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Trustees approve $5.4M budget
Clarendon ISD Trustees approve a $5.4 million budget last Tuesday, August 30, reflecting a loss of more than $400,000 in state funds.
Superintendent Monty Hysinger said the new budget is about eight percent less than the current budget, and he said falling enrollment is hurting the school district in addition to general education cuts by the state.
CISD also lost more than $100,000 in federal stimulus money which expired.
“We were at 533 two years ago and at 503 at the end of the school year this year,”
Hysinger said. “Today [Sept. 5] we’re at 488.”
Hysinger said he thinks the economy and demographics are behind the falling enrollment.
“We lost a large senior class, and our lower grades are tending to be smaller,” he
said. “I think it’s a sign of the economy and the times as people have to look for work elsewhere.”
Hysinger said enrollments in Claude and Memphis are up but many districts are down.
To deal with the loss of funds, the school reduced 6½ positions and tightened its belt wherever possible.
Looking to next year, Hysinger says the school will lose another $127,000 in expiring federal funds and state funds will be cut by another $100,000 to $150,000 depending on enrollment.
Trustees adopted the same tax rate as last year, $1.04 per $100 valuation, but that is legally the highest the district can have without going to the voters.
“We’ve had that rate the last four years,” Hysinger said. “We plan to work like crazy to stay at $1.04 next year and see what the legislature does [in 2013]. If we don’t get some relief, we may have to ask the voters for some support.”
Hysinger said he believes the case can be made that Clarendon ISD is being prudent with its funds while still being progressive with some programs – such as the school’s laptop computer initiative – and working hard to maintain its facilities.
“We’re positioned as good as we can be,” Hysinger said.
Cross country runners
Ice cream social
Hedley ISD holds line on tax rate
The Hedley ISD Board of Trustees adopted a $1.57 million budget and held the line on taxes when they met last Monday, August 29.
Superintendent Eric Hough said the budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 is about four percent less than last year and deals with the loss of about $70,000 in state funds.
“We’ll be using substitutes less and have made some personnel changes – replaced a full time position with a part time, for example – and doing everything we can to offset the losses,” Hough said.
A motion to raise the school’s tax rate by one cent to $1.07 failed on a 3-3 vote, Hough said. Trustees then voted unanimously to maintain the current tax rate of $1.10 with $1.04 for maintenance and operations and a debt rate of $0.06.
Hough said enrollment is currently at 125 students, which is down ten from the high point last year.
“We’ve been graduating larger classes than what is coming into the lower grades,” Hough said. “I think it just fluctuates, and we’re in a down time right now.”
The British Are Coming
The Enterprise sat down with these two young men, Alex Palomeque of Bristol and Jake Bond of London, both 18, along with their parents, Julia and Gavin Palomeque and Carol and Steven Bond, and Golf Coach and Athletic Director John Green to discuss their journey to Clarendon and their plans while attending CC.
Both Alex and Jake have played golf since age 12 and give almost identical answers to questions despite growing up 100 miles apart and only meeting Thursday.
Q: How did you find out about CC and what’s different about being here?
Jake – The sports agency suggested Coach Green. When I found out (about Clarendon) I looked forward to coming to Texas. I was excited. I had no idea what Texas would be like. Everyone is so friendly here is so friendly. People in London are so grumpy. The weather here is so much warmer and drier. It is quite lovely here.
Alex’s Dad – I expected everyone to be wearing cowboy hats but I’ve seen mostly baseball caps.
Alex – A friend’s brother had played football (soccer) through the agency that told me about Clarendon.
Coach Green – There are agencies in Canada, Europe, South Africa, and Australia. You build a relationship with them, and they know what you’re looking for. We look for the whole package – athletics and academics. I’m convinced that we’re going to the national tournament and these young men are going to us there.
Sports agencies work to connect athletes with colleges in U.S. Jake and Alex both intend to transfer to a four-year school after CC and both want to pursue careers in sports management – either as athletic directors or in the corporate world.
Jake – If I can keep a 3-point (grade average), I can move up.
Are their organized sports in schools in England?
Alex’s Dad (who teaches primary school) – There are organized teams but not like the American system. We have clubs outside of the schools.
What differences are there in school?
Alex’s Dad – Academics are different here, and I think both boys are apprehensive. Testing is a concern due to the language differences.
Jake’s Dad – We asked for the bill at a local restaurant last night and the waitress looked right through me. It’s a check… to us a check is something you draw funds from a bank with.
What food will you miss the most?
Jake and Alex – Indian food.
What other cultural differences here?
Jake – Everything is bigger and better here. We came in from the golf course yesterday and coach showed us the cinema (the Sandell Drive In). I thought he was joking. I thought it was an advertising board but it’s a huge outdoor cinema. You sit in your car and watch a movie. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.
Jake’s Mom – Customer service is phenomenal here – worlds apart from England. The people at the Best Western could not have been nicer. We’re on first name terms with all of them.
Jake’s Dad – We’ve lived in our house 22 years and only know people 2 houses in any direction. Here everyone knows everyone.
Jake’s Mom – I talked to a lady named Pat Knowles at the supermarket and she tried to tell me where she lives and she offered to take care of my son.
Three other English golfers will be attending CC this year. None of these students will be receiving scholarships but instead will pay their own way to be here.
Why did you choose Clarnendon College?
Jake – The level of education is more in depth and is better in America and of course the opportunity to play golf.
Alex – Our main goal is to get on the golf tour but have an education to fall back on.
Alex’s Dad – Ever since Alex started (playing golf), it has been his dream to come to America.
Jake’s Dad – From the parents’ perspective, it was important to us for them to experience a different culture and experience new people. Either boy could have gotten into a university at home. This will make men of them hopefully.
Alex’s Dad – A big selling point for Clarendon was John Green. He has a reputation with the agencies in England, and that swung the balance to Clarendon.
Jake’s Dad – I spoke with two fathers who had previous experience with Coach Green and that made the difference for me.
Gavin – Other colleges wanted to know what Alex would do for them. John wanted to know what he could do for Alex and said he would take care of him.
Jake’s Dad – Jake was offered a scholarship at another college but we felt like Coach Green would take care of him.
The Clarendon Country Club is showing its support for the new team by hosting a CC Meet & Greet on Saturday, September 10, at 6:30 p.m. during which the public is invited to meet Alex, Jake, and the other members of the Bulldog Golf Team. The event will be held by the swimming pool and BBQ ribs with all the trimmings will be served for $10 per person.
“We’re excited (about the college program) and hope it will encourage more young people to get involved and people to get their kids involved,” Sherol Johnson, Clarendon Country Club Treasurer said. “These kids are paying their own way at CC, and that’s incredible.”
Green says he is impressed by the club’s enthusiasm for the team.
“I have never had this happen before in my 22 years of coaching.”
Mackey accepts plea deal
A Memphis man who led police on a high speed chase through parts of Donley County and was shot by a local peace officer accepted a plea agreement when the district court met in Memphis on August 19.
Terry James Mackey was convicted for the first degree felony offense of assault against a public servant and sentenced to 30 years in the Institutional Division of TDCJ. Mackey pleaded guilty for the offense that took place on November 24, 2010, that was scheduled for a jury trial in Hall County on August 23.
Mackey, 33-year-old resident of Memphis, was indicted on three charges by a Hall County Grand Jury on February 8, 2011, but the state jail felony offense of evading arrest and the assault against a public servant were dismissed pursuant to the plea of guilty on the first degree felony offense.
Mackey pleaded guilty to the offense involving the assault against Hall County Sheriff Tim Wiginton.
“The Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department and the Donley County Sheriff’s Office were all involved in a high speed chase with this defendant on one of the heaviest traffic days in the year,” said District Attorney Luke Inman.
“All law enforcement involved took every precaution possible to make certain no one was seriously injured due to the defendant’s actions.”
Mackey struck Hall County Chief Deputy Tom Heck at the Hall County Courthouse before evading arrest in a motor vehicle and struck Wiginton during the pursuit.
According to reports, Mackey was being arrested at the Hall County Courthouse on a warrant to revoke his probation for burglary when the incident occurred.
Donley County Deputy Mike Spier tried to stop the subject at County Road 26 on US 287 by shooting the suspect’s tires. Mackie was hit by one round in the low back, but he continued to flee into Hedley.
Mackey’s car was rammed and knocked off the roadway by Memphis Police. The subject then took off on foot across some CRP land where he was apprehended by officers from the Hall and Donley County sheriff departments.
Jay Foster with the Texas Rangers Division, along with DPS Aircraft Section Clay Shelton, provided aerial footage of the route the defendant took on that busy Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Inman said.
“Evidence collection throughout this investigation was key to this plea of guilty without the necessity of a jury trial this week,” said Inman.
“It truly makes a difference in our preparation and presentation of cases when experienced, well-qualified law enforcement agents work the case and that is what we have in Hall County and the entire 100th Judicial District.”
Pursuant to the plea agreement, Mackey is required to pay $376 in court costs.
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2011 Firemen’s Appreciation Dinner
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