Musgraves’ donates $12,150 to QISD, administrator contracts approved

Posted 2/17/16

Golden’s country music star Kacey Musgraves followed through on her promise to donate to each of Wood County’s high schools donating a check for $12,150 presented by her grandmother, Barbara Musgraves, at last week’s school board me

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Musgraves’ donates $12,150 to QISD, administrator contracts approved

Posted

Golden's country music star Kacey Musgraves followed through on her promise to donate to each of Wood County's high schools donating a check for $12,150 presented by her grandmother, Barbara Musgraves, at last week's school board meeting.

The money came from last fall's Kacey Musgraves Hometown Hang held at the Mineola Nature Preserve drawing over 4,000 fans. Barbara Musgraves read a letter from her granddaughter at the board meeting. In the letter the singer-songwriter wrote, "Texas is full of brilliant budding artists of every kind and I want these kids to know that it is possible to reach far beyond our small towns and go for what may feel impractical or impossible."

The board approved the renewal for administrator's contracts. Those contracts were for: James Young, Assistant Superintendent; Melinda McGinnis, Director of Finance; Scott Turner, Director of IT; John Woodard, Director of Athletics; Mary Ann Nichols, Elementary Principal; Todd Shackelford, Elementary Assistant Principal; Angela Brown, Middle School Principal; Chrystal Ballard Smith, Middle School Assistant; Cody Mize, High School Principal; Keith Sparkman, High School Assistant Principal; and Dana Hamrick, DAEP Principal.

Health Science instructor Brittany Emerson gave an overview of the new job shadowing program between the district and East Texas Medical Center Quitman. The program allows 10 QHS students to shadow medical professionals on Wednesday and Thursday mornings throughout the semester. The students were chosen based on grade point average, attendance, discipline, and teacher recommendation.

Emerson spent the fall semester preparing the students for the shadowing program by learning topics including professional conduct and communication, medical laws, ethics and morals, medical terminology, and organizational structure of the hospital. "I felt it was really important for the students to learn many important topics before they were introduced to the hospital," Emerson noted. "The benefits we have seen in just the first month of the program of students actually going to the hospital have been astounding."

Turner reported total enrollment was down to 1,126. The high school enrollment was at 311, which would have dropped the Bulldog football program to Class 3A Division II instead of Division I. Board member Raymond Peek shared his concerns. "I think our enrollment numbers did a disservice to our athletic department. We are trying to build up our athletic program. It really hurts our coaches and our kids. I think participation is going to go down the next two years," Peek said.

Assistant Superintendent James Young noted the appeal process has a deadline. "I do know you have until February 19 to do whatever and then after that, it is set." Young said Eustace has applied to be moved into the new district Quitman is in. There must be a unanimous vote from the district a school is leaving and from the district they are trying to enter.

A district-wide improvement proposal totaling $227,550 was approved. In the improvement plan $96,800 will be used to re-roof Delbert Ballard Memorial Gym. "The roof area over the gym itself has been redone and is in pretty good shape. All of the roof around it, the concession stand and the locker rooms is leaking horribly," Turner explained. "We have to get the roof replaced."

There were two bids for the roof. The bid from Curtis-McKinley Roofing and Sheet Metal in Longview for $96,800 was accepted over a bid from Hefner Roofing and Construction, Pittsburg, which was $113,213. A bid of $7,360 from Curtis-McKinley was approved for roof repair at the field house.

Bids for a new school bus and a school vehicle for adult and student transportation were approved. Longhorn Bus Sales bid of $89,855 was accepted for a 71-passenger bus over a bid from Thomas Built Buses for $90,071. Quitman's Toliver Ford was awarded the bid on a new school vehicle for adult and student transportation. The $33,500 bid was for a 2016 an eight passenger Ford Expedition. The other bid was from Mazell Chevrolet in Gilmer for a nine-seat 2016 Chevy Suburban at $40,627.61.