Citizen Requests Adding Soccer

The persistence of those wishing to add a soccer program at Wills Point High School continued at the regular school board meeting held on Monday night.

Tim Bernard addressed the board and asked that a soccer program be added among the budgeted items being discussed during upcoming workshops.

Bernard reported that he had spoken with the Crandall ISD athletic director, and received estimates that a program could be started for under $10,000, and budgeted at approximately $4,800 a year after that.

Eustace ISD, according to Bernard, had fielded two boys and one girls team with a budget of $4,500 per year.

"I would just ask that it be added to the list of budgets items to be discussed, that you look at it hard," Bernard said.

Mayor Scott McGriff addressed the board regarding Lillian Street between the junior high and the middle school.

McGriff reported that the city had FEMA funds to use towards repair of the street, but that with 20 buses staging for pick up and drop off on that street on a daily basis, that an overlay would not last more than a year.

"For approximately $40-42K, we could concrete that street," McGriff said. "That amount is more than the city can afford, but if we are asking to enter a joint venture with the school district to split the cost. Together we could build a street that will hold up to the bus traffic."

McGriff also noted that Tiger Drive was scheduled for resurfacing.

Assistant superintendent of curriculum Suzanne Blasingame, gave a report regarding results of recent TAKS testing. Blasingame noted that the district’s overall scoring was above the state average.

One area of concern that was noted was reading scores for the fourth grade, but Blasingame said that faculty and administrators were looking into ways to improve.

The board approved facility usage guidelines for the ag building. Principal Jim Lamb presented the policy, stating that there was a need for a policy in order that all students with animals at the facility would know what is expected of them.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of James Wallace as the new head basketball coach.

Also, a budget workshop for the school district was set for June 24, at 5:15 p.m. The next board meeting will be July 14, at 6 p.m.