WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2012
BUNA BEACON, PAGE 11A
THE 2012 MISS Buna Contestants enjoyed the annual Mother/Daughter tea Sunday at the Whitehead building.
CELEBRATING A SPRIT of love, Buna elementary students enjoyed Valentine’s Day parties in their classes last week.
Constable’s Corner By Precinct 4 Constable Gene Hawthorne I assisted the Sheriff’s department with the child that got bit by the dog on Hwy. 1004 last Monday. The dog ended up having to be sent to Jasper to be quarantined. I got a call about a 1055 driver on Hwy. 96. I happened to be on CR 784, but the driver must have been going fast enough to get past me. I didn’t catch up with them or they turned off. I was unable to locate the driver. Folks called about someone stealing metal out of the railroad cars out on Hwy. 62, but it was actually Temple Inland cleaning trash out of their boxcars. I also got a call about a vehicle that went across the railroad tracks a little too fast in Lake Forest Estates, and they ended up tearing up the ditch.
I went and talked to the young men who did it and advised them that could be considered criminal mischief, and next time they could get a citation. The Commissioner gets kind of upset about vehicles tearing up his ditches. On another note, we’ve had some issues with people not stopping when a bus in unloading children. Here’s just a reminder. When a bus is unloading children on a four lane road where there is a left turn lane, like of Hwy. 96, both sides of the road still have to stop. When a bus is unloading children, a left turn lane is not considered a barrier. If you are convicted of not following this law, the citation is very expensive. Not to mention, this can be very dangerous.
BISD From page 1A floor refinishing were all categorized as aesthetic issues at the junior high. At the high school campus, urgent issues include sealing the building, life safety issues, handicap accessibility issues, and building a new kitchen and cafeteria. Moderate issues at the high school campus included parking lot repairs, new gymnasium bleachers, athletic facility renovations, stadium concession and restroom renovations, energy efficiency upgrades, computer accommodations in classroom areas, and accommodating for new phones. New flooring, repainting the interior walls, and new ceilings were all categorized as aesthetic issues at the high school campus. The cost estimate for renovations at the junior high campus are broken down as follows: $2,352,560 for urgent issues, $7,437,920 for moderate issues, and $644,348 for aesthetic issues. At the high school campus, the renovation estimate for urgent issues is $5,242,991, moderate issues is $5,254,256, and for aesthetic issues the estimate is $861,840. The expense total to complete Scenario One is $21,793,915. In Scenario Two, the sixth grade would relocate to an expanded elementary campus. The renovation of both the junior high and high school campuses as listed in Scenario One is also included. Expansion to the existing elementary campus would include building six additional classrooms and a band hall at a cost of $2,051,280. The projected total to complete Scenario Two is $23,845,195. In Scenario Three, a new junior high campus with a 350 student capacity would be constructed at the new site across from the existing elementary school, sixth grade would relocate to the expanded elementary campus as found in Scenario Two, the current junior high campus would be demolished, and the high school campus would receive renovations. The cost breakdown for Scenario Three is as follows: construction of new junior high campus, $14,131,040; addition of sixth grade at elementary site, $2,051,280; demolition of existing junior high, $67,200; and renova-
tion of high school campus, as found in Scenarios 1 and 2, $11,359,087. The projected total to complete Scenario Three is $27,608,607. In Scenario Four, a new high school would be constructed adjacent to the activity center with a student capacity of 500. A football stadium with seating for 5,000 would be built across the street from the existing activity center. After renovations, the junior high campus would relocate to the current high school campus and portable buildings at the existing junior high campus would be demolished. The main building at the junior high would be used as an administration building. Construction of the new high school is projected to cost $14,814,800 while the new football stadium is projected around $2.8 million. Again, renovations to the current high school are projected at $11,359,087, and the demolition of the junior high portable buildings is projected at $28,000. The projected total to complete Scenario Four is $29,001,047. In Scenario Five, a new junior high would be constructed across from the existing elementary campus at a projected cost of $15,954,400. Demolition of the current junior high school would be approximately $67,200, and construction of a new high school with a 500 student capacity adjacent to the activity center would be $14,814,800. Construction of a new football stadium with a 5,000 seat capacity would be $2,800,000, and demolition of the current high school would be $123,400. The projected total to complete Scenario Five is $33,759,800. Architectural Alliance, Inc. representatives offered the board of trustees an opportunity to thinks about the findings over the next few weeks and made an offer to return for a workshop to discuss the findings more in-depth. Other items discussed at the board meeting included the hiring and resignation of campus personnel and extension or renewal/nonrenewal of administrator contracts. Look for next week’s Buna Beacon for information on these agenda items. The next regular Buna ISD board of trustees meeting is scheduled for Mar. 12.
Miss Buna traditions begin with mother-daughter event As the day nears for the 55th annual Miss Buna pageant, history remained as new touches were included during the annual tea last Sunday at the Whitehead building. Contestants and their mothers mingled and enjoyed refreshments while hearing a few tips for the pageant, which is held during the Redbud Festival, Saturday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at the activity center. Pageant Director Lori Reneau, Miss Buna 1982, welcomed the contestants, outlining the procedures leading up to the event, along with details on the night of the pageant. Miss Buna 2011 Haylee Whitehead presented small gifts to the 12 young ladies as they drew the number of their pageant order. This year’s Miss Buna tea once again had the interview competition on the afternoon of the tea, in part to help alleviate jitters on the night of the event. Each of the contestants were seated before a panel of three judges and were asked to elaborate on their educational aspirations, community service goals and their thoughts about why Miss Buna is important in the community. The judges who conducted the interviews submitted their scores based on the sessions with each
contestant. There will be an entirely new set of judges for the night of the pageant, and they will not see the scores given by the judges who conducted the interview. The pageant staff will then tally the scores. Contestants are all students at Buna High School, and all entrants will be in the Redbud Festival parade at 10 a.m. on March 10. The pageant is a fundraiser for the Buna Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to Miss Buna, a first, second and third runner-up will be announced, along with a Miss Photogenic and Miss Congeniality. Miss Buna contestants for 2012, in the order of their contestant number are: Alyssa Manke, Kayla Burns, Jade Hunt, Burgundi Mason, Lauren Schnitz, Kayla Richardson, Jessi Clark, Courtney Willis, Emily Jacobs, Kayla Wagstaff, Hannah Walters, and Kelsie Moulder. The Little Miss Fireman pageant will be held in conjunction with the pageant. Little Miss Fireman 2011 Kimber Pyburn and her mother were also a part of the day’s events. See the Redbud Festival special section in the March 7 Beacon for more on the entrants.
Buna celebrates National School Counselors Week By Tina Cooley Beacon Reporter National School Counseling Week was celebrated during the week of Feb. 6. The week-long celebration is designated as a time to spotlight the contribution of school counselors and their impact on students within United States school systems. School counselors at Buna ISD were honored for their contributions in helping students recognize their strengths and abilities, interests and talents, and overcoming challenges they may face. School counselors are certified educators with degrees in guidance and counseling, along with specialized training and experience. Julie Motomura, Buna Elementary School Counselor, has been in education for 23 years and in Buna ISD for 13 years. Motomura said that her biggest responsibility as a public school counselor lies in the students at Buna Elementary School. “Everything I do revolves around some need they may have - whether it is an emotional need or an educational one,” said Motomura. “ I am an advocate for our kids in everything I do here at BES.” Robin Whitmire, Buna Junior High School Counselor, has been in education for 18 years, all of which are at Buna ISD. Before becoming a counselor, Whitmire served 13 years in the classroom serving as CORE teacher for fifth and sixth grades. According to Whitmire, the biggest responsibility being a public junior high school counselor lies in providing guidance to students emotionally, academically or personally to the best of her ability. “When students come to school, if they are struggling with some type of problem, it is impossible for them to concentrate on what is going on in the classroom,” she said. “They
often need someone to listen and provide support. Sometimes it is as simple as needing a notebook or a backpack but other times it could involve more serious issues.” Kay Traugott, Buna High School Counselor, has been in education for nine years with seven of those in Buna ISD. Traugott taught in the classroom for four years prior to being a counselor. Betty Klutts is also a part-time counselor at Buna High School. According to the National School Counselor Week website, more than 29,000 counselors participated in the week’s activities. Counselors at all campuses received heartfelt “thanks” from community members, staff, and administrators for the role they play in ensuring the best for students, both academically and emotionally.