Alto ISD celebrates school board appreciation month
2 Alto High School students participate in NASA program
BY LELAND ACKER STAFF WRITER

CLAYTON SCOTT

January is School Board Appreciation month and the Alto ISD Board of Trustees feels appreciated.

"We have good employees in this district," said board member Greg Duplichain. "We'd just like to say, 'thank you.'"

"The cards I received brought tears to my eyes," said board member Britton Tilley. "You know they're sincere."

Alto Police Chief Charles Barron addressed the board concerning anger during Monday night's meeting. He said he noticed anger being a problem with the students he has had to deal with on campus.

"A lot of it is their home life," he said. "We can't go home with them. We feel sorry for them, but we really can't help them."

Chief Barron distributed a packet on anger management to the board members and suggested the board identify an appropriate age group and offer anger management classes to that group.

Alto Elementary School Principal Melody Witt reported to the board that the para-professionals at the elementary school were sent to a three-day training seminar. She also reported that she is monitoring attendance at the school and went to truancy court this month.

"I'm having to do a lot of parent training," Mrs. Witt said. "Some parents don't think they have to send their kids to school."

Alto ISD recently received new software for the English as a Second Language program. Peggy Lustig (left), regional director of Gateway to American Opportunities presents New Oxford Picture Dictionary Curriculum to James Hall and Jan Knott, Alto ISD teachers.

Interim Middle School Principal Kelly West opened her report by expressing her appreciation to the board of trustees.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with the teachers and children," she said. "I couldn't ask for a better, more supportive staff. Everything has gone smooth and we haven't missed a beat."

Mrs. West reported the school spelling bee would be held in a couple of weeks and there was excitement that Alto Middle School would send a representative to the county spelling bee in February.

The news was good for Alto High School. Principal Donald Patton told the trustees that two students, Trevor Hagerty and Clayton Scott, were recommended for the High School Aerospace program sponsored by NASA. Mr. Patton said out of the 450 students entering the program, 200 would complete the series of lessons.

Scott was also named Defensive Player of the Year by Dave Campbell's Texas Football for Class 1A through 5A.

"Those 200 kids will go down to the NASA facilities and will work with a mentor. Ninety-nine percent of the students who do this will go on to work for NASA," he said. "This is a tremendous opportunity for these young men."

Mr. Patton reported taking 12 students to truancy court.

"That's a high number," he said. "I thought, 'oh, these parents aren't going to be happy with me, but this comes with the territory.'"

Mr. Patton said the parents were actually very supportive and told him, "You let us know and we'll make sure they go."

"If you give the parents the opportunity to intervene, it will work to their benefit," Mr. Patton said.

Dr. Ray DeSpain, Alto ISD superintendent, said things were progressing well with the Campus Intervention Plan. He said Dr. Donna Cook, one of the districts consultants, was very complimentary.

"The proof will be in the pudding at TAKS testing time," Dr. DeSpain said.

Eric Carver, an auditor from the Axley and Rode firm, gave the auditor's report.

"Everything is good," he said.

Mr. Carver said the only problem area in the audit was that the accounting software needed to be updated to reflect the different funds the school district uses.

"It's not a problem with cash being out, it's a problem with one fund being over and another fund being under," he said.

Mr. Carver reported the school district has a $1.33 million fund balance, which is close to the 25 percent target the state gives to the school district.

In other action, the board set the school board election for May 12. The board will meet again at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18 at the Alto ISD Administration building.