Athens Review, Athens, Texas

Breaking News

Local News

Discussion

November 21, 2008

District gets facilities update

By Angela Weatherford Associate Editor

The Athens school board received an update about the district’s long-range facilities plan Thursday night.

The “2020 plan” is designed to take Athens Independent School District to the year 2020 in the areas of attendance, staffing, finance, technology, curriculum, maintenance and transportation.

“Of course we have to adjust the plan based on Prop 1 and 2,” Assistant Superintendent Mike Green said, “but everyone’s got a great attitude and we are going to continue that.”

Green was referencing the pair of propositions AISD sent to voters on November 4. The first, a $21.5 million bond that would have provided funds to build a new elementary school, failed. The second, valued at $3.75 million, passed. Those funds will be used for various campus improvements across the district.

Green said the district’s largest grade level is the third grade class, which will be going to Athens Intermediate School next year. Currently, Athens Intermediate has 525 students. Next year the campus will gain 44 students for a total of 568.

“We are going to have to add two portables at the Intermediate school next year to deal with the increase,” Green said.

He also listed several renovations that were needed at the district’s campuses — noting that the $3.75 million bond should take care of issues at Athens High School and South Athens Elementary.

Some of the money from the bond will go toward connecting the two separate wings at South Athens Elementary, Superintendent Dr. Fred Hayes said.

“The money to fund these things is going to be tough,” Green told school board members Thursday night.

The district estimates it will need $783,700 in 2009-2010 to maintain the campuses and $905,189 in 2010-2011.

“These are only the things that were in the 2020 plan,” Hayes said. “This won’t address the drainage and sewage problem at Bel Air Elementary.”

AISD Chief Financial Officer Randy Jones said the district is already running “about as bare boned” as it can.

“Maintenance is the thing that you take away from when you don’t have enough money,” Jones said, “and that is what leads to where we are today.”

Also at Thursday night’s meeting, the board:

• approved an independent financial audit from Smith, Lambright and Associates. The audit is performed yearly. J.W. Lambright told board members the district is in good financial shape.

• approved Wesley Jones Paint Service to paint Athens Intermediate School for $8,240, and Sherwin Williams to re-carpet Athens Intermediate for $38,352.71. Both projects are expected to be completed by the spring semester.

Text Only
Local News
  • Commissioners re-appoint three current Fair Park Board members

    The Henderson County Commissioners Court, by a 3 to 2 vote, Tuesday, voted to re-appoint three current members of the Fair Park Board to new terms.
    Chairman Bob Miars and members Ken Hayes and Mark Davis were chosen to serve an additional two years, with their terms to run through Dec. 31, 2013.

    February 7, 2012

  • Walmart workers cooperate with APD

    Walmart employees and the Athens Police Department spoiled a scheme to steal televisions from the store, Monday afternoon, leading to three arrests.

    February 7, 2012

  • Man named in plane theft

    Had it not been presence of a truck that authorities were able to trace to a Nacogdoches man, the search for a plane stolen from Athens Airport might be as difficult as finding a single bird in the sky.
    The 1980 model Cessna reported missing on Jan. 28 was recovered Monday by the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office, which had been assisting the Athens Police Department in the case.

    February 7, 2012

  • Hornet dance.JPG Dancin’ with Henry

    Four-year-old Janiyah Ray gets funky during halftime of the Athens Hornets' varsity boys game against Rusk last Friday at AHS Gym. Henry the Hornet (also known as Will Carter) began a dance routine as halftime began, and Ray couldn't help but run out of the stands and join in — much to the delight of the home crowd.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • 2-7 Bel Air kids.jpg Students help honor veterans

    Congressman Jeb Hensarling is asking students across the 5th Congressional District to help him honor the service and sacrifice of veterans by participating in the annual Valentines for Vets program. Pictured are students at Bel Air Elementary who took part in the project. In the front row are Kaytlen Hurley, Meagan Miranda, Coralyn Happel, Reagan Farley, Emily Rodriguez, Julian Cazares and Camryn Pair. In the second row are Alondra Carillo, Louis Delagarza, Morgan Gould, Alexis Robles, Caroline Moore, Madison Wilson and Renee Campbell. In back are Amy Gould, Caleb Humphries and Ricardo Sanchez.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo

  • Airplane theft suspect arrested

    Authorities in Nacogdoches County arrested a man Monday in connection with an airplane stolen from the Athens Municipal Airport last month.

    February 6, 2012

  • Accident investigation continues

    PAYNE SPRINGS — Police in this community are investigating an accident on State Highway 198 last Friday, involving a small car which sideswiped a 1996 GMC Z-71 truck, which was pulling a 16-foot utility trailer.

    February 6, 2012

  • Political parties continue waiting game Monday

    Henderson County Republican and Democratic leaders continued to play the waiting game Monday concerning the upcoming primary elections.
    County Elections Administrator Denise Hernandez said that as of Monday afternoon, progress had been made toward getting an agreement on contested redistricting maps.
    “Nothing is set in stone yet,” Hernandez said.

    February 6, 2012

  • APD arrest suspect with multiple recorded arrests

    The Athens Police Department made a felony drug arrest at a traffic stop on Friday night.
    Karen Louise Harris, 48, was charged with possession of a controlled substance (one gram to four grams).

    February 6, 2012

  • Woman stopped, arrested in GBC

    GUN BARREL CITY  — Donna Jean Schultz, 43, of GBC was stopped by a Henderson County Sheriff’s Department deputy last Friday at about 6 p.m. for a minor traffic violation near CJ’s parking lot off State Highway 334 and U.S. Highway 175.
    The minor traffic violation proved to be the least of her problems. 

    February 6, 2012