Volume VIII, Issue 8 (July 1, 2023)

Voice THE ongview

TSA WIN TSA WIN

Lobos place at Nationals

During the first week of July, students from Longview High School, Foster Middle School, and Judson Middle School traveled to St. Louisville, Kentucky and did amazing at Technology Student Assocation Nationals!

Numerous students won first place in their categories, and several were in the top 5! Amazing job!

“It’s an honor to say that I was able to attend the 2023 National TSA Conference, and I’m sure that

I can speak for everyone when I say we had an incredible time competing and having fun,” said Foster student Ezequiel Pascual. “Ultimately, TSA has the potential to completely change a student’s view on the world, and it can even help students find their passions and discover what careers they want to pursue in the future in order to one day leave (as TSA’s theme for this year states) a legacy of innovation.”

TSA|Continued to page 14

A mentor to Lobos

Brewer leaves behind a legacy in Longview

It is with deep sadness that Longview ISD announces the sudden passing of Mr. James Brewer, Principal of Longview High School.

Mr. Brewer passed away Monday evening, July 10, after experiencing a sudden cardiac event. His untimely departure has left the entire Lobo community in shock and mourning.

An exceptional leader, mentor, and friend to all who knew him, Mr. Brewer dedicated his life to education and was preparing to start his 17th year at Longview High School. Longview High School will be providing counseling services and support to students and staff to help them cope with this tragic event. Details regarding memorial arrangements and ways to honor Mr. Brewer’s memory will be communicated in the coming days.

“The legacy of Mr. James Brewer will forever remain a guiding light at Longview Independent School District,” said Dr. James Wilcox , LISD Superintendent. “James will be remembered as an outstanding educator, a compassionate leader, and a cherished member of our community. His spirit will live on in the hearts and minds of those he touched throughout his remarkable career.”

Brewer|Continued to page 16

The Longview ISD dress code has been revised for the 2023-24 school year.

Richard W. Riley views four ways to make summer and after-school learning effective.

A professional Ecuadorian soccer team held a summer camp.

Check out the latest from the Longview ISD social media pages.

BREWER

James

OPINION

A closer look at this month’s issue...

By Matthew Prosser

This newspaper you’re holding is the collective work of the LISD Community Relations department, our campus representatives, students, and staff. I hope you enjoy all the photos and articles, especially a few that I would like to point out specifically...

• “District dress code updated,” (Page 4) This coming school year, the district dress code is going to look a little different for Longview students after the board unanimously approved amendments to the LISD Standardized Dress Policy. Instead of different campuses requiring certain color polo shirts for students, beginning this August, students may wear any solid color polo shirt, provided it is a solid color and does not have any

patterns, writing, logos, or other brand insignia.

• “Lobo earns outstanding performer at UIL,” (Page 6) Smith Esteves, an incoming senior at Longview High School, has been named an outstanding performer at the Texas State University Interscholastic League (UIL) Solo & Ensemble Contest (TSSEC). Out of approximately 100,000 students participating in the regional UIL music contests and the thousands of musicians who performed at TSSEC, only 2% of all students who perform solo performances in the state receive this award.

• “Broderick Washington football camp,” (SPORTS, Page 11) and “Trent Williams Camp returns,” (Page 12) Longview

High School alumni in the NFL continue to show their commitment to their hometown by giving back. Broderick Washington, a defensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, recently hosted a football camp in Longview, while Trent Williams, an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, held his own skills camp. These NFL stars, who once terrorized opponents on the field, now aim to inspire and support the next generation of athletes in their community. Their dedication to Longview High School and their willingness to give back highlights their genuine connection and gratitude towards their hometown.

Of course, you’ve probably already read the front-page

article on our Technology Student Association kiddos earning National recognition in Kentucky and our solemn tribute to the tragic passing of our dear friend and colleague Mr. James Brewer (photos on Page 16), but these are a few of the excellent stories we’ve got in the rest of this edition of The Longview Voice. I hope you’ll give it a close reading, and let us know what you think!

We’re always on the lookout for interesting stories about the many amazing students, employees, and families of our community. So drop us a line if there’s something you’d like to read more about. You can email me at ask@LISD.org or call 903-381-2200.

— An award-winning journalist and photographer, Matthew Prosser is Communications Director for Longview Independent School District.

Ways to make summer, after-school learning effective

By Richard W. Riley Education Week

In Boston this summer, 250 organizations are collaborating to provide 25,000 young people with up to five weeks of summer learning across the city. The school district, city government, and nonprofits are pulling together under the guidance of Boston Afterschool and Beyond. They are using the power of engaging learning opportunities, fun, outdoor activities, science experiments, and arts and music. Similar efforts will continue into after-school programs in the district in 2023-24. They are addressing the most significant challenge in American education today: How can students jumpstart their learning after three difficult years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? The research is clear: Well-designed summer and after-school experiences enrich and expand education offered in schools.

• A National Institutes of Health study that followed almost 1,000 students for two decades found that children who attended

after-school programs had positive outcomes that lasted into adulthood and built on early-education effects.

• Afterschool Alliance research concluded that high-quality after-school opportunities promote gains in math and reading, grades, and school attendance among regularly attending students.

• A National Academy of Sciences report on summer enrichment programs found that they supported cognitive, academic, social, and physical development. NAS also found that low-income children and children of color are much less likely to have access to these programs.

The RAND Corp. has identified characteristics of successful summer learning programs. The programs should consist of full days for at least three weeks in the summer and offer a friendly environment, strong engage-

ment, and positive interactions between adults and students. Each day should include three hours of well-designed language arts and math instruction and many informal enrichment opportunities.

Based on the research and our own experiences learning from summer and after-school educators from across America each of the past 12 years at our Riley Institute, here are four recommendations for accelerating student learning in the summers and in after-school programs in 2023-24 and beyond.

1. Focus on the five principles for summer and after-school learning. Researcher Deborah Lowe Vandell, a former dean of education at the University of California, Irvine, has identified five principles as essential for effective after-school and summer programs.

2. Convene and build a schoolwide, neighborhood, communitywide or districtwide collaborative for expanded learning in summers and after school. Make the network broad and include

arts and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) groups; community and youth groups; libraries, recreation centers, and parks; health professionals; and faculty and students from colleges.

3. Rethink how to deploy educators in summer and after school to make student experiences engaging and rewarding and to avoid teacher burnout. Encourage teachers with particular skills, hobbies, and passions to share them in after-school or summer programs, minimizing teacher exhaustion that can come from a focus on only reteaching.

4. Organize local site teams to design and deliver engaging and enriching content by bringing together the talents of teachers and community- and youth-development professionals. These teams should develop lessons and experiences that capture the best of teaching core subjects like reading, math, and science while incorporating hands-on learning, experiences relevant to students’ lives, and arts and physical activities.

— Richard W. Riley served as the U.S. secretary of education from 1993 to 2001.

FUN AT CAMP

Longview district dress code updated

During their regular meeting on Monday, June 12th the Longview ISD Board of Trustees loosened the district dress code, approved a plan to convert old school buses into food trucks, engaged the services of architects for facility inspections and improvements, and amended the 2023-24 District Calendar.

This coming school year, the district dress code is going to look a little different for Longview students, after the board unanimously approved amendments to the LISD Standardized Dress Policy.

Instead of different campuses requiring certain color polo shirts for students, beginning this August students may wear any solid color polo shirt, provided it is a solid color and does not have any patterns, writing, logos, or other brand insignia on the shirt.

Dr. James Hockenberry , LISD Assistant Superintendent of District Services, explained that by relaxing the policy, the district hopes “to bring our families a more consistent and straightforward approach” to the dress code.

Dr. Hockenberry said “simplification and consistency” are two of the priorities that went into this adjustment.

“Allowing any solid-color polo shirt will simplify the dress code policy for administrators and staff, as they will not have to enforce specific color requirements based on campus,” he said. “While this certainly means there will be more colors of shirts on our campuses next year, it will also ensure consistency and fairness across the district, promoting a sense of unity and community.”

Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox agreed and echoed the sentiment.

“We hope that by simplifying the policy for campus staffers as well as families, and reducing the financial burden on families, Longview ISD demonstrates

our commitment to creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all students,” he said.

CONTRACT APPROVAL

Board members unanimously approved engaging the services of Fort Worth-based architecture firm Huckabee & Associates to perform facility inspections and recommend improvements that could be addressed in a future bond election.

The contract amounts to up to $66,000 for architectural, engineering, and consulting services for possible construction projects, and Assistant Superintendent of Finance

Dr. Wayne Guidry explained to the board the vital importance of public bonds in the functioning and development of school districts.

“Over the past 18 months, the district has spent close to $5 million on renovations, the funds were pulled from the district’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) account,” he said. “These are the same funds utilized for teacher salaries as well as classroom supplies.”

Dr. Guidry said that by diverting funds from the M&O account towards renovations, the district faces potential challenges in ensuring the smooth functioning of its daily operations.

“While renovations are undoubtedly important for creating a conducive learning environment, it is essential to strike

a balance between capital investments and maintaining the necessary resources for effective teaching and learning,” he said.

Dr. Guidry expressed concern that prioritizing renovations through the allocation of Maintenance and Operations funds could have consequences for the LISD community.

“If the diversion of funds leads to budgetary constraints, it may hinder the district’s ability to attract and retain highly qualified teachers, impacting the quality of education provided to Longview students,” he said.

Dr. Guidry said the availability of funds through bonds enables districts to enhance their facilities, create better learning environments for students, and support the overall growth and progress of the educational community.

Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox said district leadership continues to find the best possible use of taxpayer funds to improve district facilities.

“At this time we are not calling a bond election, but the need for improvements to our aging facilities remains an important topic of conversation within district leadership,” he said. “By engaging the services of an architectural firm we are gathering as much facts and expertise as possible to help guide this ongoing dialogue.”

Dr. Wilcox added that Longview ISD would be soliciting input and feedback from the community about possible campus and facility needs ahead of any call for a bond election.

Last August, the Board approved a maintenance and operations tax rate of $.8546 and an interest and sinking tax rate

of $.4730 cents for a total tax rate of $1.3276 per $100 valuation, a marked decrease from the 2022 tax rate of $1.41470 per $100 valuation. While the appraised property values assessed by the county have continued to increase, Longview ISD has reduced the tax rate for the last four years and plans to do so again in the 2023-24 budget year.

Nearly 20 years ago, LISD voters approved a bond package that built new campuses at Bramlette, Hudson PEP, J.L. Everhart, Ned E. Williams, and Ware Elementary School, as well as Forest Park Magnet School and Foster Middle School. The bonds also paid for renovations and additions to Johnston-McQueen and South Ward (now Bailey) Elementary School, Judson Middle School, and the “new” Longview High School (built in 1976).

MOBILE KITCHENS

Board members also unanimously approved a proposal from San Antonio-based Cruising Kitchens to convert two older LISD school buses into mobile trucks, pending funding approval from the TDA and/ or USDA.

If state and/or federal funding is approved, cost for the project will not exceed $432,583.77 but will not require the use of local funds.

Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of

Board|Continued to page 19

HOCKENBERRY

WILCOX

SUMMER FUN

By Nico Grayson KETK

Smith Esteves, an incoming Senior at Longview High School, has been named as an outstanding performer at the Texas State University Interscholastic League (UIL) Solo & Ensemble Contest (TSSEC).

Of the approximately 100,000 students participating in the regional UIL music contests and the thousands of musicians who performed at TSSEC, Only 2% of all students who perform solo performances in the state are given this award.

Melody McMullen, Longview High School choir director, said that in February, her students participated in the regional UIL Solo and Ensemble competition to compete for a rating, in which 29 students received a first division rating, and 22 students qualified to go to State Solo and Ensemble.

From February to May, the students had time to work on

their music and prepare. Of the 22 that tried out, six students received a first division, and three students received a second division.

Esteves was one of the very few students in the state that was given the honor of ‘Outstanding Performer.’ His director expressed her excitement on behalf of her student.

“I’m excited that the state

recognized what I recognize in this young man,” said McMullen.

In recognition of this achievement, Esteves was awarded with a gold medal. He said that he knew right away when he first heard the song he sang for the competition that he could master and perfect his style.

“I picked this one song be-

cause it was very stoic and you could build from it and use a strong voice for it. I liked the song too, so I could listen to it over and over again, for months even,” Esteves said.

Esteves said that in December, he received the music and then worked on building his voice for months.

“It was a long journey. I spent almost three or four hours a day practicing,” said Esteves.

Esteves found out immediately on May 26 when he competed that he had received a rating of one on his performance, but it wasn’t until a few weeks after school let out for the summer that he was notified about his title as an ‘Outstanding Performer.’

Esteves said that in addition to singing, he also plays guitar and a little bit of piano, but his voice is his main instrument.

As an upcoming senior, Esteves said he plans on competing again next year and will continue to build on his talent.

SUMMER LEARNING

Lobo FFA gets the college experience

In the last week of June, some Longview FFA members attended Ag in the Pineywoods Camp. Students spent the week touring the campuses of SFA and Sam Houston and got to learn what it was like to be a college kid. Students learned about both universities agricultural opportunities as well as how to prepare for applying for college. Thank you to both schools for hosting our students!

PRACTICE NEVER STOPS

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — July 2023

PROFESSIONAL CAMP SPORTS

By David Gibson KETK

Cumbre Alta, a pro soccer team from Ecuador made their way to East Texas to train the next generation of players.

“They’re able to use those skills to serve another community. So not only does it allow them to coach in another context, but they also get to feel that they have something to offer the community, a skill that they have that they can provide to another community,” said Director of Camps Chelsey Brunt.

“I think it’s special that they get to come all the way from Ecuador and you can tell that they’ve put a lot of thought into this, and I think it’s really helped me to focus on my skills and to improve those that I already have and they’ve all been super nice, super helpful, and I really appreciate them coming,” smiled Camper Chandler Rotzler.

“I really think it’s cool because my family’s been to Ecua-

dor, so it’s cool to see like internationally, like how the sport is played and stuff like that. It’s cool to see how their skills are different from ours,” added Camper Lucy Archer.

The campers got a chance to grow their basic skills like dribbling and shooting but the most important thing was teamwork.

“Some days we’ve been practicing passes, long shots dribbling. But what was the most important thing is to make them a team. It’s teamwork the

New Lobo camp from alum

The Longview Lobos are well-represented in the NFL and before sacking NFL quarterbacks, Broderick Washington was terrorizing East Texas defenses.

Now, the Baltimore defensive tackle has returned home, hosting the first of what he hopes will be many Longview football camps.

“Just out here to show the kids that I started here, same things that you’re doing now, like coming to the little camps, man, that’s just part of it. And like that, if you work hard and stay disciplined and do all the

right things you can make all your dreams come true,” explained Washington.

Lobo stadium was Washing-

Thank

ton’s football home when he wore the rocking L, and on Sat-

Camp|Continued to page 17

By David Gibson KETK

San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman and Longview native Trent Williams held

coming out and competing, and just learning. You know, and have a great time,” said Trent Williams.

“I’m proud of his heart and how big it is for him to give

you know, the game of football in a short time. I mean, most of all, it’s just me giving back, giving it, being with everybody, having a camaraderie,

is possible for them if they put in the work you get it, you get at what you put in. But I hope and pray that when they get in a position whether it’s just

paying for somebody’s lunch, they get the attitude of servitude,” said Veronica Williams.

“Oh, I learned teamwork and everything. Courage

and everything. You can’t do anything without anybody encouraging you. I don’t care who you are,” declared camper Starr Shaw.

Trent Williams camp returns for students OUT IN THE HEAT

SUMMER PRACTICE

SOCCER |Continued from page 11

effort that includes the sacrifice that you have to do for your body. And that’s what we try to explain to them and show them how to do it,” explained Pro

whole community just to help that. Like Texas and inside Texas. Just to help them. And he’s just happy to be part of it, too,” said Vaca.

The overall message from this

and. But overall, just like having a fun time and it’s all just a game in the long run. So just having fun and doing your best is what I hope people take away,” exclaimed Archer.

Calling all high school soccer

players, Cumbre Alta will be back July 5th at Lear Park so register for your chance to learn from the pros.

You can more information at their website cumbrealtafut bolcamp.com/

to do just that little part in this

“I hope they understand that hard work, soccer is still a fun the effort into so that they will stick with it and enjoy it in the though you have to work hard to like, get the skills you need

HIGH SCHOOL

Chapter Team: 4th Place — Hibah Khan, Nadira Akilo, Gizela Terrones, Jaslene Solis, Steven Castillo, and Omika Patel

Elected National Officer: 2023-2024 National TSA Secretary, Shreemayi Undavalli MIDDLE

SCHOOL

Chapter Team: Foster — 1st place; Jordan Nash, Evie Land, Ellie Oglesbee, Ezequiel Pascual, Aidan Rahim, and Kiley Strong

Electrical Applications: Foster — 10th place; Eddy Castro and Ethan Hernandez

Essays on Tech: Foster — 5gh place; Ezequiel Pascual

Forensic Technology: Foster— 8th place; Siann Rudolph and Evie Land

Leadership Strategies: Foster — 1st place; Kiley Strong, Jordan Nash, and Aidan Rahim; 3rd place: Evie Land, Siann Rudolph, and Ezequiel Pascual; 7th place: Cohen Hardison, Ishan Patel, and Jersson

Trujillo

Prepared Speech: Foster — 6th place; Kiley Strong

System Control: Judson — 10th place; Beckham Warren, Jaxon Hawthorne, and Drew Brannan

Flight Challenge: Judson — Semifinalist; Drew Brannan

Chapter Team: Foster — 1st Place (2nd year in a row); Jordan Nash, Evie Land, Ellie Oglesbee, Aidan Rahim, Ezequiel Pascual, and Kiley Strong

Leadership Strategies: Foster — 3rd place; Siann Rudolph, Evie Land, and Ezequiel Pascual

Leadership Strategies: Foster — 1st place; Kiley Strong, Jordan Nash, and Aidan Rahim

Amazing job, everyone! We are so proud of you!

OBITUARIES

Longview ISD offers our most sincere condolences to our extended Lobo family

Mr. James Brewer was born Jan. 8, 1958, in Magnolia, Arkansas. He was the third of seven children, raised by their mother Earnestine.

A 1976 graduate of Magnolia High School, Mr. Brewer graduated four years later from Southern Arkansas State with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. He also received Master’s Degree in Education from Texas A&M-Commerce.

During his 40 years in Texas education, Mr. Brewer served nearly 30 years as an administrator, including 10 years as Superintendent of DeKalb Independent School District. In 2007, he moved to Longview to become Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education and Principal at Longview High, later serving East Texas Advanced Academies (ETAA) as interim Executive Director.

LHS alum and ETAA board member Rev. LaDarian Brown described Mr. Brewer as “an impossible man to replace,” in several remarks he shared on behalf of the entire ETAA board, including Mr. Judson Murray, and Dr. Selwyn E. Willis

“The trust and gravitas Mr. James Brewer held in this community are almost unfathomable. He had earned respect, confidence, and admiration through many years of fair treatment, consistent judgment, and even temperament toward students, parents, administrators, coaches, as well as band directors, secretaries, food service personnel, and others. He possessed a God-given talent for understanding exactly what a person, whether student or teacher, needed to get back on track. Those who listened and heeded his advice benefited and thrived from his wisdom.”

“Mr. James Brewer was blessed with a depth of common sense that eludes most of us. He knew when to give a pat on the back at the right time, when to provide a swift kick in the pants to prevent slowing down, and when to speak the unvarnished truth when a path became crooked. Additionally, he had a firm yet fair hand with discipline when it was necessary. These everyday victories were where he truly excelled.”

“For East Texas Advanced Academies, we are heartbroken and bereft. For the Longview Independent School District, an icon has been lost—a figure as close to irreplaceable as most can comprehend. The children of Longview will be lesser for not having known this towering figure of integrity, fairness, judgment, and wisdom.”

“Heaven has gained another angel: Mr. James Brewer.”

“I worked with Mr. Brewer for 16 years,” said Coach John King, LHS athletic director and head football coach. “Great memories watching him run this high school and be able to relate to everyone, whether it’s parents, students, or at-risk kids. He took care of everybody. He was so loved by everybody he came in touch with.”

“What you saw from him, you saw every day,” he continued. “I was amazed with how he would handle any situation or prob-

lem I would call him with. He was always about doing what’s right. I’ve never been around a man that’s more fair and willing to help kids in any situation, because he always told me that there was someone that helped him. He saw every kid as a little James Brewer that was looking for a break. That’s how he treated everybody.”

A longtime member and deacon at Galilee Baptist Church in Longview, Mr. Brewer served his local community as well as the education professional in various capacities, including the UIL Legislation committee, the Longview chapter of the NAACP, and was a board member of the Southern Arkansas University Alumni Association.

Among the many awards and accolades Mr. Brewer earned during his professional career are Superintendent of the Year, Principal of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

“Our thoughts and prayers will be with the Brewer family during this difficult time,” added Dr. Wilcox. “We ask that the community respect their privacy as they grieve this tremendous loss.”

PUBLIC NOTICES

Board meeting set for August 14

Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, (1301 E. Young St.) but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district.

The next regular board meeting is ten-

tatively scheduled for noon on Monday, August 14, at the ESC building. A special board meeting is set for August 30 at the LISD ESC.

For more information about the LISD meetings go to LISD.org . Agendas and

City

Unless otherwise posted, Longview City Council meetings are scheduled at 5:30 p.m., the second and fourth Thursday of the month and are held in City Hall Council Chambers at 300 W. Cotton St. City Council meetings are televised live on CityView Municipal Television. These meetings are rebroadcast for one week following the original meeting at 6:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m. and 3 a.m. All meetings

CAMP |Continued from page 11

urday he was back working with young East Texas talent.

“Me growing and being in NFL for the past three years, I’ve learned that, like, I need to take time and do stuff like this just for my mental so I can go back into it refreshed, you know, and just now I’m just in a place where like, I’m making myself a force of myself to, like, get out of the grind all the time so I can pour in the interest that I have,” added Washington.

“He changed things that he needed, to change Broderick Washington, to become an outstanding college football player and NFL player. So it’s just a story of, you know, about choices and the choices he’s made and I’m just so very proud of where he’s at and what he’s done and what he’s going to continue to do,” smiled Longview Coach John King.

Washington made it a mission to come back to his hometown so he can pour into the next generation of Lobos and show them you can make your dreams come true.

“We didn’t come from a lot so it’s always great for us to come back and just show the younger generation. They’re like, yeah, it’s hard. You know, we didn’t come from a lot and all of this stuff. We got to work hard, but we can make it if we really go for what we want, you know? And like, I’m just here to show everybody that if I can do it, you can do it too, and I think would be great for all of the guys.

Minutes can also be found at the website, as well as information on financial transparency. Information about the areas of the district can also be found online, as well as the contact information for the district board members.

Council meeting set for July 27

can also be seen online live or on demand on the CityView Municipal Television or CityView Video Library.

The Agenda Center provides links to the most recent agendas, minutes, and council meeting videos.

Sign up using Notify Me to receive meeting notifications by email or text.

Changes to the normal Council Meeting schedule:

The normal council meeting schedule is subject to

change. For instance, the council usually does not hold the fourth Thursday of the month meetings during the months of November and December. Council meetings will be posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. To stay up to date on council meetings schedules and agendas, residents are encouraged to sign up for Notify Me meeting notifications by email or text using the link above.

Come back and show the same thing, you know,” said Washington.

Longview Head Coach John King said seeing pro Lobos come back to teach the upcoming Lobos, shows how special Longview is for these athletes.

“Lobo nation is being a Lobo for life, this is a community team. Well, regardless of the sport, I mean, everything is entrenched in this community at an early age. And whether it’s the alumni or the youth programs or the parents as a whole, they get together and get their kids involved. I mean, this is what it is. It’s not one factor that leads to all this, and it’s going to stay that way as long as I’m here, because I think that’s what’s special

about all of you is just how deeply entrenched this community is.” exclaimed Coach King.

“For me, it just means a lot, because when I was here, I can always remember all the fans and everybody that was con-

nected to me while I was here, just pouring into me, man, and just always showing me love.

So for me to be able to come back and do that now and it just means a lot to me,” smiled Washington.

District Services, said the initiative calls for two food trucks to be used at the High School for breakfast and lunch.

“As a result of the attraction of food trucks for lunchtime, we would expect a dramatic increase in participation in our lunch and breakfast programs,” he said. “The strategic locations of the additional serving lines, plus the marketing of a food truck program, will create a more appealing atmosphere for our Child Nutrition program.”

Dr. Hockenberry said adding food trucks, “brings a mobile option to serving meals for our underrepresented communities during the summer feeding program.”

“In addition, we’re looking at ways to integrate the food trucks at Longview Lobo home football games, to help relieve overcrowding in the concession stand and restroom areas,” he added.

DISTRICT CALENDAR

Later, the board unanimously approved amending the 2023-24 District Calendar to include an early release day on Friday, October 27, 2023.

Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of District Services, said this date “is strategically placed at the end of the second six-weeks to provide time and relief for our students, staff, and families.”

“Historically, October has been extraordinarily busy and stressful for students and staff,” he said. “By the addition of one more early release day, we hope to add some small relief during a busy time of the semester.”

NEW BOARD MEMBER

Later, trustees reorganized board officers after giving the oath of office to Mr. Brett Miller (place 2) and Mrs. Crista Black (place 4).

Officers for the board will be Mr. Michael Tubb (Place 1), board president; Dr. Samir Germanwala (Place 3), vice president; Dr. Troy Simmons (Place 7), board secretary; and Mrs. Crista Black (Place 4), assistant secretary.

Trustees discussed procedures under LISD Board Policy BBC (Legal) to fill the current Place 5 vacancy of the Longview ISD Board of Trustees. Former Place 5 board

member Mrs. Shan Bauer resigned from the board, effective June 1, citing a new professional opportunity that required her family to relocate. Board members agreed that the role of replacing Mrs. Bauer’s seat should fall to the community that elected her to office, and thus trustees unanimously voted to leave Place 5 vacant until it can be filled in a special election this November.

Serving as a link between the community and the classroom, school board members are elected to establish the policies that provide the framework for public schools. LISD trustees are responsible for an annual budget of more than $78 million, over 8,000 students, and nearly 3,000 staffers.

SUP’S REPORT

During the Superintendent’s Report portion of the meeting, Dr. James Wilcox received an update on student achievement

and success in the LISD Athletic Department from Coach John King

The report also included the latest Campus Data Monitoring analysis, RAPTOR (Rapid Algorithmic Prototyping Tool for Ordered Reasoning) data from the Office of Innovation, and the monthly Community Relations summary.

In addition, Dr. Wilcox also received presentations from public school charter partners:

East Texas Advanced Academies, Longview Educates and Prospers, and Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS).

IN OTHER BUSINESS

During the course of the meeting, the LISD Board of Trustees also:

APPROVED extending the annual performance contract with Texas Council for International Studies to continue operations at Longview High, Foster Middle, Judson Middle, Bailey Elementary, Hudson PEP Elementary, and Williams Elementary;

APPROVED the expenditure of $195,000 in grant funds toward the purchase of video game production equipment for the gaming programs at Longview High, Forest Park, Foster, and Judson middle schools;

APPROVED extending the annual performance contract with Longview LEAP to continue operations at Longview Early Graduation High School;

APPROVED Minutes and Board Time Use Tracker for the May 6th board workshop, May 8th Regular Meeting, and May 15th Special Meeting;

APPROVED the renewal of Student Accident & Athletic Insurance Coverage and Catastrophic Coverage for 2023-24;

APPROVED extending depository contract for funds with Southside Bank;

APPROVED Financial Statements as of May 2023; and

APPROVED Budget Amendment No. 8.

MORE INFO

Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street), but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. July 17, 2023