Alto ISD hears principals' reports
Administrative contracts renewed, board election called for May 10
BY LELAND ACKER

Alto High School students explored the option of taking the academic route through college, Principal Donald Patton told the Alto ISD Board of Trustees during Monday's regular meeting.

"We had a guest speaker," he said during the high school principal's report. "I asked, 'What job do you think he does?' The students replied, 'He's a basketball player.'"

The guest speaker at Alto High School turned out to be Fred Brown, a former athlete from Corrigan-Camden who quit sports upon entering college before going to California to work in real estate.

Mr. Patton said the message of furthering their education was the message he wanted the students to get from Mr. Brown's presentation.

That presentation will usher in college campus tours for Alto High School seniors.

"Believe it or not, there are still seniors who have not decided where they will go to college," Mr. Patton said.While the rest of the student body at Alto ISD will be taking TAKS benchmark testing in preparation for the upcoming TAKS test, Alto High School seniors who have already passed the exit-level TAKS will visit Stephen F. Austin State University, Sam Houston State University and University of Texas at Tyler.

Middle school principal's report

Kelly West, middle school principal, told trustees that "Academics First" is the theme of this six weeks at Alto Middle School.

"We're having tutorials before school, after school and even during P.E. time," she said. "We're confident that on March 5, we'll get good results on the TAKS reading test."

Mrs. West bragged on her two students who won the Bluebonnet Reading Contest. Staceson Myles won second place while Mrs. West's daughter, Elizabeth, won first.

Melody Witt, elementary school principal, told the board that the Alto Elementary School UIL Academics team won second place in district, and the teachers are concluding their science curriculum alignment. Dr. Ray DeSpain, superintendent, told trustees that March 11 has been designated by the Alto City Council as Alto Public Schools Appreciation Day. An open house at Alto ISD has been scheduled that evening.

In other action, trustees approved the minutes from the Jan. 21 and Feb. 4 meetings, accounts payable, transferring funds from the Lone Star investment pool to pay for projects such as gymnasium and parking lot improvements, funding an agreement to use the services of SECCA State Compensatory Consulting and ordering an election for May 10 for the seats currently held by Board President Freddy Johnson and the seat left vacant by the passing of Boardmember G.L. Skinner. The board also approved the appointment of Alfred Danheim as the school board election judge, accepted state policy updates, approved Claims Administrative Services as the sponsor for the worker compensation joint fund and took the first steps toward selecting the textbooks selected by the State of Texas. The board voted to continue contracts for Mr. Patton, Mrs. West, Mrs. Witt, Administrative Assistant Sherry Dover, High School Counselor Barbara Brown, Middle School and Elementary School Counselor Deanna Griffith and Athletic Director Keith Gardner.

The board accepted the resignation of First Grade Aide Crystal Phillips. The board ratified the reassignment of Fay Hudson from superintendent's secretary to first grade aide.

Allison Threadgill was moved from the middle school computer lab to the superintendent's secretary position. Donna Chometa was moved from the fifth/sixth grade special education to the middle school computer lab.

Bakaya Poole was moved from the Alternative Education Program (AEP) aide to the fifth and sixth grade special education aide.

The AEP aide position was eliminated as there are currently no students in alternative education in the Alto ISD.

"We went from having 12 students to none," Dr. DeSpain said.

All board members were present for the meeting.