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TOP NEWS
FISD trustees okay amendments
to budget, name financial auditor
Frankston School trustees Monday, March 20 approved budget amendments, approved the school auditors for the school year ending in August 2023 and addressed other routine matters during the regular meeting, according to Supt. Nicci Cook.
The Board approved budget amendments, most of which transferred surplus amounts in other accounts to finance projects and other needs in the District.
The transferred budget amounts were to be used for the following:
— New lighting and sound system for the auditorium, $96,787.
— NuFlow system in the middle school, $150,000.
— New truck for the Vocational Agriculture department, $64.960.
— New roofs on the Band Hall and Vo-Ag building, $511,088.
— Upgrade of HVAC thermostats to Pelican model by Ideal Impact, $67,262.
— Band supplies, Marimba musical instrument, $3,500.
— Vo-Ag contracted services, $5,000.
— Football field goal posts, $17,000.
— Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condiitoning, $24,148
— Robert Loper Coliseum and Jeff and Opal Austin Stadium sound systems.
Also approved on the Consent Agenda were the following:
— The auditing firm of Pattillo, Brown and Hill as school auditors for the school year ending Aug. 31, 2023.
— Resolutions authorizing the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) to make curriculum materials recommendations.
— A resolution authorizing wage payments during emergency school closings.
— Supt. Cook was certified as the District Representative to the Region 7 Advisory Committee.
In other matters, the Board heard from Laurie Elliott, the board’s Lone Star Governance Coach. The board had received a grant from the Texas Educaton Agency to cover the expenses of the coach for implementation of Lone Star Governance.
Trustees also heard from Laurie Smith Elkins, a 1990 FHS graduate, who works for Converge One. She helps small, rural schools get federal grants to upgrade their security. Supt. Cook said Elkins put the district in touch with a firm called Verkada, an overall security company. The company can provide security equipment, such as cameras, door access, guest check-in, panic alerts and other equipment, required by TEA.
The Board also reviewed the Board Outcome Goal Progress Monitoring Report which can be seen HERE .
School principals gave their reports to the board.
Middle School Principal Cindy Owens reported that Sunni Adair was named Outstanding Teacher and Nathan White, outstanding support staff member. Chosen Students of the Month were Grady Eubanks and Klara Caveness.
She congratulated the seventh and eighth grade boys for finishing first and the eighth grade girls finished second overall in the Alto Yellow Jackets Relays.
Also recognized for Board Goal Recognition was Lisa Hokit, seventh grade English Language Arts teacher and MS/HS ELA Interventionist.
Mrs. Owens said enrollment for the Middle School was 184, with 54 sixth graders, 63 seventh graders and 67 eighth graders.
Elementary School Principal Melanie Blackwell reported that Ava Lookabaugh and Yazaira Martinez were chosen as Outstanding Indians in Pre-Kindergarten. She said current enrollment in Pre-K thru fifth grade was 374.
High School Principal Edgar Rodriguez announced that Hayden Hancock and Abigail Brown were FHS Students of the Month. He also congratulated the Ag Mechanics students who got blue ribbons at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. They are Sir Isaac and Serenity Foster, Levi White, Jack Marshall, Alyssa Thurman, Payton Hoffman Tidmore, Carson Allen and Gunner Vinzant.
Rodriguez said current high school enrollment was 233, with 67 ninth graders, 64 tenth graders, 50 eleventh graders and 52 twelfth graders.
Supt. Cook confirmed the attendance figures given by the principals and said total district enrollment is 791 compared to 802 on Oct. 29, 2022. She also announced several events for the board and staff coming up.
She also reminded the trustees of the 2022 Wall of Honor Ceremony coming up on May 7 at 2 p.m. where the 2022 Inductees Dr. Yvonne Ewell and Mary Phillips will be honored.
In personnel matters, the trustees approved the continued employment of all contract personnel.
• • • •
May 6 City Election canceled
due to no candidates opposed
The May 6 City Election has been canceled due to all unopposed races, the Frankston Council decided in a unanimous vote Tuesday, March 14, according to unofficial minutes reported by City Secretary Kelli Landreth-Smith.
The action came after the Council approved a Certificate of Unopposed Candidates submitted by the City Secretary.
As a result of the action, the unopposed candidates for the various places on the Council may be sworn in after May 6 without an election being held.
The unopposed candidates are Place 1, Mayor, Tommy Carr; Place 2 Council member Mike Goodman; Place 3, Staci Saunders; Place 4, Johnnie Day; Place 5, Gerald Hall; and Place 6, Roger McDonald.
In other action, the Council unanimously approved amending the Water and Sewer budget to add a $108,750 grant from the American Rescue Act.
Also the Council accepted the bid of Precision Terrain LLC of Frankston for a water line relocation at the intersection of U.S. 175 and Garrison Street. Four bids were submitted and Precision Terrain was the lowest bidder, according to the minutes.
In other matters, the City Secretary informed the Council of a water pooling issue at the back of City Hall and that she is awaiting options for a fix from a contractor.
After routine reports from staff, the Council was reminded of the Art Walk on the last Saturday in April, Concert in the Park on June 24 and a Bulk Item Trash Pickup scheduled for April 25.
• • • •
Inductees Dr. Yvonne Ewell, Mary Phillips
recognized for 2022 FISD Wall of Honor
DR. YVONNE EWELL
Frankston Independent School District has announced the posthumous recognition of Dallas area educator and member of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees, Dr. Yvonne Ewell, formerly of Frankston, and the recognition of a former FISD Teacher/Counselor/Administrator, Mary Phillips, for their nomination and induction to the FISD Wall of Honor for 2022.
“The FISD is proud to remember Dr. Ewell and recognize Mrs. Phillips on the Wall of Honor for their service and commitment to their schools and communities,” according to the announcement.
Started in 2015, the Wall of Honor recognizes members and former members of the community for their exceptional achievements in their chosen fields, exceptional community service or outstanding contribution to the Frankston Independent School District.
MARY PHILLIPS
— FISD Courtesy Photos
Plaques for the 2022 inductees will be added to those of prior honorees in the Robert Loper Coliseum lobby and high school cafeteria.
The Wall of Honor Inductee Ceremony has been scheduled for Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 2 p.m. in the Loper Coliseum lobby and cafeteria.
A summary of the achievements of the Wall of Honor inductees was outlined in the announcement.
Dr. Ewell was a 1944 graduate of the former Carver Schools in the Frankston ISD. She had been a teacher and administrator for Ladonia and Dallas ISD for 38 years and a member of the Board of Trustees for Dallas ISD for 10 years. She was also recognized for her service to the Dallas community.
Mrs. Phillips was a 1960 graduate of Frankston ISD and had been an FISD teacher, counselor and administrator from 1983 to 2012. She also was recognized for her service to the Frankston community.
Further information on the service and contributions of the 2023 inductees will be announced as the time for the Inductee Ceremony nears.
• • • •
See Christmas in Park in Pictures HERE
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