VOL. 1 | NO. 1
PROSPERTIMES Friday April 28, 2017 | Prosper, Texas
WeAreProsper.com | $1.00
D r. Bu r d e tt m e e t s p a r e n t s a n d s tu d e n t s He says pep rallies will continue By Joyce Godwin PROSPER TIMES The Prosper High School new principal, Dr. John Burdett, hosted a meet and greet in the school’s cafeteria Monday evening and parents had plenty of questions for him. He showed his lighter, comical side while addressing serious issues. One thing parents and students alike wanted to know — will the pep rallies continue. Burnett was quick to say they will, but they will be different. For one thing, they won’t all be during school. Ten to 15 percent of students have been checking out of school during the pep rallies,” he said. That means there are 10 to 15 percent of students not interested in participating in the pep rallies. It could be that some pep rallies will be held after school. “We don’t know yet how this will change,” he said. “One thing is for sure — I won’t be a part of the pep rallies. That is not me.” That remark brought laughter across the room. Burdett stressed that changes will be made according to what the students want. One parent asked about parent engagement and how that will continue with the burgeoning school population acknowledging there
will be 3,000 students next year in the high school. Burdett pointed to several parent organization and expressed his support for parents’ participation in the school whether it is observing classes or volunteering; parents will always be welcome. “My phone number [direct line] at the school will be published and I will answer it myself so you have a direct line to me,” he said. “You won’t be going through a secretary.” Burdett talked quite a bit about the graduate profile and said a lot of the standards they will hold will line up with the graduate profile. If interested, see the profile on line at http://prosper-isd.net/Domain/827. “Our students work hard, they are nice and good citizens and kind to one another. If they leave that way, we are successful,” he said. He repeated the popular phrase, “We are Prosper, we are one,” and said that means everyone is included. “We are going to support all students and all students will learn,” he said. “The standard for us is to raise our level across the board. It has to be about the kids. It’s not about me. I am just a servant for the ISD.” Marcus Ray was a parent in the audience listening to Burdett. He said he is impressed with Burdett. “It’s great to change, but change is
Photo by Joyce Godwin/Prosper Times | Dr. John Burdett speaks to parents gathered Monday night in the Prosper High School cafeteria where they came to meet the new high school principal.
never comfortable for anybody,”
even during a crowded condition.
Prosper High School,” she said. “I
he said. “I’m excited about this and
He said safety of the students is the
what he is going to bring to this
most important issue followed by
don’t think he will be a fly-by-night
school.”
instruction.
Burnett talked about the inevitable
A parent, Sarah Shaw, said the
crowding and innovative ways the
meeting was informative. “This was
staff can bring about instruction
an opportunity to see his vision for
superintendent. I think he will be a good extension of Mr. Wright, but bring in his own traditions.”
Prosper School Board extends food ser vice contract Report shows 100 percent growth for next year By Joyce Godwin PROSPER TIMES
The time-tested custom of trying to knock off the reigning champion has reached the It’s Time Texas Community Challenge and Prosper is still the champ for the second consecutive year. A good-natured wager between the mayor of the second place team and the Mayor of the firstplace team meant the mayor of the losing town would have to wear a T-shirt for the winning town. Pictured is Marcus Knight, mayor of the city of Lancaster wearing a Prosper shirt at his council meeting last Monday night.
Teacher of the Year awards were made during the April 17 school board meeting and much excitement came with the announcement, but that was not the only business of the day. David Bill from Light Farms Elementary was named Teacher of the Year for the elementary level and Caitlyn Kirk from Prosper High School was named Teacher of the Year for the high school and middle school levels. Following that, the Board got down to conducting the business of the Prosper ISD. The enrollment update shows there are 1,825 students more than this time last year, reported Assistant Superintendent Holly Ferguson who sat in for Dr. Drew Watkins who was out of town. The Board approved several
agenda items: • Financial/Investment/Tax reports for March as prepared by Rusty Craig, director of business services, and the Collin County Tax Office. “As of the end of March we had approximately $246.8 million of which is general fund with the rest dedicated to construction/capital and-or Interest and Sinking),” said Craig. “We have realized nearly 88.7 percent of our projected revenue for Fund 199. We have expended 59.3 percent of 199 compared to 58 percent last year.” • Purchase and upgrade of video equipment on the remainder of the transportation fleet; • Extension of the food service contact with SFE as provider for PISD schools; • Activities during senior week in which attendance will be taken at the alternate location of the event rather than on campus;
• New teacher contracts and conditionally approved professional employees for the 2017-2018 school year per recommendations of Superintendent Drew Watkins; • List of resignations and retirements as provided by Watkins. An ongoing discussion was held regarding school sites. PISD continues to pursue donated and low cost school sites for the district’s future growth. Templeton Demographics gave a brief presentation regarding current and future growth of Prosper ISD. The District it still projecting nearly 100 percent growth over the next five years. Important dates to watch: May 15 — regular monthly meeting of the Board June 2 — Last day of school for students June 3 — PHS graduation at 10 a.m., Prestonwood Plano
B e t s y Wi n t e r s n a m e d Executive Director of Bethlehem Place Preparing for major fundraisers
Photo by Amy Jukes/Cedarbrook Media Betsy Winters, Executive Director of Bethlehem Place takes a moment April 11 with one to the client families for Bethlehem Place in front of the BP operations building. The two boys are holding their Easter baskets. Pictured with Winters is Gloria Monreal with her two sons Jayden Arellano and Cristian Arellano.
By Joyce Godwin PROSPER TIMES Some people just have service in their hearts, no two ways about it. That is the case with Pros-per resident Betsy Winters who just a few months ago, signed on to
lead Prosper’s main food bank, Bethlehem Place, where the phrase “Hunger is unacceptable” is a motto by which to live and one taken seriously. After Diane Galloway left the directorship of the food bank for family reasons, the position of Ex-
INSIDE Community Calendar - pg 2 In Good Taste - 3 UIL Win - 3
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ecutive Director was left empty for a short while. Winters said she had just taken a position on the group’s Board of Directors so everything was new to her. “It was only a few weeks after my very first board meeting that Diane needed to resign for family reasons,” Winters said. “I was waiting for somebody else to come up with a solution. But silence kind of drives me insane so I volunteered to take the job.” After a few months of doing the job, Winters said, “I really, really enjoy it; mostly because of eve-rybody I get to work with.”
She added that the recipients are also really nice and show a lot of appreciation. “We have yet to find out if it was Inspiration or desperation,” she said of her decision to volunteer. “Fortunately, I’ve led other organizations, but I had no idea what this entailed. I’m in for the long haul — as long as I can or as long as they want me. I feel very lucky and blessed to be working with such wonderful people and a generous community.” Winters says the First Methodist Church of Prosper is generous with their property and other churches in the community have also been welcoming and helpful. “The outpouring of concern and caring has been overwhelming to me,” she said. “And their acceptance of me has been very humbling to me.” Heading up any organization can be a daunting task and one that requires an inordinate amount of time. When asked about Winters’ family supporting her new job she talks about her husband Carl, a physician. “He is very encouraging and supportive,” she said. “He worries a lot about my health.” Carl has plenty of reason to be concerned after an experience in 2011 when Betsy went into cardiac ar-rest. “He is an anesthesiologist, so fortunately, he knew exactly what to do,” she said. “Carl pumped on my chest for 11 minutes and he kept me alive.” “So, I think my life was spared
because I have things to do. My doctors said ‘You were not supposed to die because nobody lives through what you did.’ Not that I’m the best at what I’m doing, but maybe I’m supposed to be doing this.” Watching Betsy Winters with the clients of Bethlehem Place will confirm for most that she is doing what she is supposed to be doing. Recently, she was able to distribute more than 90 Easter baskets to some excited families who would not otherwise be able to provide them for their chil-dren. Winters is loving and caring and welcoming. Just what they need. This year, as in the past several years, the Easter baskets came from the Prosper Ladies As-sociation that built the baskets and made them ready during one of their recent meetings and then transported the baskets to Bethlehem Place so Winters would have them on hand during the next food distribution. Two dates are important to the organization to help it raise funds for its operations. June 10 is Hot Dogs and Hot Rods Charity Car Show at Frontier Park where admission will be free and family entertainment will be provided. Cars will have a $25 entry fee. The second date is Oct. 2 for the Bethlehem Place Charity Golf Tournament at Gentle Creek Country Club. See details for both events on the Bethlehem Place website at www.bethlehemplace.org.