Recognitions and presentations at the Mineola ISD board meeting Monday, Dec. 15 were led by the Buzz’s Ultimate Effort Award, usually reserved for last.

Though it’s not technically a lifetime achievement award, Superintendent Cody Mize said recipient Sam Curry has been a supporter of the school district, and the community at large, for more than five decades, and continues to support the community’s children through the school district, Kiwanis Club, Mineola Carting & Sharing, and more.

The Mineola High School Sound of the Swarm marching band was honored for its fifth state championship and second in a row.

Students and staff members of the month included Sophia Ortiz and Connor Crenshaw from Head Start/Pre-K and kindergartners Reagan Gilbreath and Axel Harries from the Primary School. Pre-K teacher Kathi Bruce is the employee of the month.

At the Intermediate School, 4th graders Zayden Moore and Dariana Rivera were honored along with counselor Nicole Thomas.

Middle School students of the month are 8th graders Kylee Ripley and Aurelius Rowland, with special ed teacher Lori McKinney the honored staff member.

The High School honored juniors Caylyn McGinnis and Trestin Moore along with counselor Rachael Wernecke.

The Mineola FFA chapter’s public relations team gave its presentation on the meaning of FFA, which has garnered them a seventh-place finish in the state contest.

Members include Stella Straznicky, Journie Wilson, Zion Olajide and Clara Marlow.

And the four campus principals even got in on the act.

Acknowledging that School Board Appreciation Month is not until January, the principals wanted to give the trustees their Christmas presents and required them to be opened on the spot.

In each package was a bobble head fashioned to look like each board member.

Superintendent Mize also recognized the back-to-back district champion academic team from the Primary School and back-to-back district champion one-act play from the Middle School.

In other business, the board acknowledged that the district cannot afford the requirements of a new state law that mandates seat belts on all school buses by 2029.

Transportation Director Bill Self said that replacing 14 buses would cost $2.1 million while retrofitting up to 16 buses would cost at least $34,000 each, but by 2029 many of those buses would be nearing their end-of-service age.

He did note that the state is collecting cost data from school districts, with the possibility that the state could absorb some of that cost.