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BISD Trustees want feedback: Why did people vote no on bond?

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By BARBARA GREEN

editor@bowienewsonline.com

The Bowie Independent District School Board of Trustees this week elected officers and considered how to proceed after the Nov. 7 bond election failed. BISD had no contested races, but welcomed newly elected incumbents Jacky Betts, Lee Hughes and Guy Green back to the panel. Betts was re-elected president and Green, vice president with Kent Dosch elected secretary. Voters said no to a $65.8 million bond issue to build a new intermediate school, renovate the present intermediate to accommodate junior high students and several other renovations on the other two campuses. The bond failed by 224 votes, 1,079 to 855 votes.Superintendent Blake Enlow said there were 79 propositions that passed across the state and 65 that failed. Of those that passed he added some went through by as little as three votes. There were $15,073,130,933 in bonds approved in Texas. Bok Financial Securities reports approximately 84.9% of the proposed $43.2 billion of Texas public school district bonds were approved by voters in 2023. the average historical approval rate since 2018 is 79.2% by dollar amount and 64.5% by number of propositions. Enlow asked the board if they wanted to proceed with a new bond whether it be to plan a spring election, update the plan for a new vote or something else?

Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.

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BISD superintendent annual evaluation, contract set for agenda

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Several personnel issues including the superintendent’s summative evaluation and filling the vacant intermediate principal position face the Bowie School Trustees when they meet at 5:30 p.m. on June 16.
The superintendent’s review is usually done in two parts during the year with the summative an effort to evaluate overall progress. Donna Hale’s contract also will be considered. as she marks her first year leading the district.
For the intermediate principal’s job, Jason Childress left the post last month taking the new formed director of student services, which will handle many of the tasks the assistant superintendent handled such as curriculum and test scores. That assistant position was eliminated by the board after Lee Ann Farris left the job. Childress’ resignation has been submitted.
Filling the principal’s job and consideration of a rental agreement for a portion of the bus parking lot property also are set for executive session. Any action all these topics will be considered back in open session.
On the regular agenda, the board will receive the 2025 fiscal audit for Jack County. A small portion of the district runs into that county.
The superintendent will provide operational reports and personnel updates. Childress will present the preliminary STAAR scores and the status of board goals, while Paula Peterson, finance director, gives the monthly financial report.
Numerous annual items will be up for action: Contract for cafeteria software; budget amendments; consider the ESSA application, the Montague and Jack County Tax Appraisal District budgets; library books for the elementary; ESC 9 contracts and a Texas Association of School Boards policy updates.
The board also will consider offering open enrollment for pre-kindergarten students for the next school year.

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As heat rises, take precautions to be safe

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Six county fire departments earn forest service grants

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Six Montague County volunteer fire department have received grants from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
The service recently approved $29.3 million in funding for grants to through the Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program.
In the fourth funding round of the year, the program awarded 531 grants addressing volunteer fire department requests for personal protective equipment, slip-on units, fire and rescue equipment, water tenders, small brush trucks and training aids.
Nocona Hills Volunteer Fire Department received a $300,000 grant for a water tender vehicle. Montague and Sunset VFDs each received $45,000 for a slip-on unit, and the Nocona rural, Nocona city and Saint Jo VFDs each received $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment.

Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.

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