Trustees Approve 40 Personnel Changes For Sulphur Springs ISD
Sulphur Springs ISD trustees approved 40 personnel changes at the regular August school board meeting held earlier this week.
Overall, SSISD Board of Trustees accepted nine resignations, and approved 23 new hires and eight in-district personnel changes. The changes involve every campus except Austin Academic Center, although the bulk of the personnel changes are at Douglass Early Childhood Learning Center, Sulphur Springs Middle School and Sulphur Springs High School.
According to SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb, these changes should pretty well put the district at full staffing, with potential for only a couple of positions to be filled by aides or long-term subs to begin the school year.
Resignations
Trustees officially accepted resignations Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, from SSHS teacher and Coach Timothy Aguillon, aide Meredith Rule and Fine Arts Coordinator Cindy Welch; SSMS aide Kerry Roy and SSISD Police Officer Dana Self; Douglas ECLC Head Start aide Brittany Aguilar; SSES special education aide Steve Johnson; Travis Primary Title 1 aide Amanda Walker; and Instructional Technology Director John Bimmerle, whose office was at the Administration Building.
New Personnel
New hires approved for SSHS included Lori Franklin to teach social studies, Kristin McKinney as a special education teacher and Jordyn Pennington as a business CTE teacher,
Approved to join the SSMS faculty and staff were Randall Wellman as assistant principal; Sandra Forshee as receptionist; Luciano Gallos, Layna Royar and Kwasia Timmons as special education aides; Leydie Moreno as a seventh grade math teacher; and Cortni Steele as an ISS aide.
Hired as an instructional interventionist at Sulphur Springs Elementary was Kristin Potts.
Kimber Combs was hired as a Title 1 aide at Rowena Johnson Primary. Joining the Barbara Bush Primary faculty and staff are Amie Cunningham as a special education teacher and Stephanie West as a special education aide. Itzel Figueroa was hired as counselor at Travis Primary and Liliana Reyes as a Title 1 aide. Bowie Primary gained Gabriela Lopez as a special education aide, Jerrilyn Posey as a Title 1 aide and Lilian Thomas as a special education resource teacher.
New to the Douglass ECLC campus are prekindergarten teacher Kayleigh Caudle, special education teacher Yasmin Espinoza and Head Start aide Marilyn Perez.
Kylie Koon is the new purchasing coordinator, working at the SSISD Administration Building.
In-District Changes
Half of the job/campus changes are at or involved Douglass ECLC, where four staff members will be swapping duties. Carrington Chancellor is trading duties as a special education aide for those of a Head Start 4 aide, while Brenna Jackson swaps from special education aide to Head Start 3 teacher, Stephanie Sifuentes switches from Head Start aide to special education aide, and Morgan Spencer is changing from from special education aide to Head Start aide.
Rachel Kistler will be trading her position as an instructional interventionist at SSES for duties as an academic specialist at Rowena Johnson Primary.
Justin SSISD Police Officer Justin Findley will be moving from Bowie Primary to SSMS, while Sarah Pence continues to serve as a special education aide but will be dealing with older students, moving from SSMS to SSHS.
And, rounding out the latest list of personnel changes is Brandi Boles, who will remain in the Special Services Department, but will change from educational diagnostician to special program specialist.
Pizza — And Medicare Explained
Community members are invited attend the special educational lunch, Pizza And Medicare Explained, hosted on Aug. 23 at the Senior Citizens Center. Baucom Insurance’s Agent Pilcher (Billie Ibarra) will present information on what Medicare is, its parts and potential penalties. The presentation is for educational purposes only, with no plan-specific benefits or details to be shared.
Pizza will be provided, thus, those attending are asked to contact host Ibarra by Aug. 20, to help with planning. The pizza will be free while supplies last. RSVP a spot at Pizza and Medicare Explained by calling or texting 903-919-1850, send an email to [email protected] or scan the QR code on the flyer attached below.
Anyone with special needs who is in need of accommodations for the meeting is asked to call 1-855-568-2243 (TTY 711) by Aug. 20.
Hopkins County Drought Conditions Persist, In Spite Of Rain
Burn Ban Still Fully In Force In Hopkins County, 1 of 224 In Texas Under Burn Ban
Although some areas over the past week have experienced a couple of good downbursts, the rain was nowhere near enough to offset the drought conditions Hopkins County is still experiencing. Thus, the burn ban enacted July 11, 2022, is still effective on Aug. 10, 2022 and for the foreseeable future for Hopkins County, according to Hopkins County Fire Marshal Andy Endsley.
According to the US Drought Index, Hopkins County as a whole remained in the extreme drought range, with one small area in southeastern Hopkins County only listed as experiencing severe as opposed to extreme drought conditions as of Aug. 2, the most recent data available on the US Drought Index as of Wednesday morning, Aug. 10.
The Keetch Byram Drought Index average shows Hopkins County to be 703, ranging from 523 to 776 on the scale of 0-800, where 0 represents saturated soil and 800 an absolutely dry soil. The scale is a value indicating the amount of precipitation it would take to bring the moisture level back to 0 or saturation. Each 100 typically represents an inch of dryness.
A score of 600-800 are associated with more severe drought with increased wildlife occurrence. Intense deep-burning fires with extreme intensities can be expected. Live fuels can also be expected to burn actively at levels of 600-800 on the KBDI scale. That’s where Hopkins County is at, in the severe drought category.
The rains over the past few days only lowered Hopkins County’s KBDI score by 41 points. According to the NOWData, Sulphur Springs received 0.04-inch of rain Tuesday, and only 0.53-inch in July and 1.02-inch of precipitation in June 2022.
As of Monday morning, county firefighters had responded on 23 burning calls, including 11 that resulted in citations issued to the individuals in violation of the burn ban. Over the past 2 days county firefighters have responded to at least 2 tree fires; and burn ban violations on County Roads 4752, 1170, FM 2560 at CR 2435, CR 4129; grass/field fires on CR 1112 (which resulted in a secondary fire on CR 1100), and CR 1127, according to dispatch reports.
“The drought situation has not improved. With the wind and little bit of rain we’ve had it has not diminished. This is NOT the time to burn. That is the worst thing you can do right now,” Endsley said. “The volunteer fire departments have been a tremendous help battling fires in their district.”
The rise in grass, brush and trash fires has risen over the last month, which have resulted in everyone working overtime to get the blaze down and remain until fire are determined to be out. The precinct crews have been very helpful in responding when needed with equipment such as a backhoe to help out. For instance, they were utilized to help bust up haybales that caught fire. The sheriff’s deputies have also assisted, following up on burn ban violations when the assistant fire marshal/fire investigator is out at his full time job in another county.
Texas Forest Service also remains vigilant to help everyone as best they can, responding on four occasions in Hopkins County with bulldozers to plow in wooded areas, bust up the earth, which is dry a few inches deep to the root balls of plants, limiting the area a fine can continue to smolder and burn underground only to reignite topside even days later.
While a tremendous loss to local property owners, especially farmers, Hopkins County has been fortunate so far in that only one abandoned structure has caught fire. That could easily change as drought as drought conditions are not only expected to persist but worsen, making the burn ban necessary to protect property, according to Endsley.
Currently, the only type of outdoor fire allowed is for cooking, and that should be monitored the entire time, flames kept covered, with a water source available to extinguish it should a spark get out and ignite. The fire should be extinguished immediately upon completion of food preparation, to prevent.
Burning in a burn barrel is NOT allowed, nor is burning of trash and brush piles.
The only exception to the burn ban will be for declared professional welding. In order to be compliance with the burn ban, the professional welder must complete a contractors notice concerning burn ban with Hopkins County Fire Department prior to welding. The proper documentation is available for download on the front page of the county website, https://www.hopkinscountytx.org/, or by contacting Hopkins County Fire Department at 1286 Texas Street in Sulphur Springs (just behind UPS off the League Street/Texas Street split north of the stop light at Wildcat/Arbala Road/South League Street intersection). The action plan should be returned to HCFD, 1286 Texas St. as well. A person to stand fire watch is also required.
When welding, all contractors must file an action plan, listing the owner of the property where the welding will be conducted, all dates welding will occur, the site location for welding, the name of the welders to be working as well as those on fire watch, and phone numbers for welders and watchers, the type of work and water source that will be available. If work extends past the dates on the form, another form will need to be completed and submitted. The contractor also has to affirm intent to report any grass fires, no matter how small, even those the contactor’s team is able to control, to county officials.
The Hopkins County burn ban will remain in effect for 90 days, or until the area receives several days of appreciable rainfall at a pace the ground is able to absorb and is rescinded by Hopkins County officials. The ban was unanimously approved by all members of Hopkins County Commissioners Court on July 11, 2022, by Hopkins County
10% Pay Increase, Additional Positions For HCSO, HCFD Projected In 2022-2023 County Budget
Increased Property Values & Sales Tax Cited For Proposed Reduction in Hopkins County Tax Rate
A 10% pay increase for all county employees, and funding for additional positions for the sheriff’s office, and an additional position within the clerk’s office were among the items projected in the 2022-2023 county budget. Increased property values and sales tax returns were cited for a propose reduction in Hopkins County tax rate for the coming year.
Tax Rate
Hopkins County Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Mitchell proposed a tax rate of $0.5239 per $100 property value, lower than the approved rates over the preceding 10 years, beginning with the 2012-2013 fiscal year (2012 tax year). The county tax rate rose from $0.560575 during the 2012 and 2013 tax years to $0.612075 during the 2014 tax year, then $0.627392 during the 2015 and 2016 tax years. The Hopkins County property tax rate declined to $0.624892 in tax years 2017, and remained that rate through tax year 2020. The county tax rate declined to $0.584035 per $100 property valuation in 2021 and is proposed to dip again in tax year 2022 (fiscal year 2022-2023) to $0.5239.
The proposed 2022-2023 tax rate factors in projected tax revenues, including $306,182 in new property added to the tax roll in 2022. Overall, the total property valuation for 2022 on Hopkins County tax rolls is $2,757,459,159.
The 2022 no-new revenue tax rate per $100 property valuation is projected to be $0.5019 per $100 valuation, down from 2021 NNR tax rate of $0.561139. The non-new revenue tax rate is the rate the taxing unit needs to generate about the same amount of revenue they received in the previous year if the rate was applied to the same amount of properties in both years. If property values rise, the NNR tax rate will go down and vice versa.
The voter approval tax rate is projected at $0.523981 per $100 property valuation, down from $0.585726 per $100 value. The voter approval tax rate is the amount at which taxing units are required to get voter approval before they exceed the tax rate. The maximum rate varies based on the type of jurisdiction. Cities and counties can increase the tax rate 3 1/2% for operating expenses. Junior college districts, hospital districts, and special taxing units can increase their tax rates up to eight percent for operating expenses. School district funding calculations and the debt tax rate influence the voter-approval tax rate for school districts, according to Texas.gov.
The proposed 52.39-cent tax rate valuation per $100 property valuation includes $0.5039 for general, road and bridge and debt service funds 30.5227-cents in gross revenue going toward the general fund, 14 cents to road and bridge maintenance, 1 cent each for road and bridge special fund and farm to market special fund, and 5.8673 cents to the debt service fund. That should generate $13,894,837 for the general funds, $275,946 each in estimated tax revenue for the road and bridge and farm to market special funds.
That would be $14,446,329 in estimated gross tax revenue, provided every penny billed in county property taxes is collected. That is unrealistic, so the proposed tax rate factors in up to 4% ($577,861) of total tax revenues will go uncollected, while $200,000 in net delinquent taxes and $175,00 in penalties an interest revenue are projected to come in during the 2022-2023 fiscal year and 2022 tax year. That would provide the county with $14,243,667 in projected revenues.
The increased property values and increase in sales taxes raised provide extra funding that will allow the budget to be balanced and meet the $1.6 million in debt obligation secured by property taxes.
“All of the counties around us are going up [on tax rate], so it’s huge that we get to do a decrease like this,” Aulsbrook said.
Budget
The 2022-2023 budget is expected to include $602,161 more in property tax revenues than the 2021-2022 tax revenues raised from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022, a 4.35% increase.
Proposed is a 10% salary increase for elected county officials and county employees for the fiscal year 2022-2023, in addition to the incremental longevity pay of $100 to eligible elected county officials and employees for an additional year of service.
Hopkins County Justice of the Peace 1 and Hopkins County Justice of the Peace 2 will receive a $1,000 increase in auto allowance, allowing for increased fuel costs.
The proposed FY 2022-2023 budget also includes two additional employees for the sheriff’s office, one additional jail employee and one additional sheriff’s office employee.
FY 2022-23 budget as proposed also includes an additional position within the County Clerk’s Office to assist with elections work; the County Clerk serves as elections coordinator, in addition to the traditional duties of the clerk’s office. The additional position is for someone to help handle the increasing duties that go along with conducting elections.
The county is also now required to fully fund 3 fulltime firefighter positions added to the county fire department a couple of years ago. This is part of a multi-year grant program which has covered most of these salaries.
Hopkins County Auditor Shannah Aulsbrooks noted that the proposed 2022-2023 budget does not include anything from any solar farms, as it’s yet to be determined when they will go online and, with extensions of incentive contracts granted to multiple project developers, when those will be added to the tax rolls.
Another public hearing was set for 9 a.m. Aug. 22. There could be changes to the proposed budget between times depending on planning and information gleaned and needs presented before then.
The budget proposal estimated county revenues to be $15.8 million for FY 2022-2023, up from $14.9 in FY 2021-2022 and $13.5 million in FY 2020-2021.
Pizza For Breakfast – Why not?
By Johanna Hicks, Hopkins County Extension Agent, Family and Community Health Agent, [email protected].
If you have ever visited the Texas Hill Country around Fredericksburg or New Braunfels, you are aware that the peak of peach season has arrived! Although a little later this year due to the Texas heat and dry conditions, peaches are still sweet as can be. Texas A&M AgriLife’s Dinner Tonight program has a Peachy Prosciutto Pizza recipe that is so delicious and easy to make. Try making it for brunch or appetizers as you start up the grill!
Peachy Prosciutto Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 Pieces flatbread, whole wheat
- 1/2 Cup non-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 Prosciutto slices torn into pieces
- 2 Small peaches, sliced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- 1/2 Cup fresh arugula or spinach
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar glaze
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425F.
- Spray flatbread with olive oil cooking spray, and place in preheated oven for 5 minutes.
- Remove flatbread from the oven and top with mozzarella, prosciutto, and peaches.
- Place flatbread in the oven to toast for 8-10 minutes, until bread is golden and cheese is melted.
- Remove from the oven and top with basil and arugula or spinach. Drizzle balsamic glaze over each flatbread pizza.
Air Fryer Instructions
- Spray flatbread with olive oil cooking spray, and top flatbread with mozzarella.
- Place in the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400F.
- Remove flatbread and add prosciutto and sliced peaches.
- Place again in the air fryer for 4-5 minutes at 400F.
- Remove flatbread and top with basil and arugula or spinach. Drizzle balsamic glaze over each flatbread pizza.
Serving size: 4 (1/2 of flatbread)
2022 Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show
The 2022 Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show will take place on October 21 and 22, in the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria, north entrance hall, and north covered walkway. So far, response for vendor space has been excellent! We still have room for more, however. This show is designed for hand-crafted, hand-made items to sell. To date, we have wood décor, cutting boards, leather work, quilted items, crocheted items (One of my favorite vendors for children’s crocheted animals!), handmade cards, gift packaging, decorated shirts, tote bags, jewelry, embroidered items, honey, baked items, wood burning/carving, sock monkey puppets, pillows, toys, ceramic roses, paintings, fall and Christmas decorations, pickles, chow chow, children’s books, soap, body scrubs, western novels, pen and ink sketches, ornaments, jams and jellies, fried pies, wooden puzzles, wooden toys, birdhouses, purses, hot cocoa bombs, and more!
If you have hand-crafted items that you would sell, contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 and we’ll provide an application for you. Booth spaces are extremely reasonable, and you don’t have to worry about the weather! It’s shaping up to be a great event!
Closing Thought
To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks, but a special heart that listens
– Scott Fitzgerald
Contact Johanna Hicks, B.S., M.Ed., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Family & Community Health Agent at the Hopkins County Extension Office, P.O. Box 518, 1200-B West Houston St., Sulphur Springs, TX 75483; 903-885-3443; or [email protected].
Chamber Connection – Aug. 10: Learn More About Stew Contest At Stewcomers Meeting
By Butch Burney
Monday, Aug. 15, is the final day to get your applications in if you are interested in being in this year’s Leadership Sulphur Springs class.
Leadership Sulphur Springs is a community leadership development program sponsored by the Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce. The course was created in 1989 with the concept of offering leadership training and community involvement for emerging business and community leaders. It is a nine-month session, with meetings held once a month.
Applicants should have lived or worked in Hopkins County for at least a year, have demonstrated a concern for the community, possesses high standards of persona quality and integrity, willing to commit the time required for the program, have the endorsement of their employer to take the necessary time away from work.
To apply, go to the Chamber’s website at HopkinsChamber.org, email [email protected] or call 903-885-6515.
The cost is $500, usually paid by the applicant’s employer.
We need 20 applicants for the class to make.
Stewcomers Meeting
For those who are interested in cooking up a pot of stew for the Stew Festival, the Chamber will have a Stewcomers meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11.
Participating in the meeting does not obligate you to cook in the Stew Fest, but it will give you information on the process, including recipes, timelines and what to expect. Email [email protected] for more information on the meeting.
Photography Contest
It’s time once again for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual photography contest!
The photography contest is open to anyone who resides in Hopkins County. We have seven categories: Natural World, Travel, Family and People, The Hopkins County Experience, Altered Images, Mobile, and Children (for photographers up to 18 years of age). Photographs must have been taken in Hopkins County no earlier than Jan. 1, 2021.
See the rules on our website, HopkinsChamber.org. You can also upload your photos to our website to enter. The deadline to enter is Aug. 31.
Stewing About It
Registration for the 53rd Annual Hopkins County Stew Festival, presented by Alliance Bank, set for Oct. 22, is open.
To register, go online to the Chamber’s website at HopkinsChamber.org/stewcooks, email [email protected] or call 903-885-6515. The cost to enter is $100 per stew pot, with $150 coming from the sponsor to pay for ingredients.
This year, stew cooks can also pre-order a T-shirt with “Stew Cook” on the back for $15.
Register now to reserve your spot from last year.
We also are taking applications for our vendor market at the stew. Cost is $75 for Chamber members, $100 for nonmembers. Go to our website at HopkinsChamber.org or call Amanda at 903-885-6515 to register.
Our sponsorship letters should be arriving in your mailbox this week, so be looking for those!
Surviving Drought Requires Planning
By Dr. Mario A. Villarino, Hopkins County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources, [email protected]
Surviving drought requires planning for it. Your plan should include strategies for finances, grazing management and stock reduction, as well as for vegetation recovery after the drought ends.
It is important to implement a grazing plan that promotes vegetation recovery. For example, if warm season grasses have been extremely stressed by successive years of low moisture, the eventual rains will provide some level of green growth. You will need to manage this new growth properly to give the tender new leaves a chance to mature and use sunlight to replenish the depleted nutrient reserves in the roots.
Drought recovery implies a return to a previous condition. Unfortunately, droughts are often considered only temporary events, after which conditions will return to “normal.” Some ecologists suggest that this may not be true in arid and semi-arid rangelands. These ecosystems may not automatically return to the same pre-disturbance “steady state.” (Some cases of brush encroachment within the past 100 years might be examples of this.)
Nevertheless, when rains do eventually come, sound grazing management practices will help the soil capture the rain that does fall and optimize forage growth. To form an effective plan, first determine your desired end point. Develop specific, measurable, attainable and trackable goals for your operation.
It’s easier and more effective to implement a drought strategy if you have good plans and current information. Monitor the supply-demand situation by taking periodic inventories of resources, especially forage production, which is the most limiting factor during drought. As the drought worsens, you will need to monitor and make decisions more frequently in order to maintain control and reach your goals. Although you cannot forecast rainfall with 100 percent accuracy, a good conservative plan with flexibility incorporated will help you be ready for what we cannot predict. Formulate your stock reduction strategies long before the drought begins, and implement those reductions systematically. Because no one can predict the severity or duration of an individual drought, there is no such thing as a perfect plan. However, the better your plan is, the more it can help. To help ensure that the plan has the expected outcomes, a good plan should include accurate records of the decisions you make and their consequences and establish benchmarks, such as photo-point monitoring on rangelands.
The most critical part of drought planning may be to form a drought strategy for each enterprise (cattle, sheep, hay, etc.) of your ranch operation. Develop production calendars for each enterprise to determine when to make critical decisions such as stock reductions, increased feeding or livestock relocation.
For example, know which months the most forage is grown on the ranch and which are the critical rainfall months. When a critical level of rainfall is not received by a certain date, plan for a systematic stock reduction or feeding strategy. If you reduce stock or begin a supplemental feeding strategy as early as possible during a drought, you can reduce the severity of the drought impacts.
In all situations, forage supply must meet or exceed forage demand. Therefore, you should inventory your forage every year. Your plan should incorporate strategies for dealing with poisonous plant problems also. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected].
School Begins … In Hopkins County, Yantis
As has been the case in the past couple of years, school start dats for students in Hopkins County and Yantis will resume for the 2022-2023 school year is staggered over the next two weeks.
In fact, Sulphur Bluff ISD is just completing their second day of classes Tuesday. After two full weeks of school, students will only be required to attend classes at school four days a week. Beginning with the week of Aug. 22, students will have Fridays off throughout the 2022-2023 school year. They had a traditional Meet the Teacher and hot dog supper last week to drop off supplies.
Cumby ISD and Miller Grove ISD are both slated to begin classes for the 2022-2023 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Both hosted Meet the Teacher activities Monday, Aug. 8. Miller Grove ISD reminds parents the district is utilizing a new cafeteria system, so be sure to access that when adding funds to and to monitor their students’ accounts.
North Hopkins, Saltillo, Como-Pickton and Yantis ISDs will all begin classes next week.
North Hopkins ISD won’t begin classes until next week, but did offer a special Popsicle with the Principal Monday evening, allowing families to drive through to find out who their elementary students’ teachers will be and to receive a cool treat, and high school students were allowed to pick up their schedules from the front office Monday morning. NHISD Meet the Teacher will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15. The district also notes that there will be no eating or drinking anything except water on NHISD school buses this year.
Saltillo ISD’s Meet the Teacher is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14, 2022. Students will begin reporting to class for the 2022-2023 school year on Aug 15.
Como-Pickton CISD is opening the campus for new student registration and to assist parents with portal. Junior and seniors may pick up their schedules from 9 to 11 a.m. and sophomores and freshman from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 11, 2022. Meet the Teacher will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, from 9 to 11 a.m. at CPCISD. Students are invited to grab a hot dog for lunch, courtesy of Alliance Bank and CPCISD. Any 9-12th grade student yet to pick up their schedule may do so during the Meet the Teacher and Back to School Bash. Junior high students will also pick up schedules during the Back To School Bash. High School students who need a parking permit must bring to the high school office their driver’s license, proof of insurance, license plate number, and the make, model and color of their vehicle. Classes at CPCISD begin Aug. 17, 2022.
Yantis ISD will hold Meet hte Teacher from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16; elementary students may drop off school supplies, while middle and high school students pick up their class schedules Tuesday. Chromebook Pick Up will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 in the High School Culinary Room; parents must be present to sign the Chromebook agreement in order for their student to be assigned a device. Those unable to stop by Thursday may also collect their Chromebook during Meet the Teacher activities on Aug. 16. Don’t forget to check the dress code to be sure your student isn’t violating any of the rules. Classes at YISD will begin on Aug. 18, 2022.
SSISD Hosting Meet The Teacher, Other Activities To Help Students Get Ready For New School Year
Sulphur Springs ISD is hosting Meet the Teacher and other activities designed to help students get ready for the new school year, which begins Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022.
Barbara Bush and Bowie Primary Schools will lead off the Meet the Teacher activities by inviting parents to bring their students by the child’s assigned campus during the designated time Tuesday evening.
Families can meet the child’s teachers, see their classroom and drop off the student’s school supplies during Meet The Teacher activities.
Travis, Rowena Johnson Primary and Sulphur Springs Elementary will host the next Meet the Teacher on Aug. 11, with Douglas ECLC’s Meet the Teacher Night following on Aug. 15. Schedules are staggered to provide more time for parents with students on more than one campus to teachers across the district.
SSMS students will be able to pickup their schedules and yearbooks on Aug. 15, and parents who are interested may sign up and obtain additional information about being involved with PTO during Meet the Teacher Activities during that time as well.
High School and Austin Academic Center will hold Meet the Teacher Tuesday evening, Aug. 16, but Freshman Orientation will be conducted at SSHS earlier in the day for 9th graders and students entering the campus for the first time. Students in grades 9-12 will be afforded the opportunity during designated time on Aug. 15 and 16 to pick up school issued laptops. A time will be provided during the first few days of school for students who are unable to pick up their devices during the designated times.
Families, students and community members are then invited to Gerald Prim Stadium for Meet the Wildcats night on Aug. 16.
Below is a schedule of several of those upcoming activities:
Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022
- Bowie Primary
- Meet the Teacher 5-6:30 p.m.
- Barbara Bush Primary
- Meet the Teacher 5-6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022
- Travis Primary
- Meet the Teacher 5-6:30 p.m.
- Rowena Johnson Primary
- Meet the Teacher 5:30-7 p.m.
- Sulphur Springs Elementary
- Meet the Teacher 5-6:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 15, 2022
- Douglas Early Childhood Learning Center
- Meet the Teacher 4-6 p.m.
- Sulphur Springs Middle School
- Meet the Teacher 5-7 p.m.
- Sulphur Springs High School
- Laptop pick up 1-4 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 16
- Sulphur Springs High School
- Laptop Pick Up 8-11:30 a.m.
- Laptop Pick Up 1-4 p.m.
- Meet the Teacher 5-6:30 p.m. (Laptops may be picked at this time as well)
- Austin Academic Center
- Meet the Teacher 5-6:30 p.m.
- Gerald Prim Stadium
- Meet the Wildcats 7-8 p.m.
Registration, Information Updating
Returning Student Online Verification for the 2022-2023 school year is open for all SSISD campuses. If your child was enrolled on the last day of school last year, you will use this to enroll your student for the upcoming year.
Middle School and High School students will not be able to pick up their schedules until their Online Verification has been completed.
Those needing assistance logging into the Family Access account may contact their child’s campus.
New student registration is open for the 2022-2023 school year.
This registration is for new students entering kindergarten -third grade who did NOT end the 2021-2022 school year in Sulphur Springs ISD. Current Pre-K and Head Start students will complete Returning Student Registration with their Skyward Family Access account.
New to Sulphur Springs ISD pre-kindergarten and Head Start students must contact Douglass ECLC for registration information.
All paperwork must be taken to the Sulphur Springs Administration Building located at 631 Connally St., Sulphur Springs, Texas.
To register a new-to-the-district student:
- Make an appointment by clicking the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/RoundUp2223
- Only a Parent or Legal Guardian (must have appropriate documents) can enroll a child.
- Bring all required and/or applicable documents (listed below):
- Proof of residency within district. Must be one of the following
- Current utility bill
- Current rent/Lease agreement/Mortgage statement showing name and address of owner
- Income Tax paperwork
- Parent or Legal Guardian’s Photo ID
- Child’s Official Birth Certificate
- Child’s Social Security Card
- Child’s Up-to-Date Immunization Record
- Dr.’s Notes Concerning Allergy/Health Needs
- Custodial Documents or Court Orders, if applicable.
- Proof of residency within district. Must be one of the following
- Complete the online registration process via Skyward: https://www.ssisd.net/page/New%20Student%20Registration
Consumer Alert: Scammer Posing As TDI Employee
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) is urging consumers to be wary of phone calls or other communications from anyone claiming to be a representative of TDI.
TDI will call you only when you ask for assistance.
TDI’s Fraud Unit received a report from a person who was contacted by someone claiming to be a TDI employee, offering to meet at their home to go over their insurance needs.
“The individual who received the call did the right thing by not providing any personal information and contacting us,” said Chris Davis, head of TDI’s Fraud Unit. “This may have been an attempt at identity theft or other crime.”
Davis recommends caution if you’re contacted about any financial matter, and you didn’t make the first call. Unless you’re sure of who you’re speaking with, do not provide personal information such as your address, birth date, Social Security number, or any of your account numbers.
If you need help with an insurance issue or if you suspect insurance fraud, contact TDI’s Help Line at 800-252-3439. The TDI website, tdi.texas.gov, and social media channels are how we provide consumer information.
