PAGE 14 H Wednesday, August 6, 2014
THE STAR
Stafford MSD board hopes to retain more teachers with new budget By Karen Daniels
tive applicants. Therefore he must realize the shortfall and meet that challenge Stafford resident Hilary head on.” To stay competitive, Brown-Smith hopes that the district’s $27.3 million Stafford Municipal School District can give its teachers budget includes a 3 percent salaries that are competitive raise for all SMSD staff – for the second straight year. with other districts in the The district is waiting until area. Sept. 4 for final numbers Brown-Smith, the parfrom the Fort Bend County ent of two SMSD students and another that graduated Appraisal District and the recently, hopes the district’s Harris County Appraisal 2014-15 budget can address District. Property values have the cause of the district’s 23 increased by 7 percent, but percent turnover rate. many are homes still in “We must pay people protest and numbers haven’t what there are worth if been finalized. That makes our goal is to have the best it impossible for districts to teachers,” Brown-Smith complete their budgets. said. “(Superintedent) Dr. The SMSD Board of (Robert) Bostic’s primary Trustees and Stafford City goal is to give the district Council discussed the turnthe best profile to prospecFor The Star
over rate at a joint meeting on July 23, and Bostic said “research shows low score relate to high turnover.” The final joint budget meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7. To help improve test scores and the district overall, Bostic is requesting $220,000 for two new positions, Deputy Superintendent and ESL Coordinator/ Grant Writer and $100,000 for after school programs. Health insurance costs have risen on average $85 per month for a family. Costs have also risen with Information Technology – from $610,000 last year to a requested amount of $846,000 for the 2014-15 budget.
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West Nile detected in FB County A sampling of mosquitoes in Fort Bend County has tested positive for the West Nile Virus (WNV). When an area tests positive for the WNV in a few mosquitoes, it does not always mean there is a high risk of human infection. Simple measures can prevent the spread or infection from the WNV. Working together with Fort Bend
County and the cities in the county, residents can help control the mosquito population. When an area has mosquito samples that test positive for WNV, Fort Bend County Road & Bridge or the appropriate city department takes a focused response to prevent mosquito breeding by increasing spraying and larviciding in the
area until a sample of mosquitoes tests negative for the virus. Testing is conducted by trapping mosquitoes and submitting the sample to be tested for viruses. Mosquitoes positive for WNV do not necessarily lead to human cases of disease.There have been no human cases of WNV in the County so far this year.
THE FORT BEND
STHRSPOTTER Singing geek, characters & hungry plant attraction in historic venue
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The one story Trendmaker is beautifully appointed. It offers 4 bedrooms, formal dining room, a study and a game room, all on one floor! Living areas have upgraded tile and formal dining has hardwoods. The gourmet kitchen is fabulous...the oversized island is great for casual dining or serving. You enter a guest suite, through the large game room. Game room could be used as a media room, toy room and more! Family room has a custom built-in. Whole house generator was a $14K upgrade. (3210BE)
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Fort Bend High School
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Lightning has been crackling in the skies over Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford and all other parts of Fort Bend County lately, but there are no reports of a strike that could have affected plant growth here. This is one of the first thoughts that came to mind as the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors stage production wrapped up this past weekend at the Sugar Land Auditorium on Lakeview Drive. In the Inspiration Stage’s most recent production, the mundane lives of those working in a flower shop changed after a lightning strike. That’s when a rare plant turned up. For those that know the story, the venus flytrap-esque plant thrives, business booms and the nerdy geeky guy gets the girl. But as the plant grows bigger, so does its demand for nourishment and the complexities begin. A little bit of a dark twist, the energizing, doo wop musical production has a light hearted feel that entertained the sizeable audience this past Saturday. Zac Haley, who with his wife, Jamie, came to Sugar Land from Dallas to experience the performance, said that for him “community theatre represents resurgence in American entertainment. We spend so much time sitting in front of the television and the movies.” He also said it was “nice to see live people cheering and connecting back and forth with one another.” His brother, Luke, on stage that evening and most importantly the plant’s voice, is married to Roxann Hales, who played Audrey, the main female character.
The locally based Inspiration Stage Performing Arts Studio and Theatre held this performance over the past several weeks in partnership with the Sugar Land Cultural Arts Foundation. It has also been offering theatre classes to promote creative expression skills. Mandy Seymore-Sensat, experienced artistic director and choreographer, oversees the Inspiration Stage’s theatre season. She proudly refers to the 1917 built Sugar Land auditorium, where she holds her shows, the performing arts studio’s home. The auditorium is a designated Texas historic landmark that underwent extensive restoration and was completed in 2011. Representing the last public building of the original Imperial Sugar Companyowned town of Sugar Land, the Sugar Land auditorium
is also the only building left from the original Sugar Land ISD #17, which in part served as the origin of Fort Bend ISD. The Little Shop of Horrors’ classic comedic fantasy in the auditorium will have gone down as a successful theatrical production in a historic gathering place in use today due to the support for its preservation by many caring individuals and organizations further enriching the community’s culture.
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