Veterans Day Tribute and new trustee begins tenure at CCISD board meeting
By DAVID J. HARDIN
Cove Leader-Press
Tuesday Night at the Copperas Cove Independent School District administration building, the CCISD board of trustees met for their November meeting, only this time with a new member, Harry Byrd.
Byrd takes the spot previously held by Bob Weiss who was with the Copperas Cove Independent School Board of Trustees from 2003-2015. After Byrd was introduced, Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary School 3rd graders choir performed two songs in a salute to veterans under the direction of music teacher April-Dawn Weimer. The kids waved American Flags while singing “God Bless America” for the board and a packed room of family and district administrators.
When the performance was over, CCISD superintendent Joe Burns introduced Don Nicholas, a representative from U.S. Congressman Roger Williams' office. Nicholas was there on behalf of Williams to honor Jack Welch, CCISD athletic director and head football coach. Welch was recently inducted into Taylor College’s Hall of Fame in Indiana where Welch earned his bachelors degree.
Dr. Karen Harrison presented a check to CCISD on behalf of the Copperas Cove Education Foundation in the amount of $45,786.24. This is grant funding for teacher grants in CCISD.
Recognitions were also given to campuses and their representatives who helped facilitate, organize, and raise money for the United Way Fundraising Campaign. Most Money Raised Award went to Williams-Ledger Elementary School, with the Most Money Per Capita going to Williams-Ledger Elementary School. The Highest Year Over Year Increase went to Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary.
After the recognitions were handed out the meeting continued with the board's agenda. During the workshop held on Monday, several purchases over $25,000 were brought to the board and discussed.
These included the purchase of a Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone system at the administration complex. The system will allow automated routing of incoming phone calls and direct connectivity to other campuses and departments within the District.
Also, House Creek Elementary School raised funds to cover a portion of an outdoor LED sign. The district will pay $12,500 toward the purchase of the sign and House Creek Elem will pay the remaining balance of $18,611.55.The CCISD maintenance department will build the base and install the sign.
Additionally, the board approved the purchase of projectors and speakers for each general education classroom for grades K-5, which is not to exceed $407,464.60. During Tuesday night's meeting, the board approved all three of these items.
The board also approved a new program for the district, the CCISD Paraprofessional Education Assistance Program. The purpose of this program is to provide an incentive that will encourage instructional aides to pursue teacher certification. The benefit to the District is the local pool of qualified teaching applicants is increased, allowing the District to fill positions sooner with quality applicants.
Following the meeting, new trustee Harry Byrd was asked to share his insights about being on the board and replacing Bob Weiss.
Byrd said that the first workshop went great and the first board meeting went well.
“I can’t replace Mr. Bob Weiss, I can never replace Mr. Weiss because he has been a pillar of strength in this community for a long time and a great educator,” Byrd said. “Th best I can do is to follow in his footsteps and I will always keep dear to my heart the keeper of the keys of the integrity of our system. It is not about me, it’s totally about our youth. Our students are not the youth of tomorrow, they are the youth of today, so if we fail them to prepare for today, then there will not be a tomorrow for them.”