NEWS
BISD Trustees review COVID-19 procedures
Trustees of the Bowie Independent School District met in called session on Nov. 5 to review the district’s COVID-19 practices and procedures.
Twelve weeks into the school year, Superintendent Blake Enlow said several board members wanted to have the discussion in light of the increase in county virus cases and hospitalizations. Bowie ISD continues to experience each week two-three students and staff members at each campus who test positive or have been exposed to a positive case.
Trustees review staff and student self-reporting procedures, and the checking of student symptoms when they arise. Enlow said there was discussion about mask wearing at different common areas such as the cafeteria or gyms, where students may gather throughout the day.
“Teachers have said in some classes it is just hard to teach kids wearing a mask. There was some discussion of having a mask mandate, but it goes back to the common areas where they can’t social distance. Some wear them all the time, but we did not mandate. We will have conversations with those who may not be wearing them in common areas and why we are asking them to do it,” said Enlow.
There also is the challenge of social distancing where some of the classroom don’t have the space for the full six-feet. The superintendent said they are moving things around to make it work better and some added partitions when the students can’t be far apart.
Trustees talked about events and the public coming into facilities. Enlow said they will try to do social distancing and encourage masks.
“Football was outside, as we move inside we will mark chairs for distance and we are going to ask for and offer masks. We feel most will comply if you ask,” said Enlow.
The superintendent continued at this point it was a good discussion giving the administration an opportunity to get feedback from the board, who all have varied opinions based on their different levels of exposure to the illness.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
With just 10 days left until the May 4 school bond election, Bowie Independent School District officials made a final push this week to get information out to the public.
The district conducted two town hall meetings at different times on April 24 and took part in a virtual town hall the day before. There were almost 40 people attending, which is more than all the town hall meetings conducted during the October vote. Another 12-15 attended a noontime meeting.
Superintendent Blake Enlow went through a powerpoint outlining the bond proposal and then took questions. The same bond plan failed last November 1,079 to 855.
The plan includes the following projects: A new intermediate school for grades three to five, built at the corner of Rock and Tarrant. The existing junior high is overcapacity and due to age is Texas Education Agency non-compliant.
The 100-plus year old building will be repurposed for offices and staff development. The existing BJH gyms will be maintained for community use. The new intermediate will handle 600 students and include a storm shelter, ballistic rated entrance glazing and keep student traffic away from the street.
The junior high students would move to the existing intermediate after renovations. There will be a dedicated sixth grade wing, a renovated ag science facility and a new weight room and fieldhouse. The old classrooms, gym and locker would be renovated. The school also would include storm shelter areas, ballistic glazing and keep students away from the street.
The existing elementary campus will receive a new bus lane and covered pick-up and drop-off areas, as well as new staff and visitor parking that allows for safe walking to the entry. The existing high school will have a new weight room which it does not have now, plus new restrooms at the baseball/softball fields with a handicap parking area.
Citizens asked questions about how the plan was developed and how the costs figures were calculated.
Read the full story and citizens questions in the weekend Bowie News.
Pictured above: Superintendent Blake Enlow talks to citizens at a bond election town hall meeting Thursday night.
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Bowie City Manager Bert Cunningham presented a lengthy monthly report to the city council Monday night updating the group on the various building projects and program grant applications.
The council has not met since March 11 due to a lack of action items, so there was a lot to catch up with.
City Manager report
Nelson Street project – Cunningham said the project is proceeding well. Downstream of the bridge the contractor is about to pour concrete into the creek to maintain the water flow. The main streets also are being cleared of debris so they will be ready for the pending concrete pour.
Right now the biggest obstacle is the unfinished drop box at the intersection of Mill and Nelson. In flux for the last couple of months, the engineer is requiring the contractor remove the drop box because the dirt under the structure was not compaction tested as required by the contract.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
The final two days of early voting for the May 4 school bond elections in Bowie and Forestburg will be April 29-30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center.
Sample ballots are available on the county website at co.montague.tx.us, click on the elections tab. As of 2 p.m. Thursday the total was 741 for early voting for both districts’
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