Volume VIII, Issue 11 (October 1, 2023)

V

“Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardour and diligence.” ― Abigail Adams

THE

ongview oice

Vol. VIII October 2023

Sharing the good news about Longview Independent School District

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Have fun at local themed events this month

S

pooky season is here, so get your costume ready and get excited for candy!

Aside from repeating “Trick or Treat” to all of your neighbors later this month, there is a lot going on in Longview and nearby areas for Halloween.

Here are a few things for your family to enjoy!

Dr. Wilcox to retire

OCTOBER 16

Pumpkin Craft at McMillian Memorial Library in Overton, 5:30 p.m.

Announces plans to step down in 2025

OCTOBER 17

Horror Adventure, Longview Exhibit Center, 6 p.m.

After a remarkable tenure of leadership and dedication, Dr. James E. Wilcox, Superintendent of Schools for Longview ISD, has announced his retirement, effective December 31, 2025.

WILCOX Dr. Wilcox’s decision to retire is driven by his and his wife’s desire “to embark on new adventures,” as well as to allow the LISD Board of Trustees “ample time to chart the future course of the district.”

“I will give every ounce of leadership and caring to our students until my last day with LISD,” he said. “I want the parents of our students to know that I truly do appreciate them sharing their most prized possession and God’s greatest gift to us all: their children.”

Dr. Wilcox will remain fully engaged in his role, providing unwavering leadership and care to the stu-

OCTOBER 21

Candy Crawl at Parkview on Hollybrook and other senior living communities, 4 p.m.

“Concert Under the Stars Halloween Fright Fest” at Kokomo Theatre, 7 p.m.

Hocus Pocus Dress Up at Libery Hall, 2 p.m.

OCTOBER 27

A Spooktacular Good Time at Discovery Science Place in Tyler, 6 p.m.

OCTOBER 28

Trick or Treat with LETU at College Street, 2 p.m.

Family Fun at Painting with a Twist, 1 p.m.

Boo at the Zoo at Caldwell Zoo in Tyler, 9 a.m.

Haunted Hayride at Lake Tyler Marina, 7 p.m.

OCTOBER 30

CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Community Halloween Event, 4 p.m.

Wilcox||Continued to page 13 Wilcox

LISD has earned an ‘A’ in financial integ rity fr om the Texas Education Agency

See business on Page 4

District bond election set for November 7, with early voting begins October 23

The Lobo Choir golf tournament has a golf cart up for g rabs

Find out the latest about the LISD garden from coordinator J ames Beasley

See bond on Page 6

See choir on Page 7

See garden on Page 11

Page 2

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

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...

Business Office earns “A” from TEA (Page 4): Longview ISD earned a superior rating for financial integrity from the Texas Education Agency for 2022-23. The Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) was created in 2001 to encourage schools to better manage finances for maximum direct instructional purposes. Along with the superior TEA rating, the district has held AAA and Aa2 bond ratings from S&P and Moody’s for over five years, indicating extremely stable finances. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of our business office team to ensure fiscal responsibility and support the district’s educational goals.

on this outstanding Djurisic offers achievement. global perspective State-ranked tennis (Page 5): 5th grade wins Area (Page 9): teacher Aura Djurisic The #22 Longview Lobos immigrated to the U.S. defeated Melissa 10-5 to from Europe and offers win the 5A Area playstudents a personal peroffs and advance to the spective on global mindregional quarterfinals. edness, multilingualism, The team has shown inand intercultural underPROSSER credible skill, dedication standing. Students get and teamwork in rising to a top exposure to different cultures 25 state ranking. We wish them and ways of thinking through the best of luck as they continMrs. Djurisic’s lessons. As our ue competing and representing community and world becomes Longview ISD with Lobo Pride. more interconnected, this reLatest garden insights al-world global awareness will (Page 11): Garden Coordinabenefit students. tor James Beaseley shares Two seniors earn nationfascinating agricultural and al honor (Page 6): Shreemayi horticultural knowledge in his Undavalli and Lonoehu Wacanewest article. The district’s sey were named Commended farm-to-table garden program Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, a pres- provides hands-on learning for students about where food tigious academic honor. Out of 1.5 million students nationwide comes from. Mr. Beaseley’s contagious passion for gardening who entered the competition, teaches life lessons and nurthese scholastically talented tures curiosity. His insights are Longview High School seniors highly recommended reading! placed among the top 50,000 Spotted On Social (Page scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT 17): We featured some of the test. We congratulate them

amazing LISD-related content on social media that spotlights our talented students, staff, and community. It’s inspiring to see the incredible achievements happening across our district. Social media provides a platform to share these moments more broadly.

Of course, you’ve probably already read the front-page article on the planned retirement of longtime LISD Superintendent Dr. James WIlcox, but these were 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.

How to create a culture of care in your school

By Matthew Ebert Education Week Ten years. That is how long I served as a principal in a Baltimore middle school—through four district leaders, two U.S. presidents, and a pandemic.

There was no secret lever to pull. No magic button to press.

But over this time, by cultivating a school culture that put people, adults and kids, at the center of the work, my school achieved positive outcomes for children, strong relationships with families, multiple successful school renewals, and incredibly high staff retention—even during COVID. I learned that teachers don’t need more time in front of students. They need more time to analyze data and make adjustments. They need time to eat lunch and use the restroom.

They need it daily.

Professionals don’t want to be gifted trinkets that say,

“You’re a superhero.” and gave insights when They want to be treated appropriate. with respect and care in In the beginning of a every interaction. They relationship, those conwant to be valued, seen, versations weren’t about and heard. Where they teaching and learning. can, they want to be For first-year teachers, loved. it was about how to My team and I make it through the day. designed our school For staff with young EBERT schedule with teacher children, it was holding planning time in mind. the space for them to We prioritized time in the day talk about just how hard it is to for the staff to do all the things be a working parent. For staff that teachers really have to with older parents, it was being do in a week. We made space mindful in the conversation that for them to call families, grade they were always carrying a assignments, and plan so that heavy weight. they wouldn’t have to take it All these real-life moments home with them. were the foundation of creatI designed my schedule with ing a culture of care. And yes, weekly, personal conversations from there, we were able to talk with teachers around personabout instruction, data, and al and professional growth. I professional growth. That work met with each team member was only possible because each weekly, biweekly, or monthly in one of these people knew that one-on-one sessions. I devoted I saw them as people before most of that time for them to anything else. lead the conversation. I listened We held as few meetings as

possible. When we did, they were targeted and specific. If we were going to gather, we did so with a clear purpose and tangible outcomes. When the meeting ended, everyone left.

There was no “meeting after the meeting.”

We didn’t look outside for professional development. We encouraged our teachers to learn new things and lead us in the work. And we paid them when they did it.

I wrote memos every week about culture, climate, successes, and my own personal failings. I wrote about the kids at school, my kids at home, and what I was hoping for.

We talked about our alumni and how they were doing—for better or worse. Each staff member wrote one of their own memos per year to share the things that mattered to them.

— Matthew Ebert is a transformational leader with more than 20 years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings.

Brought to you by the LISD Community Relations Department!

Sharing the good news about Longview Independent School District

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

Page 3

C I N ASEYOU MIS SED I T UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS

Tuesday, October 17 — Lobo and Lady Lobo Golf at District Preview (Tempst GC), Lady Lobo Volleyball vs Whitehouse (9th & JV 4:30 p.m., Varsity 6 p.m.), Lobo Swim at Northeast TX TISCA Zone Meet (TISC Aquatics Center) Thursday, October 19 — Lobo JV Football vs McKinney North (5:30 p.m.), Freshman Football at McKinney North (McKinney Stadium, 7 p.m.)

Friday, October 20 — Lady Lobo Volleyball at Marshall (Varsity 4:30 p.m., 9th & JV 6 p.m.), Lobo Football at McKinney North (McKinney Stadium, 7 p.m.)

trick or treat at letu LETU is hosting their annual Trick or Treat on College Street on Saturday, October 28 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. This event is free to attendees.

t h g u o Br u by: to yo ociates s s a & oodsstate firm julie w real e

Did we miss your district news?

Did we miss district campus or organization news? Send us the pertinent information to ask@LISD.org and we’ll include it in our next issue!

Distinguished alumni A new LISD after school swim program for 4th and 5th grade students will be starting February 26th. The goal of this particular program is to develop swimmers in the four competitive strokes prior to entering the MS swim program. There is no cost associated with this program. This is not a learn-to swim program. Kiddos need to be able to swim already.

This new elementary swim program will start on February 26th and run Monday-Thursday from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. It will run until May 16th.

Please contact Coach Daniel Gonzalez at dgonzalez@LISD.org if you have a interested swimmer or if you have any questions. Space is limited, so please let Coach Gonzalez know ASAP if your swimmer is interested.

LISD learn-to-swim and an LISD summer swim team are also being developed! The summer swim team will compete in the East Texas Summer Swim League. More information on learn-to-swim and summer swim team will be out soon.

Page 4

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

LISD earns ‘A’ in financial integrity Longview Independent School District earned a “superior” rating for financial integrity from the Texas Education Agency for the 2022-23 academic year, the district announced today.

The Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) was created by the Legislature in 2001 and was designed to encourage public schools to better manage their financial resources by providing the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.

Dr. Wayne Guidry, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, said the district’s score for this year was a near-perfect 98. Since the creation of the program, Longview ISD has received an A-rating almost every single year.

“Longview ISD’s finance team consistently proves it is among the state’s best,” said. “Earning this reputation for strong fiscal management shows the talent and dedication of our experienced staff.”

Along with the superior rating from TEA, The district has held

a AAA bond rating from S&P Global and an Aa2 bond rating from Moody’s Investors Service for more than five consecutive years. The S&P rating indicates that bonds are of the highest quality and offer the lowest degree of investment risk. Issuers are considered extremely stable

and dependable.

The board will hold a public hearing 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13 in the boardroom of the district administration building to discuss the state’s financial accountability rating.

The Longview ISD Business Office is responsible for accounting, budgeting, purchasing, payroll, accounts payable, cash management, and various other administrative functions of the district. Our mission is to provide support to our students, employees, families, and our entire LISD community, to ensure that business operations are supportive of the instructional goals and objectives of the district in the attainment of the campus performance objectives and academic excellence indicators.

Trustees approve Thrive partnership, partnership, campus crisis plans The Longview Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a new afterschool program, campus crisis plans, contracts and resolutions during their regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 18th.

Trustees unanimously approved a partnership with the local nonprofit Thrive Longview, investing up to $96,000 in the organization for an after-school enrichment program during the 2023-24 academic year.

Mr. Clent Holmes, Director of Thrive Longview, said the mentoring and character development program “strives to create safe environments for teens to fail and learn from those failures.”

“Thrive Longview hopes that our students and their families will prosper,

HOLMES

ming is expected to start in late fall and run through spring.

Dr. Coleman explained that funding for the program will come from grants and local revenue during the 2023-24 school year.

CAMPUS CRISIS PLANS UPDATED

grow, and develop vigorously through intentional programming because we believe in the African proverb, ‘It takes a village,’” he said. “The after-school sessions will focus on enrichment opportunities, skill-building, and drug prevention education.”

Dr. Craig Coleman, LISD’s Chief Innovation

COLEMAN

Officer, said the program serves as an extension of the work being done by schools, churches, and families.

“Thrive builds on those efforts by bringing in community experts and forming mentorships,” he said.

“Our students becoming whole, healthy, and valuable members of the community and transforming their lives so that they can be the best version of themselves is our mission,” Mr. Holmes added.

The after-school program-

Later, the board approved the Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plan for the 2023-24 school year.

Mr. Scott Fisher, LISD Director of Safety, said the new plan provides comprehensive guidelines and procedures for prevention, mitigation, preparedness, FISHER response, and recovery related to natural disasters, accidents, public health emergencies, and security threats.

Board||Continued to page 10 Board

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

CHARTERS

Page 5

Djurisic offers students a personal perspective

By Christy Triece Meet Aura Djurisic, 5th Grade Bilingual IB Spanish/ Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies teacher at J. L. Everhart Elementary School.

As an immigrant to the United States, Mrs. Djurisic can offer her students a personal perspective on global mindedness, multilingualism and intercultural understanding, all features of the International Baccalaureate Programme. This is her ifth year at Everhart after immigrating from Venezuela in 2018.

At the beginning of this year, in order to refresh students on the ten IB Learner Profile traits as well as to help them get to know their classmates, Mrs. Djurisic had each of them produce an individual diagram with a photo or drawing of themselves at the

center. This picture was surrounded by positive statements, one for each Learner Profile trait.

These traits are foundational to all IB DJURISIC students from grades 1-12 and include knowl-

edgeable, thinker, communicator, principled, inquirer, open-minded, caring, risk-taker, balanced, and reflective.

She began this assignment by reading ten books aloud to her students, each book reflecting one of the Learner Profile traits. “So we have a read-aloud for each of those [traits] ” she says. Together, they explore how a character

in each story shows one of the traits and then students reflect on how to apply the trait to themselves. After discussion and reflection, they illustrate themselves and write ten sentences telling how they behave or will behave to display each trait, such as “I am caring to my classmates because I lend them my things and I’m not rude to them” or “I will be a thinker by being a problem solver.” Half of these positive affirmations are in Spanish and half are in English, the Spanish in red, the English in blue (a practice that is evident throughout this bilingual classroom). After much editing, these individual diagrams are posted proudly for all to see.

Also during the first six weeks students explored their first IB Unit of Inquiry of the TCIS||Continued to page 15 TCIS

What has learning done for your today?

By Dr. Brian Ziemer ETAA CEO It was a cold, rainy October day in Mali Idjos, Serbia, a tiny village on the Hungarian border. But there was joy in the air, ZIEMER because our international education consulting team was there to see the new school we had helped the community open. The little town had not had a local school for three generations, so the opening of a small school with a few stalwart teachers was a momen-

tous occasion.

As we stood in front of the simple, purposeful school building, a local father approached us with his two children. His daughter was perhaps 11 years old, while her younger brother appeared

to be 7 or 8. As they walked toward us, the Head of School said, “Goran, what has learning done for you today?” The father stopped, stood straight upright as though at attention, and pulled his two children close to him under each

arm. Like a soldier reporting to a superior officer, the man barked, “Today, my daughter can name the capitals of all the countries in Europe; and my son! My son is the first boy in our family who can read and write his own name!”

In that moment, I was instantly and deeply humbled, because it struck me how easy it is to take learning for granTed. This father in this tiny village could clearly, strongly tell us exactly what learning had done for his children and their family. Yet for me, it was just another day as an educator.

I was embarrassed, ashamed that I had reduced learning to a daily routine, rather than a ETAA||Continued to page 16 ETAA

Lobo FFA students compete at floral competition We had several students compete at the Miller Grove Floral Cup this month! Ben Sartor was a top 10 individual and Christian Cruz was an honorable mention! Great job y’all!

Special thank you to Brandy Ferrer and Simply Beautiful Floral Company for giving our students a quick tour!

Page 6

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

LISD bond election for November 7 All registered voters living within Longview ISD boundaries are eligible to vote in this election. If you are not registered yet, or need to update your registration, you have until October 10 to do that. Head to GreggCountyVotes.com or VoteTexas.gov to register.

Early Voting begins Monday, October 23, 2023 and ends Friday, November 3, 2023. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7, 2023. If you need to request an absentee or mail-in ballot, you can do so on the Gregg County Elections site using the link below.This site also lists instructions and criteria you must meet in order to apply for a mail-in ballot. The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot for the November election is Friday, October 27, 2023. GreggCountyVotes.com/vote-by-mail Gregg County participates in the county-wide polling place program. Any Gregg County Registered Voter may vote at any site we have open.

ELECTION DAY IS 7 a.m.

maintenance, fuel and insurance.

WHAT IS LISD’S TAX RATE?

to 7 p.m. NOV. 7, 2023

WHAT IS A BOND?

A bond is similar to a home mortgage. It is a contract to repay borrowed money with interest over time. Bonds are sold by a school district to competing lenders to raise funds to pay for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance renovations and new facilities.

HOW CAN FUNDS BE USED?

Bond funds can be used to pay for new buildings, additions and renovations to existing facilities, athletic structures, land acquisition, technology infrastructure and equipment for new or existing buildings.

Bonds cannot be used for salaries or operating costs such as utility bills, supplies, building

A school district tax rate is made up of two different tax rates. The first is Maintenance & Operations (M&O) which covers the day-to-day costs of running a school district with most going towards salaries and utilities. The second is Interest & Sinking (I&S) which is solely used for paying down debt.

Together, those two rates make up the total rate. Longview ISD has decreased the tax rate by 37 cents over the past 6 years resulting in a current total tax rate of $1.1422 as of Aug. 14, 2023.

ABOUT PROPERTY VALUES

Longview ISD does not set your property values, the Gregg County Appraiser determines that. LISD can only set the school district tax rate and must seek voter approval to Bond||Continued to page 10 Bond

Undavalli,, Wacasey earn national commendation Undavalli Longview High School proudly announces that Shreemayi Undavalli and Lonoehu Wacasey, both seniors, have been named Commended Students in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. These scholastically talented seniors received A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although Commended Students will not continue in the 2024 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2024 competition by taking

Continue your path

the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

According to National Merit Scholarship Corporation, Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding performance for academic success. These students represent a valuable national resource. Recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. This recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.

Longview High School congratulates these seniors for their academic success.

A part of your past.

A partner for your future.

Southside has provided the people and businesses of Texas exceptional service since 1960. Let’s grow together.

© 2019 Southside Bank.

All rights reserved. C0319P

southside.com

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

Page 7

Lobo Choir golf tournament offers prize Want a chance at winning a $20,000 golf cart from Golf Cart Ranch? Then enter the Lobo Choir Golf Classic for Veterans Day and be the first to score a hole in one! This tournament is a fundraiser to help send our Lobo Choir to Normandy, France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. A huge thank you to Golf Cart Ranch for donating the golf cart to help send our students to France!

To enter your team go to: lobochoir.ludus.com/200 441366

Page 8

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

YOUR HAPPY FUTURE IS ALSO OURS Free mobile banking app Text message banking and alerts Mobile check deposits Free, interest earning checking for all members 24/7 fraud protection and support Online account opening Free financial experts & helpful resources

Discover how it feels to have

903.381.6500 www.ecu.org Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

Page 9

SPORTS

AHEAD OF THE PACK Lobo middle school girls cross country place third

Congratulations Lobo Cross Country on their great day at the 15-AAAAA Middle School Cross-Country Championships in Texarkana.

Middle School girls finished 3rd overall.

Marley Camp (8th grade Foster) was the 2nd overall individual finisher.

Anna Ford was 12th overall. Siann Rudolph and Heather Pevey finished in the top 20, as well.

Cross country leads the way Lobo Cross Country was riding in style on their way to the Coca Cola Invitational in Lufkin on Wednesday, Oct. 4!

Congratulations to Lobo Cross Country, it was a great day in Lufkin!

Varsity boys — 4th place overall Caden Hardison — 3rd place overall finisher William Hilton — 10th place overall varsity boy division Carlisle Land — 13th overall varsity girls division Aaron Reagh and Luis Gallegos — top ten JV boys division

State-ranked Lobo tennis wins Area Ranked as #22 in the state, Longview Lobo Tennis defeated Melissa at 10-5 on Thursday, Oct. 12, to win the Class 5A Area playoffs at Lindale High School.

In boys doubles, Nate Roberts and Jaden Davis lost to Cade Gentry and Eddie Zeng 2-6, 6-7(7). Aarush Srivastava and Cole Chamberlain defeated Joe Stock and Hayden Godfrey 6-4, 6-2. Joey Hough and Diego Flores beat Aryan Bhardwaj and Grayson Dalby 6-3, 6-2. Jesse Davis and Jonathan Lebanan defeated Deacon Bell and Ace Gustaveson 8-2.

In girls doubles, Sydney Singh and Olivia Payne de-

feated Taylor Katz and Rylee Reddick 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-10. Hannah Woolsey and Sami Jata beat Logan Ferrel and Amerie Age 6-1, 6-4. Jasmine Perry and Siri Undavalli defeated Ella Hart and Alyvia Mcclure 6-2, 6-1. Anna Moussa and

Omika Patel beat Ximena Acosta and Alex Waishwell 8-5.

In boys singles, Roberts, Chamberlain, Aarush Srivastava, Jaden Davis, Hough, Preston Hodges and Diego Flores all secured wins. Sydney Singh and Olivia Payne won their girls

singles matches in straight sets.

Hannah Woolsey and Jasmine Perry also earned singles victories.

Longview advances to the regional quarterfinals Tuesday against a team still to be determined. LOBO UP!

Page 10

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

BOARD ||Continued Continued from page 4 “This three-year plan will strengthen our ability to protect students, staff, and infrastructure in emergency situations,” he said.

Key enhancements in this year’s 55-page plan include formally adopting the National Incident Management System, which provides a standardized approach to coordinating various agencies and resources during an emergency.

The district also added new active shooter protocols, such as bleeding control kits in common areas and enhanced staff training.

Other updates involve strengthening access control measures, testing surveillance camera systems, and conducting more comprehensive safety inspections at all campuses.

“At all times, maintaining a safe and secure learning environment remains our top priority,” said Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox. “This plan provides a strategic framework

to minimize the effects of incidents on our schools and quickly restore normal operations.”

Mr. Fisher explained that the plan was developed with input from administrators, teachers, parents, local law enforcement, and emergency responders.

“It was also reviewed by the district’s School Safety and Security Committee last month prior to approval by the school board,” he said.

District leaders urge parents to contact their child’s principal for more details on new safety protocols. The full plan is available on the district’s website at LISD.org..

LISD.org

BAND TRIP

Later, board members unanimously approved an out-ofstate trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida for the Longview High School Marching Band.

The trip is scheduled to take place from March 8-12, 2024, encompassing a weekend.

Under the leadership of LHS Director of Bands Mrs. Rhonda Daniel, the Big Green Marching Machine will travel to Universal Studios via a Charter Bus provided by Chuck’s Travel.

Mrs. Daniel explained that the highlight of the trip “will be a thrilling performance as the band marches in a parade at the Universal Studios Theme Park.”

The parade is scheduled to take place on either Sunday, March 10th, or Monday, March 11th.

All the necessary funds for this trip have been raised by the band booster club and the students themselves. No school money will be utilized to cover the expenses.

new instruments will provide improved sound quality, “enabling the bands to perform at the expected level for a district of this size.”

“The rationale behind this investment is to ensure a longterm solution, as well-maintained instruments can serve the district for many years,” he said. “Outdated or unsafe band instruments will be replaced with updated ones, prioritizing student safety and musical development.”

a bond. The maintenance and operations budget covers the day-to-day expenses of the district, where over 80 percent is directed toward staff salaries and benefits.

The Texas Education Agency in the Financial Integrity Ratings System of Texas (Schools FIRST Rating) sets the guidelines for school districts to have three months of operating expenditures in fund balance.

Maintaining the required fund balance as well as the opera-

tional needs of the district (with limited state funding) may restrict districts from building adequate savings to fund facilities and infrastructure needs to accommodate construction costs of building a new facility or repairing and renovating an older one.

FOR 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 NEW INSTRUMENTS district. The next regular meetLater, board members unan- ing is tentatively scheduled for imously approved expenditures 6 p.m. Oct. 16, 2023. up to $164,139.32 for the purFor more information about chase of instruments for district the Longview ISD Board of bands.

Trustees please go to LISD. Dr. Guidry explained that org.. org

BOND ||Continued Continued from page 6 increase it.

Also on your ballot in November, voters will likely see the largest tax relief bill go to a vote. The state is proposing increasing the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000 which would save the average property owner roughly between $900 and $1,200 on their annual tax bill.

FINANCIAL STANDING

This past year Longview ISD received a perfect score on their Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST).

Longview ISD has a long history of receiving Exemplary ratings in the FIRST system.

Over the past 15 years the district has taken advantage of historically low interest rates through refinancing and saved taxpayers millions of dollars.

The district has also bought down our debt payments with this earned interest.

LISD also has a debt-to-assessed value ratio of 2.3 percent, which is one of the lowest among surrounding school districts.

OTHER WAYS TO FUND PROJECTS

Planning for the district’s

current and future needs is one of the fundamental duties of school boards and district administrators. As such, there is a constant evaluation of facilities and other needs in light of the age of district-owned structures, changes in technology, and even changes in instruction.

When the district determines that it has needs beyond the capacity of the maintenance and operations budget, the Board of Trustees may issue

FOR MORE INFO

For more info please go to LISD.org/bond or contact LISD Community Relations via email or call 903-381-2235.

www.LISD.org/bond

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

Page 11

LOBO GARDEN

Latest news from the garden

By James Beasley Coordinator A couple of weeks ago I found myself in a conversation with a student that asked me the following question: Since Texas doesn’t really have a lot of cold weather, why can’t you grow a garden year-round? Although this very thought-provoking question may seem to have a simple answer, there is some science behind the reason we don’t grow gardens year-round.

As most gardeners know, the amount of direct sunlight a plant receives can have a lasting im-

pact on how the plant grows and produces. Starting around June and ending in December the days get shorter by about 2 minutes every day. By mid-October the average day lasts about 11.5 hours, and by the end of November, the length of daylight has dropped to around 10.5 hours.

Keep in mind this time is shorter as you go north and longer as you travel south (www.alma(www.almanac.com). nac.com ).

Once the days drop to around 10 hours or less most plants will completely shut down and Garden||Continued to page 13 Garden

Learn a little about strawberries

By James Beasley Coordinator When it comes to growing strawberries in East Texas it all comes down to variety and timing. For instance, everbearing varieties are typically what you will find in big box stores, but these are not the best choice for East Texas.

They typically produce smaller and fewer berries during the growing season.

One thing we learned last year is that June-bearing varieties such as Camarosa will produce large and abundant fruit up until about mid-June.

Regardless of the variety however, all strawberries will produce more when the plants are two years old. One way to “trick” the plant into thinking its 2 years old is to plant them in October. This early planting allows the strawberries ample time to establish their roots before they go dormant in the winter.

Did you know?

1. Tulip bulbs had a higher value than gold in Holland in the 1600’s. (www.goodhousekeeping.com) 2. Trees are the longest – living organisms on earth.

3. Some scientists believe the scent chemicals in freshly mowed grass can relieve human stress.

4. Tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers are the most popular homegrown vegetables in the United States.

5. Plants sense gravity using gravitropism (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

As temperatures increase in the spring the plants can absorb more nutrients and water from the soil resulting in large and abundant berries.

The biggest miscalculation most people make is waiting until spring to plant their strawberries. One must also remember that other factors such as weather, available nutrients, and pests can play a large role in how well your strawberries will do.

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

OBITUARIES Longview ISD offers our most sincere condolences to our extended Lobo family Gerald Wayne Corbitt Gerald Wayne Corbitt, 70, was born on February 7, 1953, in Longview, Texas went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Gerald graduated from Longview High School in 1971, where he continued to live for the rest of his life.

CORBITT In 1990, Gerald married his beloved wife, Kim Corbitt.

Their love story spanned 32 years, filled with shared adventures and precious moments.

Together, they built a beautiful life, and their bond was admired by all who knew them.

Above all, Gerald loved spending time with his family. He was a dedicated husband, loyal son, supportive father, a reliable brother, a caring uncle, a loving pawpaw, and a giving friend. His home was always filled with laughter and love, a testament to the warm, generous man he was. His family will remember him as a pillar of strength and a source of endless support.

Gerald Wayne Corbitt was a man of great character, loved by all who knew him. His life,

Jimmy Bob Rolls

ROLLS

Jimmy Bob Rolls passed away surrounded by his family at Longview Regional Medical Center on October 7, 2023. Jim Bob was born December 24, 1929 in Beckville, Panola County Texas to parents Ernest Church Rolls and Hazel Edna Harper Rolls. Jim Bob graduated from the old Longview High

School location.

Jim Bob accepted Christ as his savior at a young age. (Romans 10: 9 - 10) Jim Bob was a devoted Christian and a lifelong member of Mobberly Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon for many years. Jim Bob lived a life of service to his God/Church, his family and his country.

Jim Bob retired from the U.S. Army Texas National Guard after serving 35 years of loyal service. He worked in many types of jobs during his career from manufacturing to retail sales and then to Over the Road Truck Driver.

The family would like to thank the dedicated

though not without its hardships, was full of love and joy. He will be greatly missed by his wife Kim, Son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Bianca Corbitt of Andrews, Texas, Daughter Kristen Corbitt of Kilgore, Texas. Sister Jo Ann Sampson of Longview; brother Don Corbitt of Longview, Texas; Sister-in-law Sherry Brady and husband Shy Drori of Houston, Texas; Brother-in-law Steve Nair and wife Susie Nair of Palmer, Texas; Granddaughter Bailee Gonzalez and husband Cris Gonzalez of Andrews, Texas; Granddaughter Lainee Corbitt and husband Kesmond Andrews of Midland, Texas, Granddaughter, Kaitlee Corbitt of Midland Texas; Granddaughter Natalee Smith of Hallsville, Texas; Great Granddaughters Emeree Gonzalez and Krislyn Andrews; Dear friend Gracie Morales; numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. His legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him, and his spirit will continue to inspire those who were fortunate to have shared in his journey.

Memorial preparations are under the direction of East Texas Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held November 11, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Center Cross Church, Longview, Texas with Pastor Tommy Dorgan officiating. nurses and doctors of Longview Regional Medical Center I.C.U. for their loving care during Jim Bob last days. The family also would like to thank the staff of Summer Meadows Nursing Home where he spent his later years enjoying the Christian fellowship, Bible study, great food, wonderful music, and playing Bingo and Dominoes with his fellow residents.

Jim Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Earnest and Hazel Rolls, his sister Billie Jean Miller, her husband Roy Miller and his dedicated wife Janie Belle Lowe Rolls.

Those left to cherish his memory are his son John Rolls and his wife Karen Rolls, daughter Sarah Elliott and her husband Jeff Elliott. Grandchildren Joshua Allen and his wife Whitney, Rachel Baldazo and her husband Eric, Christian Rolls, Lindsey Greenlee and her husband Jacob, and one great granddaughter Alivia Grace Baldazo.

Services for Jimmy Bob Rolls will be held Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at Welch Funeral Home. Family visitation will be before the service from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. Professor Roger Carr will officiate the service.

Jim Bob will be buried at Lakeview Cemetery.

There will be no graveside services.

Thank you for taking care of our extended Lobo family in their time of need.

Deena Montgomery

Dedeena Gwendolyn “Deena” Montgomery, 93, of Longview passed away Sunday October 1, 2023.

Deena resided in the MONTGOMERY Longview area for more than 60 years and was born in Fort Worth on January 8, 1930 to Aline and E.J. “Ned” Winslett in Fort Worth. She graduated from RL Paschal High School in Fort Worth and continued her education at TCU and Stephen F. Austin University to obtain her degree in Elementary Education.

She was an educator in the Longview Independent School District for over 25 years. Deena enjoyed an extreme love of the outdoors her entire life and even as a young girl accompanied her parents on many fishing and hunting trips most times being tasked with the chore of dressing the fish and the birds- a memory that she recalled often. Most of all she loved deeply her children and grandchildren as evidenced by her radiant smile once in their presence.

Deena was preceded in death by her parents and daughter, Christi Ann. She is survived by her sons, John Montgomery of Burleson, Mark Montgomery and wife Sandra of Hallsville, Grandsons, Christopher Montgomery USMC and wife Kelly of Longview, Matthew Montgomery of Burleson, Jake Montgomery of Fort Worth and Logan Fowler of Colorado, Nephew, Kevin Montgomery and wife Kerry of Burleson, Niece Karen Farris and husband Gerald of Irving and three great Granddaughters as well as numerous great nieces and nephews.

Additionally, the family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the Staff of Summer Meadows and Hospice Care for the kindness and love given to their loved one while in their care.

A private family service will be held at Rosewood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Longview Animal Care and Adoption Center, 303 H.G. Mosley Pkwy, Longview, TX 75604

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

Page 13

PUBLIC NOTICES Regular board meeting set for October 16 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 meeting is tentatively

scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16.

The next special board meeting is tentatively set for Wednesday, Oct, 25, with the location yet to be determined.

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

Minutes can also be found at the website, as well as information on financial transparency.

Information about the areas of the district as well as the elected board members can also be found online.

Senior Advisory Committee meeting set for October 17 The Longview Senior Advisory Comittee meeting is set for 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the City Hall Atrium at 300 West Cotton Street.

I. Call to Order – Introduction II. Citizen Comments III. Approval of Minutes a. July 18, 2023

IV. Consent Agenda a. Staffing Update b.

Welcome New Members c. Master Plan Update d. Senior Programming and Project Updates V. Senior Advisory Committee Member Comments VIII. Adjourn Persons with disabilities, who plan to attend

this meeting and who may need auxiliary aid or this services, are requested to contact the City Secretary’s Office at 903-237-1080 at least two days before this meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

their success include the growing of cabbages that weigh 138 pounds and carrots that weigh 64 pounds. Think about how many students could be fed from just one carrot.

Although the days are shorter, there are still some plants that can be grown starting in January. These include short day onion varieties, Beets, Kale, and Carrots.

GARDEN ||Continued Continued from page 11 stop growing. Even plants that love cooler weather like lettuce and kale will go dormant. This is the primary reason why farmers do not grow gardens year-round in Texas.

In contrast, farmers in Alaska can grow tremendous crops because they have an abundance of sunlight. In some regions of Alaska for example, they can receive up to 22 hours of daylight per day. Examples of WILCOX ||Continued Continued from page 1 dents, staff, and community of Longview ISD until his final day. The Board of Trustees will commence a meticulous and comprehensive search for the next superintendent, ensuring a seamless transition to sustain the district’s upward trajectory.

Mr. Michael Tubb, Longview ISD Board President, said Dr. Wilcox’s legacy of educational excellence and his enduring impact will continue to shape the future of Longview Independent School District.

“Longview ISD is a leading public school district, not just in East Texas but across the state,” he said. “And that is due, in large part, to the innovation and expertise of Dr. WIlcox’s leadership in providing exceptional educational opportunities for students from kindergarten through grade 12.”

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

FOUNDATION

Annual Foundation pecan sale taking orders Longview has enjoyed Azalea/Stuckey brand pecans for many years, and now the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. is bringing them annually to you for your holiday and every day enjoyment for the sixth year.

The Longview ISD Foundation is offering one-pound bags of fresh, golden, delicious Mammoth Pecan Halves; one-pound Azalea Gourmet Mix of toasted and salted pecan halves, cashews, brazil nuts, hazel nuts, and large almonds; and cinnamon pecans, praline pecans, and glazed pecans for delivery before during the week of November 13-17.

One-pound packages of mammoth pecans are $18.00 each; one pound packages of mixed nuts are $15.00 each; 12 ounce packages of cinnamon pecans are $15.00 each; 12 ounce packages of praline

maintains, and uses funds to maximize the quality of education available to all students in LISD. Since 1996, the Foundation has returned $1,042,092.00 to LISD classrooms and campuses to fund programs and learning tools that are beyond the district’s budget. Every day students enjoy programs and equipment made possible through the fundraising effort of the Longview ISD Foundation.

Thank you for your support. pecans are $15.00 each; and 12 ounce packages of glazed pecans are $15.00 each. The cinammon, praline, and glazed pecans are in festive red and white striped bags that are perfect for holiday gift giving!

Anyone can order and pay with a credit card at www. lisdfoundation.org, or buyers

may call Kay Ray, Foundation director, at 903-452-7015 or email her at gray@LISD.org gray@LISD.org..

LISD students received order forms to take home on October 13. Deadline for ordering for deliver the week of November 13-17 is Tuesday, October 31.

The Longview ISD Foundation is an education foundation that requests, receives,

Proud supporter of the Lobos!

903-686-9108 gormanmccrackenvw.com gormanmccrackenmazda.com 800 South Hwy 31 East, East, Longview

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

Page 15

For the sixth year, the Longview ISD Foundation brings you freshly shelled Azalea Brand Pecans, golden, meaty pecans, mixed nuts, cinnamon pecans, and praline pecans from one of the South’s finest Georgia orchards at a great price for a great cause!

These pecans are GREAT for snacking and cooking! The mixed nuts, cinnamon pecans, and praline pecans make great snack treats! The cinnamon pecans, glazed pecans, and praline pecans were very popular in 2022!

Longview has enjoyed Azalea brand pecans for many years, and now the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. is bringing them annually to you for your holiday and everyday enjoyment.

The Longview ISD Foundation is offering one-pound bags of fresh, golden, delicious Mammoth Pecan Halves one-pound Azalea Gourmet Mix of toasted and salted pecan halves, cashews, brazil nuts, hazel nuts, and large almonds, cinnamon pecans, and praline pecans for delivery to LISD campuses or for pick up at the LISD administration building, 1301 E. Young Street, during the week of November 13-17.

(1) Mail to the Longview ISD Foundation., Inc. Attention: Kay Ray P. O. Box 9461, Longview, Texas 75608 no later than Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

(2) Give to your child’s teacher or campus clerk to return by school mail to Kay Ray, Foundation’s executive director, at the LISD Education Support Center no later than Tuesday, October 31, 2023.

(3) Order online at www.lisdfoundation.org and pay with a credit card.

Questions: Call Kay Ray, Foundation director, 903-452-7015 or email her at gray@lisd.org.

Please print CLEARLY! accompany the order.

All of this information is required!

Payment must

1.

Name of Person Placing the Order__________________________________________

2.

Telephone Number ______________________________________________________

3.

Email address ___________________________________________________________

4.

Name of LISD student and LISD campus where delivery should be made _________________________________________________________________________________________ Number of Bags Ordered Item Description Price Per Bag One-pound bag Mammoth Pecan Halves One-pound bag Azalea Gourmet Mix 12 oz. bag Cinnamon Pecans 12 oz. bag Deluxe Praline Pecans 12 oz. bag Glazed Pecans Total Payment Enclosed

$18.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00 $15.00

The Longview ISD Foundation is an education foundation that requests, receives, maintains, and uses funds to maximize the quality of education available to all students in LISD. Since 1996, the Foundation has returned $1,042,092 to LISD classrooms and campuses to fund programs and learning tools that are beyond the district’s budget. Every day students enjoy programs and equipment made possible through the fundraising effort of the Longview ISD Foundation. Thank you for your support. Enjoy your delicious pecans, mixed nuts, and specialty pecans!D D Faculty or Staff the projects of the day giving!

TCIS ||Continued Continued from page 5 year: Where We Are in Place and Time.

In this unit, “Our related concepts are migrations and explorations” with the central idea of “Human exploration and discovery may advance society.” For social studies, they learn of the Thirteen Colonies; for science, they explore the properties of matter, plus mixtures and solutions. For language arts, students engage in a book study of the novel Esperanza Rising about a girl who immigrates with her family to Southern California from Mexico during the Great Depression.

“They see all the elements of historical

fiction develop throughout the book, so they practice reading skills,” including character development, plot diagrams, and figurative language, to name a few.

This Unit of Inquiry is special to Mrs. Djurisic. “I like it a lot because I have a personal connection to it,” she says. She enjoys sharing with her students the story of her own immigration from Venezuela.

Mrs. Djurisic especially likes teaching science, explaining that in her classroom, “I like to have some hands-on things. I have a small table where they go” to see

that oil and water don’t mix, among other concepts. Students often ask to go to the table, and respond with “Oh, yeah!!” when she says yes. “They have a lot of fun with it.” Manipulative items on the table are changed out as they progress through 5th Grade science lessons on density, magnetism, conductivity, and so forth.

LISD is fortunate to have teachers as dedicated and capable as Aura Djurisic, who displays all ten of the Learner Profile traits herself.

— Brian Ziemer, Ph.D., CPA is East Texas Advanced Academies CEO and Chief Learner. East Texas Advanced Academies is an SB 1882 Partnership of Longview ISD.

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

¡Por el sexto año, la Fundación Longview ISD le ofrece nueces pecanas recién peladas de la marca

Azalea, nueces doradas, nueces mixtas y nueces con canela y especias de uno de los mejores huertos del sur de Georgia a un excelente precio por una gran causa! ¡Estas nueces son ideales para picar y cocinar! ¡Las nueces mixtas y las nueces de canela y especias son excelentes bocadillos!

Longview ha disfrutado de las nueces de la marca Azalea durante muchos años, y ahora la Fundación de Longview ISD se las traerá anualmente para que las disfrute en los días festivos o cualquier otro día que se les antojen.

La Fundación de Longview ISD está ofreciendo bolsas de una libra de Mitades de Nueces Mammoth frescas, doradas y deliciosas, y Azalea Gourmet Mix de una libra de mitades de nueces tostadas y saladas, anacardos, nueces de Brasil, avellanas y almendras grandes para entregar en los campus de LISD o para recoger en el edificio administrativo de LISD, 1301 E. Young Street, durante la semana del 13 al 17 de noviembre.

Complete el siguiente formulario de pedido y devuelva con dinero en efectivo, cheque o giro postal a nombre de Longview ISD Foundation de una de estas dos maneras: (1) Enviar por correo a Longview ISD Foundation, Inc., Atención: Kay Ray, P. O. Box 9461, Longview, Texas 75608 a más tardar el martes 31 de octubre del 2023.

(2) Lo puede entregar con el maestro de su hijo/a o a la secretaría de la escuela para enviárselo a Kay Ray, directora ejecutiva de la Fundación, al Centro de Apoyo Educativo de LISD a más tardar el martes 31 de octubre de 2023.

(3) Los pedidos también se pueden realizar en línea en www.lisdfoundation.org y se pueden pagar con tarjeta de crédito.

Preguntas: Llame a Kay Ray, directora de la Fundación, 903-452-7015 o envíele un correo electrónico a gray@lisd.org.

¡Por favor imprime claramente!

1. Nombre de la persona que realiza el pedido _________________________________________ 2. Número de teléfono ______________________________________________________ 3. Dirección de correo electrónico ___________________________________________________ 4. Nombre del estudiante de LISD y la escuela de LISD donde se debe realizar la entrega Descripción de Artículo Precio por bolsa Cantidad de Nueces Bolsa de una libra Mammoth Pecan Halves

$18.00

Bolsa de una libra Azalea Gourmet Mix

$15.00

12 onzas. Bolsa de nueces de canela y especias $15.00 12 onzas, bolsa de garapiñado de nueces

$15.00

12 onzas, golsa de Glazed (glaseada) Pecans

$15.00

ETAA ||Continued Continued from page 5 source of pride and joy.

This year, ETAA is commited to rejuvenating the joy and power of learning for all our students, their families, and their teachers. LISD has assembled a brilliant team of Instructional Coaches in Reading and Language Arts; Mathematics; and Bilingual Education. This team also serves as part of a larger District-wide group that

is revising standards and aligning campuses to make sure evEry student has the best possible path to success.

Those efforts are recharging the atmosphere in our schools because everyone senses that as we work together with a shared purpose and goal, our students will enjoy great outcomes. Our children will know what learning has done for them!

The small school building we helped open in Mali Idjos was neither new nor fancy, but the pride in the community was as great as any new school opening in Texas. I often think about the immense pride and sincerity in that father, who was so proud to answer the question “What has learning done for you today?” I encourage you to ask yourself that question, because it may

remind you of those teachers who shaped your world, and who are daily touching the lives of your children. I want every ETAA family to be able to answer that question clearly, joyfully, and with a sense of excitement that today, we know what learning has done for us.

— Brian Ziemer, Ph.D., CPA is East Texas Advanced Academies CEO and Chief Learner.

East Texas Advanced Academies is an SB 1882 Partnership of Longview ISD.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE — October 2023

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