Lady Cats Golfers Do Well at Tournament Tuesday Despite Cold Weather
Despite playing in cold weather on a difficult course and with slow play, Lady Cats‘ golfers had a good day Tuesday (February 9) according to Golf Coach Whitney Spigener. The Lady Cats played in a tournament at Eagle’s Bluff Country Club in Bullard. Senior Mariam Tran shot 78 and won the tournament. Sophomore Mykylie Meador shot a 93, her second lowest round ever, and she finished in 8th place. Freshman Autumn Allen shot her personal best round of 118. Coach Spigener said the Lady Cats were unable to field an entire team due to scheduling conflicts. She said the Lady Cats played in terribly cold conditions as the wind chill never got above 40 degrees. Coach Spigener said it was one of the coldest tournaments she has been a part of as a coach. The tournament was moved from Wednesday to Tuesday and from Emerald Bay to Eagle’s Bluff due to the weather forecast. A total 17 teams and 90 golfers took part in the tournament. The Lady Cats are scheduled to play next at Garden Valley in Lindale next Thursday.
Chamber Connections: Applications For President/CEO Position Due At Noon Feb. 12
Look & Book, Ribbon Cutting Planned In February
By Lezley Brown, CEO/President, Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
Here we are! We’ve landed in February, and the year is moving fast. I have a save the date for you. Please save the date for our annual Chamber Golf Tournament on Friday, April 9. Let’s hope for beautiful weather and so much fun!
Just a quick reminder… I wanted to let you all know that after five wonderful years here at the Chamber, I will be resigning my position in the middle of April.
The Chamber is currently accepting applications for the President/CEO position. A job description and list of qualifications can be found on the Chamber Facebook page and on the Chamber website. Additionally, interested applicants may call the Chamber at (903) 885-6515 to receive these documents via email. All applications, resumes, and cover letters must be received at the Chamber by Friday, Feb. 12, at noon to be considered. Application packets may be submitted via email to [email protected], or by mailing them to 110 Main Street in Sulphur Springs.
Charleston Sky Is Hosting A Look & Book
Charleston Sky, a local venue, is hosting a Look & Book Open House on Feb. 28, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 4274 Farm to Market Road 895, Cooper, Texas, 75432. For more information, visit their website at www.charlestonsky.com or call Carol at 903-303-2711.
QB Data Is Hosting A Ribbon Cutting
QB Data is hosting a ribbon cutting celebration on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at noon. The celebration will be held at the Chamber and will be a great opportunity to learn about this new business. Mark your calendars and join us!
Business Highlight
The Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce is highlighting a member of the Chamber each week. Please join me in congratulating our Business of the Week for Feb. 11, Lonestar Web Group. You can read biographical stories at the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and Instagram page.
Residents Urged To Stay Home Off Roads When Possible, Use Extreme Caution Driving
Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County law enforcement and emergency services personnel had responded to multiple minor vehicle crashes due to the weather Thursday morning. Thus, emergency responders are urging all who are able to remain at home until conditions improve. Those who cannot avoid travel are urged to use extreme caution driving, plan on driving slowly and allowing time for weather delays to traffic.
While most of the major streets and highways through Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County are passable thanks to crews out sanding and plowing roads, some of the side streets in Sulphur Springs had a lot of ice midmorning Thursday, and many county roads, bridges and overpasses had ice at least in patches as well.
At 11 a.m. Feb. 11 traffic on Interstate 30 west was at a standstill at the Hopkins-Hunt County line due to the extreme icy road conditions; traffic had slowed to a crawl on I-30 west as far as east as Sulphur Springs at that time.
At 11:15 a.m. Thursday, emergency officials were diverting traffic off of Interstate 30 west at the 116 mile marker onto the service road in an effort to get traffic moving slowing through the area. According to Texas Department of Transportation, both sides of I-30 from exit 101 to the Hopkins County line are iced over; TxDOT crews are treating the area, but the roadway is currently dangerous.
Travel is also cautioned on I-30 from Saltillo to Winfield; both sides of the interstate were reported at 11:40 a.m. Feb. 11 by TxDOT to have ice and snow on bridges and overpasses, ice and patched of ice and snow on the road as well. TxDOT crews were
Caution was also recommended on both lanes of State Highway 19 north at the State Highway 154 split to Cooper, where ice and snow were reported to be on the bridges. That section of roadway is expected to continue to have those issues at least through 6 p.m. Feb. 11.
Highway conditions can be checked prior to travel on the TxDOT website under the Drive menu.
I-30 Westbound Traffic Diverted
As of 11:15am February 11, 2021 traffic on I-30 westbound was being diverted onto the service road in the Cumby area. Travel in this direction is discouraged as road crews continue to clear roads. Roads remain hazardous as well in the eastbound direction of I-30 past Saltillo.
Candidate Filing Ends Friday, Feb. 12, For City Council, School Board Elections
Candidate filing ends Friday for a place on the May 1, 2021 municipal and school election ballots, including those for Sulphur Springs and Como City Councils; and Como-Pickton Sulphur Springs and Yantis school boards.
Sulphur Springs City Council
Candidate filing for a place on the May 1 ballot for four seats on Sulphur Springs City Council will continue through 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. On the first day of filing, all four incumbents filed candidacy. Places 1, 2 and 3 are for a full 3-year term on the City Council each. Place 5 is for a 1-year term.
All four seats were on the 2020 ballot due to the resignations of four council members in the same week in December of 2019. The City Council Election was to be held in spring 2020, but due to COVID-19 was postponed until November 2020.
Incumbents Harold Nash Sr. and Gary Spraggins filed Wednesday morning, Jan. 13, for a place on the May 1 Sulphur Springs City Council ballot.
Nash was appointed in December 2019 by the City Council to fill the Place 2 seat until the 2020 election. He then ran and was unopposed in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for the 1-year unexpired Place 2 seat. Nash is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council for Place 2.
Spraggins won the Nov. 3, 2020 election, receiving 71.24 percent of the votes for the Place 5 seat for one year, and is now seeking election to serve the final year of the unexpired term for Place 5.
Jay W. Julian filed later in the day Jan. 13 for a place on the May 1, 2021 City Council Election ballot for Place 1. He was one of four candidates on the November 2020 ballot for the Place 1 seat on the council. A run-off election was called between Julian and Mark Bradley after no one candidate received 50 percent or more of the votes in the Nov. 3, 2020 election for Place 1. Julian won the December 2020 runoff for the remaining months of the unexpired Place 1 term with 55.45 percent of the votes cast. Julian is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council.
Oscar Aguilar signed up Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 13, to run for Place 3 on Sulphur Springs City Council. He ran for and drew no opponents in 2020 for Place 3 on the City Council. Aguilar is now seeking a full 3-year term on the City Council.
Candidate filing for the May 2021 Sulphur Springs City Council Elections will continue until 5 p.m. Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Sulphur Springs Municipal Building, 201 North Davis St.
Como City Council
The City of Como is scheduled to hold an election on May 1 for all three places on the City Council. As of 10:20 a.m. Thursday, no one had file for any of the Como seats.
Currently, Jerry Radney serves as mayor. As mayor pro temp, he stepped up to mayor when Darla Henry resigned the position in August 2020, due to a move out of the city. Austin Baxley, a teacher at Como-Pickton school, was then appointed to the council as commissioner. Steve Smith was serving in the other commissioner seat on Como City Council until his recent resignation. Instead of appointing someone to serve in the second commission seat for a few months, the Council has opted to leave that seat empty until the election.
Filing for the two commissioner seats and mayor continues until 5 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at City Hall, 104 Mill Street in Como. For additional information, call 903-488-3434.
Como-Pickton CISD
Como-Pickton CISD has three four-year term seats on the board and one two-year unexpired term seat to fill on Board of Trustees.
Currently, Mark Humphrey, Shiloh Childress and Jessica Pegues currently serve in the full term seats. A special election has also been called to fill the remaining two years of DJ Carr’s seat, according to the C-P CISD Elections Officer. As of 1:15 p.m. Thursday, DJ Carr was the only candidate who had filed for the unexpired term seat. Incumbent Shiloh Childress and challengers Cole Boseman, Stephanie Cotton and Clif Carpenter had filed candidacy for the three four-year term seats on the board.
Candidates may pick up applications in the CPCISD Administration Office, 13017 Highway 11 east of Como, during business hours Thursday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. Additional information, including requirements and eligibility are available on the school website, https://www.cpcisd.net/, under District and School Board menu options or by clicking here.
SSISD Board
Sulphur Springs ISD has two seats up for election on the school board. On the first day of the filing period, Kerry Wright and Jason Dietze filed candidate applications seeking a place on the May 1 Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees Election ballot. Incumbents Wright and Dietze are seeking another 3-year term on the school board.
Dietze was first elected to the school board in 2009. He was re-elected secretary in 2020. He previously served as vice president and president. Wright was appointed to the board in August of 2017 to fill the unexpired term of Don Sapaugh. Wright was previously on the board for seven years, which included serving as secretary, vice president and president of the school board, but resigned in 2016.
Applications for a place on the May 1, 2021 SSISD Trustees Election ballot for two full 3-year seats on SSISD Board of Trustees are due by 4 p.m. Friday Feb. 12 in the Tax Office of the SSISD Administration Building, 631 Connally St.
Yantis ISD Board
Yantis ISD also has three seats on the Board of Trustees to fill. and neither was an incumbent.
Currently serving in those seats are Stacey Wetzel, Michael Burnett and Tyra Kenemore. Wetzel has served two full terms on the school board. Burnett and Kenemore are completing a full term on the school board. As of 10:45 a.m. Thursday, only three candidates – incumbent Kenemore and challengers Stacey Batchelor and Ashly Vivion – had filed candidacy for a place on the May 1 YISD Board of Trustees Election ballot.
Candidates may email their application to [email protected] or fax it to 903-383-7620 by the Feb 12 deadline of 5 p.m. The office at 111 South Main Street in Yantis is expected to be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
Additional information is available on the school website (http://www.yantisisd.net/) or by clicking here.
* Weather-Related Scheduling Changes Reported Feb. 11
Some local school districts, county buildings and one learning center have notified KSST they are planning delayed starts to the school day on Thursday, Feb. 11, due to inclement weather. Other school districts have made the decision to be closed all day Thursday due to the icy conditions. Other districts are monitoring the situation and will make announcements if any determinations are needed regarding late starts or cancelations.
Some of the side streets in the city have a lot of ice this morning, and many county roads, highways and bridges are icy as well. As a result, city and county officers have worked multiple crashes this morning. Local law enforcement officials are asking those who can to remain at home until the roads improve. Those who are out are urged to drive with extreme caution.
Below are the latest updates KSST has received so far.
CLOSINGS
- The Free COVID-19 Testing Center in Sulphur Springs (128-A Jefferson Street) will be closed through Monday due to the winter weather conditions. Officials will reevaluate the situation Monday morning to determine whether the site will reopen or remain closed based on inclement weather conditions at that time
- North Hopkins ISD will be closed Thursday, Feb. 11, Superintendent Darin Jolly reported.
- Cumby ISD will be closed all day Thursday, February 11, due to hazardous road conditions, .according to Superintendent Shelly Slaughter. Classes are currently planned to resume on Friday.
- Meal A Day will be closed today for the safety of program cooks and delivery drivers. No deliveries will be made today. Program Director Karon Weatherman encourages those who live near elderly neighbors to check on them.
- Paris Junior College in Paris, Greenville and Sulphur Springs will be closed Thursday due to winter weather, but is scheduled to reopen on Friday, Feb. 12.
- Little Texans Learning Center will be closed all day Thursday, Feb. 11.
- Sulphur Springs ISD has cancelled classes today, February 11, 2021, due to dangerous road conditions.
- Little Acorn Learning Center is closed on Thursday, according to the director.
- Sulphur Bluff ISD will be closed Thursday due to road conditions. Classes will resume on Tuesday.
- Saltillo ISD will be closed Thursday, February 11. Classes are currently planned to resume on Friday.
- Thursday’s basketball games vs Yantis have been cancelled, and are to be rescheduled.
- Miller Grove ISD will be closed on Thursday, Superintendent Steve Johnson reported shortly after 8 a.m. Feb. 11.
- Yantis ISD will also be closed on Thursday.
- The Varsity Boys game scheduled Feb. 11 has also been cancelled. The Varsity Boys game vs Avinger is tentatively scheduled Friday at home at 4:30 p.m. and will be Senior Night for both the boys and girls teams at that time. All activities for the rest of the week are subject to change based on weather, however.
- Hopkins County Offices are closed Thursday except for emergency personnel, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom reported at 8:12 a.m. Feb. 11.
- TRAX bus service is closed Feb. 11 due to the weather.
- Texas A&M University-Commerce campus will remain closed on Thursday, February 11, 2021. A decision for Friday, February 12, 2021, will be communicated as soon as a decision is made, according to an update posted by the University at about 9:45 a.m. Thursday. The closure includes all business operations except essential services already approved. All students, including those taking fully-online classes, should communicate with their instructors for guidance with their courses. The off-site locations will adhere to the decision of their host institution or local school district.
Delayed Opening
- The Sulphur Springs Workforce Center and Paris Workforce Center will not open until 1 p.m. February 11, due to inclement weather.
If your school or organization is cancelling, delaying or has a scheduling change due to the weather, contact KSST so we can help get the word out.
Stay tuned to KSST Radio 1230 AM for the latest weather reports and updates for school start delays and closings.
Feb. 10 COVID-19 Update: 16 Additional Cases, 21 Recoveries
Texas Department of State Health Services’ Feb. 10 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard showed 16 additional COVID-19 cases and 21 additional recoveries for Hopkins County. The Vaccine Data dashboard also showed the county has had 356 fewer cases than were reported on Tuesday.
While DSHS added four confirmed COVID-19 cases to the overall case count, one of the cases was reported to be an older case just reported to DSHS by a lab. So far this week, 19 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported. That increases the total number of confirmed cases this month to 75. Since the pandemic began, 1,444 Hopkins County residents have received positive molecular COVID-19 results.
Although DSHS reported a dozen additional probable cases on Wednesday, only 11 were new cases. One older probable case was also reported by a lab to DSHS and counted on Wednesday. That makes 24 probable cases so far this week and 83 this month. Since the state began tracking probable cases, those in which a person has either tested positive on an antigen molecular test or has had a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis, 1,344 probable cases have been reported for Hopkins County.
Twenty-one additional Hopkins County residents were reported to have recovered from COVID-19 on Wednesday, increasing the total so far this week to 39 and this month to 80. Of the cumulative 2,788 Hopkins County residents reported to have had COVID-19 2,496 had recovered from the virus as of Wednesday afternoon.
That leaves 194 Hopkins County residents reported to still actively have COVID-19 on Wednesday.
The free testing center at 128-A Jefferson Street performed only 35 molecular COVID-19 tests on Tuesday, increasing the cumulative total since the facility opened in the fall to 9,489 as of 6 p.m. Feb. 9, according to the Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management Feb. 10 COVID-19 update. However, a total of 83 viral or molecular COVID-19 tests were reportedly performed in Hopkins County on Tuesday, an indication 48 viral tests were performed at other sites.
Four additional antigen and four additional antibody COVID-19 tests were also performed in Hopkins County on Tuesday, increasing the cumulative total since the state began tracking those testing types to 2,019 antigen and 1,794 antibody performed in Hopkins County, according to the DSHS Feb. 10 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
Free oral swab COVID-19 testing has been extended through the month of February in Sulphur Springs. Testing is typically offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays inside the Red Cross (old Fidelity Express) building in Sulphur Springs. Free molecular COVID-19 testing is open to anyone regardless of age or address. However, registration is required online at www.GoGetTested.com in order to be tested at 128-A Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs.
Twenty-three additional Hopkins County residents had received the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday, increasing the total to 455 Hopkins County residents who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. However, the DSHS Feb. 10 Vaccine Data dashboard showed 379 less first-doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to Hopkins County residents than were reported Tuesday, reducing the total from 1,932 to 1,553 who’ve gotten the first dose of the two-dose vaccine. That changed the total number of vaccines administered from 2,364 to 2,008.
A toll free phone number has been established through Ark-Tex Council of Governments, so that individuals who reside in the ATCOG area who meet 1B criteria but don’t have a computer or internet access, or who aren’t skilled with them, can call 1-800-372-4464, Someone in the ATCOG office help them set up an appointment if one is available in their area or to get on a waiting list for COVID-19 vaccines in their area. That call is toll free, and residents will need to provide some information so the ATCOG help can complete the process for them.
HC/SSEM also reported 13 patients in the COVID Unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs as of 9:30 a.m. Feb. 10, one less than on Monday and Tuesday, but the same as on Feb. 3.
In Trauma Service Area F, there continued to be 121 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients in hospitals across the region for the second day in a row. However, because the total hospital capacity expanded, with 14 more general hospitalizations and 10 more beds staffed, COVID-19 hospitalizations accounted for only 10.92 percent of the overall hospital capacity in TSA F on Feb. 9. That’s down from 11.02 the day before. Four fewer beds, eight fewer ICU beds and six fewer ventilators were available Trauma Service Area F on Tuesday than on Monday, according to the DSHS Feb. 10 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard.
SSISD To Offer Telemedicine Services For Students
Sulphur Springs Independent School District will soon be offering telemedicine services for students. District trustees this week gave approval to the proposal to utilize Hazel Health telemedicine services at no cost to the district and, at least initially, no out-of- pocket cost to students.
SSISD Assistant Superintendent Kristin Monk explained that Hazel Health is currently working with funding sources to cover copays and fees of that nature for the program this semester. A small copay fee could be charged for use of the telemedicine service in the fall semester, but those details have yet to be worked out. Typically, there is a $20 copay charge to students without insurance or Medicaid per service. Families would only be charged what their typical copayment amount is for service.
Parents will be given the opportunity to opt in or opt out of the telemedicine program, with information available in English or Spanish, electronic or paper.
“Current health data shows districts that they are currently working in already show a 97 percent participation rate because it is a very valuable service,” Monk said.
Hazel Health works closely with school nurses, providing campus clinics with an iPad to access the service and an iPod Touch for nurses to use to input of the students’ patient information. Hazel Health will also provide each campus clinic with a medicine cabinet the size of a small file cabinet stocked with 12 kinds of over the counter medications and supplies, like lice shampoo and hair combs, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen and acetaminophen as appropriate. Nine of the 12 items the district currently stocks and provides, so receiving the medicine cabinet would be a savings to the district of those medication fees, Monk noted. These OTC medications would be offered free to students if the medical professional recommends them, which would assist the student with medication until the parent is able to get their child to their primary care physician if a visit is recommended.
All providers within the Hazel Health system are medical providers licensed in the state of Texas and will be Texas medical doctors, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. The medical professionals will not issue a prescription if a student needs ADHD medication, but can help connect them with a provider if their prescription has expired. Hazel Health staff can issue a prescription for an EpiPen or inhaler if the student’s has expired or been exhausted.
SSISD Board of Trustees member Robbin Vaughn, who serves on the School Health Advisory Committee, sat in recently on a presentation made to the SHAC regarding the program. She said she was very impressed and excited by it, and believes it is going to be good for the district to be able to offer the telemedicine service.
“To know that you have a student that’s not feeling well at school, the nurse can initiate that and get that student seen immediately and get for them and not have to wait for the parent to come get them if the parent can’t get away. It just shortens the time that child has to not feel well and not be seen,” Vaughn said. “I can’t believe we haven’t done this before.”
Monk noted it can be a time saver for working parents as well. For instance, Monk said, a kindergarten student is suspected to have pink eye. Currently, the parents would be contacted, have to stop everything, go pick up their child and take the child to the doctor, then get the child’s prescription filled if the student needs one. A parent who opts to allow their student to use telemedicine would likely be able to cut out the step of taking the child to the doctor to await an appointment. The child could be seen immediately by a Hazel Health professional, and if the child did have pink eye, the medical provider could call in a prescription to the family’s pharmacist. The parent would only need to pick up the child and stop by the pharmacy to get the child’s medication on the way home.
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams has been working on a memorandum of understanding with Hazel Health. SSISD staff have been working closely with the Hazel Health representatives to work out specifics needed for the sessions, which would be initiated by a nurse or counselor or the nurse is already engaged in assisting a student, the campus CIS worker will also be trained to do so. The district will have the option at any time to discontinue use of Hazel Health telemedicine services if they are not satisfied with the service or decide it is not a good fit for the district.
The service will also be available to the SSISD Virtual Academy students from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the school week. For instance, if a VA student wakes up in the middle of the night or school morning, the parent can dial in and talk to a doctor or other medical professional. Those who will need to miss their class time due to illness will be given a doctor’s excuse from the Hazel Health professional, just as they would from their primary care physician. Any referrals would be to the student’s physician.
Information regarding the availability of the program is expected to be distributed to parents during a two-week campaign launched by the school, which will be followed by a campus campaign.
Dallas Man Jailed On Felony DWI Charge
A 43-year-old Dallas man was jailed on a felony DWI charge early Thursday morning, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Baumann stopped a blue Saturn Vue just before 2 a.m. Feb. 10, on West Industrial Drive at mile marker 122 for failing to stop at the designated stop point at a stop sign. Deputy Justin Wilkerson arrived as a back up unit.
The driver, identified in reports as 43-year-old Phillip Lynn Wilson of Dallas, when asked to exit the car reportedly walked unsteadily and “as if his feet were heavy.” He reportedly had incoherent speech when officers attempted to have a conversation with him and also had red eyes. Alcoholic beverages were seen reportedly located in the vehicle, but not detected on Wilson. Based on Wilson’s “erratic behavior and emotions during conversation” the deputies believed the man to possibly be intoxicated and under the influence of of a controlled substance or drug.
Wilkerson administered sobriety tests. Wilson allegedly showed six of six clues of intoxication on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests, had vertical nystagmus in both eyes and was unable to perform other standard field sobriety tests such as the waka nd turn and one-legged stand on which he was unable to follow instructions.
Wilson was taken into custody for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and the vehicle was impounded. He reportedly agreed to provide a blood sample for testing. Two specimens was taken from Wilson in CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs at 2:55 a.m. Feb. 10, 2021. Wilson was then transported to the county jail, where he was booked on the felony third or more driving while intoxicated offense charge, deputies noted in arrest reports. He remained in jail later Wednesday. Bond was set at $10,000 on the third-degree felony DWI charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Parent Expresses Concerns Regarding SSISD Students’ Use Of iPads, Electronics
A parent addressed Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees his concerns regarding iPads being given to all students and students’ use of iPads as part of their school assignments.
Timothy Perkins told the school board at their regular meeting this week that he objections to all students being issued an iPad or tablet. He said his son was issued an iPad, and over the objections of his parents, and brought it home.
“At first, the school said, ‘Well, it’s required and you have to sign this paper, and you are liable to for up to $400 worth of damage if he breaks it. That didn’t seem like a great idea, you know, because his son had previously broken a tablet,” Perkins told the school board Monday night during the public forum portion of the regular February school board meeting.
Perkins noted that cost could be potentially “detrimental to a family of lesser income than I have,” particularly a single earner household in which a child breaks a tablet. Such a loss could be devastating, he pointed out.
He then noted that said while Travis Primary Principal Michelle Wallace conceded to their request not to agree to the policy, a device is still being sent home with his child anyway. The nature of students’ use of iPads is troubling to Perkins as well.
Perkins said his son routinely comes home once to twice a week with the tablet to “play games.”
“A tablet is strictly for games. Even his math homework he is given a math problem and he is given three possible answers. That’s not bad. He drags a puzzle piece over to the answer. He gets it wrong, drag the second one. He gets it wrong, drags the third one. He’s got it. That’s not math. That’s a game,” Perkins contents. “He’s being taught how to play video games.”
Perkins offered to the school board copies of what he said were several articles, including one from Psychology Today, “about how electronics are damaging to young minds – addictive.”
“That is my concern. These kids are being forced these devices in an attempt to teach them technology. Trust me, I know technology,” Perkins said. “I have a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from A&M Commerce right up the road. I have a masters of science degree in the information systems from Western Governor’s University. I’ve got six or eight different IT certifications, ranging from very basic Network Plus on up to the highly coveted, highly respected Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification (CISSP). It concerns me that this school or this school district wants students to play video games on tablets.”
SSISD Board of Trustees President Robert Cody thanked Perkins for his words and told him that if he cared to share the articles he mentioned they’d take it under advisement, with no further comment on students’ use of iPads.
