Oath Administered To 3 Trustees Beginning New Term on School Board
A dozen personnel changes were approved for Sulphur Springs ISD Monday afternoon. The oath of office was administered to the 3 trustees beginning a new term on the school board, then the board was reorganized with new slate of officers selected.
Election Canvassing
Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees acknowledged the results of the May 7, 2022, bond election. The board noted that 958 Sulphur Springs ISD voters cast ballots in favor of Proposition A, a $93 million bond proposed for school improvements and renovations, while 1,195 cast ballots against the bond. That gave those opposing the bond 55% of the overall votes cast and those in favor of it44% of the overall votes cast in the bond election, defeating the bond proposal.
The trustees then approved the order canvassing the special May 7, 2022 election.
Board Composition
SSISD Tax/Elections Officer Sandra Gibby administered the oath of office to Craig Roberts, Leesa Toliver and John Prickette.
The three incumbents were the only candidates to file for election to the three at-large seats on the school board in February, thus, the school board was able to cancel the trustees election originally scheduled to be held May 7 along with the school bond election. The three-year full-term seats went to the three incumbents.
Toliver was first elected to the school board in 2013, has continued to be reelected each term since. The retired school administrator has served as secretary, vice president and president. She also is a TASB Master Trustee.
John Pickette was first appointed to the board in 2012, to complete the unexpired term of Foy Williams, then was elected to the school board in 2013 and has been elected each term since. He too has served as vice president and president of the school board.
Craig Roberts was first elected to the school board in 2019, and begins his second term this month. He previously served as vice president of the school board.
The SSISD Board of Trustees then reorganized the slate of officers. Prickette made the motion, which Toliver seconded, nominating Craig Roberts to serve as president, Jason Dietze as vice president and Kerry Wright as secretary of the school board. Cody then passed his seat to Roberts, who began his service as board president by presenting Robert Cody with a plaque of appreciation with a gavel to commemorate Cody’s service as school board president from 2020 to 2022.
Personnel Matters
Trustees then entered into executive session for personnel matters. Afterward, they reconvened in open session to vote on the 12 personnel changes. The school board formally accept resignations from three teachers and an aide; approved hiring of three new coaches, a teacher and one aid; and three job swaps for current employees. These personnel items will impact five campuses.
At Barbara Bush Primary, Sarah Miles is resigning her post as a kindergarten teacher, and Sierra Campbell is joining the staff as a long term special education aide substitute. Two Bush Primary staff also will be switching classes. Laura Kring will be going from a first grade math class to a special education self-contained class. Tristan Gant will continue to teach kindergarten, but will switch from English language arts, reading and social studies to math and science curriculum.
Amy Harden turned in her notice of resignation as a history teacher at Sulphur Springs Middle School. David Hebert will replace Jason Stephenson, while Luke Harmon replaces Bruce Silman; both will be teaching and coaching. Brittany Maness will also join the coaching staff at SSMS, replacing Breanna Hodges; Maness will also teach physical education at Middle School.
Sulphur Springs High School will be losing Lory Owen as a science teacher and Wini Ream as a special education aide. Stephen Shelby was approved to fill the opening for an agriculture mechanics teacher created with John Luper’s notice of resignation as agriculture science teacher, which trustees approved at the April school board meeting.
To round out the list of personnel swaps, Rachel Kistler will be switching jobs. She currently serves as a special programs specialist in the special education department, but will be moving to Sulphur Springs Elementary to serve as an instructional interventionist.
