Family & Community Health In Hopkins County
Dec21

Family & Community Health In Hopkins County

Johanna Hicks  Note:  This is the 5th in a series of Extension program impacts for 2022 By Johanna Hicks, Texas AgriLife Extension Agent For Family and Community Health in Hopkins County, [email protected]. I want to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.  I know this is a bittersweet time for many as they have experienced loss, financial issues, illness, breakdown of relationships and other hardships in 2022.  However, we all...

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A Few Changes To Note As SSISD Begins The 2021-2022 School Year Today
Aug18

A Few Changes To Note As SSISD Begins The 2021-2022 School Year Today

Sulphur Springs ISD Administrators went over a few changes this year that students, parents and staff will want to make note of, particularly those regarding school meals, corporal punishment, absences, one dress code change, School Health Advisory Council operations, final exams, leave for SSISD police officer and return to school plan basics. School Meals SSISD Child Nutrition Deparmtent, like those in most school districts this...

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Health And Wellness In Hopkins County By Johanna Hicks
Dec09

Health And Wellness In Hopkins County By Johanna Hicks

  Health & Wellness in Hopkins County This is the second in a series of summaries for Extension programming in the area of Family & Consumer Sciences.  2016 has brought many challenges, but many rewards  when it comes to the health of our Hopkins County citizens. According to The State of Obesity Better Policies for a Healthier America, released in September, 2016, Texas has the 10th highest adult obesity rate (32.4%) in...

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SSISD School Board Meeting Briefs; Personnel Changes
Apr12

SSISD School Board Meeting Briefs; Personnel Changes

The Sulphur Springs Independent School District School Board held their monthly meeting Monday night in the Administration Building board room. During the public forum portion of the meeting, board members were presented with an update on the Civic Center auditorium renovation project by Charlie Wilson, supervisor for the project. Wilson told the board that they expect the renovations to be completed by mid-May in hopes of a...

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Johanna Hicks To Retire As Extension Agent
Dec26

Johanna Hicks To Retire As Extension Agent

When Hopkins County Commissioners Court convened for what is the last scheduled meeting of 2022, County Judge Robert Newsom announced what he called a bit of sad news: it would be Johanna Hicks’ last regular Extension activity report during Commissioners Court. Hicks plans to retire at the end of January as Hopkins County’s Family and Community Health Extension Agent. Hicks has dedicated 27 years of service to educating...

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SSISD Administrator Presents Brief Update On Local Policy Recommendations
Jul22

SSISD Administrator Presents Brief Update On Local Policy Recommendations

Sulphur Springs High School Principal Josh Williams presented Texas Association of School Boards Localized Policy Manual Update 119, a document containing recommendations for 60 new or revised policy recommendations. SSISD logo “I sent these policies to every relevant person for review on June 17 as it tends to affect every department and every campus in the district. So within this, there will be 51 legal policies for you to review...

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Sulphur Springs ISD Board Approved 2 Personnel Changes, SHAC Membership
Sep16

Sulphur Springs ISD Board Approved 2 Personnel Changes, SHAC Membership

Sulphur Springs ISD Board of Trustees, in addition to receiving updates on the School Health Advisory Council, also approved 2 personnel changes, the recommended list of SHAC members, and addressed items related to 4-H and the Extension Agents during their regular September meeting. The school board also considered a petition asking the county to abandon or close a portion of County Road 3602. SSISD logo Personnel Matters Suphur...

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Education Legislation Update: April 30
Apr30

Education Legislation Update: April 30

From TASB Governmental Relations Reports The Senate on Monday approved two bills related to school safety. Senate Bill 11, the school safety bill, covers a broad range of topics from state funding for mental health, trauma and grief, emergency operations plans and procedures for dealing with certain situations. In brief, SB 11: provides state funds for local health authorities to hire non-physician mental health providers to provide...

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Legislative Update: Education
Apr27

Legislative Update: Education

Education continues to be a central theme in legislative meetings, with numerous bills proposed, considered and revised. Senate Education Committee Chair Larry Taylor subbed SB 4 into HB 3 for school finance reform.  HB 3 tackles basic allotments, full-day kindergarten programs, salary increases for teacher and librarians, start dates for districts of innovation, kindergarten reading readiness assessments, Tier I property tax...

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Mom, What Do You Do? By Johanna Hicks
Jan05

Mom, What Do You Do? By Johanna Hicks

Mom, What Do You Do?                 Recently, I had an eye-opening experience.  Our family was dining at a local restaurant, and we were discussing school, athletics (our daughter, son and daughter-in-law are all employed with the Sulphur Springs ISD), movies, and work projects.  My son commented that he knew that I taught diabetes education, nutrition, and sewing, but said, “Mom, what DO you do?  Your job is confusing!”...

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