Mount Vernon Football Coach Art Briles Resigns, College Job May Be Next
Coach Art Briles has resigned as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Mount Vernon High School. The resignation was announced Monday (December 14). Briles, a former Baylor Head Football Coach who left there under a cloud of player sexual assault allegations, has coached the Tigers for the past two seasons compiling a 20-6 record. He was nearing the end of a two year contract and is said to be drawing college coaching interest, especially from Liberty University. Coach Briles led the Tigers to the Class 3A Division I state semi-final game last Friday in Arlington where Mount Vernon lost to Tuscola Jim Ned, 24-17. In a statement Coach Briles said he would be forever indebted to the great folks of Mount Vernon who welcomed him into their community with trust and open arms. He also expressed love for students, teachers, administrators and most importantly to players, coaches and trainers that dedicated their souls and spirit to achieve the vision of Tiger Grit. Coach Briles also thanked Superintendent Dr. Jason McCullough and the Mount Verson School Board for their belief and trust.
A Year in Review 2020: 4-H Agricultural Youth Programs by Mario Villarino
Developed by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources Hopkins County, Texas
2020 Hopkins County 4-H Agricultural Plan
Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Jessica Humphrey, Assistant Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources
Hopkins County, Texas
Relevance: 4-H Agriculture and Natural Resources projects are an important component of the county 4-H program in Texas. Currently, sixty three percent of Texas 4-H members are enrolled in a livestock project. These projects provide youth with subject matter education, as well as valuable learning experiences, character education and leadership skills. Adult volunteer engagement is critical to administer the program and expand the outreach. The development of youth volunteer as ambassadors for agriculture and natural resources will educate and recruit other youth to the project. As today youth are further removed from farming, many do not understand the importance of agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives. This plan included a Science of Agriculture (Ag Literacy/Awareness) component to target elementary students (grades 4) and teachers in Hopkins County and provides the following educational components: Educational support materials for Science of Agriculture including an Ag Day/Ag Fair field trip, program evaluation, teacher evaluation, recognition certificates and information about 4-H opportunities for the participants and parents. Water conservation/protection awareness was also included. Hopkins County utilized the 4-H Livestock Project Coalition to provide direction and support for the programs and events conducted. The programs and events conducted also provided opportunities for 4-H members to develop or improve their leadership skills and other life skills. Volunteer recruitment, training and utilization was an important component of the plan. This plan involved 200 youth and 60 volunteers in projects and 900 in curriculum enrichment component. Educational Programs were promoted, and other timely information was shared with youth and volunteers through news articles, radio programs, newsletters, and/or social media. A Path to the Plate evaluation was used with attendees of the Ag Awareness Day. Volunteer committees (Ag awareness and Ag coalition) assisted in the planning of educational events. Tasks in which volunteers were involved include lining up speakers, serving as a speaker, assisting with bus unloading/loading, meal preparation and serving (for students and speakers), contacting the local media, donors, and more. The more that volunteers are involved in the program, the greater likelihood of success and the opportunity for the program to grow.
Response: To maintain the objectives plan the following activities were planned and conducted:
- 6 Veterinary Science 4-H sessions
- 2 Ag Awareness field days (October 2019) (1000 participants)
- Goat and Lamb project validations
- Swine Project Validation (16 projects)
- 2 Steer validations (one state, two county)
- 2 Heifer Validations (two state, two county)
- Dairy Heifer Validation
- Poultry Validation
- District Dairy Judging Contest (January 2020)
- 4 Project Livestock Clinics (Swine, Poultry, Lambs and Goats and Steer-Heifer)
- NETLA (County) Junior Livestock Show (February)
- NETLA (County) Dairy Livestock Show (June)
- 6 Project Planning Meetings (Ag Coalition)
Results: The results of the evaluation of the 2019-2020 Ag Awareness Day were as follows:
86.8% (33/38) respondents got a better understanding of the connection between agriculture and health.
97.4% (37/38) showed a better understanding of the path food production takes to get to our plate.
97.4% (37/38) indicated a better understanding of the importance and nutritional values of various foods.
89.5% (34/38) respondents got a better understanding of the way farmers and ranchers produce food we eat.
94.7% (36/38) indicated a better understanding of the value of agriculture and how it is important in daily life.
92.1% (35/38) indicated a better understanding of the importance of eating a healthy diet and variety of foods.
Acknowledgements:
The Hopkins County Extension Office recognizes the support of the Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau, Master Volunteers and Ag Committee members for their support implementing this plan.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
HC Genealogical Society Offers Holiday Gift Ideas, Here are Four of Them!
Gift shopping last minute? Or for a hard-to-buy-for friend? Here are several unique ideas right here in your ‘own backyard’ in Sulphur Springs, Texas. The following items are available at the Hopkins County Genealogical Research Library located at 611 North Davis Street, inside the public library. Even though the HCGS library is closed to walk-ins through January 4, 2021, the volunteer staff will still work with you to fill your orders for these unique products by local writers and crafters. And a Gift Membership will make an enjoyable gift that lasts a full year. To ask questions or to order, please call 903-885-8523 or email [email protected] or order with a personal check by mail to HCGS, P.O. Box 624, Sulphur Springs Texas 75483. Also, until we re-open on January 4, we can answer genealogical queries of less than 15 minutes to research.
_____________________
War War 1 Soldiers of Hopkins County, Texas Compiled by Earl Pogue
This book documents all WW1 soldiers who either were born, lived, died or were buried in Hopkins County, to the best of our ability.
This is a beautiful, hard-bound book. To purchase, contact the HCGS library, either by calling the library at (903)885-8523, emailing [email protected] or coming by the library at 611 North Davis Street ,Sulphur Springs, TX. You may also send your request and payment to HCGS, PO Box 624, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483-0624. The cost of the book is $60.00 plus $8.00 for shipping, if applicable.
___________________
Wandering and Wondering
by Larry Harmon
This book was compiled by Larry’s wife, Sharon Brice Harmon and his sister Carol Harmon McKeever. Recently, Sharon and Carol donated a copy to our library for our shelves. They also generously provided additional copies of the book for sale by our society, for the benefit of our society!
This attractively paper-bound book is based on the research and writings of the late Larry Harmon and contains a wealth of information on Hopkins County. Larry was a tremendous asset to our society; he was a member and also served on our executive board.
To purchase your very own copy of this book, contact the HCGS library, either by calling the library at (903)885-8523, emailing [email protected] or coming by the library at 611 North Davis Street ,Sulphur Springs, TX. You may also send your request and payment to HCGS, PO Box 624, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483-0624. The cost of the book is $30.00 plus $3.00 for shipping, if applicable.
__________________
Civil War Shadows in Hopkins County, Texasby June E. Tuck
June England Tuck was an author, genealogist, and local historian from Sulphur Springs, Texas. She was born on June 23, 1933, on a cotton farm in Midlothian, Texas to parents Barney and Ora England. She grew up in Texarkana, Texas and married her husband, Bill Tuck, on July 22, 1950.
The couple moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas after Bill returned from Korea where they opened a small jewelry and watch repair business. The Tucks were active within the community. June Tuck served on the charter committees for the Hopkins County Museum and Veterans Memorial Marker. She was a member of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society and regularly assisted others with their family research.
Mrs. Tuck devoted her life to researching and preserving the history of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Inspired by her research of the Federal Stockade located in Sulphur Springs after the Civil War, she compiled Civil War Shadows in Hopkins County, Texas, which is a collection of reproduced primary sources related to Hopkins County and Hopkins County soldiers in the war.
Mrs. Tuck died on March 19, 2015. https://archives.tamuc.edu/repositories/2/resources/49
This book is hard-bound and costs $60 plus $4.50 shipping and handling (if applicable). It can be purchased through the Hopkins County Genealogical Society. Please contact the library at (903)885-8523 or [email protected]. You may also send your request and payment to HCGS, PO Box 624, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483-0624.
___________________
MEMBERSHIP TO HOPKINS COUNTY GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
611 North Davis St
PO Box 624
Sulphur Springs TX 75483 0624
2021 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Membership in HCGS is from January 1 through December 31. Annual dues are $20.00 for an Individual Membership and $25.00 for a Family Membership (2 adults living in the same household, one quarterly per household). Dues should be sent in by January 31st of the membership year. Members receive the Hopkins County Heritage, the society quarterly, following the end of each quarter, March, June, September, and December. If you join later in the year, you will receive all issues for the current year, if they are available. The March issue contains membership information and surnames being researched. When completing: Please do not put “same as last year” and please indicate (DNP) next to any information you do not want published in the quarterly.
Renewal ____ or New Member ____ E Mail Address ___________________________________
Name _________________________________________Phone Number __________________
Mailing Address________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________State _____ Zip Code______________________
(9 Digit)
Surnames I Am Researching:
PS The library is currently closed due to COVID-19 precautions. If you wish to make this purchase in person, please call or email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible to arrange a time to meet you there.
EDC, Local Officials Discuss Clearing Of NETEX Railroad Right-of-Ways, Transload Facility
Local officials met Monday to discuss a number of topics related to Northeast Texas Rural Transportation District and the railroad, including clearing of right-of-ways and a transload facility.
Sulphur Springs – Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley hosted representatives from the city, county, ATCOG and NETEX to discuss needs of the rail district.
Jeff Lederer, senior vice president of Freedom Rail Group, parent company of Northeast Texas Connector which operates NETEX, to the NETEX Board in November that the Federal Rail Administration had just conducted a track inspection on the line for the first time in at least 2 years. North East Texas Connector, which took over rail operation on July 1, had already been making improvements, including on the section of line in Sulphur Springs. A more thorough track inspection was also conducted just ahead of the FRA inspection, and also identified the same Class 1 deficiencies just ahead of the federal agency.
Overall, a total of 121 defects had been identified after the rail line review. That included 92 Class 1 or “30 day” defects and 19 more selected for repair, including 9 bridges identified as Class 1 defects due to drainage, Lederer reported in November. Some crossings and gauges such as the Jackson Street crossing were set to Class 2 Standards. Heavy vegetation, including tunneling, and debris along railroad right-of-ways also were an issue.
Some of those deficiencies had already been addressed by the November meeting, and the the rail operator was working as fast as possible to correct others to they would not be fined and to keep rail business moving and improving.
Due to the significant amount and cost of repairs, instead of proceeding with the initial plan to make Class 1 improvement this year, then work to upgrade to Class 2status, which would allow trains to pass on the tracks at 25 miles per hour rather than 10 mph, Freedom Rail/NETC is skipping Class I and upgrading to Class 2 standards as rail improvements are made, one to save money and two to more quickly make the upgrade.
Part of the improvements involves clearing of the railroad right-of ways. Freedom Rail Group is asking governmental bodies along the route to consider contributing funds to help clear the right-of-ways through their cities and counties, which would benefit business through safer, improved, faster rail service.
The local officials met at the EDC to discuss potential options to help fund equipment or other options for clearing the right-of-ways along NETEX railroad.
The local officials also Monday discussed with Chris Brown, ArkTex Council of Governments executive director, and Feagley a grant project to construct a new transload facility in Sulphur Springs, in the industrial park just off Loop 301. The facility would serve as a location to receive and unload train cars to and from trucks.
Funding for the project is obtained due to a partnership between the EDC and ATCOG. Originally, US Economic Development Administration awarded $1.5 million to Mount Vernon and Sulphur Springs a couple of years ago to fund infrastructure to help repurpose rail lines to the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation (NETEX) corridor that includes additional rail siding, an industrial lead track, and transload tracks.
The bulk of the funding, over $1 million, was originally earmarked for a low-volume transload terminal in Mount Vernon for receipt and shipment of rail cars, serving local businesses in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas. However, discord among the entities involved resulted in the Mount Vernon terminal being canceled and that funding going back to the federal agency.
The EDC and ATCOG worked together to see the conceded funding awarded for an transload facility in Sulphur Springs. That project is still in the “very beginning stages,” not yet to the construction phase, Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said after Monday’s meeting. The project is expected to begin as soon as the funding and logistics are in place, and will be required to be completed within a specified amount of time.
Oncor Outage Map and Online Submission Form
Oncor Outage Map, and submission form. Crews are working to restore power to the Sulphur Springs area.
Local Blood Drive Offers Chance to Save Lives, Receive Food voucher, Enter For A Chance To Win A Car
By Holly Ragan, MS, Senior Market Development, CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs, [email protected]
Sulphur Springs, Texas, December 15 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs has ONE mission: To Extend the Health Ministry of Jesus Christ.
Awards
CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs was awarded an ‘A’ in the fall 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, a national distinction recognizing CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs’ achievements protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care. This is the hospital’s third consecutive ‘A’ safety grade.
Local Blood Drive: Save a life, get a food voucher, and enter for a chance to win a car!
What is a better gift for Christmas, than to give the gift of blood? The blood supply is extremely low, and the need is great. CarterBloodcare will be hosting a blood drive on Wednesday, December 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs. The CarterBloodcare bus will be parked in the hospital parking lot, and every donor will receive a holiday food voucher, and be entered for a chance to win a Chevrolet Trax.
For more information on how to sign-up, call/text 800.366.2834 or visit:
https://ww3.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/120339
Hospital Visitation
For the safety and health of the community and our ministry, CHRISTUS Health is screening all associates and visitors to our hospitals to help lessen the risk of infectious disease transmission among our patients, associates, and guests.
- (1) Entrance to hospital through Emergency Department 24/7
- (1) Visitor per patient
- Visitors must be between the ages of 16-years old and 65-years old
- All visitors are screened at the door, including a temperature taken
- All associates are screened at each shift, including a temperature taken
- Visiting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (subject to change)
- ALL hospital visitors are required to wear a mask. Visitors should bring their own mask; homemade cloth masks are acceptable.
Clinic Services
Urgent Care
CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Urgent Care, located at 1339 South Broadway St. in Sulphur Springs, is open. The Urgent Care hours are Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The phone number to reach Urgent Care is 903.951.1001. The Urgent Care offers rapid COVID-19 tests, with results in 15 minutes.
Orthopedics
We are proud to offer the newest technology in total knee replacement treatment, Stryker’s Mako® Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Application. The Mako Total Knee application is a treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis, and is another way to demonstrate our commitment to outstanding joint health.
Have questions about the latest technology and whether you may be a candidate? Schedule an appointment with our local Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Chris Meltsakos, by calling 903.885.6688.
COVID-19
Experiencing Symptoms?
If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, chills, muscle pain or headache, or diarrhea, please call your provider for either a face-to-face appointment or a telemedicine consultation. If your provider determines you need to have a COVID-19 test, they will send you to the appropriate outpatient location for testing. If you are experiencing an emergency, please present to the Emergency Room. At this time, we are preserving our Emergency Room COVID-19 tests for those who are experiencing an emergency. Otherwise, we would ask that you follow the steps above. If you do not have a healthcare provider, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic welcomes new patients. Please call 903.885.3181 to talk to one of our associates about setting up an appointment.
Don’t Delay Care
We want to be perfectly clear – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances remains a safe place for all to receive quality care. Go to the Emergency Department or call 9-1-1 if you are urgently ill. While COVID-19 is new, our processes and procedures in place for infection prevention and preventing the spread of illness are not. To learn more about COVID-19, go to ChristusTMF.org or www.cdc.gov.
#
CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System includes CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospitals – Tyler, South Tyler, Jacksonville, Winnsboro and Sulphur Springs, the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital – Tyler, CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital a partner of Encompass Health, Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital, a long-term acute care facility, and CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic is the area’s preferred multi-specialty medical group, with more than 400 Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers representing 36 specialties in 34 locations serving Northeast Texas across 41 counties. For more information on services available through CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit christustmf.org
- Bed count – 402 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler
- Bed count – 8 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – South Tyler
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Jacksonville
- Bed Count – 96 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs
- Bed count – 25 – CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Winnsboro
- Bed count – 94 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Rehabilitation Hospital
- Bed count – 96 – CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Louis and Peaches Owen Heart – Tyler
- Bed count – 51 – Tyler Continue CARE Hospital at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital
Dec. 14 COVID-19 Update: 2 New Confirmed Cases, 5 Probable Cases
The Texas Department of State Health Services’ Dec. 14 COVID-19 updates showed two new confirmed Hopkins County cases and five additional probable cases over the weekend, while Hopkins County/Sulphur Springs Emergency Management officials reported a new record patient count in the hospital COVID unit Monday and provided an update on weekend testing at the free testing center.
Dec. 14 COVID-19 Case Counts
The new case count slowed a bit last week, with 59 Hopkins County residents receiving positive COVID-19 results from molecular testing and 58 considered to be “probable” cases Dec. 8-14. That’s down from 81 new molecular cases and 100 probable cases reported Dec. 1-7. However, last week’s numbers are still higher than those from Thanksgiving week, Nov. 23-30, when 35 new molecular cases and 47 probable cases were reported.
Over the weekend, two new cases were confirmed by molecular testing, for a total of 140 Hopkins County residents who have received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 test results so far this month and 970 cumulatively confirmed molecular positives since March. That’s 2.62 percent of the overall Hopkins County population who have received positive molecular COVID-19 test results since the pandemic began.
DSHS reported one more probable case on Sunday, Dec. 13 and four on Dec. 14, for a total of 977 probable COVID-19 cases reported since June 23.
The overall active case count for Hopkins County was 273 on Monday, Dec. 14, according to DSHS. This number has been steadily climbing from 225 active cases on Dec. 11, the last day any new recoveries were reported for Hopkins County. The total combined number of recoveries, both confirmed and probable cases, has been 1,620 for four days.
According to the HC/SSEM Dec. 14 COVID-19 update, DSHS at noon today reported 21 of the active cases were diagnosed by molecular testing and 66 by antigen testing. According to DSHS to be considered a “probable” case a person has either tested positive through an antigen test or has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. Texas uses the probable case definition adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Dec. 13 COVID-19 Testing Data
HC/SSEM’s Dec. 14 COVID-19 update showed a total of 5,445 molecular tests have been conducted at the free testing center since it opened on Sept. 25 through the weekend, including 145 tests performed Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11–Dec. 12. A total of 503 oral swab tests were conducted last week, 58 less than the previous week, and 914 so far this month.
Free testing will continue to be offered at 128-A Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in December. Registration is required at www.GoGetTested.com for a free test.
According to the DSHS Dec. 14 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboard, 12,164 of the 13,689,460 COVID-19 tests performed across the state through Dec. 13. Broken down, that’s 10,204 molecular tests, 889 antigen tests and 1,071 antibody tests conducted in Hopkins County from March through Sunday, Dec. 13.
Dec. 14 Hospital Reports
The CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs COVID Unit had 26 patients, the most HC/SSEM officials have reported in their Monday-Friday updates. The most previously reported for the COVID unit was 25 patients on Nov. 30. The last time the COVID unit was reported to have less than 20 patients at one time was on Nov. 25, when 19 were being treated in the COVID Unit.
COVID-19 hospitalizations amount to 13.61 percent of the total hospital capacity in Trauma Service Area F. This percentage has increased over the last three days from 11.27 on Dec. 11 to 11.61 on Dec. 12, 11.92 on Dec. 13 and 13.61 on Dec. 14.
In TSA F, there were 1,080 total staffed hospital beds on Dec. 14 (60 more than on Dec. 12), 147 lab-confirmed COVID-19 patients (17 more patients), 618 total hospitalizations (95 more) and 989 total staffed inpatient beds (40 fewer patients). Available in TSA F hospital on Dec. 14 were a total of nine ICU beds, four less than on Dec. 13; 72 ventilators, 9 more; and 371 hospital beds, 35 less than on Dec. 13.
HHS Reports
Texas Health and Human Services on Monday reported four active resident cases and one additional resident COVID-19 death at Carriage House Manor on Nov. 30, the most recent data available in the Dec. 14 nursing home report.
Rock Creek Health and Rehab had three active employee and 14 active resident COVID-19 cases on Nov. 30, according to the HHS Dec. 14 nursing facility report.
Sunny Springs Nursing and Rehab reported only one active employee case 2 weeks ago, while Sulphur Springs Health and Rehab had no active COVID-19 cases on Nov. 30.
No active cases were reported at the assisted living faculties in Sulphur Springs on Nov. 30, according to the Dec. 14 assisted living facility report. The licensed child care centers, school-age programs, and before or after-school programs were reported to have no active COVID-19 cases among either employees or students on Dec. 13, HHS reported Monday.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report – Dec.7-13, 2020
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of Dec. 7-13, included the following activity:
Arrests
- Christopher Beckham, 35 years of age, of Leesburg, was arrested on Dec. 9, 2020, for DWLI with previous convictions.
- Rodney Ferguson, 54 years of age, of Winnsboro, was arrested on Dec. 12, 2020 on a Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 warrant for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 111 calls for service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 17 citations and 36 warnings during this reporting period.
Sulphur Springs ISD Extending Period For Paid Sick Leave During Pandemic
Sulphur Springs ISD is extending the period for paid sick leave during the pandemic, one of two district polices discussed during the December school board meeting. The parent of a middle school student addressed Sulphur Springs ISD trustees Monday about the district dress code policy regarding earrings.
Sick Leave Policy
Assistant Superintendent Josh Williams asked SSISD Board of Trustees to consider a resolution extending the period during which employees receive paid sick leave if they have to be absent during the pandemic for a COVID-19 qualifying reason.
Some regular SSISD employees have already used the 10 additional paid sick leave days (the equivalent of 80 work hours) for qualifying reasons under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave provision of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. However, that act expires on Dec. 31, 2020.
Williams said there’s no way to know whether federal officials will extend that time period. There likely will be a need for additional employees to be out in the spring an extended time for sickness or isolation due to a pandemic. Having a policy in place providing up to 10 additional days of paid leave to all regular employees — regardless of whether they are contractual or noncontractual, salaried or non-salaried district employees — who meet the criteria will be good for employees as well as students.
SSISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved the resolution providing the additional paid leave of up to 10 additional work days, unless the board authorizes a longer leave duration, for employees who are not permitted to report for work for a COVID-19 qualifying reason.
The resolution grants 100 percent paid leave of the employees’ salary for up to $511 a day if the employee is subject to a quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19, has been advised by a local heath care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19, or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis.
Staff can receive additional leave at 2/3rds the employee’s salary or pay up to $200 a day if the employee is caring for an individual subject to a quarantine order or recommendation; or who is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed or whose child care provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 related reasons. The policy has been extended through the end of the 2020-21 school year or until federal leave becomes available after Jan. 1, 2021.
Dress Code Policy
Amanda Claypool addressed school trustees about the school dress code. She explained to trustees during the public forum at Monday’s noon meeting that she was notified last Wednesday, after her child was given the choice of removing his earring or going to SAC. A school employee reportedly approached her 8th grader during lunch and instructed her student to remove the earring.
While she agrees with guidelines that guidelines are needed to promote good grooming and hygiene, prevent disruptions, and minimize safety hazards, the mother contends neither the earring nor her student were disruptive. The school employee contacting her student during lunch was disruptive.
“It is not a disruption in today’s society,” Claypool said.
Claypool said student’s teachers reported he’s never caused disruptions. She also noted earrings have not been an issue in the months he’s worked in the office at school
She said her father, a 22-year Marine Corps veteran and international contractor for the military, noted the school district policy holds students to a higher standard than the military.
She said she is not asking the district for special attention for her youth, but does ask that the district amend its dress code to be inclusive to all students.
“That will give us food for thought as we move forward and I will be contacting you,” SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb told her.
Saltillo Basketball Tops Commerce JV
Saltillo Lions Get Victory Over Commerce JV
The Saltillo Lions Basketball Team picked up a win this past weekend over the top Commerce JV team, 59-31. The Lions improved their season record to 2-3. Gunner Tarver and Andrew Redburn led the Lions with 18 points each. Coy Collins and Colby McCoy had 8 points apiece. David Whitworth scored 7 points.
