Volume III, Issue 3 (March 2018)

“Elections belong to the people. It’s their decision.” ― Abraham Lincoln

THE

ongview Voice

Sharing the good news about LISD!

Vol. 3 No. 3 March 2018

A publication of Longview Independent School District

Complimentary Copy

TO THE NEXT LEVEL Career tech seniors share goals, experiences

L

ongview High’s Career and Technology Education program is second to none in developing skilled workers for fulfilling jobs in a variety of skilled and technical fields.

CATE Director Brian Kasper said the program prepares students for high-skill, high-wage jobs focused on areas of industry need.

“Our students graduate from Longview High School with not just a diploma, but skills and qualifications that make them extremely sought-after candidates right out of the box,” he said.

Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox agreed, adding that the CATE program helps students “take it to the next level” in finding out what they want to do with their lives.

“In the past, your average high school student just took average high school classes, then went to college without really being sure what they wanted to study or what career they wanted to follow,” he said. “With this kind of program, many of them are finding their career path early on. Not only that, but they’re getting training and certification that puts them at an advantage over other schools where their students are still trying to figure it out.”

Among those graduating in 2018 with advanced Career and Technology Education are LHS seniors German Zelaya, Jose Velazquez, and Michael Vera.

Continued on page 12, see “Next Level”

Foundation awards grants to teachers 18 early graduates

The Longview ISD Foundation.​hosted its Annual Giveaway Breakfast Feb. 7 at the Education Support Center.

The Foundation has returned the largest amount in one year to Longview ISD campuses and classrooms in the history of the Foundation.

The Longview ISD Foundation is funding four Campus Initiative Grants, the most ever in a year, having received eight applications, also the most ever received. These four grants total $19,324.60.

The Foundation is also funding 28 Great Rewards for Continued on page 7, see “Grants”

receive diplomas

Lawson named Rotary Student of the Month It may not have had the usual “pomp and circumstance” of the end-of-year graduation ceremony, but the diplomas presented to eighteen Longview Early Graduation High School students are just as special.

During the Longview ISD trustees meeting Monday, Feb. 12, graduates were recognized by Principal Kristi Means. Means praised the graduates for their achievement, challenging them to ignore the skeptics and “never let anyone convince you that you cannot accomplish great things.”

Continued on page 12, see “Early Grads”

THE

Longview Voice

Opinion Coming Events

2-3 3-7

The Longview Rotary Club honored Lobo senior Jordan Lawson during their regular meeting Jan. 30 at First Baptist Church.

As the talented senior is a leader on the field as well as the classroom, LISD trustee (and Rotary member) Ava Welge praised Jordan’s character, work-ethic, and community leadership as a student-athlete.

“Jordan represents many of the best attributes in our young people,” said Rotary Club member Dietrich Johnson. “We are glad to celebrate his accomplishments.”

The Longview Rotary Club recognizes a local teacher and student each month during regular luncheon meetings.

Science Night Full Stem Ahead

5 6

Lobos Talent Boost From Educators

13 17

Page 2

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

OPINION Set boundaries and stand behind them

By Mayor Andy Mack Dear Lobos, Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. I always get a little excited when a few warm days sneak into our winter because I know that spring is right around the corner.

I can’t help but think that many other people anticipate the spring as well with “spring cleaning.” Out with the old and in with the new!

Have you ever thought of this term in the sense of a mental spring cleaning versus a physical spring cleaning? A friend recently challenged me in this, so I have given it a bit of thought.

Perhaps your mental spring cleaning might consist on what is working for you or what’s not working for you. What friends are lifting you up versus the ones who are weighing you down? It might be an opportunity to reevaluate your goals and see how you are coming along and what you might need to tweak.

I heard a quote this week that was something along the lines of “Not everyone in the boat with you is paddling in the same direction.

Some are putting holes in the boat while you are rowing your heart out.” If you have folks like this in

your boat, by all means, push them out!

Think about this, if you are motivated to make all A’s or the baseball team or cheer squad – and you have friends who do not support your personal goal – then they are more concerned about themselves than you! If your friends are trying to get you to party or to go out rather than do what you need to do to accomplish your goals – then they are putting holes in your boat.

But let’s be clear – you are the only one that can decide who gets in your boat and who does not. Hence, you are the ultimate Decision Maker in who you allow to put holes in your boat. Not all people putting holes in your boat are intentional.

And sometimes, they can be very innocent. But that is where it is up to you in letting people know what you stand for and what you will not stand for.

You get to decide your own boundaries. But it is also up to you to make it clear to those around you, i.e. your peer group, to know exactly where and what your boundaries are.

I read a book once called “Boundaries”

March 2018

by Drs. Henry Cloud & John Townsend which opened my eyes to how important it is for each individual to have a set of boundaries. Sometimes we have a tendency to think that we are not being kind or loving when we institute boundaries on other people, but it is quite the contrary. By letting people know where we stand and where they stand in our lives, is a form of love.

One of my brothers (who will remain nameless) once pushed a boundary when he was in high school. He had a strict curfew of 10:30 (yes, 10:30). Unfortunately, he arrived home at 10:35 to a note on the door – which was locked. The note very plainly said “Find someplace else to sleep tonight.” He breached the boundary that my father had set for him. Now, some might call this child endangerment in this day and age, but he turned out just fine! For those of you who never knew our father, he was a man of few words, but EVERY one of those words counted.

My brother (along with a friend), obviously with no place to spend the night continued to knock on the door, and eventually my father opened the door. Said Brother, proceeded to

plead their case with our Dad, but the excuses fell on deaf ears. So at that point in time, my Dad set the boundary for not only my brother, but his friend and all of us in the house. And the boundary was “If you eat a man’s food, you sing his song”. And therefore, from that day forward, we were canaries!!!

And to this day, that friend of my brothers, still refers to my Dad as the Quarterback.

Did I mention that said brother in the story above is now on the school board for Longview ISD? Ha ha ha!

All joking aside, we learned a valuable lesson out of a simple concept. Respect the boundaries of others. And if you do not have boundaries, people will cross them all the time. So take the time to know them, set them and enforce them.

Study hard, have some fun and say your prayers,

Andy

— Dr. Andy Mack is a 1978 graduate of Longview High School. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon for more than 25 years, he is currently owner-operator of East Texas Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Longview.

Shame on Abbott, Patrick, and the Legislature!

By Chris Ardis

Every day—and I do mean every day—since January 1, I have felt a heaviness in the pit of my stomach. Every day, I know I am going to hear another story about what has befallen my fellow retired Texas public school employees courtesy of Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature.

As many of you may have heard, during the 2017 Legislative Session, these elected officials decided to turn our healthcare world upside down, despite the fact that we retired under the promise of affordable healthcare, a promise made to us years ago when we began teaching and again when we completed all of the paperwork for retirement.

Instead, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature voted to appropriate DOUBLE the amount of money for retirees in the state’s other retirement system, ERS, that they did for our retirement system, TRS, despite the fact that they have HALF the number of participants.

ERS handles pensions and healthcare for all other state employees. It is no coincidence that retired legislators are

members of ERS when they retire at age 50 with a mere 12 years in office or at age 60 with a mere eight years.

Meanwhile, TRS, also controlled by the Texas Legislature, handles pensions and healthcare for me and all of my fellow retired public school employees — teachers, custodians, bus drivers, administrators, cafeteria workers, counselors, librarians, maintenance workers, secretaries, diagnosticians, and classroom aides (and anyone else who worked in our public school system).

Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and the Texas Legislature also increased our deductible from $400 to $1,500. Now, not one penny of the medical costs or prescriptions (except a list of standard, generic drugs) for TRS retirees under 65 is paid until we pay the ENTIRE $1,500 out of pocket. Think no co-pay. For retired public school employees who include their spouse on their insurance, their deductible is $3,000. For them, the plan does not pay a single penny until

they reach the entire $3,000, not $1,500 for each of them.

Meanwhile, in ERS Land, all other state employees (and retired legislators) not only have 100 percent of their premium paid for by the state, but they also have no deductible. “No,” as in zero. That means while we are paying 100 percent of our healthcare costs and prescription costs out of pocket until we reach $1,500 (then, we have an 80/20 split), they have no deductible to meet.

“No,” as in zero.

One of the stories I heard last week was about Chuck and Leslie. Leslie retired from Northside ISD in San Antonio in 2014. January 1, their premium increased from $140 to $689.

This $689 is 23.5 percent of Nancy’s gross monthly annuity.

This incredible financial burden has resulted in the couple considering dropping their health insurance. “But we don’t want to burden other taxpayers with OUR hospital bills if we ever do get sick,” Chuck told me.

This is the choice they are facing after Leslie spent years working in our public schools.

I also read the story of Donna, who lives in Hewitt (near Waco).

She taught in Texas public schools for 27 years, about half of those in special education and seven as a diagnostician.

She has a master’s degree. Her monthly prescription drug costs went from $100 to $1,200.

Although she has found some discount cards she is now using, the hit it has taken is painful and frightening.

One of my close friends in the Rio Grande Valley is a retired teacher and a single mom who receives no child support for her son, who is a freshman in college. She told me last week she has decided she is not going to the doctor anymore, despite the fact that she battles high blood pressure. “The deductible is just too high,” she told me.

I’m sick. I’m sad. I’m angry.

I’m still in disbelief.

How did this happen? Why did this happen?

I honestly believe someone is going to die because of the decisions made by Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and several members of the Texas Legislature.

I think what sickens and frightens me most is that the endless stories I have heard are all from teachers and administrators. If so many of them are suffering with these changes, what are those who earned far less than us while working—which means far less than us in retirement— doing?

SHAME ON YOU, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and every Texas legislator who voted to cripple all of us who devoted our careers and our lives to the children of this state.

I hope all of us, our former students, and all who love us will JOIN THE MOVEMENT to BLOCK VOTE!

— Chris Ardis is a retired 29-year Texas teacher who now works in marketing and business communications. Chris can be reached at cardis1022@aol.com.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

Board of Trustees continue goals into 2018 Longview ISD Board of Trustees spent the better part of Saturday, Feb. 10 considering district priorities for 2018.

B oa r d memb er s he a r d presentations and received reports from various educational departments highlighting the

district’s progress over the last year. At the conclusion of staff presentation, trustees restated district goals for the coming year.

Goals for Longview ISD continuing in 2018 include: 1. ) Improving recruitment and retention of qualit y personnel.

2.)

Improving communication with parents and the general public.

3.) All schools meeting state standard, as well as performing at state level in math and science.

4.) Improving social/ life skills of Longview Early Graduation HS Students.

5.)

Improv ing / maintaining district grounds and facilities.

“Looking at these goals, I don’t see anything that I would want to replace or change, but rather see them continue on,” said board president Dr. Mark Camp. “The c on t inue d s t r ong performance by our students shows the quality of staff we have here. They are meeting and of ten even exceeding these ambitious goals.”

Trustees each voiced t her e ag r e emen t , praising the work of the various administrators and staf f for the measurable progress made during the last year.

Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox thanked the board for their continued support, and added that Longview ISD will continue to work to “not only meet but

raise the bar.”

“If you just look at the numbers, you can see the obvious progress being made year-in and year-out, but more important than the numbers are the opportunities being afforded to our students,” he said. “Our focus will remain on helping all of our students reach their potential.”

Simmons has served on the board since being elected in 1986. Voters in Place 7 will cast their Election Day ballots at Broughton Recreation Center, 801 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Longview ISD trustees are elected to serve three-year terms.

For more infor mat ion please contact LISD Elections Coordinator Eriel Harris at (903) 381-2200.

3&3 Plate, 3 tenders, 3 wings, & 2 dipping sauce, toast & fries

Hours 10:30am - 10pm, 7 days a week 204 East Loop 281 • Longview 903-236-2909

Page 3

COMING EVENTS: March 1 UIL One Act Play Contest (Melton Center) FFA Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Freshman Lobo Baseball at Carthage/Pine Tree Tournament JV Lobo Baseball at Pittsburg Tournament Varsity Lobo Baseball Co-Host Oil Belt Classic Varsity Boys & Girls Track/Field at Maverick Relays (Marshall) 4 p.m. Lady Lobos Powerlifting Regional Meeting (Pine Tree) 5 p.m. Early College Parent Informational Night (Little Theatre) March 2 8 a.m. Parent-Teacher Conference Day UIL One Act Play Contest (Melton Center) Freshman Lobo Baseball at Carthage/Pine Tree Tournament JV Lobo Baseball at Pittsburg Tournament Varsity Lobo Baseball Co-Host Oil Belt Classic Varsity Lobo Golf at Pine Tree Twisted 54 (Pinecrest) Lobo Varsity Tennis at McKinney North Tournament 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo Soccer at Rockwall 5:30 p.m. Lobo Soccer JV hosts Rockwall 7 p.m. Lobo Soccer Varsity hosts Rockwall March 3 UIL One Act Play Contest (Melton Center) Freshman Lobo Baseball at Carthage/Pine Tree Tournament JV Lobo Baseball at Pittsburg Tournament Varsity Lobo Baseball Co-Host Oil Belt Classic Varsity Lobo Golf at Pine Tree Twisted 54 (Pinecrest) 4 p.m. Lobo Powerlifting at Regional Meet (Lindale) March 4 March 5 JV Lobo Golf at Hallsville Spring Classic (Oak Forest Country Club) Lobo Middle School Relay (Lobo Stadium) 7 p.m. Board of Trustees Regular Meeting March 6 Boys Lobo MIddle School Track Relays (Lobo Stadium) 8:30 a.m. Lady Lobo Varsity Golf at Lindale Garden Valley 5 p.m. Freshman Lobo Baseball at Hallsville 5:30 p.m. Lobo JV A Soccer at North Mesquite (New Turf) 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo Softball JV at Rockwall 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo Soccer hosts North Mesquite 6 p.m. Lobo Cheer Booster Meeting (Library) 6 p.m. Varsity Lobo Baseball hosts Hallsville (Lobo Baseball Field) 7 p.m. Lobo Varsity Soccer at North Mesquite (New Turf) 7 p.m. Lady Lobo Softball Varsity at Rockwall 7 p.m. JV Lobo Baseball at Hallsville

Page 4

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

ELEMENTARY

Montessori Prep celebrates 100th day!

The East Texas Montessori Prep Academy celebrated “100 Days In School” on Friday with Card My Yard Longview, creative 100 Day posters, games, and art activities.

“It’s such a fun day for the students and the teachers,” said Assistant Principal, LaTosha Johnson. “We look forward to this day all year and the kids have been so excited to show off their posters.”

Students took class photos by the 100 Day sign provided by Card My Yard.

“Our teachers have been entering contests with Card My Yard all year and Kristine Ashley has been very persistent with each contest from this company. We were so blessed that when she won, she decided to share her reward with us, said Principal, Dr. Jacqueline Burnett.

GREAT JOB!

Congratulations to Johnston-McQueen Elementary teacher, Cherise McIntyre, for being the winner of February’s IT Technology In the Classroom Chromebooks!

When a teacher uses one of the 15 technology tools and documents 3 lessons using the tech tool with their ITS, they earn a badge and an entry into the monthly Chromebook drawings. Teachers may gain one entry per tool.

Communities In Schools visit South Ward

Thank you to the following professionals for coming and sharing their experiences with the students of Ware Elementary: Longview Regional Medical Center, Jack Stallard from Longview News-Journal, Longview Police Department,

Sharon Marshall (owner of Sharon’s KID KORNER) and Robert Brookins (owner of Brookins Limousine Service.

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

Science Night at Ware

Page 5 March 7 8:30 a.m. 9th Grade Celebration (Melton Center) 4:30 p.m. Lobo Cheer Practice March 8 Lobo JV Baseball at Hudson Tournament (Hudson) Lobo Varsity Baseball at Reich Builders Classic 5 p.m. Early College Parent Informational Night (Little Theatre)

Ware Elementary hosted Science Night Feb 1, and grades 1st-5th were invited to participate.

“We are extremely impressed and proud of the work our students did this year,” said interim Principal, Shemieka Allen.

“You can tell they worked hard, put a lot of thought, and creativity into these projects.”

South Daddy-Daughter Dance Ward hosts a huge success! ‘vision’ workshop Johnston-McQueen Elementary daddies and their daughters braved windy and wet weather Feb. 10 for the PTA’s annual Daddy-Daughter Dance at the campus.

Organizers say the event was a huge success and hope to continue it next year.

L a s t m o n t h families of South Ward Element ar y students were tasked to “Envision” what their

go a l s and dreams were for the future and f ind inspirational words and/or images to add to the boards.

“This is a great way for students to start setting g o a l s , ” said Wynetta Jones, South Ward Communities in Schools Site C o or d i n a t or.

“Because we h a ve them doing this as a group, they can all hold e ac h ot her accountable and cheer each other on as they accomplish these goals.”

Families were asked to visualize the following for their vision boards: 1. Identify their vision and give it clarity.

2. Reinforce daily affirmations.

3. Keep attention on their intentions.

March 9 Lobo JV Baseball at Hudson Tournament (Hudson) Lobo Varsity Baseball at Reich Builders Classic Track & Field (JV and Varsity) Lobo Relays (Lobo Stadium) 4 p.m. Lobo JV B Boys Soccer hosts John Tyler 5 p.m. Freshman Lobo Baseball hosts Lindale 5:30 p.m. Lobo JV A Boys Soccer hosts John Tyler 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobos at John Tyler 7 p.m. Lobo Varsity Boys Soccer hosts John Tyler March 10 Lobo JV Baseball at Hudson Tournament (Hudson) Lobo Varsity Baseball at Reich Builders Classic 8 a.m. SAT Testing (Longview) March 11 Daylight Saving Time March 12 Spring Break March 12-16 March 13 Solo & Ensemble Contest (Melton Center) 1 p.m. Freshman Lobo Baseball at John Tyler 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo Varsity Softball at John Tyler 7 p.m. Lobo JV Baseball hosts Mesquite 7 p.m. Lobo Varsity Baseball at Mesquite Horn (Tillery) March 14 11 a.m. Freshman Lobo Baseball at Whitehouse 4:30 p.m. Lobo Cheer Practice (Turf Room) March 15 March 16 7 p.m. Lobo JV Baseball at Mesquite Horn 7 p.m. Lobo Varsity Baseball hosts Mesquite Horn March 17 Saint Patrick’s Day March 18 March 19 8 a.m. Foster TSA at Regionals 8 a.m. Middle School Track Meet, Abe Martin Stadium (Lufkin) 8:30 a.m. Lady Lobo JV golf at Diana Invitational 5 p.m. Lobo 9th baseball at Tyler Lee 7 p.m. Lobo JV baseball at Lufkin

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

Page 6

March 2018

MIDDLE SCHOOL

FULL ‘STEM’ AHEAD!

Students from Judson, Forest Park, and Foster middle schools, as well as Longview High participated in the district’s annual STEM Fair last month.

“We had some great, innovative projects this year,” said STEM Fair coordinator, Shalona McCray. “We actually had so many submissions we had to narrow down our projects. If we took them all, our coliseum would have been overflowing.”

While the judges were discussing the projects with the students, the parents and siblings had the opportunity to visit with other exhibitors on display. Exhibitors included; Wiley College, Kilgore College,

TSTC in Marshall, Longview Early C ol le ge Hig h School, Eastman C h e m i c a l C o m p a n y , S T E MCO, a nd EMT Paramedic Duel Credit Class, LHS Dual Credit Technology and Sciences.

Con

Presents

Bramlette Elementary School Student of the Month

Cameron williams Bramlette Elementary 4th grade student Cameron Williams is the Hospitality ER Student of the Month!

Cameron’s teachers nominated him because he is intelligent, articulate, and exemplifies excellence every day!

A regular Honor Roll student in Ms. Mesha London’s “Learning Leopards” class, Cameron is a class leader, known for his friendly smile and eagerness to lend a hand. He wants to pursue a career in the field of Geology and someday become a world-renowned Geologist.

Congrats Cam and keep up the great work! YOU ROCK!

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

Judson lends a hand

March 2018

National Junior Honor Society students at Judson Middle spent Tuesday morning Feb. 19 by reading, doing crafts, and helping with “2034” Winter Olympic Games by assisting the Head Start students at the Montessori campus as part of their community service.

Page 7 March 20 Vernal Equinox 8 a.m. Lobo golf at Mesquite 8 a.m. Lobo JV track at Panther Meet (Lufkin) 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo soccer (Senior Night) 5:30 p.m. Lobo soccer at Rockwall Heath 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo softball hosts Rockwall Heath 7 p.m. Lobo varsity baseball hosts Tyler Lee

March 22 8 a.m. Lobo track at Panther Relays (Lufkin) March 23 8 a.m. Lobo tennis at Allen tourney 5 p.m. Lobo 9th baseball hosts Tyler Lee 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo soccer at Mesquite 5:30 p.m. Lobo soccer hosts Mesquite (Senior Night) 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo softball hosts Mesquite 7 p.m. Lobo JV baseball hosts Tyler Lee 7 p.m. Lobo baseball at Tyler Lee

Foster dance squad dominates competition Great job, Foster Dragonettes! Feb. 10th the girls attended the Gussie Nell Davis Dance Classic hosted by the Kilgore Rangerettes The team received: • Academic Champions award for highest Middle School GPA out of 5 other teams • Sweepstakes Award • A Division 1 rating in Pom, Lyrical, and Kick • Judges Award - Pom • Judges Award - Lyrical • Bronze Overall • 2nd runner up for Middle School Division • Captains’ duet received a 1st runner up award

Forest Park band ROCKS! Feb. 13, the Forest Park Middle School Intermediate and Advanced Band students competed in a Solo and Ensemble competition hosted

by Longview High.

The competition was mandatory for advanced students and optional for intermediate band students.

Students had the choice to play solos, ensembles, or both.

Forest Park Middle School Band earned 135 medals during this competition!

Congratulations!

Grants|Continued from page 1

Great Ideas grants for a total of $44,817.74, representing 55 percent of the amount requested.

The Foundation has reached a milestone in funding as it has now returned a total of $791,492.20 to LISD to enhance educational opportunities for students. Thank you Foundation for all you do for the district, its teachers, and students.

March 24 8 a.m. Lobo powerlifting State Meet (Abilene) 8 a.m. Lobo tennis at Allen tourney 8 a.m. Lobo track at Eagle Relays (Tatum) March 26 8 a.m. Lobo golf at All Saints Invitational (Tyler) 8:15 a.m. Youth author Max Brallier book signing (Hudson PEP) 4:30 p.m. Viewette Audition Clinic (Viewette Studio) March 27 8 a.m. Lobo golf at District tourney (Mesquite) 8 a.m. Lobo JV tennis at Kilgore tourney 4:30 p.m. Viewette Audition Clinic (Viewette Studio) 5 p.m. Lobo 9th baseball hosts Rockwall 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo softball hosts Mesquite Horn 7 p.m. Lobo JV baseball host Rockwall 7 p.m. Lobo baseball at Rockwall March 28 8 a.m. Lobo golf at District tourney (Mesquite) 4:30 p.m. Viewette Audition Clinic (Viewette Studio) March 29 Maundy Thursday 8 a.m. Lobo tennis at Waco tourney 8 a.m. Lobo track at Gas Capital Relays (Carthage) 4:30 p.m. Viewette Auditions (Viewette Studio) 5 p.m. Lobo 9th baseball at Rockwall 5:30 p.m. Lady Lobo softball at Tyler Lee 7 p.m. Lobo JV baseball at Rockwall 7 p.m. Lobo baseball hosts Rockwall March 30 Good Friday (LISD closed)

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

Page 8

March 2018

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Local woman recalls desegregation experience

By Jamey Boyum, KLTV

In August of 1970, Longview ISD was ordered by the District Court for the Eastern District of Texas to desegregate. In honor of Black History Month, we spoke with Dorothy Walker who had children who were part of desegregation while attending LISD. Dorothy Walker had a large family of seven kids, and she recently spoke with two of them about their experiences during Longview’s desegregation, although all of them went through it.

Her daughter Vicki Lloyd started attending Longview High School rather than Womack, which was closed down by that time.

“I asked was she afraid and she says, ‘momma, no, I wasn’t afraid, but my friends and I were asked such dumb questions by the other students,’” Walker said.

Dorothy said some questions didn’t come right away.

“One had stopped me at lunch and says ‘does the black rub off?’ And she says, ‘momma, I looked at that person and I smiled and I went on about what I was going to do,’” Walker stated.

Vicki told her that question came up two months after school started, and she didn’t answer it.

“There was no answer to a stupid question like that,” Walker said.

Another daughter, Emily Lloyd, who went through desegregation in junior high school, didn’t see a problem at all. She said: “What is there to be afraid of?” Dorothy recalled Emily saying.

Extracurricular activities were required to have at least one minority. and Emily got involved when she went to high school.

“Emily got it, she was the first black girl to play on the tennis team,” Walker recalled.

Vicki tried out for the Viewettes.

“She split her foot trying to do the high kick, and she has never forgotten that,” Walker laughed.

Vickie didn’t become a Viewette, but was involved in other activities. Dorothy was a PTA member and heard concerns from parents.

“The parents were more afraid than the kids,” Walker said.

But it turned out her kids had no problems with desegregation. Dorothy, however was saddened by the closing of Longview black schools, K-12.

“They were losing part of our history, and the only thing that you can do is to be a part of the history that is to be, and be a good part of it,” Walker said.

Initially there was a voluntary desegregation, but there were too few who took part, so it became mandatory.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

Page 9

Foundation names 2018 Lamplighter honorees

The Longview ISD Foundation is proud to announce its 2018 Lamplighter Awards honorees.

Fifth, eighth, and twelfth grade students wrote essays about educators who have had a special impact on their lives, and the winners, this year’s Lamplighter Awards honorees, will be honored at the banquet 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at Pinecrest Country Club.

Please join the Longview ISD Foundation and its sponsors for the 18th annual event, an evening that gives students an opportunity to say a very public, very sincere thank you to their special educators.

The Lamplighter honorees are: Bramlette Elementary — Earl Bonner honored by Cash Carpenter East Texas Montessori Prep — Maria Felix honored by Elizabeth Landaverde J. L. Everhart Elementary —Bitia Saravia honored by Veronica Vasquez Hudson Elementary —Allison Beard honored by Mason Lundy Johnston-McQueen Elementary —Christy Scott honored by Kyler Wilson and Lynn Bearden, retired counselor, honored by Riley

McGrede South Ward Elementary — Charlotte Munoz honored by Emily Rodriquez Ware Elementar y — Nyvonnia Gray honored by Kennedi Mathis Ned E. Williams Elementary —Carol Pruitt honored by Alya Spruills Forest Park Middle l—Katie Thompson honored by Denim Worth Foster Middle —Nathan Brazell honored by Natalie Holder Judson Middle — Mattie Cuba honored by Kayden Turner Longview Early Graduation High —Pam Anthony honored by Luke Bailey Longview High —Wesley Dorsett honored by Matthew Boles and Janel Garner, teacher at Foster Middle, honored by Tahjaa Robertson The Longview ISD Foundation will award the sixteenth annual Cornerstone Award to Pat Johnson, retired LISD director of instructional technology, for her years of support of the Longview ISD Foundation and the annual Lamplighter Awards.

If you would like to attend this year’s banquet, please go to Longview ISD Foundation at www.lisdfoundation.org and print the invitation found under News.

We hope you will join us for another great night spent celebrating great educators and great students!

Tickets for this year’s Lamplighter Awards are available from Kay Ray, Foundation director, for $25 each. Please contact her at gray@lisd.org or at (903) 452-7015.

All proceeds from this event are used to fund the Foundation’s annual Great Rewards for Great Ideas Grant Program and annual Campus Initiative Grant Program.

Page 10

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

HIGH SCHOOL IB program selected for national initiative Longview High School has been selected to participate in a new International Baccalaureate initiative created to promote the inclusion and success of under-represented students in the Diploma Programme.

Linda Buie, LHS headmaster, said her campus has been selected to participate in the IB’s Excellence and Equity Initiative.

“We look forward to expanding our Diploma Programme participation rates in order to prepare more students to find success as life-long learners,” said Linda Buie, Head of the IB Programme. “Our teachers and leaders are excited to increase the impact of an international curriculum in our school community.”

Over the next two years, secondary school leaders and faculty will work to remove barriers to Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme participation for under-represented students, create pathways to the Diploma Programme or Career-related Programme, and incorporate strategies that are designed to positively impact the success of under-represented students enrolled in the programmes to empower more students to graduate with the skills and tools needed for post-secondary education and lifelong learning.

Ag students help out on the road Ag trips are about more than winning contest. Pictured here is the Meat Judging team changing a tire for an elderly couple who were on their way to a funeral in Abilene. They had a blowout in the middle of nowhere. The couple

could not speak English but some of Meat Team members could speak Spanish. Let’s pray the couple made it to Abilene

Research indicates that less than 1 percent of diverse schools nationwide have advanced programmes in which their students reflect the diversity of the overall school population. Further, the Diploma Programme and Careerrelated Programme can empower underrepresented groups for college entrance, persistence and success.

One of the most compelling studies found that IB Diploma candidates in Chicago Public Schools — low income, minority, first generation college goers — have not internalized the negative stereotype effect of similar non-IB students.

In fact, the study concluded that, “the IB program in Chicago appears to have accomplished something very rare in urban education: it took economically and socially disadvantaged students and radically changed their long-term educational prospects by making them world-class learners with an arsenal of academic skills.”

To learn more about the International Baccalaureate visit www.ibo.org or contact Mrs. Linda Buie (903) 381-2200.

Senior ladies interested in college sorority?

LHS senior girls planning to go through sorority recruitment (and moms): the Longview Panhellenic packet drop off date will be Sunday, April 22, 2-4 pm. We are still working on the location.

The 2018 packet soon will be available, but in the meantime to get an idea on what is needed and about the process in general, visit www.longviewpanhellenic.org.

I also encourage you to visit the Panhellenic website for the school you’re attending for important dates.

Once all details are in place, our Longview Panhellenic Facebook page will be updated.

Get ready for the ACT!

Is your student studying to take the ACTs? Join us for a virtual prep course series that will help them be even more successful! Contact Sherry Morton (smorton@esc7.net) for more information.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

Page 11

Lobo chefs thanks corporate sponsors Zonta Club offers FREE Prom Boutique!

Culinary Arts students at Longview High are now showing some “brand loyalty” thanks to support from area businesses.

“We requested, from standalone restaurants (non-chain), in Longview to sponsor a students(s) in the culinary arts program,” said Kevin Hill, LHS Culinary Arts Instructor. “We wanted to bring awareness of family-owned restaurants to our community because of the limited marketing budget they may have.”

Hill said each of his 56 students received a traditional chef’s hat, a chef’s coat with the color of the restaurant (their choice) that is embroidered with the Rocking L, the restaurant name, and the students name.

“There were 15 sponsors in total, with over half of students sponsored by The Longview Chew consortium,” he said. “In return, during events students will wear their coats and state their sponsor.”

An additional benefit, Hill said, is that

his students will also have “a greater sense of ownership in the program and have increased self-esteem because they are dressed more professionally.”

Participating restaurants include: Papacitas, who sponsored Kyrra Boone, Stevie Boyd, Aldrez Dessesaure, Tavion Dixon, Davotrick Dotrey, Da’Nashia Dunn, Ka’Nasia Garrett, Alexis Gurunian, Vicente Juarez, and Fernando Pacheco Silver Grizzly Cafe, who sponsored Guadalupe Godinez, Marquavion Humble-Gains, Kennedy London, Kayla Peralta, Jessica Sanchez, Carol Toledo, and Daquaylon Wiley Tuscan Pig Italian Bistro, who sponsored Malaza Bridges, Tamia McGee, Breonika Roberson, and Cheyenne Starkey The Cace Kitchen, who sponsored Chloe Curtis, Angela Dominguez, and Cynthia Villanueva Bodacious BBQ, who sponsored

Samuel Minehart and K e a m b r i a Moss Bombongo Ice Cream, who sponsored Tania Piedro and Abran Solis The Butcher Shop, who sponsored Skye Blatz and Matthew Hodges Chiangmai Thai Kitchen, who sponsored Madison Adams and Eusebio Aguirre Dudley’s Cajun Café, who sponsored Roderick James and Da’Kiemion Mumphrey El Sombrero, who sponsored Alexa Mata and Nadashia Rugley Fat Boyzzz Restaurant, who sponsored Verania Correra and Tieraney Woods Fisherman’s Market, who sponsored Jasmine Lopez and Mark Thompson Gonzalos, who sponsored Dalexus Anderson and Austin Lawson Pizza King, who sponsored Kalley Reed and Kamari Stevenson

Feb. 24 the Zonta Club of Longview will host their 10th annual FREE Prom Boutique.

Everyone is invited!

Are you going to the 8th grade dance? Prom? Formal occ asion?Graduation par t y?

Wedding? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you need to make plans to attend.

Girls are invited to attend the prom boutique and shop Feb. 8-10 the Longview High School Automotive, Plumbing and Welding teams traveled to TSTC in Waco to participate in the for the dress and coordinating District level SkillsUSA Texas competition. accessories, as available, of her SkillsUSA partners with schools to prepare students for the workforce by focusing on careers in trade, technical, and skilled choice.

All dresses are 100% free. service occupations. More than 850 students participated in last week’s competition.

We have over 2000 dresses to give Longview High students excelled in this competition.

“They all performed astonishingly well and made the advisors incredibly proud,” said Matthew Strange. “Please join me in away.

While we cannot guarantee congratulating not only the students who won awards but all our team members.” every girl will find the color and size she needs, we make every effort to supply a huge selection of gowns to choose from. Girls are allowed in the boutique on a first come first served basis.

Girls attending our event are treated to a unique shopping experience. With the help of our volunteers from the Zonta Club of Placed 3rd-Bronze in Diesel Longview, every girl is assigned a Automotive personal shopper for the day!

Equipment Technology Placed 1st-Blue Ribbon for All Seniors are encouraged Daegan Carter, sophomore Automotive Exhibits to apply for our Prom Boutique Plumbing Hunter Fenton, senior Jael Guerrero: Gold Medal Scholarship. This is a four-year Paul Hutchins, senior scholarship that is worth $1000 (Plumbing) Tyler Wilder, senior Modesto Orrosquieta: Silver each year that the student meets David Gauthier, senior Medal (Plumbing) the criteria. The applications will Edgar Rivera, senior Jesus Huerta: Bronze Medal only be available the day of the Pedro Alvarado, junior (Plumbing) Fernando Ruiz, junior event.

Jude Rucker: Silver Medal Victor Soto, junior The Prom Boutique will be (Job Interview) Omar Salazar, junior located at the Longview Exhibit Placed 3rd-Bronze in Automotive Welding Jonathan Cardona, junior Center, 1123 Jaycee Dr. Quiz Bowl Gage McGilvray: Gold Medal Isidro Montalvo, junior For more information contact Edgar Rivera, senior (Welding Applications) Ashley Summers (903) 399-6606 Jonathan Carona, junior Maria Corona: Silver Medal Fernando Ruiz, junior (Welding Applications) Isidro Montalvo, junior Kiera Sellers: Bronze Medal Omar Salazar, junior (Welding Applications) Daegan Carter, sophomore Luis Lopez: Gold Medal Jarrec Pitman, sophomore (Welding I) Luis Castro: Silver Medal (Welding I) German Zelaya: Silver Medal (Welding) Lucero Gomez, Manny Moreno, A r t uro Velez: Gold Medal ( We l d i ng Te a m Fabrication) Dylan Martinez: Gold Medal (Welding Sculpture) Lucero Gomez, Ivan Arroyo: Blue Ribbon (Welding Project) Juan Cruz, Jose Landin: Blue Ribbon (Welding Project) In April, these students will travel to Corpus Christi to compete in the State Skills USA competition.

Lobo tech teams dominate Regionals

Page 12 Early Grads|Continued from page 1 February 2018 graduates include: • Haylee Cox is a Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan.

She plans to attend Kilgore to major in Education.

• Javon Dawson is currently attending Kilgore College where he is studying welding.

• Aususena Estrada plans to attend Kilgore College and major in Nursing.

• Iris Garcia plans to enter the workforce.

• Jairo Garcia plans to enter the workforce.

• Sekah Hall-Johnson is a Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan. She will attend Kilgore College and major in Nursing.

• Erika Hernandez plans to attend Kilgore College and major in Nursing.

• Mary Jones plans to attend Kilgore College and major in Nursing.

• Paris Jones plans to attend Kilgore College and major in Nursing.

• Ti’Mekia Keaton is a Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan.

She plans to attend Vista College to so she may study to become a Certified Nursing Assistant .

• Melanie Martinez is Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan.

She plans to enlist in the U.S. Army.

• Sadee Poulsen plans to attend Kilgore College and major in Nursing.

• Dillon Sumner plans to attend TSTC in Marshall. He aspires to become an Instrumentation Technician.

• Autumn Smith is a Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan.

She plans to attend the University of Texas at Tyler where she will major in Nursing.

• Jenna Spruiell plans to attend the University of Texas at Tyler where she will major in Nursing.

• Solomua Tavita is a Globe Scholar graduating on the recommended plan.

She plans to enlist into the U.S. Marine Corps.

• ShaKevlyn Washington plans to attend Kilgore College and major in Criminal Law. • Julie Wise plans to attend Kilgore College where she will major in Cosmetology.

The Longview Early Graduation High School (formerly known as LEAD Academy) serves progressive students who wish to graduate early.

Providing dual-credit courses for students seeking higher education, it also features career and technology options, online/distance learning, and ACT/SAT preparation.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE — March 2018 Next Level|Continued from page 1 Each of them studies very different my acquiring skills, I am one step closer fields, but all of them are appreciative to my goal. Career and Technology for how the CATE program is preparing Education has helped me find an them to take it to the next level in their interest in architecture, plumbing, and animation. Mr. Raith, my teacher helps education and careers.

Michael Vera (Teaching): Education me prepare for a career and college in is the cornerstone of every civilization Architecture with different activities. and I want to teach. I have a passion to I always like to take challenges and educate the next generation and touch thanks to the advanced programs, I look forward to going to college and having a the future.

Realizing my goal to teach, I career in the field of my dreams.

Thanks to these programs, now I committed myself early in high school by choosing the Education Pathway, have a clear path. My future plans are became a member of “Ready Set Teach!” to go to college and pursuit a degree and now as a senior I am the Ambassador in Architecture. I hope to have my own of Education. I will attend University of company and that after high school these programs will allow me to continue my Texas to purse a degree in education.

The main reason I want to teach is journey in higher education. I’ll continue because I have been inspired by the to strive for success.

I really enjoy learning new things, wonderful teachers I have had in my life.

I want to be able to do the same for the especially because the teachers are always prepared to teach and give the generations to come.

Longview has always been my home. students all the knowledge and advice Throughout my life, I have been taught they need. The labs for my classes and inspired by some of greatest people. are always prepared with equipment Two of the people that have had the and the tools we need to get the job biggest influence on me is Ms. Blacklock, done. My courses and labs prepared the head of Ready Set Teach, and my me for competitions (SkillsUSA) to gain confidence, self esteem, and believe history teacher, Mr. Mosier.

These two people are all I could ask more in myself. A strong sense of for in a teacher and they continue to help responsibility, planning, organization me pursue my goal in being a teacher. skills, and team work has been gained.

Mr. Mosier is the whole reason why I which allows me to experience how the want to be a history teacher because real world works.

My last year in high school has been he made me feel like I was there for all of it and that I was a part of it as well. the most important; it sums up all the Ms. Blacklock taught me everything I learning since freshman year. The CATE need to know about being teacher, but program at Longview High School has most importantly she taught me how to helped me academically, socially, and connect with my students and be there built my skills for a future career and to guide them on the correct path. I am college major in Architecture.

German Zelaya (Welding): When very grateful to both these teachers and I was young my uncle gave me a bike I hope to imitate them when I become that was made of aluminum. I was a teacher.

Teaching the next generation and the completely fascinated by the welds that generations to come is something I am held the bike together. I began asking committed to do because I would be my uncle questions about welding. He giving back to the community that has told me that welding was a skill that not everyone had. That’s when I decided I given me so much.

Jose Velazquez (Architecture): The wanted to be among the few that could value of education is something that I call themselves welders.

As I grew up, I never really thought have understood and valued all my life.

During my high school education, I have about welding much more until my learned so much in terms of academics, freshman year at Longview High School. social skills, and the most important I still recall my first day in my Principles of all is planning and organizing a plan of Manufacturing class with Mr. Stanley. for my future. Through my involvement I wasn’t the quietest or the most wellin architecture, plumbing, and as a behaved student, I sat in class not really SkillsUSA member, I was able to fulfill listening. Mr. Stanley told us we would be cutting and welding. That caught my my dream.

My life, in so many way has been attention. Welding, that’s what I wanted influenced by the Career and Technology to do. I was going to learn how to weld Education programs at Longview High so I could work and help my mom. I didn’t know we could learn that in high School and Mr.Raith.

As a young boy, I have always had this school. I did well enough in class that vision to become an architect, build my Mr. Stanley asked me to join SkillsUSA own house, and even build a house for and Future Farmers of America, to my parents. Now with my learning and build projects and compete in welding competitions.

I was so excited that he picked me.

The whole course of my life changed that day. I was able to compete for two

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years with Mr. Stanley, earned a bronze medal at team fabrication in Skills USA and multiple blue ribbons for projects.

As my junior year approached, I did not want to leave Mr. Stanley’s class because I was unsure about the new teacher that was taking over the dual-credit welding classes. As I sat in Mr. Strange’s class on the first day of school, I thought to myself that this guy is just a show off and doesn’t know anything about welding.

Truth be told, I was wrong. We went over safety for the first two days and he told us to bring all our gear and be ready to weld the next day. Mr. Strange demonstrated how he wanted us to use the torch and how we were supposed to act in the shop. That next day, I asked Mr. Strange to show me how to make an uphill weld. He talked me through how to set up the machine, what position the rod should be in, and the correct motion that was to be used in making an uphill weld. He told me to try to make the weld before he demonstrated. I thought to myself he doesn’t know how to do it either. I was wrong again. I got ready and in position with Mr. Strange standing beside me with his hood down waiting for me to begin. I struck my arc and began welding as he instructed. About an inch into it he said to slow down a little, so I did. Once I finished the weld, I raised my hood and Mr. Strange was gone. I thought that I must have done poorly, and he didn’t want to watch or help me anymore.

A few moments later, Mr. Strange came back and asked if I was ready to compete individually in Skills USA and other competitions. I was shocked by this question. When I completed the project, I showed him my work. He said “German, as a welder, there will be times that even the most experienced welder doesn’t know how to make a weld or can’t follow a procedure. What makes a great welder is the ability to listen and make adjustments while welding.

You exemplified following directions and adjusting to the changing condition while you were welding.” He was proud of me when he didn’t even know me.

Since then, I have participated in many competitions and projects. I have always done my best because I want to make him proud, and I want everyone else to see that Longview High School has the best welders around.

The CATE program has given me opportunities that I would not have received anywhere. I have learned so much about welding from two great men that care for us as students and not just as a job. My future plans are to attend Kilgore College or Tulsa Welding School to continue my education in welding.

I want to make welding my lifelong career. I am struggling with how I will be able to pay for school, but I will do whatever it takes to make my dream a reality.

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

SPORTS

16 Lobos take

talents to college The 2018 signing class included 16 lobos and lady lobos from football, baseball, softball and soccer. “These athletes were not only successful on the field, but also in the classroom,” said Athletic Director, John King.

“It’s also a testament to your support team, your parents or grandparents. Those people who love you, who supported you, who drove you to practice, you came to your games, you pushed you when you thought you couldn’t go anymore. They got you right in that seat.”

Lobo athletes signing their letters of intent to play college sports include: Chris Kessler, Texas State A’ Dar ius C ar ter,

Southeastern Oklahoma Jaylin Brown, Kilgore College J.C. Blakemore, Howard Payne University Jalen Carr, Southwestern Oklahoma State Davotrick Dotrey, Southwestern Oklahoma State Javotrick Dotrey, Southwestern Oklahoma State D’Marjai Dearion, East Texas Baptist University Jason Bush, Tyler Junior College Madalyn Alexander, University of Memphis Brooke Goynes, Kilgore College Yazmin Rodriguez, Lyon College (Ark.) Jacob Fidler, Murray State College (Okla.)

Celeste Nunez, Northeast Texas College Carrie Gilliland, University of Texas at Tyler.

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018

Trustees set election FCA names All-Star teams for May 5 This spring, voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots for representatives to serve on the Longview ISD Board of Trustees.

Early Voting is set for 8 a.m.4:30 p.m. April 23 to May 1 at the LISD Education Support Center boardroom, 1301 East Young Street. Election Day is set for 7 a.m.-7p.m. May 5.

Place 1 trustee Dr. Mark Camp has withdrawn from running for re-election. Running for his spot is Michael Tubb. Voters in Place 1 will cast their Election Day ballots at Judson Middle School, 5745 Judson Rd. In a letter explaining his decision to step down, Camp said he was encouraged by Tubb’s desire to serve the district.

“It has been a pleasure to serve on the LISD Board of Trustees, and I am grateful to those Board Members who have welcomed me and continually demonstrate their willingness to make hard choices that best serve the students of our district,” he said.

“In my recent visits with Mr. Tubb, I have come to believe he will be able to make the difficult choices needed to best serve the needs of our students, and I wish him well.”

Camp praised LISD staff “and the many others who work tirelessly for the students of LISD.” “I am pleased that our District is currently in an enviable position, as demonstrated by the number of distinctions our campuses achieved this past year,” he said.

Camp cited the district’s accomplishments

under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox.

“This district has developed programs that serve students at every academic and socioeconomic level. His leadership has overseen a fiscal accountability that has allowed us to save our taxpayers tens of millions of dollars with refinancing and early payoff of bonds,” he said. “LISD has developed an incentive pay for employees that is based on academic success, built the East Texas Montessori Prep Academy, and established many more programs that are aimed at improving the lives of our students.”

Place 3 trustee Dr. Chris Mack is unopposed. Dr. Mack has served on the board since being elected in 1993. Voters in Place 3 will cast their Election Day ballots at Forest Park Middle School, 1644 N. Eastman Rd. Place 7 trustee Dr. Troy Simmons is opposed by LaRaslum Williams. Dr. Simmons has served on the board since being elected in 1986. Voters in Place 7 will cast their Election Day ballots at Broughton Recreation Center, 801 S Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Longview ISD trustees are elected to serve three-year terms.

For more information please contact LISD Elections Coordinator Eriel Harris at (903) 381-2200.

Lobo fans in case you’ve missed it, we have 10 seniors from the football team and 4 senior cheerleaders that’ll be able to wear the Rockin’ L one more time!

The following Lobos were picked to be apart of the FCA game that will take place June 9th at Lobo Stadium • RED TEAM: Davotrick Dotrey, Javotrick Dotrey, JC Blakemore, and Kyle Johnson • BLUE TEAM: Kevion Bush, Jalen Carr, Roshodrick Harmon, Jaylin Brown, Ke’Aundre Maudlin, and A’Darius Carter • CHEERLEADERS: Ginny Russell, Nickissia Lawson, J’Maiya Davis, & Olivia Norrell

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

Leaders on and off the field

March 2018

Page 15

Bobby Taylor selected for Hall of Fame Lobo legend, NCAA star, and NFL all-pro Bobby Taylor was inducted into East Texas Coaches Association Hall of Honor on Feb. 24th.

The East Texas Coaches Association supports coaches, parents, and student athletes through the promotion of football in East Texas; professional development for coaches; provision of scholarships and financial aid to coaches in times of personal tragedy.

Great turnout Feb. 14 for the 2018 East Texas Coaches Association’s “Say No To Drugs” photo in Longview. Despite temperatures right at 50 degrees and light rain, still had 76 players. Thank you to all the coaches that made the drive to Longview from all over the East Texas area.

Thank you Menchie’s!

It was a very happy National Fro Yo day on Feb. 6! Thank you to Menchie’s at Hawkins Parkway Center for partnering w i t h Long view IS D on so many d i f fe r e n t events!

Deadline is March 30 for Mayor’s Scholarship

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Once again Mayor Andy Mack is offering the City of Longview Mayoral Scholarship. Deadline is Friday, March 30 for any Longview students interested in applying.

Graduating students from Longview, Pine Tree, Spring Hill, or Hallsville ISDs are eligible to apply for the $2,000 Mayor Mack Scholarship to the college of their choosing. One scholarship will be awarded per high school equaling $8,000 in scholarships to area students for furthering their education.

Funding for this scholarship is provided by the mayor’s annual stipend.

Mack said that, rather than take a salary, the mayor’s stipend will be used to invest in students’ futures.

“I think it’s a good thing to do for the community, for the kids something that is positive, something these kids appreciate,” he said.

A board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Andy Mack has been donating his city salary since first serving as a councilman from 1997 to 2005.

This year District 4 Councilwoman Kristen Ishihara is also contributing her stipend, raising the total scholarship amount from previous years.

Applicants must be a resident within the city limits of Longview and be a graduating senior from either Longview, Pine Tree, Spring Hill, or Hallsville school districts. Interested students must complete and return the scholarship application by 5 p.m. March 30. The application includes a one-page essay on how you desire to make an impact on improving Longview.

Late applications will not be accepted. Return applications by mail to City of Longview c/o Mayor Mack’s Scholarship, P.O. Box 1952, Longview, TX 75606. Alternatively, HEY! Want to support Lobo athletics? Visit ShopLoboNation.com return in person to City Hall at 300 to download our free shop and save app for products and discounts W. Cotton St., Longview, TX. at retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

For more information please check Retailers will pay us a 3 percent referral fee for all purchases, so out the website LongviewTexas.gov/ get your app at ShopLoboNation.com today!

Scholarship or call (903) 237-1000.

For online phone instructions, open your browser and click the upload symbol, then click “Add to Home Screen.”

Click add when the web address is shown and then create your user and password. This will add the quick app to the Home Screen on your phone to make it even easier to shop.

For more information about the app, please call the Athletic Department at (903) 381-3950.

Pick up your copy at your favorite location in the LISD area!

New shopping app helps support Lobo teams

Mayor Andy Mack with 2017 recipient Cara Hutchings

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

7am - 4pm Monday - Friday

March 2018

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

Page 17

March 2018

Scott Milder gets boost from educators

By Sean Collins Walsh, Austin American-Statesman

Former Rockwall City Council Member Scott Milder is a longshot to win the Republican primary for lieutenant governor as he faces Dan Patrick, a powerful incumbent with a massive fundraising advantage.

Milder’s best chance might be to capitalize on his alliance with teachers and education groups outraged by Patrick’s first term in statewide office, when the lieutenant governor delayed efforts to rewrite the school finance formula, shot down a measure to boost public school funding and unsuccessfully pushed for a voucher-like system of letting parents use taxpayer funds for private school tuition.

“I don’t need a lot of money because I think I’ve got a lot of votes,” Milder said. “I think there are a lot of people around the state who are inclined to vote for the other guy, and the other guy is me.”

Aside from being the other guy, Milder has special appeal to education groups because he has worked with school districts as a public relations consultant and founded a nonprofit group that aims to counter narratives about the education system’s failures.

Troy Reynolds, who heads Texans for Public Education, said his 21,000-member group is all in for Milder.

“If they want to sit down at a table and really start talking about the problems of education and how to fix those problems, Dan Patrick has proven for 12 years that he won’t do that. Scott Milder will,” Reynolds said.

Patrick cries foul Education groups’ support of Milder, however, has led Patrick’s allies to accuse them of using school district resources for partisan purposes. Taxpayer money can be spent on encouraging people to vote, but it cannot aid specific campaigns or parties.

Attorney General Ken Paxton recently sent cease-and-desist letters to the Lewisville, Brazosport and Holliday school districts, saying they had improperly used public resources for political purposes and citing social media posts from school officials, including a pro-Milder tweet from the Brazosport superintendent. The districts have denied wrongdoing.

In response to a request from state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, Paxton also held that a resolution circulated by the group Texas Educators Vote and adopted by more than 100 school districts might constitute illegal electioneering. The resolution includes a pledge to create a “culture of voting,” but it does not mention any candidates or parties. The group does not endorse candidates.

“It seems to threaten some people that a large group of people might educate themselves and vote, which I find troubling for the future of democracy,” said Laura Yeager, the group’s founder.

Yeager, a parent and activist who had worked for a grass-roots group on standardized testing, said she started the get-out-the-vote campaign after realizing that, in the low-turnout 2014 Republican primary runoff for lieutenant governor, only about 490,000 Texans voted for Patrick, who took 65 percent of the vote and unseated David Dewhurst. Around that time, Texas public schools had about 656,000 employees, meaning they could dramatically influence state politics if

they became more engaged.

P a t r i c k ’s c a m p a ig n did not respond to a request for comment.

The w inner of the March 6 primary will face the winner of the Democratic primary between Mike Collier and

Michael Cooper.

Bathrooms again Born in Brooklyn and raised in Northwest Austin, Milder majored in journalism at the University of North Texas and, after a brief stint in newspapers, worked in public relations for two Texas school districts, Mesquite and Galena Park.

He is now a senior associate at the architecture firm Stantec, which specializes in construction at colleges and schools and hired him in 1998.

In 2004, he and his wife founded the group Friends of Public Schools, which sought to spread good news about Texas schools in the face of long-running criticism on the education system.

Nine years later, he ran for Rockwall City Council, winning an open seat without opposition.

A year before the so-called bathroom bill — a Patrick priority that would have prohibited transgender Texans from using the restrooms of their choice — rocked the Texas Capitol during the 2017 legislative session, Milder became the face of the opposition to a local version of the proposal that roiled Rockwall.

In a letter to The Dallas Morning News, Milder wrote in May 2016 that while he was “not sympathetic to the transgender agenda,” he opposed the measure because businesses had objected to it.

“One factor influenced my position more than any other,” he Continued on page 18, see “Boost”

Republican

Twenty-Six Years of Experience Protecting Gregg County Residents. · District Attorney since 2007 · Responsible for the prosecution of over 46,000 cases · Exceeds state-wide criminal case disposition rate · Obtained over 65 murder convictions · Made Gregg County safer by implementing the DWI no-refusal program · Dedicated a prosecutor to handle only sex crimes/crimes against children · Manages an office of 33 employees and a $2.7 million budget

Experience - Integrity - Results

Page 18 Boost |Continued from page 17

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

wrote. “We want to be a business-friendly city, where retail, commercial, and industrial businesses can operate with limited lo c a l gover n men t a l intrusion.”

After the ordinance’s defeat, supporters of the bill targeted Milder, and he lost re-election in the spring of 2016, he said.

A year later, he announced he would challenge Patrick, pitching himself as a “rational Republican” in contrast to Patrick’s more conservative brand of politics.

“He is so far off the deep end on the fringe of what he calls Republican conservatism that he’s no longer really conservative,” Milder said. “He’s trying to take away local control. He’s alienated the business leaders.”

Education issues On education, Milder said his top priority would be to increase the state’s share of school funding, which has been steadily decreasing

March 2018

since Republicans took over the Capitol two decades ago.

“Local property taxpayers have been picking up the slack, and they don’t understand that. It’s a complicated issue,” he said. “We need to reverse the trend of declining state funding and increasing local funding.”

In the 1980s, the state provided more than half of the nonfederal funds that went into the school finance system. This year, it is projected to cover only 38 percent.

Asked about how to pay for the increased state contribution, Milder said he would look for savings within the state budget rather than new revenue sources.

“I’m not in favor of any tax increases. What I am in favor is taking a good hard honest look at our statewide budget,” he said.

He declined to take a position on some other hot-button education issues, including what to do with the so-called Robin Hood system of “recapturing” revenue from such property-rich districts as Austin and redistributing it to others with weaker property tax bases.

“There’s been a lot of studies done on our school funding formulas in Texas. There’s been many, many solutions and Band-Aids proposed,” he said. “Recapture and Robin Hood have been essential to help property-poor districts, but it’s hurt our other districts, so I don’t know that it’s fair for a district like Austin ISD to pay 25 or 30 percent of its entire revenue back to the state.”

Texas official tells truth about schools, taxes

By Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram ARLINGTON — A mild-mannered county official told the truth about the Texas Legislature on Feb. 9, and the resulting tremor was felt from Arlington to Austin.

During what is usually a snoreworthy annual speech to business leaders, Hurst County Judge Glen Whitley said property taxes are high because the state pays less every year of its share for public education — and then state lawmakers blame local officials for higher taxes.

Whitley, an accountant, is in his 22nd year as a county judge or commissioner. His speeches usually involve business development or transportation, not political truth-telling.

“I warned them I was gonna go ‘unplugged’ and I did,” Whitley said.

At one point, according to attendees, Sen. Konni Burton walked out.

In a second speech he said bluntly that money from outside Tarrant County is “trying to buy the Legislature.”

By phone, Whitley gave a name.

“You look at the millions upon millions Tim Dunn has spent around this state,” Whitley said.

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Dunn, a Midland oil executive and founder of a Christian private school, just gave another $1 million to Empower Texans. That’s the West Texas money machine behind several local Freedom Caucus lawmakers and two local conservative challengers in Texas House races.

“They go down to Austin and they vote the way one or two individuals want them to vote, and not what’s best for Tarrant County,” he said.

Whitley said he’d thought about the speech for more than a month.

In one PowerPoint slide, Whitley noted that for the last 10 years, the state’s share of local school financing has decreased by almost the same amount lawmakers deposited into their now-$10 billion “rainy day fund” piggy bank.

Then came the stinger: He showed the line from the state budget where Austin lawmakers figured on a 14 percent local school property tax increase.

That’s right: Your Texas Legislature passed a budget that assumed your school tax payments will go up 14 percent.

The exact line: “Property values and the estimates of local tax collections on which they are based shall be increased by 7.04 percent for tax year 2017 and by 6.77 percent in tax year 2018.”

When he showed that line highlighted in yellow, several attendees say Burton walked out of the room. The reason is unknown.

“There was a gasp from the entire crowd,” Arlington trustee Bowie Hogg said. “I think every business person and school person looked around like, ‘Is this real?’ ” At one point, state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, told Whitley he didn’t have the facts right.

Whitley said he replied, “It’s right there on the screen! You can read it.”

“They passed a budget that they knew was dependent upon a 14 percent increase in your local property tax!” Whitley said later. “And yet at the same time they point fingers at the local [governments] and say we’re out of control.”

Whitley said he still considers himself a “good Republican.”

THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

Let’s teach ‘em to vote!

By Richard Stone, Taylor Press Texas ranks among the lowest among U.S. states in voter turnout.

Even in presidential election years, we clock in at about #46, with a turnout of around 55 percent. Nonpresidential years, that turnout sinks into the lower 40s or upper 30s.

For local elections — county, city, school — the turnout is even more abysmal.

And, since the U.S. routinely ranks near the bottom of world democracies in terms of turnout, that means Texas ranks among the lowest in the democratic world.

We have serious issues to address. Civic infrastructure. Public education. Public safety. And, how to pay for those very important and expensive issues.

As it stands, a bare handful of Texans actually take the trouble to participate and that doesn’t speak well for us. It also gives those bare handful of Texans greater power than their numbers imply.

I’m reminded of a city council meeting (in another city) where the officials were advancing an unpopular issue. There was a full, boisterous house so I was standing against the back wall.

The fellow standing next to me leaned over and whispered, “Who do these guys think they represent?”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Did you vote in the last city election?”

“No.” “Well, they don’t represent you.”

So, how to shift that paradigm?

How do we instill a culture of voting in a culture that, largely, doesn’t seem to care?

Actually, there’s an advocacy group for that: Texas Educators Vote (TEV). This group is determined to instill a culture of voting at the local level, and especially, among brand new voters.

One of the methods they hope to use is to actually model that behavior. After all, if kids see that teachers are engaged and vote, they are more likely to become engaged and actually vote.

That’s how most students react.

Frankly, a part of the mission of TEV is to advocate for better treatment from the Texas Legislature for public schools — after all, despite the rhetoric emanating from the Capitol, the state’s share of public school finance has steadily eroded over the last decade. Not that long ago, the state and local governments each ponied up about 45 percent of the cost of public education with the feds picking up the balance. The feds still contribute about 10 percent but the state’s portion has dropped to about 38 percent.

And you wonder why your local property taxes are so high.

Now, there are more than 350,000 teachers in Texas. Considering we’re a low-turnout state, that block of voters could swing an election or two.

Little wonder that some state politicians — especially those aligned with the tight-fisted culture that values so-called school choice over the constitutionally-mandated practice of ensuring every single kid in Texas has a good and proper education — don’t like this whole “culture of voting” idea.

It threatens their stranglehold on government. If teachers and students vote for improved education funding,

sane standardized testing strategies and the move to privatize education.

In aid of that, our state attorney general recently opined that schools couldn’t use school buses to drive students to the polls unless that activity has an educational purpose.

As if teaching kids that voting is a good thing isn’t educational.

Let’s teach ‘em to vote. And to vote for our schools.

Page 19

March 2018

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THE LONGVIEW VOICE —

March 2018