TOP PIC: The Trinity Valley Community College rodeo team hosted an event at the Fairpark Complex last weekend. (PHOTO COURTESY TVCC)
HOT TOPIC: It is time for girls basketball playoffs.
Tonight, Coach Emily Martinez will lead her Malakoff Lady Tigers into action against the Alba-Golden Lady Panthers, a team Malakoff scrimmaged at the start of the season.
The bi-district game is set for 7 p.m. at Brownsboro.
The Lady Tigers finished the regular season with a record of 15-12 overall and 10-4 in district.
This is the third consecutive year the Lady Tigers have earned a postseason berth, and Martinez hopes this is the year the girls can get their first playoff win.
“I think if our girls show up to play, we have a good chance,” Martinez said. “Alba is a good team and they play hard, but when our girls play together I think we are hard to beat.”
Henderson County Now will be at the game, so watch Facebook for updates.
Also in playoff action tonight is Mabank, which will be taking on Spring Hill. That game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Grand Saline.
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ON TAP
The Athens City Council will be holding its regular meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers. The agenda looks pretty routine and is highlighted by getting ready for the upcoming election.
Athens ISD Police Chief Paul Redic is pulling pulling stickers out of a young man’s shoelaces and retying his shoes during the 100 Days Celebration at South Athens Elementary School this morning. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
Story No. 1 – School funding unconstitutional: A Texas district judge this week ruled that the state’s system for funding public education is unconstitutional. Why it is important: The school funding issue sort of cuts to the heart of the current debate in the country: How are you going to pay for the government services you want? Learn more: The story led off our Tuesday Daily Brief. https://hendersoncountytexasnow.com/daily-brief-judge-says-school-funding-is-unconstitutional/
Story No. 2 – 100 Days of School: The school calendar hit 100 days this week. South Athens Elementary School celebrated with a big event, which included the community. Why it is important: Because 100 is a big number for elementary students. Learn more: We had some pretty cool photos. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.209947172483740.63755.184307831714341&type=3
Story No. 3 – Court dedication: TVCC will official name its basketball court for former mens coach Leon Spencer Saturday. Why it is important: Spencer coached the Cards for 42 years. Learn more: Here is a story from KLTV http://www.kltv.com/story/21079743/tvcc-to-dedicate-court-to-former-coach. The court will be dedicated in a ceremony at halftime of the women’s game (approximately 4:45 p.m.) The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Leon Spencer Court Dedication button, which features a photo of Coach Spencer along with his signature.
Story No. 4 – CCL Day in Austin: Tuesday was Cedar Creek Lake Day in Austin, with dozens of lake-area residents making the trip with the CCL Area Chamber of Commerce. Why it is important: Because lawmakers need to hear local voices, particularly when they are in session. Learn more: Kathi Nailing at the Review has the story. http://www.athensreview.com/local/x503844300/Cedar-Creek-Lake-gets-its-day-in-Austin
Story No. 5 – Score!: Athens High School senior Gerardo de la Fuente battled back from a deadly disease to go from the hospital, to the soccer pitch, to GOOOAAAALLLLL!! Why it is important: Gerardo had aplastic anemia, which is a devastating disease. Learn more: Joe Elerson tells the story in the Review.
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ON TAP
A big Saturday, including the Cain Center’s annual coat/garage sale, pancakes out in Eustace, and baseball/softball signups. Check out our community calendar.
HOT TOPIC: Plenty of folks around the county are starting to think about filing their income tax … and hoping to get a return.
One of the great services we have in our community is the AARP income tax assistance program, which has been headed up by Mr. Gil Betts for several years. It really is a benefit for a lot of people; and remember, you don’t have to be a senior to take advantage.
The AARP free income tax preparation assistance program will be in the following locations/times:
Mondays, 8 a.m. to noon, in Seven Points at the Library at Cedar Creek Lake, 410 East Cedar Creek Parkway.
Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon, in Malakoff at the Senior Citizens Center, 503 North Terry Street.
Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., in Athens at the Trinity Valley Community College Liberal Arts Building, Lakeside Drive.
This service is provided by the AARP Foundation in cooperation with the IRS.
The service is free.
Taxpayers do not have to be elderly or members of AARP.
Married taxpayers must both come to the site unless one is incapacitated.
Taxpayers should bring with them:
Photo IDs for all taxpayers
A copy of any return for 2011.
All tax-related income documents for 2012 such as: W-2s, 1099s, SSA-1099s.
Social security cards for all taxpayers and all dependents.
Athens ISD Police Chief Paul Redic is pulling pulling stickers out of a young man’s shoelaces and retying his shoes during the 100 Days Celebration at South Athens Elementary School this morning. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
HOT TOPIC: Today is the 100th day of school, and that’s a big deal at the elementary level. Remember, some of the youngest students are still learning to count that high.
South Athens Elementary School really cranked up the fun this morning with a celebration that brought together school and community leaders from a variety of professions.
“There are a lot of people involved in making a school work,” SAE Principal Eugene Buford said. “The teachers wanted to turn this back toward the community.”
The school did that by having students visit 10 stations showing the different professions that help build a school community. Those included:
Gardeners (Henderson County Master Gardeners … and if this one seems a little out of the ordinary, you haven’t seen the beautiful garden behind the school)
Agriculture (Extension Agent Rick Hirsch was on hand)
School personnel (which included AISD Superintendent Blake Stiles)
Grocery/Food (Walmart brought an 18-wheeler)
Electrical (TVEC)
City Workers (including City Administrator Pam Burton)
Police (sheriff, APD, constable and AISD police)
Fire
Church Leaders
Health Care
The heavy machinery was the big draw for many of the students. The bucket truck at the electrical station, the backhoe at the city station, and the ETMC Air 1 helicopter.
South Elementary School Principal Eugene Buford tells well-dressed students about all the folks it takes inside the walls of the school at the school workers station. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
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ON TAP TONIGHT
Both the TVCC men and women’s basketball teams are on the road tonight, but you can catch the women on an Angelina webcast starting at 5:30 p.m.
COOL PHOTO: Malakoff High School Assistant Superintendent Danielle Copeland was part of the crew that put together the stage at the Super Bowl. (COURTESY PHOTO)
In his ruling, Dietz wrote: “The Court declares that the current school finance system violates … the Texas Constitution in that it is inadequate and unsuitable because it is not structured, operated, and funded so that it can accomplish the general diffusion of knowledge.”
Local school boards shouldn’t start counting on extra money just yet, however. The state is expected to appeal the case directly to the State Supreme Court … and the high court has reversed Dietz on school finance before.
Either way, a ruling from the Supreme Court most likely wouldn’t come until after the current Legislative Session is over in May. That could set up a Special Session on public education financing in 2014.
And as Athens ISD Superintendent Blake Stiles warned, changing the school finance system doesn’t always equal making it better.
“The last time the system was declared unconstitutional we went from ‘formula funding’ to the current, and much worse, ‘target revenue system,’” Stiles said. “Although I am pleased with the court’s decision, I am worried that our current Legislature has other agendas in mind that will prevent them from developing an adequate system for school funding. The current backdoor voucher system (tax breaks for businesses who give money to private schools) that some of our Senators are proposing, along with the debate in the House over the current accountability system, will absolutely complicate the discussion.”
Malakoff ISD Superintendent Randy Perry said, “I am pleased by Judge’s Dietz’s ruling that the current school funding system fails to provide school districts around the state access to the funding necessary to provide a constitutionally adequate education. The Judge also found that the system of finance has become an unconstitutional state property tax. Because the state mandates a maximum tax rate, many districts are up against that cap and have no additional funding sources. Thankfully, Malakoff ISD is not one of those districts, but we will have to raise our tax rates without additional resources.”
“Academic standards have increased while state funding has declined. The state legislature cannot have it both ways. It is unfair to ramp up the expectations of our schools, while taking away needed resources to meet those expectations. There are many things we would love to do for our students, but the last two years Malakoff ISD has been in survival mode. We have lost the ability to do more innovative things for our students,” he added.
Cross Roads ISD Superintendent Clay Tompkins said, “As far as Judge Dietz’s ruling, I think it may take some time to fully interpret. However, from what I have read, his latest decision looks very much like the order he issued in 2004. But he now seems to find and declare that funding, for Texas school districts, is indeed inequitable. I think this is something that most school superintendents have known for a long time. As it now stands, schools that tax the same may not necessarily have equal access to funding. Hopefully, this ruling will help to correct some of those inequities.”
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ON TAP TONIGHT
Athens boys and girls basketball will be home against Brownsboro (I believe it is the final home game for the girls). Athens girls soccer is on the road against North Lamar while the boys soccer team is home against Nacogdoches.
