20 years ago…
January 12, 2006
GOVERNOR DUBS JANUARY SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH
Governor Rick Perry has claimed January 2006 as School Board Recognition Month. Districts across the state will use this opportunity to show their appreciation and bolster understanding of the critical role elected boards of education play in their local schools and communities.
“Created in 1949 to foster educational excellence in districts throughout the Lone Star State, the Texas Association of School Boards will be conducting an awareness campaign throughout the month of January to highlight the many contributions of school boards.
“I encourage all Texans to recognize the important roles that school boards play in ensuring a quality education for young Texans. Through their commitment and focus on the future, we are building an even stronger foundation for the Texas of tomorrow,” Perry said.
30 years ago…
January 11, 1996
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN STRETCHING SNAP RESOURCES
A food shortage, caused by the lengthy government shutdown, is creating massive problems for Whitesboro’s S.N.A.P. (Senior Nutritional Assistance Program) Center.
Mayor Al Miller, who visited the center last week, was told that the center might be forced to close within the week due to lack of food allocations.
Sandra Wagoner, executive director of the Tri-County Senior Nutritional Center Project, Inc. (Meals on Wheels) is concerned that the situation is a definite crisis.
She said, “This meal, in many cases, is the only food that some of our elderly residents receive. In Whitesboro, the center serves 25-30 senior citizens on a daily basis. The number sometimes reaches nearly 40, with a large majority of the recipients classified as homebound.”
COUNCIL PLANS UPGRADE OF CITY JOB DESCRIPTIONS, SALARIES
The council, in an effort to upgrade the existing system of city-based job descriptions and corresponding salary allocations examined a state-wide study by the Rollie O. Waters Consulting Group.
Software to be utilized for this purpose might include a diverse number of job descriptions, performance evaluation and personnel policy manuals. Planning to scrutinize several different options discussed by the company, the council scheduled a January 23 workshop.
Additionally, the council adopted a set of policy guidelines regarding alcohol and drug abuse by employees at the City of Whitesboro.
Officials noted that the current personnel manual does not contain a detailed explanation of the policy. The newly established rules specifically name prohibited items and pinpoint disciplinary action.
While the intent of the plan is not to intrude in the private lives of employees, the city did express its concern regarding abuse situations which might affect the health and safety of its workers.
40 years ago…
January 9, 1986
CISD BOARD OK’S BUILDING TRACTS TOTALING $41,000
Collinsville Independent School District Board of Trustees has awarded two separate contracts totaling over $41,000 for the construction of additional classrooms, voted to advertise for bids for the completion of the building’s interior and heating/air-conditioning system, and extended CISD Superintendent of Schools James McDaniel’s contract for two years.
Eight bids were received for the exterior construction of a four-classroom project to be added onto the newly-constructed Collinsville High School Annex located across the street from the high school, north side.
Golden Sate Construction of Durant, Oklahoma, submitted the lowest bid, without concrete slab, in the amount of $33,250. The trustees awarded this contract during a special called meeting on January 2.
The trustees awarded a contract in the amount of $8,696 to the Simmons Construction Company of Whitesboro, to pour a concrete slab for the Annex four-classroom addition.
The Annex was constructed in 1985 at the estimated cost of $80,000, housing three classrooms for high school students, tax office, and Superintendent of Schools James McDaniel’s office.
COUNCIL VOTES TO STUDY EMS HOUSING OFFERS
The Whitesboro City Council Tuesday night voted to table discussion of the construction of housing for the city’s emergency medical services and fire department until alternatives to the considered $110,000 building are explored.
The council earlier considered falling back onto earlier offers after bids for construction of a city-owned building were higher than had been expected. Payments on long-term debt to cover the cost of the building not covered by existing funds would be twice what the council had budgeted.
Prior to the city’s receiving bids on the building, offers were made by TexomaCare to use part of its building to house the service. Medical Plaza Hospital had offered the city the donation of a building on its site in Sherman to be moved to Whitesboro and, in an offer made most recently, Dr. John Glaewaler has offered to construct housing in Whitesboro at his clinic for housing of the ambulance service.
Medical Plaza Hospital has also offered the city assistance in planning the construction of a building as well as assistance toward financing the debt incurred in construction.
Medical Plaza Hospital has also expressed an interest in operating the ambulance service should the city get in a position of being unable to, according to Sammy Davis of the hospital.
Mayor Charles Winchester told an audience of about 50 at the council’s regular meeting Tuesday that when the city took over the service, “we had a lot of promises of support, but since we got financial support from Grayson County the rural people seem to think their part is paid. We have about $50,000 in uncollected debts for service.”