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Hawkins ISD Board of Trustees

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"NO" to funding Hawk painting; Construction complete July 1
By JOHN SPARKS

Meeting in regular session Monday, March 3, trustees of the Hawkins Independent School District voted 4-to-3 not to fund the painting of the school's "Hawk" emblem on the city's water tower. The trustees also heard a report that the construction and renovation program will be completed by July 1.

Superintendent Dan Rose and Business Manager Robert Fair were both absent from the meeting.

Hawkins Mayor Sam Bradley appeared before trustees with a report on the progress of the repair and repainting project for the city's water tower. He asked the board to consider payment of an extra charge of $4,200 for painting two 15-foot hawks on the tower. The city is paying for the painting of the words "Hawkins Hawks" that will appear on two sides of the tower in six-foot letters. Trustees Clayton Atteberry, Steven Holland, Bill Holmes and Edwin Simmons voted against the school district paying $4,200 for the project.

Architect Brice Davis presented an interim report on the progress of the on-going renovation and construction program. Davis said the new gymnasium would be available to the district by April 8 with the dressing rooms on April 30. He assured the board the new kitchen and cafeteria will be in operation when students come back from spring break on Monday, March 24 and will be available for the March 27 Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Trustees selected the graphic design for the new gymnasium floor. They voted for a design that featured painted basketballs in the area occupied by the foul shooting circle at the head of the key. At $13,961, this option, known as option "B" was more expensive than the alternative one which came in at $9,821. The expenditure will come from a budget line where $30,000 had been designated.

The board voted unanimously to extend employment contracts to all teachers as recommended by the respective principals and the administration. The board also accepted two resignations, one form Tina Duke, school nurse and Corrine Merrill, a math teacher.

Trustees also approved adoption of the 2008-2009 calendar. The first day of instruction will be Monday, August 25, 2008 while graduation is scheduled for Friday, May 29, 2009. Spring Break is scheduled for Good Friday, April 10 through Friday, April 17, 2009.

Trustees could not reach agreement on the disposition of an agenda item concerning the renewal of a two-year contract with Trinity Mother Frances through which the district is furnished an on-site athletic trainer and access to other health professionals through TMF. The incumbent trainer, furnished through the TMF program is Kiki Whitener. Some on the board, including Edwin Simmons, want to explore offering Whitener a contract for employment. Simmons daughter Ashleigh, a student/ athlete at Hawkins spoke in favor of such a move in the public comment period of the meeting. An advisory from the business manager pointed out several negative financial consequences of such a move. And, the agenda item concerning renewal of the TMF contract was accompanied with a recommendation of adoption from Superintendent Rose. The item was tabled for consideration at a special meeting of the board on Monday, March 10 (see follow story elsewhere this issue).

In other matters, the board of directors:
- Entered into an interlocal agreement with the Texas Association of School Boards concerning supplemental benefits,
- Accepted the district improvement plan,
- approved the disposal of surplus kitchen equipment through sealed bid, and
- Recognized All District selections for Lady Hawk basketball team members: First team: DeOna Davis and Ashleigh Simmons. Second team: Brianna Simmons and Katy Wells. Honorable mention: Breana Garrett, Madison Gattis and Kylee Little. Academic All District: Savannah Boyd, Madison Gattis, Kylee Little, Ashleigh Simmons, Shelby Jacobs and Bethany Boyd.
- Tabled until March 10 special meeting the sale of surplus equipment including three busses, two vans, a pickup, computers and monitors, fitness equipment, desks and chairs and playground equipment.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the HISD Board of Trustees is set for Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m. Meetings of the board may be held with 72-hour advance public notice.

Last Updated on Friday, 17 April 2009 14:39  

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