Proclamations honoring champions highlight May meeting of SISD trustees

Dittfurth sworn in; Underwood says Christin Pack to chair 21-person facilities planning committee

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Campus leaders from Chamberlin and Hook elementary schools, Gilbert Intermediate, Henderson Junior High and Stephenville High School were recognized for the across-the-board UIL academic success at the May meeting of SISD trustees Monday at Bond Auditorium.

By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

STEPHENVILLE (May 15, 2017) — Stephenville ISD recognized its numerous state champions, other state qualifiers and more outstanding while also rewarding state champion coaches and individuals as well as two long-serving educators with core value medals, all at a regular monthly meeting of the board of trustees Monday.

Bond Auditorium was as full as it has been for a board meeting all year, as students, teachers, coaches and their families poured in for the droves of proclamations recognizing both academic and athletic achievement.

That meant the awarding of nine core value medals. Superintendent Matt Underwood said to begin the proclamations that he believed five core values medals were presented the rest of the year.

The list of postseason achievements – in any season, not just sports – was so long a budget amendment had to be approved after the proclamations for $27,000 in local funds to be appropriated for the travel expenses of so many Future Farmers of America, theater, band academic,and athletic teams and individual competitors.

“I make a motion with happiness that we approve these amendments,” said trustee Gary Sult, noting he would happily commit financial resources to aid in such lofty achievements.

First, two educators were recognized for what they have done over their entire careers – building relationships. Kathleen Huckabee was given a core values medal for relationships after 10 students over the last two years of Rotary banquets identified her as the teacher with the best relationships wit students. Dr. Joe Gillespie followed, with his relationship building leading to 30 years of Tarleton State University kinesiology students administering physical fitness exams at SISD. Gillespie retired at the end of the spring semester after 44 years at Tarleton.

With so much UIL academic success in 2016-17, much of which you read below, Underwood and trustees called up campus principals and other leaders from Chamberlin Elementary, Hook Elementary, Gilbert Intermediate, Henderson Junior High and SHS.

Multiple state champions and state and national qualifying teams and individuals were praised from the FFA program, including its floriculture team that is headed to nationals. The theatrical design, Stingerette dance and Honeybee soccer teams also claimed state titles.

Some of the individual state champions honored were Emily Moore in literary criticism, Caleb Gibbons in theatrical design and Blake Aragon in boys high jump as part of track and field. It was the second time in four days for Aragon to have a gold medal draped around his neck, as he won his championship on Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin before board president Dr. Ann Callahan had the honor of adorning him with the core values medal Monday.

The high school robotics team is off to the first world championships and the high school band and choirs each won sweepstakes Division I ratings in all phases of competition. The band’s percussion and wind groups also reached the NTCA Percussion/Wind Championships.

Here is the complete list of the proclamations (click for larger image), with photos of many of the honorees following this article:

There was business in addition to the hour of recognitions, as the board quickly sifted through the remainder of the agenda, which included a facilities committee update in the monthly report presented by superintendent Matt Underwood.

He said a wider net was cast to attract committee members after a less than desirable turn out for the initial facilities planning meeting, and the panel included 21 members at the second meeting last week, when Krista Pack was selected to serve as their chairperson. The committee will start campus tours next week, beginning at the high school, which Underwood has pointed to as his top priority.

The first order of business, even before proclamations was to officially swear in Dr. Ed Dittfurth for his second term on the board.

The board also a proposal from TCG Investment Advisors, whose representative in attendance said school districts comprise about 90 percent of the group’s clientele.


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