New Rusk gym will seat 1,208
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Highlighting the Monday evening Rusk school board meeting was a report from Rusk ISD Superintendent Dr. Jim Largent on the new high school gym. The board also authorized Dr. Largent to negotiate for the purchase of four lots near the primary school.

Dr. Largent reported to the board that "It looks like we are going to stay in our price range for what we have planned for the new gym." The new structure will cost in the neighborhood of $4 million, which will be paid with budgeted building funds.

The facility will seat 1,208 persons. This will include 1,045 fixed stadium seats.

"We hope to get the plans out after Thanksgiving and have a guaranteed price from our construction manager Berry & Clay before we break for Christmas. However, it may be January before we are able to do this," he said.

Following an executive session the board authorized Dr. Largent to negotiate with property owners for the purchase of the property on the loop and located behind the primary playground. "This will help with the traffic congestion," he said.

Students will be dismissed early Friday, Nov. 16. Early dismissal time is 1:15 p.m. Staff members will remain at school for training.

In other matters Dr. Largent outlined an administrative policy for the use of athletic fields and gyms by youth teams.

All teams must be composed of Rusk ISD students.

No adult teams will be eligible to use the facilities. All lights must be turned off by 9 p.m.

Use of the school property must be coordinated through the athletic director and use will be rotated among the teams using the facilities.

A report from the July exit level TAKS retesting was given at the meeting.

There were 26 persons taking the test. Seven of those mastered all four tests and 19 did not pass all of the tests. Two of those taking the test passed the GED.

The board cast the district's 657 Cherokee County Appraisal District votes for Louis Caveness. The board voted the district's seven Rusk County votes, one for each of the candidates.

Kathleen Glidewell and Cindy Fulton presented a department report on health, safety and security.

New health challenges in the district will include shelters being in place, evacuation plans and placement of poster size maps of each campus. The district conducts nine safety drills each year.

Rusk ISD has department head Mrs. Fulton, RN; Joan Robbins, another RN working as a LVN; and an aide for the nursing staff.

Attending the meeting were board president David Fulton; vice-president Dr. Anthony Holcomb; Secretary Frances Long; and Roy Cavazoz, Rodney Hugghins, and Britt Patterson. Mike Ross was absent.

The next meeting will be Monday, Dec. 10.