CCISD names campus winners in United Way fundraising

By BRITTANY FHOLER

Cove Leader-Press

The campus winners for the 2021-2022 United Way Campaign were announced at the Copperas Cove Independent School District’s Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday evening. 

District Communications Director Wendy Sledd said that this year has been one of the best years for the district and its campuses in collecting funds for the United Way. The district had a 13.6 percent increase this year compared to last year, she added. 

Each school’s principal or representative received a certificate for the school’s participation in the United Way Campaign, and then the winners for Per Capita, Year Over Year Increase, and Most Money Raised. 

Crossroads High School raised $300. Copperas Cove Junior High School raised $1,311.16. 

Copperas Cove High School raised $3,773.83. Fairview/Jewell Elementary saw a 61 percent increase compared to last year, raising $1,624.72. Hettie Halstead Elementary raised $579.66. Clements/Parsons Elementary raised $2,603.27. Mae Stevens Early Learning Academy had a year over year increase of 4.8 percent and raised $1,853.67. Martin Walker Elementary raised $3,359.56. S.C. Lee Junior High School saw a 57.3 percent increase over last year, raising $8,155. The CCISD Central Office raised $1,353.25, which was an 87 percent increase compared to last year.

House Creek Elementary won the Year Over Year Increase award, with a 91.4 percent increase over last year, raising a whopping $2,254.14. 

Williams/Ledger Elementary took home the awards for Per Capita and for Most Money Raised. With a 54.5 percent increase over last year, Williams/Ledger raised a total of $10,174.18. This campus averaged $109.40 per employee. 

As a district, Copperas Cove ISD raised a total of $37,342.44 for the United Way. 

In honor of Veterans Day, board members were treated to a performance of the National Anthem and other patriotic songs by the Martin Walker Honor Choir during the recognition portion. Following the performance, the choir presented handmade cards to the board members who were veterans: Jeff Gorres, Ann Davis and Inez Faison. 

During recognitions, the Copperas Cove Education Foundation also presented a check for $29,950.04 for the 2021-2022 Teacher Innovation Grants, which will be distributed at a later date. 

Burns shared that with this donation, the Copperas Cove Education Foundation has donated more than $350,000 over the years to Copperas Cove ISD teachers. This year, there will be nine grants given to teachers on five different campuses. 

The board of trustees approved the consent agenda, which included the purchase of a replacement diesel engine for Bus #49 for $45,504.53. 

The board approved a contract with O’Connell Robertson for HVAC renovations at Copperas Cove High School, Miss Jewell Elementary School, Copperas Cove Junior High School, Walker Elementary School, Child Nutrition Services, Support Services and Bulldawg Stadium, for $210,700.00 plus reimbursable expenses. 

They also approved choosing a Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) as the procurement method for the HVAC replacement at Copperas Cove High School, Copperas Cove Junior High School, Martin Walker Elementary School, Miss Jewell Elementary School, Child Nutrition Services and Bulldawg Stadium and authorized the superintendent to negotiate the contract. The expected cost of the project is $2,450,000. 

CCISD trustees Inez Faison and S. Ann Davis were also sworn in courtesy of Judge Bill Price for their new term during the board meeting. Since no one had filed to run against either board member, the school board election was cancelled earlier this year, with Faison and Davis set to be sworn in this month. Both Faison and Davis will serve on the board, in Place 1 and 2 respectively, for three more years,