Booster Club Meets Monday July 2

The Skidmore Tynan Athletic Booster Club will hold their monthly meeting this Monday July 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. in the annex next to the weight room. Decisions need to be made for several upcoming events. Some of the more important items include the annual barbecue for the home football game, the beginning of the year hamburger kick off for all athletes, and of course those important ad sales for our home game programs. Come see what else is going on and become a player of the most supportive club for athletes at our High School.

Free Math Classes for Incoming CBC Students

Coastal Bend College will hold a free summer math session for students looking to enter college-level math in the fall. The program will be held on the Beeville Campus from July 9 to Aug. 14.

Recent high school graduates can take advantage of the summer session to get ready for college-level math. Students who participate can earn vouchers up to $350 towards fall enrollment at Coastal Bend College. Tuition is free. Books and supplies are free. Lunch and snack are free. Summer dorms are free or students can apply for a transportation stipend. Length of the program will vary based on individual success and can be as short as two weeks.

To sign up for “Developing Bridges to Student Success,” contact Mary Kay Best at (361)354-2402 or (361)354-2304. To submit an application go to www.coastalbend.edu

Incoming Freshman Invited to Attend CBC Cougar Camp

Sign up now for Coastal Bend College Cougar Camp. If you plan to enroll at Coastal Bend College in Fall 2007, you are eligible for Cougar Camp, Aug. 8-10. Cougar Camp will be held at CBC Beeville Campus. It is available to students attending any CBC campus (Beeville, Alice, Pleasanton, Kingsville).

The overnight camp session includes free room and board during the camp and early registration for fall classes. Participants will attend a variety of workshops to identify and develop the skills needed for success in college. Students will also be given the opportunity to connect with faculty and staff and meet other students from the surrounding area.

To sign up, students must have no more than 15 college credit hours. Applications must be received by July 25. For information, call Kelly Rea at 354-2529 or online at www.uhv.edu/titlev/component1/about.asp

S-T ISD Trustees to Authorize Bond Issue and Policy Updates in July

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD will be held July 16, 2007, beginning at 6:00 p.m.

Agenda action items include:

• Consideration and Possible Approval of an Order Authorizing the Issuance, Sale and Delivery of Skidmore-Tynan Independent School District Unlimited Tax School Building Bonds, Series 2007, and Approving Other Matters Incident and Related Thereto

• Consideration and Possible Action to Repeal All Previously Adopted Policies and Adoption of (Local) Policies as Prepared by TASB Policy Service

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Personnel Recommendation(s)

The meeting will be held in the Skidmore-Tynan School District Event Center Board Room.

S-T ISD Trustees Grant Grievance Appeal at Special Meeting

A Special Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD was held June 19, 2007, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the S-T ISD Event Center Board Room.

The following items appeared on the agenda of the specially called meeting:

• DISCUSSION OR CLOSED SESSION ITEM - (Mr. Rick Olivares) Pursuant to Section 551.082 and 551.074 of the Texas Government Code, the Board Shall Hear the Timeliness of a Grievance Filed by Parent/Student and the Administration's Response to the Timeliness of such Parent/Student Complaint. Trustees adjourned to closed session on this matter. Trustees Keith Petrus and Ken Haggard did not take part in the closed session meeting, citing concerns about its legality under the Open Meetings Act. Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez also chose not to attend the closed session meeting.

Action items included on the agenda follow:

• Board Shall Take Appropriate Action Re: Items Discussed in Closed Session (Mr. Rick Olivares). Trustees voted 4-0 to grant the Grievance appeal. Trustees Keith Petrus, Ken Haggard, and Ysrael Salinas abstained from voting.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Revisions to Board Policy BBF (Local), Board Members: Ethics. This item was approved.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Revisions to the STISD Board of Trustee Operating Procedures. This item was postponed to a tentatively scheduled August special board meeting.

The state-mandated School Board "Team of Eight" training session originally scheduled for this meeting was postponed until August due to a family emergency experienced by one of the presenters.

The next regular meeting of the S-T ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday, July 16, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the S-T ISD Events Center Board Room.

S-T ISD Trustees Authorize Proposals for Campus-Wide Improvements

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Skidmore-Tynan ISD was held June 11, 2007, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Skidmore-Tynan School District Event Center Board Room.

The board recognized the following members of baseball team who received post season honors: Ricky Gutierrez, 1st Team Pitcher; Jared Kimball, 1st Team Outfielder (unanimous); Ben Mengers, 2nd Team 1st Base; Chris Hall, Honorable Mention 2nd Base; Mark Cuellar, Honorable Mention Catcher; and Noel Solis, Honorable Mention Designated Hitter.

In the Superintendent's report, Dr. Brett Belmarez congratulated the saxophone trio of Cody Coker, Alan Hinojosa, and Victoria Lopez who earned a 2nd Division rating at State competition. Dr. Belmarez noted that a TDCJ crew would be available this summer to help with facilities improvements, various summer camps were about to get underway, stadium upgrades would begin within a week, at that a site survey would be conducted to assess unforeseen drainage issues as they related to the bond financed campus-wide facilities improvements.

Action items addressed at the meeting included:

• (Agenda Item 6A) Consideration of Appeal for the Dismissal of an Untimely Filed Grievance by Mr. Sid Arismendez c/o Mr. & Mrs. R.S. (Mr. Rick Olivares). After considerable discussion, this item was postponed until the June 19 special meeting.

• (If the Appeal of Item 6A is Successful) Action Regarding the Student/Parent Complaint of R.S., as Discussed in Closed Session (Mr. Rick Olivares). This item was dropped from the agenda per the postponement of "Item 6A."

• Consideration and Possible Action to Declare the Superintendent of chools as Designee for Construction Change Orders (as needed) up to the Purchasing Limit in Board Policy CH (Local) This item was approved with a spending limit set at $17,000.00 cumulative per project. Purchases in excess of this amount require board approval.

• Consideration and Possible Approval to Allow Staff and Consultants to Proceed with Document Preparation for the Possible Issuance of Bonds (Southwest Securities). This item was approved.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Donation from Prosperity Bank and Approval of the District's Portion of the Purchase of a New Scoreboard at the Football Stadium. This item was approved. Dr. Belmarez publicly thanked Prosperity Bank president, Mickey Lofton, who attended the meeting.

• Consideration and Approval of a Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Certain Expenditures with Borrowing Proceeds in an amount Not to Exceed $3,900,000.00, and Resolving Other Matters Incident and Related to Such Election. This item was approved.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Proposal for Professional Services: Architect. Trustees agreed to accept proposals for campus-wide parking improvements and covered walkways, construction of a career center, an elementary pavilion, additions to the middle school and other campus improvements.

• Consideration and Possible Action to Accept Prevailing Wage Rates. This item was approved.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Personnel Recommendation(s). Trustees approved the hiring of High School Social Studies teacher, Toni Tungate, formerly of Kingsville ISD; High School Physical Education/Coach, Jesse Adrian Pena, formerly with Kenedy ISD; and High School Chemistry teacher, Amanda Hubbard.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of TASB Delegate for the 2007 TASA/TASB Annual Convention. Trustee Keith Petrus was named delegate to the convention. Rick Olivares was selected as an alternate.

The next meeting of the S-T ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled Monday, July 16, 2007, at 6:00 p.m. in the Events Center Board Room.

Burris Makes News with "Grease Car"

Ray Burris' cousin Timmy Burris of Bullard, Texas, made Tyler's KLTV 7 News: Tylerite vegging out with grease car.

June Skidmore Signal

Pick up the latest print edition of the Skidmore Signal at the Chisholm Trail Cafe, Dalia's Cafe, Lucky Horseshoe, or Papa's Market.

S-T Grad Survives Head-On Collision

The Dodge Dynasty Josh Gentry was driving is now a barely recognizable mass of twisted metal.

Josh Gentry is truly blessed. The recent Skidmore-Tynan graduate, and former Bobcat band drum major, was involved in a horrific 65 MPH head-on collision Monday, June 18, near Sinton and escaped with serious but not life threatening injuries. The accident occurred around 8:00 p.m. when the driver of an oncoming pickup truck fell asleep at the wheel and veered into the opposite lane. Witnesses to the accident describe Josh as alert and joking with the paramedics as they used the "jaws of life" to extract him from the twisted wreckage of his vehicle. Both drivers were flown by Halo Flight to Corpus Christi's Spohn Hospital.

"God's hand was with Josh," said his father, Dan Gentry. "He did not sustain any life threatening injuries, but did sustain a broken femur (left leg) and his right arm, next to his wrist is shattered. Please keep him in your prayers, that God heals him totally. He is worried that he will not be able to play his guitar anymore and sing for the Lord."

Sign Up Now for July Football Camp

Skidmore-Tynan Athletics Director Adam Arroyo informs the Signal that Football Camp is scheduled July 24-26 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Bobcat Field. Registration packets may be picked up at the ST elementary and junior high offices or at the athletic office.

Gutierrez Represents South Texas at National Student Leadership Congress

Left to right: Johnathon Ramon, Beeville Tx., Ricky Gutierrez, Skidmore Tx., Kendra Garza, Falfurrias Tx., and Alyssa Ordonez, Alice Tx. (not Pictured) Rocky Venecia, Pettus Tx.

Skidmore-Tynan's Ricky Gutierrez was among five area students nominated by TRIO Counselors to represent the Southern region of Texas at the 17th Annual National Student Leadership Congress. The students spent six days in our Nation's Capitol in Washington D.C. learning key elements of effective leadership, participating in workshops on decision-making and problem-solving, participating in community building through service, learning and participating in the political process and coalition building, multiculturalism and diversity, attended Mock Congress ,meeting with their Members of Congress, and visiting historical and cultural sites.

S-T ISD Trustees Attend San Antonio Leadership Conference

S-T ISD Trustees from left to right: Cipriano Guerra, Esequiel Ortiz, Daniel Gonzales, Rick Olivares, Ysrael Salinas, Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez, and Keith Petrus (not pictured - Ken Haggard)

S-T ISD school board members joined trustees from across the state at the Texas Association of School Boards' (TASB) Summer Leadership Institute June 14-16 in San Antonio. More than 2,500 new and veteran school leaders received in-depth training on every facet of effective board governance.

Thursday's general session featured Tonea Stewart, actress, director, educator, and humanitarian, who also is a tenured professor and director of theatre arts at Alabama State University. In her session, My Grandmother's Hands, she inspired attendees to keep believing in children and in the work they do for districts while reminding them to put aside self interest, work toward unity, and rally on behalf of children and their communities.

Hot topics explored during the two-and-a-half day institute included emergency management, student safety on the Internet, pre-K programs, and clear communication on testing and accountability results. Breakout sessions focused on such topics as school prayer, environmental and facility-related regulations, bond proceeds management, public engagement through district planning, construction budgets, and education technology trends.

TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local public school districts. Texas school board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 4.5 million students.

Plot Owners Invited to Skidmore Cemetery Association Meeting

The Skidmore Cemetery Association will hold a business meeting at the Skidmore Fire Station on Tuesday, June 26, at 7:00 P.M. The agenda will include election of trustees and officers, a financial report, and a proposal for management and maintenance of the cemetery. Plot owners or family members are urged to attend. For additional information, contact David Ross at 287-3355.

Torres Named to All District Softball 1st Team

Congratulations to the following athletes named to the 2007 All District Softball Team:

Liz Torres – 1st Team 1st Base
Nicole Hudson - 2nd Team Picther
Kristin Gonzales - 2nd Team Designated Hitter
Melanie Sepeda - 2nd Team Outfielder
Jennifer Pueblo - Honorable Mention Shortstop
Beth Gonzales - Honorable Mention Outfielder

Saxophone Trio Competes at State

Bobcat band director Florencio Lara reports the saxophone trio of Cody Coker, Alan Hinojosa, and Victoria Lopez earned a 2nd Division rating at State competition. "I am so very proud of them," said Mr. Lara. "In reading the comments, I could tell that the judge had a tough time deciding whether to go with a First Division or a Second Division. They did so well."

Gutierrez - Kimball Named to All District Baseball 1st Team

Congratulations to the following athletes receiving post-season honors in varsity baseball:

Ricky Gutierrez - 1st Team Pitcher
Jared Kimball - 1st Team Outfielder (unanimous)
Ben Mengers - 2nd Team 1st Base
Chris Hall - Honorable Mention 2nd Base
Mark Cuellar - Honorable Mention Catcher
Noel Solis - Honorable Mention Designated Hitter

Show Your Spirit at Bobcat Cheerleader Mini-Camp

"OK mini-campers, the Skidmore-Tynan Bobcat Cheerleaders have set up summer mini-camp for this year! The Cheerleader Mini-Camp will be held the June, 25th-28th in the new gym. Mini-camp is tentatively set from 1:00 p.m. -5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Mini-campers are encouraged to be on time every day to maximize fun time! Parents will be invited to join us at 5:00 p.m. on the last day for a special performance. Remember, the cost for a camper is $35, and each will receive a mini-camp T-shirt. Registration forms will be in campus offices to pick up. You may turn the forms in at the office or on the first day of camp. We look forward to seeing everyone there!" -- Stephanie Gain, S-T Cheerleading Sponsor