LGISD: Otto Retires, Students Honored
After 35 years working for the district, Monday’s La Grange Independent School Board meeting was the final one for Nora Otto, as she is retiring as the longtime school superintendent secretary and head of board relations.
“It’s been a wonderful ride,” Otto said, after she was presented gifts at the beginning of the meeting as staff and board members expressed their appreciation. Otto actually got to sit back and relax during her final meeting as her replacement Tina Huenefeld took over note taking duties during the meeting.
Several students and their teachers/coaches were also in attendance at the meeting as the board presented them certificates for advancing to the state level in competitions. Those students are pictured on page A4 today.
Public comment
There was one member from the public to speak at the meeting.
Deanna-Lowry Green, a mother of three LGISD students, spoke about the importance of student mental health and the mental and emotional toll the pandemic had taken on students. She urged the board to use some of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds the school is getting from the federal government to address those needs.
Overall the state of Texas is getting $12.4 billion in ESSER funds, with $2.78 million of that coming to LGISD. Those funds are supposed to be specifically earmarked for response to the pandemic and the impact it had on student learning.
Construction
Tony Nielsen, the project manager for the stadium/track construction project, gave an update to the board at Monday’s meeting. Completion is still expected in late August. The removal of more than two feet of stadium grass and dirt is underway, and at the request of the athletic department, that material is being used to construct a hill for athletes to run up and down for conditioning purposes south of the tennis courts.
Hires/Resignations
Several new hires were made, including Justin Fierro, a Smithville High graduate, as a new coach/teacher; Morgan Bubela as an occupational therapist; Zachary Sanchez as a new assistant band director; and Jordan Watts Davis and Valorie Longshore as new elementary teachers.
The board also accepted several resignations/retirements from: assistant band director Dana Parker, longtime LGISD coach James Magness, Allison Mouser, and Erin Stephens.
Purchases
The board also approved the purchase of new tables and chairs for the high school/middle school cafeteria at the cost of $70,657. There had not been new furniture bought for that cafeteria since it opened in 1994.
The board also approved the purchase of a new walk-in cooler/freezer for the high school cafeteria at the cost of $46,440. After being repaired several times over its 26-year lifespan, Superintendent Bill Wagner informed the board that the cooler died for the final time and was unable to be revived two weeks before the end of the spring semester this year.
Summer School, etc.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Eilers informed the board that the upcoming prekindergarten Head Start program, which will start this fall and use district facilities had 41 students signup, with a waiting list for the 0-3 age group. “Obviously there was a need,” Eilers said.
Summer school for most classifications ends this week. Eilers reported 51 high schoolers, 21 middle schoolers, 25 students in 3rd-5th grade, 24 students in 1st-2nd grade and 16 kindergarteners participated in summer school. Also 21 bilingual students are attending a summer school program that goes beyond this week.