Gabe

Mainly from people who have nothing to do with PNG, remember that.

School board remains deadlocked over transportation cuts By Tommy Mann Jr. The Orange Leader One vote again made the difference in whether or not a school board would rescind a previous decision and re-instate a transportation cutback. For the second consecutive week, the board of trustees for the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District remained deadlocked at 3-to-3 as one member’s late arrival, trustee Eric Mitchell, prevented a majority decision from being reached. On Jan. 20, school board member Nancy Byer’s absence prohibited the school board from reaching a majority decision pertaining to the district’s decision to cut home transportation for students following extra-curricular events, such as games, practices, choir and band concerts and other UIL related activities. On Monday, it was the late arrival of school board member Mitchell which kept the group from reaching a majority decision this time. The board room was standing room only as district personnel and residents eagerly anticipated a new vote after the topic was scheduled to be revisited again. However, despite the very audible shock and dismay at seeing the school board again come to an impasse following Monday’s vote, the topic may have reached a conclusion. Despite Mitchell’s late arrival on Monday, he did vote against reinstating the extra-curricular transportation policy at the Jan. 20 meeting. The same three board members — Pete Amy, Ricky Jacobs and Dr. Mary Fontenot Hardin — voted in favor of re-instating the policy. The two board members against the re-instatement of the transportation program — Harry Barclay and Vincent Bottley — voted the same Monday night as they had previously. Byers, in essence, became the possible swing vote on the decision, and, although she commented several times on how she agreed with another board member on the matter, voted to leave the cutback in effect. On Nov. 24, 2008, the West Orange-Cove CISD Board of Trustees voted 6-to-1 to cut the district's after hours transportation program for students participating in sports and other extra-curricular activities. The move went into effect on Jan. 1. According to information provided by First Student and Laidlaw Transportation, the district is expected to save more than $25,800 with the transportation cuts. However, according to information provided by Dan Hooks, West Orange-Cove CISD athletic director, the financial savings would be approximately $9,300. At the Jan. 20 board meeting, the district presented the actual cost of transporting students home following extra-curricular activities from the 2007-2008 school year, which was $16,356. This amount is approximately $9,500 less than the original figure provided by First Student for this year, but approximately $7,000 more than the amount provided by the athletics department. The district is currently operating at a $1.5 million deficit, and anticipates to operate at a $1.5 million to $2 million deficit next school year, unless savings measures can be found. “I would like to look at the budget as a whole and find a comprehensive list of areas for savings,†Hardin said. “I would rather do it that way instead of one program at a time.†Barclay agreed but said the district may not have the luxury of time. “We simply don’t have the money right now, and we can’t wait until next year to start making cuts,†Barclay added. Byers said she and the other board members may have acted quickly in making its decision in November, but was unaware of anyone having solutions to help combat the district’s financial woes. “We are probably going to have to do some serious cutting, and it will be unpleasant,†Byers said. The topic could reappear on a future school board agenda at the request of a trustee. The next regularly scheduled board meeting is at 6 p.m., Feb. 16. Tommy Mann Jr. is a reporter at The Orange Leader. He can be reached at 409-883-3571, Ext. 2619 or [email protected]

I wish there was 6. Admin and I talked about one earlier

I was there but I will leave the reporting to the reporters unless they miss something. ;D Just kidding I know that never happens. LOL I wish that was true!

My reporter is working on the story right now.

The board once again voted 3-3 on busing issue! I do apologize and did not realize that one issue was up for a vote. I will find out more details here soon why it was a 3-3 tie. They are only discussing TAKS tonight though

See, aren't us PN-G people such a helpful little bunch.

I keep on smiling

God you're sick ;D

Use your powers Lazeek and get Tebow to sponsor. It's not like you don't have any "pull" with him :D

It is good to see H-J get into the rankings. Been missing that all year.

Why even bring Stump into this conversation? Don't we have enough of that going on in other threads?

Joe just wants to play baseball. I don't think he cares what he is doing as long as he is on the field with his glove on or a bat in his hand. Great kid, athlete and will be successful in whatever he wants to do.

BTW he had two TDs vs. BC Johnson 12-23-0 177, TD vs. WO-S Johnson vs. OF had 142 rushing with 2 TDs, 8-11-1 133 one TD vs. OF

Silsbee, Johnson 11-18-1 174. vs. BC I'll next have against OF and WO-S if ya give me a minute.

give me a second treasurer, just a few minutes

Isn't Hacksaw still going? Man alive some of those guys need to move on and start a business or something LOL

Man I wish I had been around for the good ole days of baseballs.

The media hounds, me excluded, would be all other it though.

Yeah OK, questioning whether PN-G would care if an African American coach would come in is basically not saying a lot of people in PN-G are racists. What more evidence does one need? It doesn't matter anymore. I could really careless what people have to say about PN-G. I guess no everyone can chalk that up to another PN-G person being arrogant but so be it.

I'm done going on the PN-G threads because it has become nothing but garbage. Nothing but speculation, ridicule and bashing exists on these threads. I will step away because I am from there and maybe I'm taking it personally. I cannot believe some of the statements that have been made, the false statements that have been made and the amount of posts which are only made to stir a pot which doesn't need stirring. I tried to be unbiased yet it is hard to do when so many times all I read are posts whose sole reason are to bash one of our local schools. So if anyone else wants to police it in a fair way, be my guest. Call me when it is over. (Plus its time to watch my shows on HBO)

You also had the chance to vote. People here talking PN-G can do the same. At least most of the people since many of the ones talking all this don't live in PN-G.

Chief please remember the guy hasn't even applied. Have a little faith in your school board since we voted them in.

Or he gets to decided what is acceptable on his site.

Like Dana White or not, he is the best promoter there is right now. Every time a new organization starts, he finds a way make them tap.