CISD Recognizes Top Teachers, Staff With Awards

Como-Pickton CISD recently recognizes top teachers and staff. Awards were presented during a faculty and staff meeting after school. The Teacher of the Year was announced for each campus were additional staff awards. The elementary and secondary teacher of the year also are nominated for consideration as the Region 8 teacher of the year.

The 2022 Elementary Teacher of the Year award was presented to Dusty O’Bryan by Principal Cassie Bland.

The 2022 Junior High Teacher of the Year was presented to Katy Carr by Principal Jennifer Rock.

The 2022 High School Teacher of the Year was presented to Sandra Silva by Principal Kelly Baird; Silva also is the 2022 Secondary Teacher of the Year.

The O’Bryan and Silva, as Elementary and Secondary Teacher of the Year award recipients move to regional competition at Region 8 later this summer, according to Assistant Superintendent Lydia Bryant.

Superintendent Dr. Greg Bower presented Nurse Holly Self with the Eagle Award of Excellence.

Assistant Superintendent Lydia Walden presented Coach Derrell Franklin with the Eagle Support Staff of the Year award.

Mrs. Sandra Irby was awarded the Eagle Newcomer of the Year by Walden.

Mrs. Imelda Hernandez was awarded the Eagle Auxiliary Employee of the Year by Dr. Greg Bower.

Congratulations to all of these faculty and staff members for outstanding performance this school year.

NETEX Board Agrees To Commit Up To $550,000 Toward Track And Bridge Improvement

Posted by on 7:23 pm in Featured, Financial News, Headlines, Hopkins County News, Local Business News, News, Sulphur Springs News | Comments Off on NETEX Board Agrees To Commit Up To $550,000 Toward Track And Bridge Improvement

NETEX Board Agrees To Commit Up To $550,000 Toward Track And Bridge Improvement

Northeast Texas Rail Transportation District Board of Directors (known as NETEX Board) agreed to commit up to $550,000 toward track and bridge improvement projects along the rail to improve safety for operators and provide better service for customers.

Mike Salek, Freedom Rail Group/NETC, pointing out issues with a railroad bridge during an April 18, 2022 presentation to NETEX Board of Directors.

The decision follows two presentations by Mike Salek with Freedom Rail Group, which operator Northeast Texas Connector is a part of, and discussion by NETEX Board of Directors.

In April 2022, Salek presented information about the condition of the rail, costs the operator has incurred thus far making repairs to a tract that was in far better shape than either he or the NETEX Board knew when FRG/NETC contracted with NETEX to serve as rail operator. He showed photos of the rail and several budges before and after repairs and showed one video of a bridge that not only showed serious deterioration, moving and pulling apart in such as way each time a train crossed the track, the bridge appeared as if it might snap or completely separate at critical supports.

At the April 14 NETEX meeting, Salek noted that so far 2,450 ties and 2,760 new spikes have been installed, 24 tons of ballast spread, eight bridges have been repaired (averaging 2.5 week per bridge to repair).

Over the 21 months, NETC has gone $445,000 over contract in maintenance expenses. NETC spent $313,000 in 2020 for a partial year, $864,000 in 2021 and $241,000 from January through mid April of this year. That’s 58% of revenue going toward maintenance in 2020, 79% in 2021 and 72% in 2022. Overall, Salek reported, that’s 73%. NETC is obligated annually to spend 50% of the annual gross revenue on maintenance of hte portion of right-of-way that contains active track on the railroad right-of-way.

NETC, Salek reported in April, fronted $75,000 for cost of track repairs and upgrades for a new customer in Commerce. NETC, the customer and Commerce EDC teamed up to complete the project in a timely manner. A $500,000 excavator to clear overgrown brush from crossings. Eventually, all 65 miles of track will be cleared of debris which damages locomotives. Additional costs incurred include operator labor, liability and theft insurance and maintenance from wear and tear on equipment.

Salek reported $1.51 million received in income for the rail, plus $560 for costs of goods sold, for a total of $1.95 million gross profit. Expenses, however, totaled $3.7 million, about $1.8 million more than the business brought in from July 2020 through April 2022.

Salek said while there have been some derailments, so far no serious injury has been sustained but the track and cars have.

For instance, a noncritical derailment on the main in Weaver on April 26 took until May 4 to repair. The car did not overturn, but it did take the wheels out from under the car and caused damage under the front of it. Overall, the repair cost $17,000-$18,000 for that one minor derailment. Selak estimated 90% of derailments so far have been caused by floating rail.

NETC spent $313,149 on derailments, track repairs and inspections in 2022, another $863,922 last year and $240,852 as of April.

Car counts have increased 14% with repairs and additions of new or returning customers. The overall average monthly car count was 89 in 2020, and increased to 102 in 2021. An average of 6.8 customers per month were served in 2020, an average of 8.8 in 2021 and was up to 9.5 in January and February 2022.

NETC reported 127 carloads in April, 8 less than in March of 2022. However, the year-over-year car count has still increased from 110 in April 2021 to 127 in April 2022, Northeast Texas Connector Railroad Customer Service Representative Amanda Fernandez reported Thursday, May 5, 2022 to NETEX. There have been no additional ties installed nor bridges repaired since the April NETEX meeting.

In fact, the number of FRA 30-day defects identified over the last 2 years have declined considerably from 120 in December 2020 and 48 in January 2021, to two in March 2022.

On the other hand, there were no Federal Rail Administration 30-day defects that required repairing in the past 3 weeks either. NETC has overseen brush-cutting on FM 69 in Sulphur Springs and Weaver, Fernandez noted in the report of key performance indicators Thursday.

NETC was supposed to present a plan to get the railroad up to Class 2 standards. Salek noted they’ve been so busy attending catastrophic issues, such as repairing and remediating severe bridge deterioration and those caused by derailments, doing so is very difficult. The imminent issues have taken precedent to keep the rail running and making it safer for travel.

Being able to afford the floating track repairs and make identified bridge repairs would afford NETC the ability to write a budgeted maintenance plan, including projected costs.

Salek was asked in April to put together some figures for specific projects which NETEX Board could consider funding or at least helping to fund.

Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX) Board of Directors meeting

On May 5, NETC presented a sheet listing floating track defects that need to be addressed and another page with bridge repairs that are needed, each with estimates and a bridge rating level of 1-4. The NETC officials reported fortunately no bridges currently are rate a 1, which is considered to have catastrophic issues which would require operation to be shut down. There are about 2 dozen level 2 defects, which will require repair within the next 12 months. (For each level, 12 months would be added to the estimated time repair or remediation would be required.)

Overall costs to make identified repairs to address floating track issues are estimated at $200,000. Another $349,000 would help significantly with cost of repairs to bridges identified as being a level 2 maintenance priority.

The NETEX Board, after discussion Thursday, Salek was asked to attain at least 2 bids for the projects and committed up to $550,000 toward the repairs and work.

NETEX Board Vice President Cheryl Williams noted that with prices continuing to go up and materials taking even longer to attain from suppliers, it is her opinion NETEX cannot afford to not help. Waiting, current economics indicate, would likely cost even more – not only in inflation and potential delays in service but the cost of derailments too.

Salek is scheduled to present bid information for consideration of costs at the June NETEX Board meeting. The board recommended he oversee all of the work. The board will reimburse funds paid out.

NETEX plans to use $550,000 of the approximately $615,000 received in recent months for right-of-ways paid by Elavon development.

Brad Johnson and Steve McCullough gave an update on the Southwest Rail Conference 2022 which they recently attended. Also discussed were the 2022 Legislative session, contacts various Board members have made or suggested to contact and other potential resources available to help NETEX obtain state and/or federal grant funding for rail improvements. An option to hire a TxDOT lobbyist to assist, but that has been tabled barring additional research.

The board also teleconferenced with Jarret Mankin of RAMS Inc., the company NETEX hired due to the business’ experience with ROW matters, via teleconference call regarding a sewer easement the City of Commerce had requested and a request from a Commerce rail customer to tie into the NETEX line.

Plans are in the works for a presentation similar to the one Salek offered the NETEX Board in April. They hope to include some local elected officials and state legislators. The educational conference is tentatively set for mid-Juneat the Country Club.

Palo Pinto County Murder Suspect Apprehended In Hopkins County

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Palo Pinto County Murder Suspect Apprehended In Hopkins County

A Palo Pinto County murder suspect was apprehended in Hopkins County over the weekend.

Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Steward reported stopping a silver Chrysler 300 Saturday afternoon on Interstate 30 east near mile marker 130 for not having a front license plate. While talking to the driver, Steward detected a marijuana odor in the car, so he had the driver and passenger step out of the car while he conducted a probable cause search. Patting the pair down first, he found an orange pill bottle containing a small amount of marijuana.

Steward relayed the pair’s information for a records check, then search the car. When he asked for the returns, a communications operator advised him 33-year-old Lonneil Javon White of Dallas was wanted in Palo Pinto County for murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon,

The deputy had White exit the vehicle again and had him destroy the marijuana and detained him pending confirmation that the warrants are active. Once the Palo Pinto warrants were confirmed as active, Steward took White into custody at 3:34 p.m. May 7, 2022. He was transported to the county jail and released to jail staff. During the book-in process, the jail sergeant asked EMS to respond at the jail to access White, Steward and Sgt. Richard Greer noted in arrest reports. EMS transported him to the hospital. No additional information was noted as to the cause for White being taken to the hospital.

According to arrest reports, he was booked into Hopkins County jail at 4:49 p.m. May 7, 2022, on the murder and firearm charges. Jail records show the man was only in the county jail until May 7.

If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1

The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.

Information from one of the Classes at the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center

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Information from one of the Classes at the Paris Junior College-Sulphur Springs Center

Students in PJC-Sulphur Springs Center Psychology Instructor Marla Elliott’s class are enjoying a discussion on the day’s assignment. For information about enrollment for summer and fall call 903-885-1232.

Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Psychology Instructor Marla Elliott and class
Paris Junior College Sulphur Springs Psychology Instructor Marla Elliott and class

Paris Junior College — located in Paris, Texas, about 100 miles northeast of Dallas — has been a part of the Lamar County community since 1924.

Paris Junior College offers Associate in Arts, Associate in Science and Associate in Applied Science degrees, as well as Certificates of Proficiency in technical/workforce fields. The college has expanded its academic curriculum through the years to encourage associate degree and university transfer candidates. Since establishing its first vocational program — jewelry and watchmaking in 1942 — the college has been aggressive in adding technical/workforce programs that will benefit students entering the workforce.

The campus of 54 tree-shaded acres includes 20 major buildings and residence halls and provides students a unique and pleasant environment for learning.

Paris Junior College also operates centers in Sulphur Springs, Texas, and in Greenville, Texas.

Vision

To be the educational provider of choice for the region.

Mission

Paris Junior College is a comprehensive community college serving the region’s educational and training needs while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of our diverse community.

The Sulphur Springs Public Library Has a Full Schedule of Upcoming Events and Activities for the Community to Enjoy

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The Sulphur Springs Public Library Has a Full Schedule of Upcoming Events and Activities for the Community to Enjoy

COHS Graduation

Thursday evening, May 19 at 6pm, Sulphur Springs Public Library invites our community to celebrate the 12th graduate of Career Online High School. Sulphur Springs Public Library is proud to collaborate with Smart Horizons Online School to offer adults an opportunity to earn their high school diploma along with a career certificate.

Smart Horizons Online High School’s mission is to re-engage people in the educational system as a pathway to career advancement, education and training by offering access to accredited, online education that inspires and creates better opportunities and brighter futures.

We are so proud of Harleah Petrea and her dedication, commitment and vision of her future assured her of success in the high school program.  

 

SRP calendar

Kickoff Summer Reading Program at Sulphur Springs Public Library, Thursday June 1 from 5-7, with food, fun, and Texas Pets Petting Zoo.  All children attending will sign up for summer reading program and will receive a book, a reading log and the calendar of events. All reading logs must be turned in by 5pm Thursday July 14 for final prizes. 

We will have many fun exciting and engaging programs, prizes and storytimes.

Our calendar is now on www.sslibrary.org, Facebook and it can be picked up at the library front desk.

June 1 Texas Pets Petting Zoo 5-7pm

Every Tuesday June 7-July 12 Story time 10:30am

Every Thursday June 9-July 14 Family Game Night 5-7pm

Monday June 13 Wildlife on the Move 10:30am

Thursday June 16 we welcome author Rolanda Hasten (book purchase and signing) 5-7pm

Thursday June 23 we welcome teen author Jolene Reed (book purchase and signing) 5-7pm

Friday June 24 Wil Parker music 2pm

Monday July 11 Chemistry Road Show 3-5pm

Family Game Night is a fantastic time to get together as a family or neighbors and play board games.  We have a large variety of games, some are classics and some are new award winning games you will want to learn! All ages will have a blast on these evenings!

Wildlife on the Move is dedicated to helping people of all ages become more knowledgeable about their natural world and helping kids develop a true appreciation for nature. It’s a great presentation on snakes, reptiles, insects and other critters

Will Parker Music is a past favorite of ours.  Will Parker is a children’s songwriter and teaching artist who writes and performs music for “kids ages 1-100.” During Will’s whimsical and interactive shows, he plays guitar and harmonica and sings original songs that engage the audience in singing-along, dancing, high-fiving, and imaginative play. Will also engages the kids in conversation about how every person can be creative and that writing a song is something they can do too. 

Chemistry Road Show features Jim Pennington, a traveling Texas A&M University professor who uses things like foam gushing out of a tube and exploding objects in liquid nitrogen to show students that science can be fun and exciting. Using sensory impact, we hope students will learn that:

  • chemistry, unlike magic, is comprehensible
  • they already comprehend some of it
  • chemistry is a human activity, one that real people love and find exciting
  • chemistry and chemicals, like any other kind of knowledge and technology, are safe and beneficial when used carefully and intelligently

Call or visit the Sulphur Springs Public Library for more information

611 Davis Street North, Sulphur Springs, TX  75482

903-885-4926

www.sslibrary.org

New Sulphur Springs Library Logo sspl logo jpeg
New Sulphur Springs Library Logo sspl logo jpeg

Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – May 2-8, 2022

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Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – May 2-8, 2022


Winnsboro Police Department each week provides a media report with information about department activity. WPD activity for the week of May 2-8, 2022 included:

Arrests

Leah Davis, 27 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on May 2, 2022, for Public Intoxication and Evading Arrest.

  • Teresa McQueen, 57 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on May 3, 2022, for Interference with child custody.
  • John Backmon, 58 years of age, of Garland, was arrested on May 4, 2022, for DWI, 3rd or more offense.
  • Donny Porter, 28 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on May 4, 2022, for probation violation-aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a second-degree felony.
  • Crystal Parker, 39 years of age, of Quitman, was arrested on May 4, 2022, for Possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1/1-B Controlled Substance and Prohibited Substance or Item in a Correctional Facility.
  • Adam Cash, 41 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on May 4, 2022, for Possession of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 Controlled Substance.
  • Gregory Burns, 36 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on May 4, 2022, on a Hopkins County Warrant for Assault Causing Bodily Injury Family Member.

Calls for Service

  • The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 140 calls for service during this reporting period.

Citations

  • The Winnsboro Police Department issued 39 citations and 50 warnings during this reporting period.

SSHS Wildcats Win 3 Individual, 2 Team 2022 State Academic UIL Championships

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SSHS Wildcats Win 3 Individual, 2 Team 2022 State Academic UIL Championships

Sulphur Springs High School students brought home from the 2022 State Academic UIL Meet this past week three individual state championships and two team championships along with 8 other medals in 6 events.

Individuals earning state championships were:

  • Addisyn Wall – Barbara Jordan Historical Essay,
  • Lausen Ost – Latino Historical Essay Contest, and
  • Shelby Ray – Literary Criticism.
SSHS literary criticism team receive championship award

Other medalists from SSHS included:

  • AllieGrace Woodard
    • 2nd place in Costume Design
    • 4th place Hair & Makeup Design
  • Lexi McCoy
    • 2nd Place in Barbara Jordan Historical Essay
    • 5th Place in Copy Editing,
  • Dawson Carpenter
    • 2nd Place in Copy Editing,
  • Alexis Villarino
    • 2nd Place in Literary Criticism,
  • Andrew Flores
    • 5th Place in Latino History Essay, and
  • Lindsey Plumley
    • 6th Place – Latino History Essay.
SSHS 2022 spelling and vocabulary team receives championship award at the State UIL Academics Contest.

The SSHS Literary Criticism and Spelling teams won team state championships. Literary Criticism Team members included Shelby Ray, Alexis Villarino, Kami White, and Dawson Carpenter. Spelling Team members include Dawson Carpenter, Kami White, Lani Horn, and Allyssa Isonhood. Both teams are coached by Miss Gail Herman.

The SSHS Social Studies Team also competed at the state meet and finished 4th in state. Social Studies team members include Alfredo Renteria, Lexi McCoy, Crawford Johnson, and Artesia Cheak. Miss Madison Millsap is the coach of the State Qualifier UIL Social Studies team.

Herman and Millsap are also co-sponsor of the SSHS journalism team.

Mrs. Lesha Woodard is not only coach but mom of AllieGrace Woodard, Theatrical Design competitor.

Additional state finalists included Alexander Cooper and Anna Williams in the Barbara Jordan Historical Essay Contest; and Carlos Alba, Mali Maeker, and Alexis Villarino in the Latino Historical Essay Contest. Gail Herman is the SSHS sponsor in both events.

As of May 8, 2022, with speech and debate contests still to go, SSHS UIL Teams currently stand in 3rd place overall at state with 116 points behind Highland Park’s 125 points and PSJA Southwest’s 119 points. Cedar Park follows in fourth with 84 points and Friendswood in fifth place. Speech and Debate State will happen May 25-26.

Congratulations to each of these SSHS competitors and sponsors for these accomplishments.

SSISD To Consider Amending 313 Agreement With 1 Solar Group, Application From Another

Posted by on 12:25 pm in App, Featured, Financial News, Headlines, Hopkins County News, Local Business News, News, School News, Sulphur Springs News, Uncategorized | Comments Off on SSISD To Consider Amending 313 Agreement With 1 Solar Group, Application From Another

SSISD To Consider Amending 313 Agreement With 1 Solar Group, Application From Another

Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees will consider amending a 313 agreement with one solar group and an application from another during the regular meeting Monday evening.

SSISD
SSISD logo

Also on the May 9 agenda for approval are budget revisions for American Rescue Plan Supplemental Grant Funding, a Quality Improvement Application, a proposal or improvements to the high school student parking are, instructional materials allotment TEKS certification for 2022-23, and joining Texas Rural Broadband Coalition.

A public hearing will be held during the 6 p.m. meeting in the board room of SSISD Administration Building regarding a request for SSISD to amend the application for appraised value limitation on qualified property from Hopkins Energy, LLC, the solar facility scheduled to be constructed in the Dike area. Trustees then during the action items portion of the meeting are slated to consider amending the application for the tax incentive for Hopkins Energy LLC as well as an application amendment fee, after acknowledging any potential conflict of interest among the board members in regard to the request from Hopkins Energy LLC.

Another business, Stetson Renewable Holdings LLC also has asked SSISD to consider granting a Chapter 313 tax incentive as well. The board will consider accepting the application requesting an appraised value limitation on qualified property for the business that would be located in the Brashear. The application, if approved would then be submitted to Texas Comptroller’s Office to determine whether it meets criteria to be granted a 313 agreement; then be returned to the school for potential approval, if it meets state requirements for the tax break.

The school board plans to recognize this year’s top honor graduates during public forum. During the administrative reports portion of the meeting, the high school Jazz Band is slated to perform, UIL coordinators will give updates on this year’s activities, Business Manager Sherry McGraw will present a budget calendar to be used for budget planning purposes for the 2022-2023 financial year and the board will acknowledge receipt of monthly Head Start reports.

The board will also consider the following Head Start related items during the action items portion of the meeting: a priority screening instrument, cost of living adjustment, quality improvement supplement application and a budget revision for American Rescue Plan supplemental grant.

Maintenance Director Dan Froneberger is slated to present a proposal for cleaning, seal coating and striping the northside student parking lot at the high school.

Trustees too are slated to consider joining The Texas Rural Broadband Coalition and the Instructional Materials Allotment (which replaced the textbook fund as many materials are now digital or in other formats other than paper books) TEKS certification form.

The board is slated at the end of the meeting to enter into an executive session during which they will consider any personnel or real property matters presented since the last school board meeting.

The school board isn’t slated to canvass the results of Saturday’s May 7 bond election until a special meeting on May 16. Incumbent trustees are slated to again take the oath of office to begin serving another full term on the school board during the May 16 meeting.

Regular meetings of SSISD Board of Trustees are held the second Monday of each month in the board room of SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.