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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Top Stories
Friday, November 12, 1999
School delays Jr. high consolidation move
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS. Nov. 12, 1999 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah school board members will
schedule a special meeting to discuss the consolidation of Zavala and Crockett
Middle Schools and sources for funding the project, members decided at
their regular monthly school board meeting Thursday evening.
Board members postponed a decision on consolidation, after P-B-T ISD
Superintendent Don Love presented some estimates, a sketch of the facility
and possible sources of funding during the meeting and told board members,
"These are all just estimates, nothing is set in stone."
Love said the board would have to get the auditor's opinion at the next
school board meeting set for December. "He'll probably tell us this is
what we can afford and what we would need to borrow," he said.
Love told board members that in all probability the auditor would recommend
that only part of the project would be feasible at this time.
Consolidating the two campuses would save the district money, according
to Love.
A total of $292,952 would be saved through a reduction in force, including
teaching positions, salaries and benefits. In the proposal seven teaching
positions can be eliminated through attrition: one reading teacher, two
P.E. teachers, one English teacher, one math teacher, one history teacher
and one science teacher. In addition a reduction in force (salaries and
benefits), one secretary would be eliminated, along with one library aide,
one custodian, one sweeper and four cafeteria workers.
"Seventy-five percent of our budget is people, so we have to look at
cutting next year," said Love.
Love said that the district will have to pay out $125,000 in raises
for teachers with 0-20 years of experience.
"This is something we have to do," he said. "We have to look at the
budget closely and how to continue to cut as long as we're losing kids.
"If you actually want to do this project before next school year, we
need to look at it closely and talk to auditors to plan the design and
specifications," said Love.
Hunter Corral Associates have stated that the project can be done in
six months, according to Love.
"Our main concern at this time is time," said Love. "I feel like Mr.
Carr will tell us you have enough money to do this, but not the whole project,
they will look at what's happening next April," he said.
Board members discussed the item at length and opted to go over it again
at a special meeting, before meeting with the auditors.
"Bear in mind that we can at least do half the project," said board
member Louis Matta.
"I'm all for consolidation, but if it all can't be done by next August,
we need to set it up for the following year," said board member Steve Armstrong.
"One thing you've got to remember is loss of students and $125,000 is
already committed to raises," said Love.
In other business, the Pecos Eagle Band was recognized during the regular
meeting along with the volleyball team. The band won district competition
in El Paso and made it to the regionals in Odessa. They received two trophies,
which were displayed during the meeting.
"We're very proud of our students, they did excellent and we expect
more from them next year," said band director Bill Goff.
The volleyball team also did really well this year, placing second in
district and winning their bi-district match before losing to the top-ranked
Class 4A team in area competition. "We're always proud of these girls,
they work really hard," said coach Becky Granado.
Town of Pecos City Mayor Dot Stafford and Reeves County Commissioner
Herman Tarin were on hand to receive special recognition for the city and
county's help in rebuilding the Eagle Stadium track.
"I want to thank Don Love, all the school board members and the city
for this great relationship we have established between the entities,"
said Tarin. "I think together we can work on other projects for the community
and for our children.
"This is not for us, but for the community," he said.
Stafford also thanked the administrators and the teachers, who she said
had to put up with the construction work. "This is very good construction
and I know we'll have a nice track for many years to come," she said. "It's
an asset to the community and I hope everyone goes out and enjoys it."
In other business, the board granted permission for the staff to utilize
district facilities, for Internet use on Wednesday evenings.
Uniform plan for P-B-T kids is considered
By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer
PECOS. Nov. 12, 1999 - Standardized wear or school uniforms may be
a possibility in the future for all Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD students.
The item was the topic of discussion at last evening's regular Pecos-Barstow-Toyah
ISD board meeting.
Superintendent Don Love told the board that in sessions they have attended,
uniforms create a better environment, decrease gang activity, boosts morale,
and promotes better behavior in classrooms and less pressure for the students.
"These are all good things for our students," said Love. "Every meeting
we have attended we are told that the schools who implement school uniforms,
better themselves."
The board must designate a form of funding for students at a disadvantage,
according to Love. "The school would have to provide at least one uniform
for those students who can't afford it," he said.
Surveys would be sent out to all the parents and several steps would
have to be taken before the decision to implement uniforms would be made.
"I don't feel we have to buy one uniform for each child, but probably
for some," said Love.
"Tonight we wanted to ask for approval or disapproval to send out a
survey," he told the board.
Love said if the survey came back with at least 70 percent in agreement,
the board could then vote for the item.
`I'm all for the survey, but I feel we need to do something else before
we send the survey out," said board member Billie Sadler.
"Are all the principals for this?" asked board member Louis Matta. Love
said everyone seemed to be in accordance in all the administrator's meetings.
"At an informal vote, everybody except one person raised their hand
that they were for it," he said.
Gifted and Talented Coordinator Nancy Russell said this would save administrators
a lot of headaches. "There's a lot of valuable classroom time spent on
checking and making sure the student is dressed in compliance," she said.
"What about our teachers? The survey might come back with some remarks
about how the teachers dress," said Matta. "You can't sell a product until
the people see it."
Matta suggested selling it to the parent-teacher organizations first
and have them come before the school board with their suggestions.
"If it's in reverse it will be our product, it's our product rather
than their product," he said.
"Is the public going to have any input in to the color scheme?" asked
Sadler.
Love suggested having style shows to show the public the designs of
the uniforms.
Board members agreed to notify parents first, see the reaction and maybe
get a few uniforms to show. The board would later look at sending out the
survey. The group also agreed to take action on steps of successful implementation
to take a survey to hopefully get 70-80 percent in favor of school dress
code.
The steps to successful implementation if approved would begin this
month and include:
· Meet with DEIC to discuss proposed guidelines and implementation
of standardized or uniform dress.
· Get board's approval regarding intent to move toward standardized
or uniform dress and take action on steps toward successful implementation.
· Notify parents via letter regarding the intent to move to standardized
or uniform dress.
In December, the proposed steps are:
· Hold style shows at all events as well as conduct a minimum
of two parent dress code meetings to seek input.
· Finalize dress code and survey by mail all parents including
incoming students from lower grades.
· Set an approval rate percentage standard that would be acceptable
by the Board of Trustees.
In January:
· Send proposal to Board of Trustees for approval.
· Purchasing department works with vendors in establishing a
vendor fair.
In February:
· Hold planning meeting with all vendors.
In March:
· Provide all vendors with description of standardized or uniform
dress code.
· Send letters to all parents regarding the vendor fair and what
standardized or uniform dress will look like.
· Meet with PTO's and area churches regarding help for socio-economically
disadvantaged students. Prepare application forms requesting financial
assistance.
In April:
· Host a vendor fair for all parents.
· Get final approval for standardized or uniform dress code and
requirements from Board of Trustees.
May:
· Mail/send letter home with report cards with standardized uniform
dress requirements.
· Post requirements on campus windows/doors during summer.
· Inform all media (TV-channel 48 and 6, newspaper, radio) of
standardized uniform dress requirements.
July:
· Send a second letter home welcoming students back and outlining
dress requirements.
August:
· Deliver numbered vouchers to campuses.
· Implement.
Federal juries convict four for pot smuggling
PECOS. Nov. 12, 1999 - Federal court juries came back with guilty verdicts
against four defendants in two separate criminal trials on Wednesday and
Thursday.
Nicole LeAn Meek was found guilty Wednesday of one count of marijuana
possession with intent to distribute. On Thursday, another federal court
jury found Ruben Alarcon Pinon, Llama Edmidia Alarcon and Sergio Alarcon-Lopez
guilty on counts of conspiracy, possession of marijuana and use of a minor
to avoid detection in connection with a marijuana smuggling attempt.
Meek was arrested on a charge of possession of marijuana under 50 kilograms
(110 pounds) after her vehicle was stopped on June 13 of this year, while
Pinon, Alarcon and Alarcon-Lopez were charged with attempting to smuggle
over 100 but under 1,000 kilograms of marijuana into the United States,
and with using a minor in an attempt to avoid detection. They were arrested
on Aug. 13, according to the grand jury indictment.
Both trials were held before visiting U.S. District Court Judge Peter
Beer of New Orleans. Sentencing of all four defendants has been scheduled
for January 18 in U.S. District Court in Pecos.
Riley takes first in Power Points
PECOS. Nov. 12, 1999 - The Pecos Eagles will be hoping linebacker Trent
Riley does as well tonight against El Paso Ysleta as he did this past week
in the Pecos Enterprise's Power Points contest.
Riley scored 118 points to win first place locally for Week 9 of the
competition, and earn tickets to an Odessa Jackalopes hockey game. His
score was 12 points behind overall state winner Annie Silva of Port Lavaca,
who scored 130 out of a possible 136 points in the competition.
While continuation of the Eagles' football season depends on a playoff
win over Ysleta tonight, Power Points will continue next week in the Enterprise,
with an entry form in Monday's paper. Forms also are available at sponsoring
businesses around Pecos.
Lotto
AUSTIN (AP) - Results of the Cash 5 drawing Thursday night: Winning numbers
drawn: 6-12-15-26-38. Number matching five of five: 0. Matching four of
five: 205. Prize: $960.
***
AUSTIN (AP) - The winning Pick 3 numbers drawn Thursday by the Texas
Lottery, in order: 6-9-8 (six, nine, eight)
Weather
PECOS. Nov. 12, 1999 - High Thursday 78. Low this morning 45. Forecast
for tonight: Mostly clear. Low 45 to 50. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Saturday:
Mostly sunny. High in the lower 80s. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Saturday
night: Partly cloudy. Low 45 to 50. Sunday and Monday: Sunny days and fair
nights. Lows in the lower to mid 40s. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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