Task force updated on progress
The Temple Daily Telegram reported that bilingual student relations and retention, equal education access
to all students and parent involvement topped the concern list Tuesday at Temple’s School Board Advisory
Task Force regular meeting. Task force members welcomed a number of campus administrators and district
officials to discuss details of the implementation of its action plans for their individual campuses. After task
force chairman Ernest Knox gave an overview of the overall action plans in place at the district’s
campuses, task force members heard from and asked questions of the principals of Hector P. Garcia,
Meridith-Dunbar, Western Hills elementary schools, Lamar and Travis middle schools and Temple High
School.
Divided into seven action planes covering issues such as equitable education, cultural awareness, racial
discrimination and segregation, parental involvement, district facilities and staffing patterns and
perceptions, campus principals reported on a handful of action in place to fulfill each action.
From building better communication ties for students and parents through in-home visits at MeridithDunbar to inclusive cheerleading at Travis Middle School to the implementation of OASIS program at
Temple High School, administrators provided the task force members with a plethora of information on
what is actually being done to fulfill the group's action plans.
"Our principals are gung-ho about their campuses and steadily implementing programs and projects to
make the students prepared for life," said Dr. James Boyle, district superintendent
Cameron school board calls for bond election
CAMERON -- The Temple Daily Telegram reported that the Cameron school board has called a May 5
bond referendum asking voters to approve a $7 million bond issue, which would be used only if the district
receives state instructional facilities allotment funds, said Superintendent Douglas Koebernick.
The school board called the election following a two-hour discussion Monday.
Cameron could qualify for state funding of approximately 78 percent of any debt incurred as a rexult of a
bond issue up to a maximum amount, Koebernick said.
"The board agreed to ask the voters to pass a $7 million bond referendum with the intention of selling those
bonds if the instructional facilities allotment funds are approved by the state, " Koebernick said. "If the
funds are not approved by the state, then the district would not sell the bonds. We are certainly counting on
getting the instructional facilities allotment."
Preliminary figures indicate the building program would increase taxes by 7 cents, he said. Without state
funding a building program would result in a tax increase of 21 cents.
Trustees will convene in a special April 9 meeting to review architectural plans. Current plans include
demolishing the Ada Henderson building, building a high school, and renovating the Ben Milam building,
Koebernick said.
TRC vote goes Alcoa’s way 2-0
The Rockdale Reporter reported that Alcoa’ s proposed 3 Oaks
Mine isn’ t home free yet, but after Tuesday’ s positive decision
by the Texas Railroad Commission it’ s rounding first base and
heading for second.
The Texas Railroad Commission voted 2-0 to reject a petition by
Neighbors for Neighbors (NFN) which would have stopped
Alcoa’ s mining plans.
Alcoa officials had said Rockdale Operations– with its 1,900 jobs
and $100-million annual payroll– would shut down if the 3 Oaks
Mine is not approved.
Commissioners Michael Williams and Charles Matthews voted to
accept the recommendation of Marcy Spraggins, hearing
examiner, and deny the NFN plea.
Commissioner Tony Garza, said he abstained from voting because
he was not present for oral arguments on the matter two weeks
ago.
Next steps toward making 3 Oaks a reality will be construction and
mining permits, also items for Railroad Commission action.
NFN served notice Tuesday it will continue to oppose 3 Oaks at
each step of the way by filing motions to limit the scope of public
hearings on the permits and to combine action on the construction
and mining permits into one process.
"We really don’ t have a problem with either one of those
motions," Jim Hodson, Alcoa spokesman, said.
NFN is a group claiming to represent 850 Bastrop and Lee county
families opposing the mine.
Alcoa wants the 3 Oaks Mine to provide lignite coal for Rockdale
Operations for approximately 40 years.
As part of the plan, depressurized water from 3 Oaks would be
sold to the city of San Antonio.
NFN had fought the plan on environmental grounds, including an
assertion that the nearby endangered Houston Toad might one
day migrate into the mining area.
Hodson said the TRC staff is now reviewing Alcoa’ s mining
permit application.
"They could be through with that review in May," he said. "That
would be the next step in what is still a lengthy process."
Before Tuesday’ s vote, commissioners made a point of stating
that their action would affect only the area covered by Alcoa’ s
proposed mine and no other portions of Bastrop or Lee counties.
NFN leaders said they were deciding whether to appeal
Tuesday’ s decision in court.
Conference honors TC pitcher Chevalier
The Temple Daily Telegram reported that sophomore pitcher Andy Chevalier of Temple College was
named Baseball Player of the Week in the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference for the week
that ended March 17.
Chevalier, a right-hander, recorded wins over Vernon and Brookhaven to help the Leopards improve to 7-5
in the conference, good for third place. He struck out 11 batters and walked only two in 12 innings in
running his record to 4-3.
Kenny Chesney planning Expo Center concert
BELTON -- Country music artist Kenny Chesney will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at
the Bell County Expo Center.
Also performing will be singer-songwriter-pianist Phil Vassar.
Tickets cost $20.50 plus a service fee.
Since his debut release in 1994, Chesney has been one of the most talk-about young performers in country
music. His career has shown slow but steady growth since then, indicating an artist who seems destined for
longevity.
Chesney was named top new male artist in 1997 by the Academy of Country Music. He has scored five
No. 1 singles, including the six-week chart-topper "How Forever Feels" in 1999. He has a gold album, two
platinum albums and one multi=platinum albums and one multi-platinum album to his credit.
His "Greatest Hits" album, released in the fall of 200, debuted at the top of the Billboard magazine country
album chart and held fast to that position for two consecutive weeks. The album also shipped gold (sales in
excess of 500,000) and was certified platinum (sales in excess of 1 million) only weeks later. The first
single from that album -- one of five new songs on the compilation -- "I Lost It," was a top 5 hit for the
Tennessee native.
Vassar has been compared Billy Joel and Mike Reid. He is a piano-playing storyteller whose first single
release as a recording artist, "Carlene," was a top 5 hit and garnered him recognition as one of the best new
artists of 2000. His follow-up single, "Just Another Day in Paradise, captured the top spot on the charts in
late 2000 and earned him a nomination from the Academy of Country Music as top new male vocalist. His
current single, "Rose Bouquet," is from his debut album.
Ever before singing as recording contract in 1999, Vassar was considered one of Nashville's top
songwriters, penning numerous hits such as Alan Jackson's "Right in the Money," Collin Raye's "Little Red
Rodeo," Tim McGraw's "For a Little While," Blackhawk's "Postmarked Birmingham" and Jo Dee
Messina's "I'm Alright" and "Bye Bye." He was named ASCAP's songwriter of the year in 1999, and "Bye
Bye" was named ASCAP's song of the year that same year.