DISD School Board Appreiciation

Click here to see pictures of School Board being thanked.

The school board met Monday evening to address the following agenda items.
Special Recognitions
Dumas Intermediate School teachers Kathy Bybee, Ashlee Breland and Tammy Stephenson were in attendance with some of their 6th grade PreAP math students. They gave the board an overview of the program, with each of the students explaining what they liked about the class.

We had a full house in observation of Texas School Board Appreciation Month. Campus principals and students expressed their appreciation to the board and then presented them with a gift certificate and thank you card.
A big thank you goes to our board members for the many, many hours they dedicate to the district. These community service positions not only come without a paycheck, but they also require an election in order to serve a three year term. Their service is greatly appreciated by the students, parents, staff and community of Dumas ISD!
{{more}}DISCUSSION ITEMS

Choir Concert Music Jeanette Springer requested to address the board regarding music selections at school Christmas concerts. Due to the variety of cultures and religions in the district, she felt it important to take that into consideration when choosing music that may be religious in nature for a school concert.

The board listened to her concerns and responded that many of the songs performed were done for their historical music value, and due to the fact that Christmas is in fact the celebration of a

religious holiday, were quite often religious in nature. Students are always given the opportunity to opt out if they feel uncomfortable with the song, and there have actually been songs from other cultures also performed at the concerts.

ACTION ITEMS

Consent Agenda A motion was made by Kirk Pope, seconded by Brent Clark and approved by a 6-0 board vote to accept the consent agenda as presented and to amend the budget as necessary in order to spend the funds as requested. (Kevin Weatherford was unable to attend the meeting.)

A. Minutes of the December 12, 2011 Regular Meeting

B. Gifts

• Diamond Shamrock Refinery (Valero) gave $2,500 for supplies in the boys’

basketball program at High School.

• DHS Golf Boosters donated $2,000 for high school golf travel.

Board Policy Update 92 – 2nd ReadingThis policy was presented at the previous board meeting for discussion. A motion was made by Patty Willis, seconded by Joe Ballard and carried with a 6-0 board vote to add, revise and delete local policies as recommended by TASB Policy Service, according to the Instructions Sheet for TASB Localized Policy Manual Update 92.

Policy DMA (Local) Required Staff Development – 2nd ReadingThis policy was also presented for discussion at the previous meeting and returned as an action item.

The policy modification reflects the change in the name of New Jersey Writing Project to Abydos.

Motion to approve DMA (Local) as presented was made by Joe Ballard, seconded by Johnny Schmucker and carried 6-0.

Board Policy EIC (Local) – Class Rank – 2nd ReadingThis item was presented to the board at the previous meeting, but due to new information received by the district for consideration, a motion was made by Patty Willis to table the vote until a later time. Motion was seconded by Joe Ballard and carried with a 6-0 vote.
Personnel
The following personnel items were presented to the board for approval.

A. Appointments: None

B. Resignations: None

C. Retirements: Jack Wilson, High School Volleyball Head Coach

Resignations and retirements do not require board approval, so no action was necessary on behalf of the board.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Funding Lawsuits Four separate lawsuits have been filed against the State of Texas over the funding for public schools. Many school districts are now participating in one of the lawsuits either as a plaintiff or as a member of a group to provide financial resources.

The board discussed the merits and responsibilities of participating in this effort for equalizing the system of student funding calculation.
INFORMATION ITEMS
Enrollment Report
Current enrollment was 4,594 as opposed to 4,612 last week and 4,528 this time last year.

Construction Update

A construction update on current projects throughout the district was presented to the board.

ACTION ITEMS

Superintendent Evaluation
The board went into closed session to conduct the superintendent’s evaluation. Upon return to open session, a motion was made by Patty Willis, seconded by Joe Ballard and carried with a 6-0 board vote to approve the one year extension of Mark Stroebel’s contract.

A planning retreat was set for Saturday, January 21st, with the next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, February 13, 2012, 7:00 p.m. at the Administration Building.

Resolve To Be More Organized In The New Yea

HIGH PLAINS OBSERVER DUMAS

Resolve To Be More Organized In The New Year

Photo: (c) mangostock - Fotolia.com

(StatePoint) If you’re feeling stressed out by life’s daily dose of details, it’s time to get organized.

Whether it’s your schedule, your house, or your photos in a jumble, there’s no time like the New Year to resolve to organize your life.

And there are many new, technological tools out there to help.

Organize Your Schedule

When it comes to your schedule, are you still stuck on sticky notes? It’s time to go digital so you can access your information when and where you need it. A mobile and online calendar and organizer can help you stay on top of your schedule by consolidating your family members’ calendars and lists all in one place. 

Consider a service that is available as an app on your mobile phone or tablet (as well as online) and synchronizes with your Outlook calendar. For example, Cozi (www.cozi.com), an online and mobile calendar and organizer for families, sends users email and text reminders about upcoming events and tasks, and helps manage meal planning and shopping lists.

With reminders coming directly to your phone about what to pick up for dinner or what time the school play begins, you won’t miss a beat. 

Simplify Errands

If after a full season of holiday activities you could use an extra hand getting your home, pantry and family back in order, consider using services like Alice.com, an online marketplace for household essentials.

It’s all about simplifying errands and restocking your shelves with the essentials you need, saving you time, money and trips to the store.

“For the primary shopper of the family, getting stocked up doesn’t have to mean running from store to store,” says Mark McGuire, President and Co-Founder of Alice.com. “There are faster, more cost-efficient ways to shop for everyday items, and with one less errand to run, shoppers will have more free time to enjoy for themselves or with their families.”

Such services help budget-conscious shoppers with competitive pricing, free delivery, instant coupons and simple management of household goods. Alice.com, for example, even has a free iPhone app as well, so you can stay organized on the go.

Organize Your Memories

If you love your camera or smartphone, you probably already have a ton of photos and videos that need to be organized. You don’t have to do the hard work if you choose a hosting site to protect, backup and share your photos. Be sure to pick one that has unlimited upload capability and privacy customization options.

Whether you’re sharing photos with Grandma, or running a business, a site like SmugMug (www.smugmug.com) lets you set the look of your site or gallery.

There’s no need to feel harried by the myriad details of managing your household. With a little work and the right tools, you can stay on top of your tasks in the new year.

Press Conference To Announce Coaching Staff On Thursday For Amarillo Venon

The Amarillo Venom will be hosting a press conference, Thursday January 5^th , at Country Barn located on West I-40. Press conference will start at 2 p.m. to announce three new coaches.

Head Coach Julian Reese, Defensive Coordinator Dannie Snyder, and Owner/GM Stephanie Tucker, along with the new coaches will be present at the press conference.

The three coaches being announced at the press conference are former players for the Amarillo Venom, and are looking forward to sticking around the team on the coach’s side.

For further information on game days, players, sponsors, contest, giveaways, and more follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amarillovenom.