Voters turn down $246 million college bond proposal
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
Tomball College, along with the five other campuses in
the North Harris Community College District, will have to
wait at least a little while longer for new facilities and
campus improvements.
Voters lined up at Magnolia’s Malcolm Purvis Library on
election day to cast their ballots.
College district residents voted down a $249.6 million
bond proposal by a 12 percent margin that would have funded
new classrooms, learning facilities, health care
partnerships, and maintenance and infrastructure renewal of
older facilities at each of the district’s six campuses.
“Our voters have spoken, and we respect the election
results for the bond proposal,” said Ray Laughter, vice
chancellor of external affairs, of the bond election. “Our
community has long been a great supporter of this college
district, and we will work to determine any particular
issues or concerns they may have and we will respond in a
way that will allow us to continue our important mission in
the community.” As part of the proposal, Tomball College was
to receive funding for a performing arts center, a health
science center, expansion of its Willow Chase center and
veterinary tech programs and more.
District officials say district-wide enrollment, which is
currently at about 45,000, is expected to jump to more than
60,000 by 2015. “We are still growing with enrollment
doubling since 1997 and our need for classrooms is still
great,” Laughter said. “We will have to reassess our most
immediate growth needs and propose new solutions. The Board
of Trustees will be challenged to provide a long-term
strategy for growth.”
NHMCCD’s Steve Lestarjette said that while he was unsure
why voters turned down the bond proposal, he believes the
district could have done a better job relaying the need for
new facilities. “I feel like if we would have done a better
job of telling our story, it would have had a better
outcome,” he said.
Voters also ousted two members of the district’s board of
trustees, while re-electing another. Martin Basaluda was
defeated by David Holsey, while David McIver was defeated by
Chris Daniel. Randy Bates retained his seat. NHMCCD board
positions carry six-year terms.
Board of trustee member David Vogt thanked losing
incumbents for their service to the district. “I would like
to thank Dr. Martin Basaldua and Board Chair David McIver
for their years of dedicated service to the community and
the college district,” Vogt said. “I know they will continue
to make significant contributions in many ways for years to
come. We also look forward to the continued service of Randy
Bates and to working with our new board members, Dr. David
Holsey and Chris Daniel. We look forward to working together
to address the higher education needs of this community
during this period of great demand and growth,” he said.
GOP hangs on to local seats
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
While Democrats celebrated major gains in both the U.S.
House of Representatives and Senate following the Nov. 7
general election, local seats remained firmly in control of
Republicans.
Local elections saw incumbents win in a generally
decisive manner.
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, retained his 10th
District seat with a victory over Democrat Ted Ankrum and
Libertarian Michael Badnarik. With 84 percent of precincts
reporting at press time last week, McCaul had received
83,822 votes, or 54 percent of the vote.
Ankrum provided a spirited opposition with 64,520 votes,
or 41.5 percent.
Badnarik was a distant third with 6,959 votes, or 4.5
percent.
Meanwhile, State Rep. Corbin Van Arsdale won re-election
to the State House Dist. 130 seat with a landslide win over
Libertarian William Gray.
Van Arsdale received 21,612 votes (83.4 percent) to
Gray’s 4,298 votes (16.6 percent).
The Dist. 7 State Senator seat went to Republican Dan
Patrick, who took 69 percent of the vote to Democrat Michael
Kubosh’s 31 percent.
Harris County Judge Robert Eckels ran uncontested and
will retain his seat.
Others who ran uncontested in the election were Harris
County Probate Judge Ct. 1 Russell Austin, Harris County
Probate Judge Ct. 2 Mike Wood, Harris County Probate Judge
Ct. 3 Rory Robert Olsen, Harris County Probate Judge Ct. 4
Bill McCulloch, Harris County Pct. 4 Commissioner Jerry
Eversole and Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace Tom Lawrence.
Montgomery County election results, unofficial
By Cari Herr
Tribune News
According to the Montgomery County results for the Nov. 7
general election, Republicans won by wide margins over their
opponents, retaining most of their respective seats
including the hotly contested race for the 284th District
Court Judge.
Republican Cara Wood, who was appointed to the bench in
early June by Gov. Rick Perry, was victorious over Democrat
Nancy McCoy with 72 percent of votes. Though McCoy fought a
good fight, Wood was the first woman to practice trial law
in Montgomery County and voters approved of the familiar
face.
U.S. Rep. Republican Kevin Brady kept his District 8 seat
with a decisive victory over challenger James Wright with 76
percent of votes.
State Rep. Rob Eissler maintained his District 15 seat by
defeating Sammie Miller and Brian Drake with 73 percent of
votes. With a total of 42,090 voter participants, Eissler
received a majority vote in that race of 30,865.
County Judge Republican Alan B. Sadler maintained his
seat against challenger Democrat Joseph Rogerson with 84
percent of votes, where Sadler received 59,532 votes.
County Commissioner Pct. 2 Craig Doyal and Justice Of The
Peace Pct. 5 Matt Masden both ran unopposed.
Waller County reflects close margins as election dust
settles
By Cari Herr
Tribune News
Voters settled a hot topic in Waller County on Nov. 7
when Republican Elton Mathis was overwhelmingly approved as
the new Waller County District Attorney over Democrat Morris
L. Overstreet. The election brings to a close for county
residents a long-awaited resolution for the position.
Current District Attorney Bill Parham, who was appointed to
the position following the resignation of Oliver Kitzman in
Sept. of 2004, lost in the May Republican Primary.
The historically Democratic county was overturned by
Republicans this election on the straight party ticket by a
close 1.32 percent margin, holding 49.84 percent of votes,
while Democrats took 48.52 percent of the votes. That was
enough to turn the tide of the election where, in almost
every race, a Republican took or kept their respective seat.
Another close race for Waller County residents was that
of the Governor. Where statewide polls reported incumbent
Republican Rick Perry at 39 percent of votes, and
Independent Carole Keeton-Strayhorn at 18 percent, in Waller
County Perry and Strayhorn ran neck-and-neck with a 0.08
margin. Perry stood the lead with 29.78 percent of votes to
Strayhorn’s 29.70 percent in the countywide election.
That race speaks volumes on behalf of residents who have
participated over the past year in educating their fellow
citizens about the I-69 Trans-Texas Corridor. The Citizens
for a Better Waller County endorsed the Strayhorn platform
over Perry’s, largely due to Perry’s position on that issue.
Voters may have turned to the Republican Party on the
state level; however, local justice of the peace positions
saw no change with incumbents Democrat Pct. 1 Judge Charles
Karisch, Republican Pct. 2 Delores Hargrave, who ran
unchallenged in the largely Republican district, and
Democrat Pct. 3 Judge DeWayne Charleston, retaining their
seats.
Council votes down raise for mayor at Harrington’s
insistence
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
After Mayor H.G. “Hap” Harrington insisted that the city
council not approve an increase in his monthly stipend, the
Tomball City Council unanimously voted down a measure that
would have given him a $300 per month raise.
“I offered my services to this city without the thought
of a stipend,” Harrington said. “I appreciate the offer, but
I don’t want an increase.”
Had the council approved the measure, Harrington would
have received $500 per month rather than the $200 he
currently receives. He also receives a $50 stipend for each
meeting attended.
Harrington said he struggled with the issue in the weeks
leading up to the vote.
“You will pay me a compliment if you vote ‘nae’ (on the
measure),” Harrington said.
The council responded by unanimously voting down the
proposed raise.
The issue of stipends for the council and mayor began in
early September when council member Roy Lazenby requested
the council to consider raises for themselves.
At the time Lazenby believed council members were not
getting paid enough for the time they dedicated to serving
the city.
The rest of the council originally balked at the idea.
Warren Driver later agreed on pay raises for the council
and the mayor in order to encourage residents to seek
council positions. He believed the low stipends the council
and mayor received were preventing many residents to seek
office.
Council members currently receive $50 per meeting.
The city has not seen a pay increase for its elected
officials in more than a decade.
Harrington said that if the measure for his pay increase
were approved, he had considered giving the extra money to
charitable organizations such as TEAM or TOMAGWA.
“But that’s not my money,” Harrington said, referring to
tax money that would fund the raise. “If you (Tomball
citizens) want them to have it, then you can give it to
them, which I certainly encourage.”
The issue of pay raises for the council may not be a dead
one yet.
Harrington suggested the council to evaluate what other
city’s similar in size to Tomball are paying its elected
officials and consider the matter further.
In other city news, the council approved a measure that
will set in motion the possible implementation of public
improvement districts (PID) within the city. At least one
residential development, which would utilize a PID, is in
the planning stages. A PID is a funding mechanism enacted on
homeowners of a particular development or subdivision to
help pay for improvements to the development.
McCaul report warns of emerging terror threats along
border
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
A 40-page report recently issued by U.S. Congressman
Michael McCaul (Rep.) and the Committee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee on Investigations warns of emerging and
existing threats along the southwest United States border.
The report is a summary of findings by McCaul and the
committee of criminal activity along the 2,000-mile U.S. and
Mexico border through Texas, California, New Mexico and
Arizona.
Estimations by the committee of illegal aliens entering
the U.S. in 2005 alone exceed 10 million. The report claims
a significant number of those illegal immigrants were from
“special interest countries.”
The federal government has deemed that countries of
interest are those designated by the intelligence community
“as countries that could export individuals that could bring
harm to our country in the way of terrorism.”
The report states that in 2005, U.S. and state lawn
enforcement officials apprehended 650 such immigrants.
More than 165,000 illegal immigrants came from countries
other than Mexico.
The southwest border, the report states, is emerging as a
key corridor to harbor terrorists from the Middle East.
Staging areas, located in Central and South America, hold
such illegal immigrants and eventually release them into the
U.S., the report claims.
“Members of Hezbollah have already entered the U.S.
through the southwest border,” the report states.
Chiefly among those hubs is Venezuela, which the report
claims is emerging as a potential hub of terrorism in the
Western Hemisphere.
The report also depicts military patches found along the
Texas-Mexico border identifying countries and organizations
known to be involved in Al Qaeda. One particular patch
depicts an airplane flying over a building into a tower.
Not only are Middle Eastern terrorists an emerging threat
along the border, but also powerful Mexican drug cartels
wield significant influence on the immigration routes and
smuggling rings to the U.S.
The report states that there has been an increase in
human smuggling in recent years. Smugglers work closely with
drug cartels who control safe routes in the U.S. Part of the
coordination even includes gangs within the U.S.
Murders and kidnappings have increased significantly on
both sides of the border in recent years, the report states.
The report goes into detail of the practices of Mexican
drug cartels, including torture practices, mass killings,
beheadings and more.
McCaul and the Subcommittee on Investigations suggest
constructing physical barriers along the border, increasing
Border Patrol resources, institute state-of-the-art
technology to ensure maximum protection along the border.
President George Bush has since taken a significant step
toward McCaul’s request. Busy recently signed a bill
authorizing the construction of 700 miles barriers along the
southwest U.S. border.
McCaul’s entire report is available on his Web site at
www.house.gov/mccaul.
Lady Bulldogs win playoff battle against
cross-town rivals
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
A match-up like the one which occurred in Huntsville last
week happens just about once every several years, when the
stars and the planets line up correctly and things break
just the right way.
Magnolia’s Michele Willams (second from left) scores a point
for the Lady Bulldogs in their five-set win over Tomball
Nov. 7.
In the Region II quarterfinals of the state volleyball
playoffs on Nov. 7, the Magnolia Lady Bulldogs squared off
with cross-town rival the Tomball Lady Cougars at Sam
Houston State Johnson Coleseum with local bragging rights
and a berth in the regional semifinals on the line.
The Lady Bulldogs, who have steamrolled through their
schedule, both regular season and postseason, kept their hot
streak going with a five-set victory over the Lady Cougars.
The win sent the Lady Bulldogs to a regional semi-final
match-up against Plano West last Friday. Results of that
game were unavailable at press time.
Early on, it looked as if the Lady Cougars (31-11) may
pull off the upset when they took the first set, 27-25.
But the Lady Bulldogs (33-7) responded by winning the
next set, 25-21.
From there, Magnolia took control of the game.
A 27-25 third-set victory set up a fifth and deciding
set, which the Lady Bulldogs won handily, 25-6.
Magnolia’s Michele Williams led all players with 19
kills, while Tomball’s Olivia Langston led the Lady Cougars
with 13 kills. Magnolia’s Hannah Fort added 14 kills.
The win was the third straight postseason victory for the
Lady Bulldogs.
In the opening round of the playoffs, Magnolia disposed
of Klein Collins. Victories over Temple and Tomball
followed. Two more victories would send the Lady Bulldogs to
the state tournament.
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Miss Tomball Pageant Contestants
The 2007 Miss Tomball Pageant will be held Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.
at the Tomball High School Auditorium. Forty-two
Tomball-area young women will compete for the Miss Tomball
crown and a $1,000 scholarship. The winner will also
represent the Tomball area at community events throughout
the year. Tickets are available through the Tomball Area
Chamber of Commerce. For more information, call
281-351-7222. Bottom row (from left to right): Michelle
Marie Allison, Hailey Marie Stovall,Whitney Wiggins, Kelsey
Nicole Adams; second row: Heather Marie Duncan, Tiffany
Smith, third row: Hillary Faye King, Diana Elizabeth Soria,
Jessica Lynn Small, fourth row: Hollyann Marie Hutchins,
Erinn Elizabeth Rhone; top row: Morgan Brett Lowdermilk,
Kathryn Jean Herriman, and Danevia Onecia Trahan.
Bottom row (from left to right): Bethany Lynn Kimbell,
Melissa Nicole Espinoza, Ashley Elizabeth Christopher,
Lindsey Rose Mandola; second row: Renee Tamika, Jean Runcie,
Lindsey Nicole Lohberg; third row: Meagan McClinton, Cassidy
Mikele Daniels, Ashlee Rae Jackson; top row: Lauren Michele
Callon, Nicolette Corella Moore, Lauren Ellen Snell, Amanda
Kate Watson, and Kari Laurel Aven.
Bottom ow (from left to right): Lilly Kathleen Robison,
Olivia Michelle Langston, Meghan Holderrieth, Audrey Renee
Nefe; second row: Brittney Nicole Weiss, Lacy Lea
Dillingham; third row: Taylor Leigh Marcantel, Chrystah Rae
Carter; fourth row: Jenna Renee Pryor, Lauren Ashley Frank;
top row: Lexie Amber Weeks, Vanessa Gabrielle Carpenter,
Megan Michelle Gloyer, and Sonya Ahamed.
Tomball FFA rounds up
awards at Harris County Fair
October was a busy month for several Tomball FFA
students. Many were busy showing their projects at the
Harris County Fair held at the Houston Farm and Ranch Club.
Tomball FFA members, pictured from left to right, James
Ponder, Valerie Hirsch, Katie Weinberg, Raegan Schmidt and
Brandon Whitten.
Seven students competed in the Swine Show. Cooper
Chambers won first in his class, Katie Weinberg and Collin
Chambers won second, and James Ponder won third.
Chambers and Weinberg both made the live auction and
Ponder the pre-sale with their pigs. Also showing pigs were
Brandon Whitten, Valerie Hirsch and Morgan Breaux.
The Tomball students showing lambs and goats also
performed well.
Collin Chambers won Champion Fine Wool,and Cooper
Chambers won second place in goat, both making the auction.
Morgan Breaux won second place lamb, and Bettany Whitten won
third place for fine wool lamb. Others showing lambs and
goats were Cooper Chambers and Luke Plucheck.
In the rabbit show, Jessica Ruiz won eighth place rabbit,
allowing her to make the live auction. Bethany Whitten
showed a turkey and Megan Vaculine showed chickens, both
making the pre-sale event.
There were three students that showed heifers and one
showing a steer. Raegan Schmidt finished second in her class
with her heifer. Katie Weinberg and Blayre Meligan also
showed heifers. Ponder placed sixth with his bald-faced
steer.
The Livestock Judging Contest also showed the talents of
Tomball students. The Jr. Livestock Judging team received
3rd overall team.
The team consisted of members Vaculin, Katelinn Harrison,
Brandon Whitten, and Luke Plucheck. Ponder received second
place high individual in the Senior Livestock Judging. In
the Home Economics Division Valerie Hirsch won Grand
Champion Ornamental Horticulture and Ponder won Reserve
Grand Champion Vegetable. Both made the live auction.
Sports Fest offers tennis tourney, 5K run
fundraiser
By Cari Herr
Tribune News
The Magnolia Education Foundation is sponsoring a
Magnolia Madness Recreational Sports Fest and Health Fair
Nov. 17and 18 at Magnolia ISD area high schools.
On Nov. 17 Magnolia West High School, located at 42202 FM
1774, will kick off the event with a Pasta Party from 6:30
to 8 p.m. in the commons area. Magnolia Junior High students
will entertain diners with Karaoke. Adult tickets for the
meal are $8 while students and senior citizens eat for just
$6 and age four and under are free.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Motorcycle Brigade
will be on hand Friday night to offer basic road safety
tips, perform car seat safety checks and provide an
opportunity for the community to see the new motorcycles.
After fueling up the night before, Saturday brings a real
treat for sports enthusiasts. On the agenda for Nov. 18 at
Magnolia High School, located at 14350 FM 1488, will be a 5K
Road Race as well as a “Turkey Trot” fun run. Registration
begins at 7:30 a.m. and events run through 2 p.m.
The 5K Road Race is a 3.1-mile run and includes all
divisions with no age restrictions. Medals will be offered
to top finishers in each division and a trophy will be
awarded for the fastest run. The race starts at 8:30 a.m.
with a $15 cost and includes a T-shirt, ribbon, and prize
drawing.
For tennis lovers, a singles division and doubles
division for both women and men will be offered. The
tournament starts at 9 a.m. Registration for this event ends
at 8:30 a.m. The cost for singles is $20 and doubles are
$30. Top finisher medals will be awarded in each event for
first through third place in singles and doubles.
The “Turkey Trot” fun run is a 1-mile track walk that
begins at 10 a.m. Medals will be awarded to top finishers in
each division with a trophy going to the fastest time.
Registration for this event is from 8 to 9:30 a.m. The cost
is $10 and includes a T-shirt, ribbon, and prize drawing.
Sponsorships and booths are still available for the
event. All booth participants must either donate a silent
auction item or donate one service hour to be mutually
determined. Contact Amy Clifford, public information officer
for Magnolia ISD, at 281-252-2500, ext. 1012 for more
information.
The foundation was established to develop financial
resources in MISD that promote and support an exemplary
education for all students by developing partnerships among
the foundation, the parents, the school district and the
community, said Clifford. It funded 52 individual grants and
six department grants in 2005-06.
By funding the maximum number of grants for innovative
teaching projects, the district will increase volunteer
participation in foundation activities and events by
providing an endowment-funding source to foster creative
teaching activities, she said.
For more information about the foundation, or to apply
for a grant online visit
www.magnoliaeducationfoundation.org/grants.htm.
Annual Chamber holiday parade set for Nov. 18
By Brian Walzel
Tribune Staff
The glitz and glamour of Broadway will adorn the streets
of downtown Tomball for the 41st Annual Tomball Holiday
Parade, set for Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.
The annual parade, this year themed “A Broadway Holiday,”
is sponsored by the Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce and
will begin at the railroad tracks on Main Street and travel
the “two miles of smiles” down FM 2920, concluding at
Klein’s Super Market.
According to the chamber, more than 40,000 attendants are
expected to line Main Street for the event. This year, among
the 154 entrants will be the 42 contestants of the Miss
Tomball Pageant, set to be held later that evening at the
Tomball High School auditorium.
Also taking part in the parade will be five marching
bands, antique cars, Model-T Fords, local politicians and
dignitaries, including State Reps. Michael McCaul and Dan
Patrick, Constable Ron Hickman and many themed floats
designed in this year’s theme.
According to the chamber, local businesses, non-profit
organizations, schools, clubs, youth groups and more create
the floats.
“It’s a great family event,” Colleen Gilbert of the
chamber said. “For 41 years, this has been such a holiday
opening.”
Gilbert noted, “There are not very many community parades
left,” and the Tomball Holiday Parade is truly a community
event.
“It’s a rare thing now,” she said. “It’s pretty special.”
Chamber President Bruce Hillegeist said the parade is a
reflection of the Tomball community.
“This is a reflection of who we are,” he said. “We pride
ourselves on providing an occasion for the community to come
out and have fun.”
For more information about the Tomball Holiday Parade,
call the Tomball Area Chamber of Commerce at 281-351-7222.
Magnolia boy organizes community for SOS turkey
drive
By Cari Herr
Tribune News
Barry Carter, 12, of the Magnolia Shining Star 4H Club
has teamed up his group and area churches to support the
Society of Samaritans (SOS) in their effort to provide
Magnolia area residents in need with a turkey meal this
Thanksgiving.
Carter has been a member of the 4H club for more than a
year. He and his mom, Robin Carter, are organizing Shining
Star 4H’ers to make this the best turkey drive ever for SOS.
Barry is organizing the drive as part of his record book
leadership responsibilities as a 4H club member.
Turkeys can be dropped off at Magnolia High School, on
Nov. 18 at the Shining Star 4H booth where Barry and other
4H’ers will be collecting turkeys from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The booth is part of the Magnolia ISD “Magnolia Madness”
Recreational Sports Fest and Health Fair being held at
Magnolia High School, located at 14350 FM 1488. The Magnolia
Education Foundation is sponsoring the Magnolia Madness
event. (See related article page #).
On Nov. 19 4H’ers will be collecting turkeys in front of
Brookshire Brothers, located at 18535 FM 1488 in Magnolia,
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. where the store traditionally offers a
free turkey to customers purchasing a ham. Customers who
commit to donating their free turkey to the Magnolia Shining
Star 4H Club will receive an SOS sticker.
Barry’s mom, Robin Carter, helped him organize the Joy
Sister Bible Study Group at the First Baptist Church of
Magnolia to participate in delivering turkey meal baskets
for SOS. Robin is excited about the combined efforts of the
community. “You touch a whole lot more lives,” she said. To
participate in this group’s effort, call June Wright at
281-259-6545.
“The one thing that is so important about this is that
when people in the community do something like this, it
frees up our money to help people with their lights, rent,
and with other supplemental assistance,” said SOS Executive
Director Judy Everett.
Everett said several area churches have committed to
providing specific items for the food baskets. “The Magnolia
Bible Church is collecting cornbread, the Woodland Place
Baptist Church is collecting canned pumpkin, and the
Apostolic Tabernacle is collecting sweet potatoes.” The
non-profit group spent $4,000 on turkeys last year, in
addition to donations, she said.
As the administrator of the Montgomery County Block Grant
funds, the primary source of funds for the non-profit group,
Everett said volunteers perform all of the work at SOS.
“We hope to feed 450 families this year,” she said.
Everett said the Houston Food Bank is requiring proof of
residence in the form of a Social Security number for each
family member this year. That makes the application process
a little more time consuming, she said. As a result, more
volunteers are needed to help process applications.
“We are in need of those people, church groups or civic
organizations that can contribute their time on Tuesdays or
Thursdays to take the applications, create delivery maps,
verify identification, or be a Spanish interpreter,” said
Everett.
From now until Dec. 19, turkeys can be dropped off at the
SOS business offices located at 31355 Industrial Park Lane.
Arrangements to have a turkey picked up can be made by
calling Robin Carter at 832-276-8962 or Shining Star 4H
Manager Angela Williams at 281-259-9161.
Barry, along with other 4H’ers, church groups and SOS
volunteers will deliver food baskets on Nov. 20. Deliveries
are done in pairs of volunteers, Everett said.
Those in need may apply at the SOS business office on
Tuesdays or Thursdays in person. To volunteer call
281-252-9647. The SOS pantry is currently in need of
shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, and dish soap.
Waller ISD establishes committees to evaluate
possible new facilities
During a special called Waller Independent School
District Board of Trustees meeting Oct. 30, Dr. Pat Guseman
of Population and Survey Analysts and her colleagues
presented the board with data on the expected growth of
Waller ISD in the near future. Following the presentation,
the board voted to adopt a resolution that authorizes the
formation of a citizens’ committee to evaluate the capacity,
quality, functionality, and safety of all the district’s
existing facilities. Their goal is to make sure all elements
are in place to provide an excellent education for every
student in Waller ISD.
Waller Independent School District Board of Trustees held a
special meeting Oct. 30. Waller ISD Board members (left to
right) Bo Pierce (secretary), Paul Wood (member), and Robert
Carvell (president) listen to data presented by Dr. Pat
Guseman of Population and Survey Analysts. The data showed
the district is anticipating record growth in the near
future and should plan accordingly.
Because Waller ISD is anticipating record growth with
several subdivisions being constructed within the district,
extensive facility planning is required, the district said.
The board and Waller ISD’s administration invite all parents
and community members to an organizational meeting to be
held Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Waller High
School. The meeting will introduce the planning process and
develop sub-committees to examine current facilities,
projected growth, financing options, tax rate, grade
alignment, potential sites, technology infrastructure,
transportation needs and other sub-committees that may be
required.
“Parent and community participation is a very important
component in determining the needs of Waller ISD. We look
forward to seeing everyone Nov. 14 and beginning the process
of assessing those needs so that WISD can be prepared for
our bright future,” Waller ISD Superintendent Richard
McReavy said.
Those interested may call Tracy Pershall at 936-931-3685
or e-mail her at tpershal@waller.isd.esc4.net to sign up for
a planning committee or simply attend the Nov. 14 meeting at
WHS.
According to the district, the results of the planning
committee will be presented to the Waller ISD Board of
Trustees with a recommendation on the best course of action
to meet the needs of current and future students in the
district. The specific language of the adopted resolution
can be found on Waller’s Web site at www.waller.isd.esc4.net
under the “School Board” link on the left side of the
computer screen.
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