SCHOOL NEWS
Safety a top priority in school planning
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
While this week’s Bowie Independent School District meeting was focused on budget issues, it also discussed pressing issues for the new school led by school safety.
In June the district received letters from the governor and Texas Education Agency on required school safety action steps to be completed before the first day of school. The push on school safety of course was prompted by the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde.
Superintendent Blake Enlow previously explained those include the local agency’s safety and security committees to review the emergency operation plans and the active threat plan, ensure all staff including substitutes are trained on their specific agency and campus safety procedures, schedule mandatory drills for the school year, ensure all threat assessment team members are trained and review and if necessary update access control procedures. Enlow said these are already in the works and would be completed.
Two new items joined that list: A summer targets partial safety audit and an exterior door safety audit. Enlow explained TEA and the Texas School Safety Center have prepared an audit tool of 50 questions for each instructional facility with half related to campus procedures and the other half to the campus physical plant.
As part of that audit each district must inspect every exterior door of each instructional facility. The purpose according to TEA is to verify each door closes and locks as intended to ensure appropriate levels of campus security the letter states. Once completed the district can take steps to immediately remedy any issues. Enlow said this audit must be complete and sent to the TSSC before Sept. 1.
Read the full story in your weekend Bowie News.
The principal of Forestburg Independent School District Kay White, has sent out an alert to parents and students regarding a dangerous Tik Tok Trend regarding Chromebook devices.
A letter was posted to the district’s Facebook page on May 8 bringing this trend to their attention. According to the post students through Tik Tok are being encouraged to force electrical short circuits on Chromebook devices by inserting items into the USB port. This action can spark or puncture the lithium battery in the device and poses a serious fire risk.
“Students and parents, be award if your student chooses to engage in this trend they will face serious consequences including, but not limited to the following:
- Up to $300 in replacement/repair fee.
- At minimum a 30-day loss of technology use if not permanent loss.
- School consequences such as ISS/OSS/DAEP.
- Criminal charges pursued for vandalism and/or arson.”
It concludes by encouraging parents to talk to students about the importance of appropriate use of district technology resources and the consequences of their actions.
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District approved all the offered contracts for professional educators during last week’s meeting.
After a brief executive session the board returned to open session to approved the contracts. Several staff members are retiring include Kathy Green, principal at Bowie Elementary; Chris Cornelison, assistant principal at Bowie Junior High and Kristi Hunt at Bowie High School.
Superintendent Blake Enlow said there are a few who don’t have all their certification completed that did not receive a full contract. There also were no reassignments of staff to other duties as of April 21.
Read the full story in the May 1 Bowie News.
The Hardin and Clark Scholars, the top academic honors at Midwestern State University, and other outstanding students were named during the annual Honors Recognition Banquet April 25 in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Rykir J.A. Evans was named Hardin Scholar. Evans is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science.
The Hardin Scholar is the university’s highest award for academic excellence and was begun in 1962 by the Hardin Foundation. It is presented each spring to a student during his or her senior year and a $3,000 scholarship award is given with the honor.
Read the full story in the May 1 Bowie News.
Rykir J.A. Evans named Hardin Scholar for Midwestern State University stands with Kandace Adam, the Clark Scholar. (Courtesy photo)
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