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.
Members of the Mighty Marching Maroon Band of Bowie High School crowned its royals during halftime ceremonies on Oct. 16. Band Sweetheart is Lilli Zilfo and Band Beau is Adam Hofbauer. Congratulations to the marching band for its work at UIL contest Saturday. While the band did not advance to area Director German Torres said he was very proud of their work this year.
Autumn has arrived in Montague County, and local school districts are gearing up for a full lineup of family-friendly fall festivals throughout the month of October.
From games to coronations, residents will have plenty of opportunities to support local students and celebrate the season.
Forestburg Independent School District starts its festival at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24, featuring games, a silent auction, gift baskets and a coronation of festival royalty.
Bowie Elementary will have its fall festival from 5 to 7 p.m on Oct 24. The event features both live and silent auctions along with carnival games.
Tickets are on presale at five for $1, or at the festival four for $1. Unlimited game wristbands also can be purchased for $20.
The seasonal celebrations wrap up on Halloween.
Saint Jo Elementary Parent Teacher Organization hosts its fall fest from 12 to 2 p.m on Oct. 31, in the Saint Jo Cafeteria, featuring various activity booths and local vendors.
Gold-Burg ISD follows from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 31, on the GISD campus.
Attendees can enjoy games, a haunted house, food and a pie-in-the-face booth. Tickets may be purchased with cash or check only.
Other fall events include a family fun night hosted by Calvary Baptist Church at 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, at 204 Decatur St. The event will include food and a trunk-or-treat.
The Bowie Independent School District Board of Trustees celebrated student achievements and reviewed a perfect school security audit at its Oct. 19 meeting.
The meeting opened with recognitions. High School Principal Dr. Dean Johnson recognized teacher April Word and her theater students, Adryana Torres, Aowyn Word and Lilliana Zilfo, for excelling at Theaterfest 2026.
Johnson said the students earned the title of featured performers, placing them in the top 15 performers in the state. Word also got an award for exemplary campus theater director at the event.
Read the full school board story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Top photo- The school board recognized the Bowie Junior High cross country boy’s team after they won district runner-up at the recent meet. (Photo by Caroline Crain)
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