Claycomb Associates, Architects

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Low-interest federal disaster loans are available to Texas businesses and residents affected by the Smokehouse Creek Fire and the Windy Deuce Fire that began Feb. 26, announced Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SBA acted under its own authority to declare a disaster in response to a request SBA received from Gov. Greg Abbott on March 11. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in Armstrong, Carson, Donley, Gray, Hansford, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Lipscomb, Moore, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman and Wheeler counties in Texas; and Ellis and Roger Mills counties in Oklahoma. “SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Texas’ small businesses and residents impacted by the Smokehouse Creek Fire and the Windy Deuce Fire,” said Administrator Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.” view article arw

The school district will be hosting multiple activities for its students to promote LGBT ideology. As government schools continue to show their commitment to promoting sex and gender ideology to children, Austin Independent School District is preparing to host its annual “Pride Week” pushing teachers and kids to “celebrate LGBTQIA+ students, staff and families.” Austin ISD said the event, set for March 18-23, will “highlight the district’s commitment to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.” According to the district’s website, each campus will receive a guide of suggested resources and activities staff can put on for students. view article arw

The committee is meant to collect data, review the Houston Police Department’s work, ensure transparency, and report to Mayor Whitmire.  Houston Mayor John Whitmire has announced the names of individuals staffing an independent review committee that will operate alongside the police department as they review the 264,000 incident reports that were closed using a code indicating there was not enough personnel to investigate.   “Criminal justice is a system. Any component of it that is broken affects the entire system. We have discovered a terribly broken component in our local criminal justice system,” said Whitmire.  He also said he believes this incident has manipulated the city’s crime rate reporting, and he believes previous statements about the city’s crime rate going down were “spin.” This echoes a similar statement from Police Chief Troy Finner, who the night before said the only crime rate he was confident in is homicide because “there’s a body,” but indicated he does not have faith in the statistics for other types of crime. view article arw

SHREVEPORT, LA – If I asked you what’s the fastest growing high school sport in the U.S. you probably would not get it right. Maybe you would if you have a daughter.  And it’s not pickle ball. I don’t think that’s a high school sport yet. But I bet that clock is ticking.  We know fishing is a high school sport (though it’s non sanctioned in Louisiana). Powerlifting is a sanctioned sport. And you have all the standard sports: football. basketball, baseball, soccer, etc.   view article arw

Round Rock ISD students are getting a jump start in their careers thanks to the district's career and technical education program. Round Rock High School has a Co-Op store, which is fully run by students. "What we learn in the classroom, I would say it kind of correlates to this. I mean, we learned leadership skills. We learned ways to manage a team. We learned ways to collaborate with others," says Ashlyn Mehok, Round Rock High School student. view article arw

The Hallsville ISD Career and Technical Education Department hosted an advisory council meeting Feb. 29 to celebrate the department's success. The meeting took place at the high school campus to bring National Career and Technical Education Month to a close. The event welcomed community members, local professionals and students to celebrate the CTE program and the opportunities it can provide. Culinary arts students provided lunch for the meeting. view article arw

For 10-year-old Hudson ISD student Logan Pillows, defying the stigma of what he can and can’t do isn’t anything new. “I don’t usually think of the downsides, I just think of the upsides of everything,” says Pillows. Pillows is legally blind, and has been since birth, only being able to see shapes and primary colors, with four inches of peripheral vision. view article arw

In January and February, Round Rock ISD announced an expansion of a program offering free associates degrees to students, as well as a new advanced science course coming in the 2024-25 school year. Starting this fall, Round Rock ISD students will be able to pursue associate degrees free of charge through a new partnership with Austin Community College. view article arw

Artificial intelligence is supercharging the threat of election disinformation worldwide, making it easy for anyone to create fake – but convincing – content aimed at fooling voters. People in countries with low literacy rates, such as Bangladesh and India, are especially vulnerable to social media misinformation.  It marks a quantum leap from a few years ago, when creating phony photos, videos or audio clips required teams of people with time, technical skill and money. Now, using free and low-cost generative artificial intelligence services from companies like Google and OpenAI, anyone can create high-quality “deepfakes” with just a simple text prompt.  A wave of AI deepfakes tied to elections in Europe and Asia has coursed through social media for months, serving as a warning for more than 50 countries heading to the polls this year. view article arw

"Don't come back," the politician wrote to angry artists, while South by Southwest's organizers distanced themselves from him  Organizers of the music festival South by Southwest, which takes place annually in Austin, sparred with Texas Governor Greg Abbott on social media Tuesday. After the governor criticized bands that had pulled out of the festival over objections to the U.S. Army sponsoring it, writing “Don’t come back,” the festival’s official X, formerly Twitter, account responded, “SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbott.” The music component of the festival started on Monday and will run through Saturday.   view article arw

Things got personal at the most recent Spring Branch ISD board workshop as discussion turned to the possible renaming of the district’s education center, currently named after former Superintendent Duncan F. Klussmann. “Some districts have policies where they don’t name buildings after people who are alive,” board member Lisa Andrews Alpe said at the meeting. “And maybe there’s a darn good reason for that.” view article arw

Richardson ISD is trying to help students reduce the fear of transitioning from high school to college. Mia Frederking is a senior at Pearce High School in Richardson ISD, where students are taking college-level pre-calculus. "Math is really more of a puzzle to me," she said. "Figure out which one goes into which spot." If that isn't hard enough--kids do it when they're adjusting to being away from home-- living and working on their own. view article arw

Round Rock ISD students are getting a jump start in their careers thanks to the career and technical education program. FOX 7's Jessica Rivera shows us what they're learning. view article arw

During TSPRA’s annual conference last weekend, which included the Star Awards banquet, the organization recognized outstanding contributions in school communications. This includes individuals, school districts and education foundations. RISD earned a Gold Award in the Best of Category for its “Calling All Retired Teachers” postcards and flyers. The district also received accolades for its RISD brand package, booklets, programs, postcards and posters. Additionally, the team’s event portfolio for the Richardson ISD Prom garnered a “Crystal Commendation Certificate of Merit.” view article arw

More than 80 music artists and multiple panelists have canceled appearances at South by Southwest Festival over the U.S. Army’s sponsorship of the event. Gov. Greg Abbott’s response is “Bye. Don’t come back.” view article arw

Community college leaders hope free tuition programs will help change the conversation about the affordability of higher education amid a growing skepticism over the value of a college degree.   Texas community colleges know many high schoolers are skeptical of higher education because of the price tag. Some want to change that conversation by using new state dollars to waive tuition for some of their youngest students.  Austin Community College, one of the most populous junior colleges in the state, is set to waive tuition for this year’s graduating high school seniors through 2027. ACC’s Board of Trustees will vote on the proposal in April. If the proposal passes, the school would use the $6.8 million it received this year through House Bill 8 — the legislation passed last year that expanded the pot of money junior colleges get funding from and tied future funds to positive student outcomes — to pay for this benefit. view article arw

Perfection!

March 1308:42 AM
 

A perfect season is the most impressive single season accomplishment in all of sports. The Plano East boys basketball program completed one at the Alamodome on Saturday, defeating Round Rock Stony Point 53-41 in the Class 6A state championship. Plano East is the first school to reach perfection in Texas’ largest classification since Duncanville in the 2007 season.  What would Plano East head coach Matt Wester have done if you told him Plano East would complete a perfect season?  “I probably would’ve laughed,” Wester said. “Going into the final four we had a 27-point margin of victory average. That’s just silly, right?”  It took 16 years for anyone to match Duncanville, and Plano East arguably one-upped the school by winning 40 games.  Reaching perfection “means everything” to Plano East guard Narit Chotikavanic.  “We put in so much work and practiced so hard,” Chotikavanic said. “It means the world to all these fans who came out here to support us. It means the world to us.”  Wester said he knew the Panthers had a good chance to win state, but the way they did it – winning both tournament games by double figures and reaching perfection – spoke volumes. view article arw

Students learned about farm equipment used to plant corn through Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) Farm From School program. Kindergarten through fifth-grade students virtually “meet” with a farmer or rancher once a month through Farm From School on a video conferencing app. This month, Colin Chopelas, a farmer in Corpus Christi, showed students the equipment used to plant corn. “Students across the state tuned into our first Farm From School visit of 2024 to learn about tractors, planters and combines from Colin,” said Jordan Bartels, TFB associate director Organization Division, Education Outreach. “Students asked Colin many questions about the equipment used on the farm and how corn is planted.” view article arw

Student population growth in Humble ISD is expected to level off in the coming decade as the area faces a shortage of land for additional development, according to a January report issued by demographic firm Population and Survey Analysts. view article arw

Neighborhood Schools at Dallas ISD offer engaging extracurriculars for students year-round. view article arw

Officials at Princeton ISD have removed more than 100 library books deemed “inappropriate” for review. The move came after the nonprofit Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) conducted an audit that found “148 inappropriate books in the school’s libraries,” according to a press release from the organization. “For decades, districts and parents have relied on these institutions to recommend quality educational material. Most people don’t realize those same institutions have dramatically shifted against the values of most parents,” said Shannon Ayres, CDF education division lead. read more arw

Karnack ISD recently celebrated Texas Public Schools Week with several districtwide activities for students on campus, including a Read All Day event. The celebrations lasted over a week as KISD hosted many different activities for students to participate for Texas Public Schools Week. The events brought students, staff, and faculty together to engage with one another as part of the festivities. On Friday, the KISD students were given the opportunity to participate in the Read All Day event. view article arw

Julius Gordon Obituary

March 1208:44 AM
 

Julius "Sonny" Webb Gordon was born on March 23, 1939, to Julius and Celia Gordon in Austin, Texas. Growing up, Julius loved playing in the creek behind his house. He also played basketball with a net hung from a tree, where he had to dribble uphill to score. His favorite subjects in school were biology, P.E., and lunch. Some of his favorite childhood memories were hunting and fishing with his father, where they would talk freely and frankly with each other. Julius graduated from "Old Anderson" High School in 1956. He then served in the Navy at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California, for two years before returning to Austin, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Sociology from Huston-Tillotson College. Julius went on to earn a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling and Guidance at Prairie View A&M University. He was initiated into the Gamma Lambda Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in 1970. view article arw

An Edinburg student placed 1st place at the Regional Spelling Bee and advanced to nationals. Caleb Giuoco competed on Saturday at the Regional Spelling. Giuoco advanced to the National Scripps Spelling Bee where he will represent South Middle School. view article arw

The La Joya ISD board voted on February 28 to cancel the 2024 Superintendent’s Scholarship Golf Classic, at least in part because of ethical concerns. This year’s tournament would have been the 18th annual golf classic. “Ultimately, the decision reflects a strategic evaluation of the effectiveness of past fundraising methods and a commitment to activities that align more closely with the educational goals and values of this district,” CFO Ben Garza said of administration’s recommendation to end the fundraiser last month. view article arw

Fort Worth City Council member Jeanette Martinez had a question for kindergarteners sitting inside S.S. Dillow Elementary’s gym. “How many of you know how to ride a bike?” Martinez asked. Less than half of the class raised their hands. A new program in Fort Worth ISD will change that. Fort Worth engineering firm HDR donated $360,000 to All Kids Bike, an initiative that teaches students how to ride a bicycle during school hours. The program just started at S.S. Dillow Elementary, the first Fort Worth ISD school to implement the program, according to a district spokesperson. view article arw

Stephenville Independent School District seniors in the top 50 percent of their graduating class will continue to earn automatic admission to Tarleton State University, thanks to a three-year renewal of the district’s Distinguished High School Partners pact. As part of the program, Tarleton State also waives ACT or SAT requirements for students in the top half of their class and application fees for students who qualify. view article arw

Before getting a few well-deserved off days for spring break, several local high schoolers were putting in work as the Angelina County Drug-Free All-Stars concluded their annual Sticker Shock campaign in Huntington Friday morning. The event was a reminder of the consequences adults can face if they choose to provide alcohol to minors. They do this every year by putting stickers on various cases of beer pointing out what could happen if caught. Those punishments could include a year in jail, a $4,000 fine and a six-month driver’s license suspension view article arw

Another Texas county is taking drastic measures to prepare for an influx of skygazers coming to the state for the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. On Friday, Travis County Judge Andy Brown issued a disaster declaration in anticipation of extremely large crowds, increased traffic, as well as a strain on first responders, hospitals and roads on the days leading up to, on, and the day after the once-in-a-lifetime event. The county is situated near the centerline of the eclipse's narrow path of totality. view article arw

Students at Bryan ISD’s alternative high school may have a new home as early as the fall of 2024. The principal at M.C. Harris school, Karen Kaspar, told school board members Monday (March 4) that 12 to 15 students are learning in rooms of a former hospital building that are one-third to one-half the size of a normal classroom. Administrators asked school board members to move M.C. Harris students to space in the former Milam elementary school that is not being used by BISD’s special education department. Associate superintendent Barbara Ybarra said staff at M.C. Harris and the special education department have been notified. Board member Mark McCall, who said he wants to ensure there are places for what he calls students in recovery to graduate, suggested moving M.C. Harris students to Bryan Collegiate High School and move Collegiate students to the RELLIS campus. view article arw

Ramirez is still receiving at least 50 packages every day from people as far as Japan, Netherlands and Kuwait.  Ramirez is still receiving at least 50 packages every day from people as far as Japan, Netherlands and Kuwait. view article arw

The Fort Worth Independent School District will combine two schools next year in an effort to trim its budget and adjust for declining enrollment. The plan calls for the consolidation of the Wedgewood 6th Grade campus with Wedgewood Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year. view article arw

Silos Elementary School is a sprawling $43 million campus under construction on the slight ridge of a new subdivision in far west Bexar County. Medina Valley Independent School District, a mostly rural but rapidly growing district, plans to open its sixth school for kindergarten through fifth-grade students there in the fall. But the district’s plan for which students will attend Silos has Medina Valley parents questioning how those decisions were made and what to do about it. view article arw

The Laredo Independent School District’s Communications Department was recognized among the best in the State of Texas after winning two Best of Category Star Awards, five Gold Star Awards, five Silver Star Awards, and four Bronze Star Awards from the Texas School Public Relations Association. view article arw

School board trustees took action to remove the books from circulation for review following an audit by Citizens Defending Freedom Trustees in Princeton Independent School District have removed more than 100 “inappropriate” library books from circulation for review in response to concerns raised by public education advocates. Grassroots advocacy group Citizens Defending Freedom found the questionable titles through an audit of the school district’s libraries. Collin County CDF Education Division Lead Shannon Ayres exposed the content of some of the books at Princeton ISD’s February 26 school board meeting..  Ayres said CDF volunteers searched Princeton ISD libraries for 408 titles they believe violate standards imposed by House Bill 900, legislation that prohibits explicit or educationally unsuitable books in school libraries.  The audit found 148 of the titles in Princeton school libraries. view article arw