Published: December 18, 2008 10:05 pm      

HISD makes rodeo team official organization

The Huntsville Independent School District trustees approved the National High School Rodeo Association as a sanctioned organization within the district during Thursday night’s meeting.

The board also made several year-end decisions and acknowledged several accomplished groups and individuals.

HISD Superintendent Richard Montgomery made the recommendation to the trustees that the high school rodeo association be recognized and supported as an officially sanctioned school activity.

“We believe the board should sanction this as an official school activity for several reasons,” Montgomery said when making the proposal. “After I looked into the work that has to go into this, I realized the work which goes into this organization is just as challenging as anything we have in UIL.

“They work just as hard as our athletes and our musicians, and we feel they should be recognized for that work. Students will be required to maintain the same eligibility standards as required by Texas law and the UIL.”

Montgomery said the approval of the organization as a sanctioned group would give the students additional opportunities to receive scholarships and other benefits.

Currently 13 Huntsville High School students participate in the organization as well as several middle school students.

Following a set of employee and student recognitions, the board approved a brief action agenda and heard several information items.

The board also approved a contract for legal services with the Houston-based Thompson & Horton, LLP.

“A group of attorneys we have worked with in the past have decided to open up their own firm,” Montgomery said. “This group will focus on the whole range of things that have to do with the field of education.

“They will represent higher education as well as other legislative issues.”

According to Montgomery, the district spent more than $20,000 less in legal fees during the last school year than was allotted in the annual budget.

The amount of money spent with Thompson & Horton, LLP, Montgomery said, will depend on the legal issues which arise during the next year.

The board also appointed a new representative — Huntsville Intermediate School teacher Kristen Creel — as a representative to the City of Huntsville Youth Advisory board.

In other action, the board recognized the HISD Volunteers of the Month, Tracy and Bob Stoudt, the Employee of the Month, Gibbs Elementary teacher Esmirna Cardenas, and the Educator of the Month, Stewart Elementary teacher Susan Nolan.

As well, Griselda Perez — a fourth-grade Scott Johnson Elementary student who designed HISD’s holiday card — received a plaque for her design which included one of the cards her art was printed on.

The Huntsville High School Military Marching Band, HISD students who qualified for the middle school Region IX All-Region Band, the HHS Volleyball team and the Wrangler High School All-Star Rodeo Team were also recognized.

Finally, the board hired Javian Taylor as a HHS science teacher and Shara Surrant as a fourth-grade teacher at Stewart Elementary.



Information items

Several district representatives presented the board with testimonies and reports Thursday following the action agenda.

Approximately 25 young men from Huntsville High School who participated in the recent Lone Star College - North Harris Black Male Summit attended the meeting to give a presentation about their experience.

The event, an inspirational program which invited the group of dual-credit class participants to meet with special role models, impacted both the students and the counselors who attended it.

“This year, we were invited to the first ever Men of Distinction Black Male Summit, which featured a group of educators, lawyers, judges and businessmen who saw a need to set an example for young black males,” HHS counselor Shirley Thompson said. “We were able to go, and it was just awesome. It was so motivational and so inspirational, and as a counselor, I realized this was the kind of event we all need.”

HHS student Michael Franklin addressed the board to share his experience at the event.

“This summit showed me that I can be different,” he said. “Even the title, ‘Men of Distinction,’ eliminates the problem of stereotypes by addressing us as men, not boys.”

HHS Boys Basketball Team booster club representatives also shared information on recent fundraising efforts made by the team and other fundraising opportunities available.

A report on the Texas Education Agency state aide payment schedule was presented by Montgomery, and a report was also given by Montgomery on the HISD board members’ continuing education.

Finally, HISD Director of Secondary Education Marjetta Spriggs made a presentation on the Oct. 2008 exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test results.

The next regular HISD meeting will be held on Jan. 22.