NEWS
Ratings plan riles up ISDs- Provision ratings get massive backlash
By BARBARA GREEN
The release of provisional ratings for Texas school districts based on the proposed A-F Rating System has been greeted with a wave of anger and concern from school officials across the state.
When the ratings were released last Friday, Montague County superintendents were no different in their reaction to the “grades” they could receive in the new system.
All the districts in the county with the exception of one, Gold-Burg Independent School District, met standard in 2016 under the present accountability system where districts and campuses either “met standard” or “improvement is required.”
And as recent as two weeks ago, the districts learned about the final distinctions their campuses would receive only to find some of them were given “Ds” and “Fs” under the new system.
During the 84th Legislative session, House Bill 2804 changed the Texas school accountability system so every campus and district receives one of five ratings from A-F. The ratings will be issued for the first time in August 2018.
That bill also required the Texas Education Agency to present a preliminary work-in-progress report by Jan. 1, 2017, noting potential grades be sent to legislators and then released to the public.
Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the ratings in the report were for informational purposes, and the models are likely to change before they become effective in August 2018.
Read what Montague County school superintendents have to say about their provisional ratings and the proposed A-F rating system in your mid-week News. 
A bubble truck began the 2025 Bowie Public Library’s summer reading program, “Color Our World,” with free programs continuing through July 22.
Summer reading is open to children ages 0-12 and these free programs will be at the Bowie Community Center at 10 a.m. every Tuesday in June and July excluding July 1. Children will be given a reading log to bring with them to each program. Each child also receives a book at the end of the series.
June will be filled with artsy projects. On June 10 there will be bubble painting and baking soda painting and June 17, noodle and pom picture frame art. On June 24 they will make beaded wind chimes.
July 1 will have movie day at the library. This is the only program not to be at the community center.
July 8 enjoy fruit loop sand art, followed by a glow in the dark paint party with Alicia Betts on July 15. The summer reading series concludes with the popular Creature Teacher bringing a variety of animals for all to enjoy on July 11.
Former 97th District Attorney Casey Hall has filed an appeal in her May 13 conviction for misuse of Montague County grant funds.
The appeal was filed with the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth on May 15, the day after her sentencing where the jury found her guilty of misapplication of fiduciary property and theft by a public servant. The trial had been moved on a change of venue.
On May 14 Hall’s sentence was decided by the same jury and it sentenced her to one year in state jail for the misapplication charge and six years probation for theft by a public servant.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
Following approval of the Bowie City Council this past week for construction of new pickle ball courts at Pelham Park, the countdown to a public hearing and the bid process begins.
Ward Wallace, chairman of the 4B Economic Development Corporation, made the presentation to the city council outlining the proposal to build four covered courts in an area west of the Bowie Knife and south of the soccer fields. Along with the courts there will be parking and a portion of the walking trail will be redone. All the new additions also will be handicap accessible.
The 4B board’s request was to spend up to $1.2 million of 4B sales tax funds for the entire project, however, Wallace said they did not anticipate it would be that high as the estimates are running around $880,000.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
The red outlined portion on the lower right of the map shows the future location of the pickleball courts near the Bowie Knife. (Courtesy 4B Board)
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