SCHOOL NEWS
BISD accepts audit, hears concerns about new rating system
By BARBARA GREEN
Bowie School Trustees met for the final session of 2016 Tuesday accepting the 2015-16 audit and hearing about possible issues pending in the 2017 State Legislative session.
The district received a “clean audit,” with no deficiencies reported Stephen Gilland, local certified public accountant who prepared the audit. He touched on the highlights.
The district’s total revenues decreased 14.9 percent ($2.8 million) resulting mostly from a decline in tax revenues and state foundation aide offset by an increase in state and federal funded special revenue programs.
Local tax revenues decreased 5.6 percent ($737,000) state foundation aide decreased by 50.5 percent ($1.5 million. State and federal funded special revenue fund programs increased 27.9 percent $600,000.
The total costs of all programs and services increased 3.4 percent ($594,000) due to increases in costs in several areas with the largest in instruction.
The cost of all activities this year was $18.15 million. Gilland pointed out that $12.47 million was financed with local property tax dollars.
Superintendent Steven Monkres told the board about two major issues discussed at last week’s Texas Association of Mid-size Schools legislative conference in Austin: A-F rating system and vouchers.
The new rating system has not been well-received in the education community and the association is opposed to its implementation. Monkres said the system has no adjustment for different demographics of students.
“We don’t know the rules yet but it appears to be a system set up for failure. It compares districts, noting no difference between Bowie and Southlake ISDs. Any changes will have to come from citizens not just the education community,” said Monkres.
The rating system looks like it will operate on something of a bell curve comparing districts, but not on an equal basis.
Read the full story in the weekend News.
The Nocona High School barbecue teams competed at the state contest last week with the top 91 teams and it was a tie-break tri-tip cook that earned the Burnt Ends team a wild card spot in the National competition.
Deanna Meser, one of the team sponsors, explained while the teams did not score in the top 10 of the five events that counted for a national bid. Only the top 10 are given points no matter what your score is for each event.
“Both teams turned in their best meats of the season in every event. Both teams worked together all day long. We started the year with two returning students and ended the year with eight pitmasters,” Messer explained.
The Burnt Ends took part in a national tie-breaker event cooking tri-tip and took the grand championship. Messer said the final details of the contest were a bit confusing but the Burnt Ends’ pork chop made it to the finals table placing them in the top 24 out of 87 high school teams. They were selected for a wild card because of that and their tri-tip championship.
Nationals will be in Branson, MO. Members of the Burnt Ends are Heyvan Ramsey, Keegan Norman, Owen Crossen and Josiah Messer.
Bowie Independent School District will be participating in the no-cost summer meal program for children.
In Bowie the summer meal program will be offered at the high school campus from June 3-13, Monday through Thursday each week while summer school is in session.
Breakfast is served 7:30-8 a.m. and lunch, 11 a.m to 12:30 p.m.
Healthy summer meals make a difference.
- In Texas, more than 1 in 5 children struggle with hunger.
- When the school year ends, children often lose access to consistent, nutritious school meals.
- The Summer Meals Program ensures more Texas children have enough food for an active, healthy life.
Wondering what’s in store for you and your children when you arrive at a summer meal site? Expect welcoming faces in a supervised setting, and a healthy, meal at no cost to children 18 and younger and eligible people with disabilities.
Meal site schedules are subject to change. Please call to confirm dates, times and meal-service details.
For more information, parents should visit SummerFood.org. The Summer Meal Program provides meals at no cost to children and teens 18 years old and younger in low-income areas.
Participating families do not have to apply register or provide identification. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds the Summer Meals Program – including the Summer Food Service Program and the Seamless Summer Option. The Texas Department of Agriculture administers the Summer Meals Program in Texas.
Rykir Evans, former Gold-Burg student, was awarded a $10,000 WoodmenLife Focus Forward Scholarship®.
Evans, a WoodmenLife member, submitted an application highlighting his high school academics, activities and volunteerism, as well as an essay on patriotism. He is currently majoring in computer science at Midwestern State University.
There will be a reception from 5-6 p.m. on May 14 at Gold-Burg Independent School District to formally present Evans his scholarship.
Evans is the son of Penny McCullar and Jay Evans. He and the family are members of Woodmen Life Chapter 3912 in Wichita Falls.
The date for this reception was previously printed May 9 which was incorrect.
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