Athens —
LaPoynor Independent School District is now officially in compliance with state school safety standards, according to a statement released from the office of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott dated Jan. 2.
An earlier list of districts released last month that included LaPoynor ISD with other schools deemed not to be in compliance has now been reduced from 78 to 16.
According to the AG’s Office, the updated list “reflects confirmation that the ... schools have provided the proper materials to the Texas School Safety Center and are in compliance.”
LISD Superintendent Sherry Douglas said the district is relieved to have been removed from the list.
“We’re off the naughty list. It’s great,” Douglas said. “It hadn’t happened to us before. It was alarming to our community and parents. But, now we have submitted everything required.”
Douglas said LISD submitted the proper reports on Dec. 19, 2012. The deadline offered by the Attorney General’s Office was Jan. 14.
The AG’s Office on Dec. 17, 2012, released the original list of 78 school districts, including LaPoynor, that had no safety audit on file with the Texas School Safety Center.
Douglas had agreed that her district did not have a safety audit on file with the Safety Center, but added that a “clerical error” caused the emergency plan to not be on file with the state. She was on the phone with the state agency within hours of the release of the original list — which coincided with concerns over the December school shooting in Newtown, Conn.
The school districts listed, along with LaPoynor, are listed here: Anahuac, Beaumont, Beeville, Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco, Bushland, Cayuga, Claude, Coldsprings-Oakhurst, Cooper, Crandall. Cushing, Darrouzett, Denver City, Dodd City, Edinburg, Frankston, Grandfalls-Royalty, Gregory-Portland, Hooks, Huckabay, Irion County, Italy, Kennedale, Kennard, Laneville, La Vernia, Leakey, Leonard, Levelland, Marathon, Martinsville, May, Melissa, Milford, Miller Grove, Morgan, Natalia, North Forest, Pewitt, Pleasanton, River Road, Riviera, Roby, Rochelle, Roscoe, Rotan, Schleicher, Shamrock, Shiner, Sidney, Stafford, Timpson, Tioga, Union Hill, Valley View, Van Vleck, Westhoff, Wharton, Wildorado, Woden and Zavalla.
Local News
‘Off the naughty list’
LaPoynor ISD once again back in good standing with AG
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Wet and wild
A line of severe thunderstorms roared throughout Henderson County on Tuesday afternoon, dropping significant rainfall and taking down trees and power lines.
The storm produced heavy rains in Athens, where the National Weather Service reports 2.16 inches fell. Residents in the county were seeing three or more inches in their rain gauges. -
Strong message
A Henderson County jury delivered a strong message to a 37-year-old Kemp man in the sentencing phase of a child sexual-abuse trial on Tuesday.
The jury, in Judge Mark Calhoon’s 3rd District Court, handed Danny Ray Lusk four life sentences and one 20-year sentence, the maximum jail time on each count. -
Going to ‘WAR’
A program termed “We Are Responsible” was generated this year at South Athens Elementary School by its principal, Eugene Buford.
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A need that’s very easy to see
The Greater Athens Lions Club is asking for used eyeglasses, lenses, glass cases and hearing aids for the annual Lions Club White Cane Day this Saturday.
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Too close to home
It was the kind of moment any parent would dread.
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Give it to Jody!
The 50th annual Henderson County Farm and Ranch Tour concluded Tuesday with a luncheon on the floor of the Henderson County Fair Park Complex arena and the naming presentation of the Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturist of the Year.
The 25th recipient of the award was Jody Jackson of Murchison, whose farming and ranching operations started with a few cattle and some chickens then grew to one of the county’s most varied operations. -
County votes to sell old annex building
Henderson County officials on Tuesday narrowly approved contracting with an Athens realtor to list the old Courthouse Annex building for sale.
Steve Grant Real Estate was chosen to sell the property by a 3-to-2 vote. Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Geeslin cast the dissenting votes. -
Burk to serve as next ACA administrator
Athens Christian Academy (Kindergarten through 6th grade) is pleased to announce Dale Burk as the new administrator beginning July 2013.
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Bullying just got tougher
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Magnificent 7
The Athens Odd Fellow Lodge No. 961 and Athens Rebekah Lodge No. 23 has seven students who are receiving a $500 scholarship to Trinity Valley Community College for this year.
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