PG.08
AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS:
BRACING FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
PG.13 BUY LOCAL
ALAMO MOBILITY INC. Sells, modifies vehicles for physically impaired drivers
COMMUNITY NEWS
CONVERSE
VOL. 2, ISSUE 6
LIVE OAK
UNIVERSAL CITY
WINDCREST
DEC. 16 - JAN. 17, 2015
WHAT'S
INSIDE YOUR COMMUNITY
PG.11 Kitty Hawk
students support teacher’s battle
Katherine Martz undergoing treatments for aggressive cancer
FANTASTIC DEALS
COUPONS INSIDE Discover the city through LOCAL deals from restaurants, retailers and services in your community, and save money while you do it! PG. 15
WWW.SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
SPORTMANSHIP PG.10
Revised Coach Ed program paying off locally
PG.14 EAT LOCAL
PG. 03 LOCAL COMMENTARY SUSAN YERKES
BAYSEAS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
We need to prevent diseases closer to home
Tasty seafood, side items and appetizers on deck
Time to equip area officers with body cameras
PG. 04 LOCAL EDITORIAL
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DEC. 16-JAN. 17, 2015
FROM THE EDITOR wwright@salocallowdown.com
President Harold J. Lees Publisher Gregg Rosenfield
VP/Sales Anna Davis
Assoc. Publisher Rick Upton EDITORIAL Executive Editor Thomas Edwards Managing Editor Will Wright News Staff Collette Orquiz and Bain Serna Contributing Writers J.E. Jordan, Eric Moreno, Arthur Schechter and Susan Yerkes ART Creative Director Florence Edwards Advertising Design Pete Morales Contributing Photographer Joshua Michael and Rudy B. Ornelas ADVERTISING Account Managers Dawn Radick and Joe Rieras Controller Keith Sanders READER SERVICE Mailing Address 4204 Gardendale Ste. 201 SA, TX 78229 Fax Phone (210) 616.9677 (210) 338.8842 Advertising Inquiries rupton@salocallowdown.com Story Ideas tips@salocallowdown.com Website www.salocallowdown.com
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10/13/14 2:40 PM
Switching gears, not commitment
M
ost businesses must learn to adapt to changes in the market, and LOCAL Community News is no exception.
Starting next month, the Metrocom edition of LOCAL will adjust its distribution to better serve readers and advertisers. This decision was made following months studying market trends, consumer patterns and readership desires. The Zone 4 edition, which is mailed to readers in Converse, Live Oak, Universal City and Windcrest, will be combined with Zone 5, which is delivered to Bracken, Cibolo, Garden Ridge, Schertz and Selma. Both papers will merge into one. As a result, some residents will no longer receive the free paper in the mail. Distribution could resume to those areas in the future as population and business trends change. We will continue to provide news, features and happenings in each of the cities we now serve, while expanding the number of pages in each issue. When LOCAL began serving the Metrocom in July 2013, we said the stories would focus on the news that shapes our area’s future. That hasn’t changed. We will continue to keep you informed about the events influencing our communities. In addition, we are planning to expand our website, which will provide another avenue for readers to become more involved in the stories we pen and pursue. Please continue to send us your ideas, notices of community and civic events and your thoughts by calling 210-338-8842 or emailing tips@ salocallowdown.com. You can also call that number to subscribe.
WILL WRIGHT MANAGING EDITOR
WWW.SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
FACEBOOK.COM/SALOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS
3
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM
LOCAL COMMENTARY
Ebola hyperbole: A plague of panic by SUSAN YERKES
I
s anybody else out there sick of hearing doomsday Ebola predictions?
Don’t get me wrong — Ebola is a terrible disease, and the situation in several African countries, where thousands have died, is serious indeed. Thomas Eric Duncan’s death from the disease in Dallas, and the subsequent infections (and happily, recoveries) of a couple of health care workers, have rightly spurred hospitals and medical professionals to review and revamp their protocols for diagnosis and treatment. The fact is, here in South Texas, your chances of winning the lottery are a thousand times greater than your chances
of getting Ebola. And yet politicians continue to proselytize, and plain folks continue to worry, about the medical menace the word Ebola conjures. “It’s human nature, that people are fascinated with things that are frightening. All the hospitals have developed detailed protocols and plans in the remote event that Ebola does show up. But there are much more pressing health problems in San Antonio, like diabetes and obesity,” said Carl Blond, a respected San Antonio physician and chief of staff at Connally Memorial Medical Center in Floresville. This time of year, there’s another health problem we can all do something about. “As we head into the winter months, with kids back in school and people traveling for the holidays, respiratory illnesses like influenza are a much more serious concern for us in terms of infectious disease. And many of those can be prevented by vaccinations,” said Dr. Thomas Schlenker, director of health for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. Unlike Ebola, flu and other airborne diseases spread quickly, even when the carriers aren’t manifesting symptoms. Older folks and the youngest are particularly at risk. The Centers for Disease Control
recommends adults and children 6 months or older should get vaccinated every year. You don’t even have to go to the doctor to get a flu shot. They’re everywhere, from Walmart to Walgreens. All insurance plans cover flu shots, and for those without coverage, the $30 shot is a good investment in terms of potential lost time at work. Yet according to Metropolitan Health statistics, fewer than 40 percent of adults in Bexar County got their flu shots last year. There are folks who fret about terrorists with Ebola sneaking across the border, or believe we should quarantine anyone flying to the United States from Africa. Many of them have never gotten a flu shot, and many of them get — and quite possibly spread — the flu almost every year. Vaccines offer simple and highly effective protection from many diseases, from mumps and measles to hepatitis and pneumonia. But they only work if you get vaccinated. Pertussis, or whooping cough, manifests as a cough in adults, but can be deadly for infants. In the past few years the reported rates in Texas have increased more than fivefold. But very few adults ever get vaccinated for it. It’s good news that nearly 70 percent of children in Bexar County
have all the required vaccinations by age 3. Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Department of Health, at least 90 percent of children need to be vaccinated in order to effectively protect the population. Adults aren’t required to get vaccinations, and many don’t. Taking care of our collective health is a task that begins with individuals, and there’s more we can do. Infectious diseases may be dangerous, but there are plenty of bigger dangers. In San Antonio, adult diabetes is epidemic, and it’s affecting younger people at higher rates than ever. Over the last decade, city planners and health professionals have worked hard to spread the gospel of exercise and balanced nutrition, and the city’s famously high obesity rates have begun to fall. But it takes time and work to change unhealthy habits, and we still have a long way to go. So next time you read headlines about the terrors of Ebola, try not to stress. That’s enough to make you sick. Instead, think about the serious diseases closer to home, and what we can all do about them. Get vaccinations, wash your hands and practice healthy living, one day at a time. Email Yerkes at syerkes@ salocallowdown.com.
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Do You Have Type1 or Type 2 Diabetes? Do you have a diagnosis of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes with inadequate glycemic (blood sugar) control? Northeast Clinical Research of San Antonio is conducting a research trial for people with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes on diet and exercise alone or taking a single or multiple diabetes medications. We are seeking men and women, 18 years of age or older, with the above profiles to participate in a research trial. Participants with and without cardiac events are welcome. Subjects may receive investigational product, while others may receive a placebo (a tablet without active medicine). If you are eligible to participate in this research study you will receive the following at no cost: • • • •
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4
OUR TURN Views and opinions about your community
Getting a clear picture on body cameras
T
he use of body cameras should be embraced by area law enforcement agencies not already equipped with the devices.
The cameras provide a clear record of what actually transpires during an encounter between law enforcement and the public. Police should welcome the cameras, since they are another tool to help clear an officer when someone files a false complaint about police conduct. Those on the other side of the camera should also know their every action is being taped. Some area departments, including Alamo Heights, already use the devices. Officers there have readily adapted to the cameras. Since March, 150 San Antonio Police Department officers have participated in a pilot program involving the cameras.
DEC. 16-JAN. 17, 2015 Police Chief William McManus has said the cameras are a sound move, and is making that recommendation to City Council. The cameras, which have been around for a while, took center stage in the national spotlight after a black man was shot by a white officer in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking several weeks of civil unrest. Most of the protests might have been averted if a video recording of the encounter existed. On the national level, leaders are also pushing for police departments to utilize the small cameras, which are easily clipped on the sleeves, vests or shirt seams of an officer’s uniform. The decision on whether to use body cameras should be decided by local departments working with elected representatives and citizens’ groups. While there are privacy concerns that must be addressed, we live in the age of smartphones, YouTube and security cameras, so public recordings are nothing new. Employing body cameras should become just another tool for police to do their jobs. -The Local Community News editorial board includes Harry Lees, Gregg Rosenfield and Thomas Edwards.
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5
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM Cibolo, Universal City and northeast San Antonio areas, will host a meeting at 3 p.m. at the Schertz Public Library, 798 Schertz Parkway. For more, call 8021740 or visit www.circleofcancercare.org.
HAPPENING LOCAL
Plan your month with our calendar of upcoming events in the community.
OUR GUIDE TO YOUR MONTH
HAPPENING KEY
FITNESS
ART
RANDOLPH METROCOM ROTARY The club meets Mondays at WEEKLY noon at the Olympia Hills Golf & Conference Center, 12900 Mount Olympus St. in Universal City. For more, visit www.randolphmetrocomrotary.org.
TALK
OUTDOOR
MUSIC
FOOD
get an early start to literacy through book readings, music, and arts and crafts. Parents are urged to arrive on time; children must be supervised. For more, call 659-4160.
NORTHEAST ROTARY MEETINGS WEEKLY The San Antonio Northeast Rotary Club meets 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the Lion & Rose Pub in The Forum at Olympia Parkway shopping center, 8211 Agora Parkway, Suite 112 in Live Oak. For more, visit www.sanortheastrotary.com.
MORGAN’S WONDERLAND ONGOING HOSTS SENIORS Let age work in your favor during “Senior Fridays” at Morgan’s Wonderland, 5223 David Edwards Drive. For $8, every second and fourth Friday (except Dec. 26), there will be senior activities 11 a.m. to noon. For more, call 495-5888 or visit www.morganswonderland.com.
CHILDREN’S STORY TIMES Converse Public Library, 601 S. WEEKLY Seguin St., holds free story times 10:30-11:30 a.m. each Wednesday (except Dec. 24 and Dec. 31), where toddlers can
CIRCLE OF CANCER CARE ONGOING SUPPORT GROUP Circle of Cancer Care, a nonprofit, charitable organization serving female cancer patients in the Schertz,
TRIUMPHANT LUTHERAN CHURCH SERVICES The church, 21315 Bat Cave Road in Garden Ridge, will host Christmas Eve candlelight services at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Dec. 24, and a Christmas Day service at 10 a.m. Dec. 25. For more, call 651-9090 or visit www.triumphantlutheran.org.
DEC 24 - DEC 25
TRI-COUNTY CHAMBER DEC/JAN OF COMMERCE The Chamber’s B2B Breakfasts take place the first Friday of each month (except Jan. 2), with luncheons held the second Tuesday of each month at Blue Bonnet Palace, 17630 Lookout Road in Selma. Monthly Lunch & Learn events are held the third Thursday, with mixers the fourth Thursday (except Dec. 25, Christmas Day). For more, including sites and times, call 658-8322 or visit www.txtricountychamber.org.
AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR AT TRIUMPHANT LUTHERAN CHURCH The Asante Children’s Choir, comprised of youths from East Africa, will perform at 7 p.m. at Triumphant Lutheran Church, 21315 Bat Cave Road in Garden Ridge. The choir, affiliated with Asante Ministries International, is dedicated to spreading love, hope and joy while raising awareness of the desperate plight of orphans and other vulnerable children in Africa. Admission is free, but “love offerings” will be accepted. For more, visit www.triumphantlutheran.org.
JAN 9
SCOC HEALTH AND WHOLENESS FAIR Hosted by the Schertz Chamber of Commerce, the third annual free event presented by the city of Schertz, Pawderosa Ranch Doggie Play and Stay, and MedFirst Primary Care is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway. More than 70 vendors will showcase the four aspects of health wholeness: mental, spiritual, physical and nutritional. For more, call the Chamber offices at 566-9000.
JAN 31
HAPPENING continues on pg. 06
It’s the region of ‘mosts.’ The most romantic cities. The most fashion forward. The most delicious foods. And the most sought after cruise destinations—Norway to Mykonos, France to Africa—delivered in a way that makes the most of your European vacation time. Arriving for your Europe cruise, you’ll explore lands rich in romantic languages, classic architecture, food, art and music for one or multiple days at a time. You can hop from port-toport, or take a Cruisetour, which allows you to have more land time to explore. So you can spend time enjoying centuries-old treasures on land and return to luxurious accommodations onboard to restore the new you. Get a $100 onboard credit when you mention this ad.
Rennert Travel 210-524-3300 www.Rennerttravel.com 613 NW Loop 410, Suite 400 San Antonio TX, 78216 ©2014 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador. 14039752 • 7/2014
THE ALLERGY CORNER Oh no - it’s Mountain Cedar Time! Written by Priyanka Gupta, M.D. Board Certified Allergist
From December through February, many people experience a runny nose, sneezing, nasal blockage, excess tearing and itchy eyes. Others complain of itching of the throat and postnasal drainage. Some develop asthma symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath and coughing. If you experience the above symptoms every year during these months, the chance is great that you have Mountain Cedar allergy, or “cedar fever” as it is sometimes known. In addition to making a person feel ill due to allergies, this condition can interfere in a variety of ways with carrying out one’s day to day responsibilities. Loss of sleep, limitation of activities, diminished productivity, poor concentration, fatigue, and practical problems such as repeated nose blowing and nose rubbing, all impact negatively on your ability to carry out physical, social and work/school activities. San Antonio and its surrounding cities has a high density of naturally growing Mountain Cedar trees (Juniperus ashei) and also has breezy conditions common to the winter months that help distribute the pollen into the air. The cedar pollen counts can go extremely high and remain so for many days at a time. The pollen concentrations sometimes go so high that they can sometimes reach the status of an air pollutant and actually produce a slightly hazy look to the air. Many treatments are available to try to reduce the allergic reaction. Some are over the counter and others are prescription medications. If the above measures are impractical and ineffective, then you might be a good candidate for allergy shots, which have been shown to be a very effective treatment for mountain cedar allergy. If you have questions about mountain cedar allergy or other related topics, feel free to contact our office, Central Texas Allergy and Asthma, at (210) 654-0944. Our providers are well educated on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with seasonal and year round allergies.
6
DEC. 16-JAN. 17, 2015
HAPPENING continues from pg. 05 GARDEN RIDGE WILD GAME DINNER The eighth annual event will be held 5-8 p.m. at Garden Ridge Community Center, 9400 Municipal Parkway. Entertainment, prizes, events, a raffle and a dinner of wild game will be featured. Cost is $20, with tickets available online at www.gardenridgewildgame.com.
JAN 31
ELSEWHERE MUJERES MERCADO NIGHT MARKETS Mujeres Mercado and Main Plaza Conservancy present Night Markets in the Plaza 7-11 p.m. each third Saturday of the month through December at Main Plaza, 115 N. Main Ave. in San Antonio. There will be live music, food and arts and crafts booths and various other events throughout the evening. For more, including vendor information, call Cristina Martinez at 6023291 or email mujeresmercado@gmail.com.
THROUGH DECEMBER
SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all
the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@salocallowdown.com.
enjoy having a cup of coffee with Jenny when purchasing a new home! For all the things that move you Buying • selling • renting • investing • relocating •
12414 Toepperwein Road Live Oak, TX 78233 (210) 654-0944 705 Landa Street, Suite F New Braunfels, TX 78130 (830) 609-0998
Take a quick look at what’s new in the community from opening and closings to news tidbits.
Open and Opening Soon
Address of local business Name of local business
ALAMO MOBILITY INC., 16262 Interstate 35 North in Selma, offers wheelchair-accessible motor vehicles and vehicle conversions, with special purchase plans available for veterans. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday for sales. For more, call 718-0055 or visit www. alamomobility.com. (See story on page 13)
Universal City, offers authentic Thai cuisine, a wine bar and numerous appetizers. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday. For more, call 637-5100 or visit www.noysbistro.com.
BAYSEAS SEAFOOD RESTAURANT,
in Converse, specializes in styling, relaxing and weaving all types of hair. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. For more, call 8886015 or visit www.mavenhairstudio.com.
13954 Nacogdoches Road, recently debuted in San Antonio in the Valencia shopping center. Entrees include catfish, shrimp and oysters, along with a variety of side items including hush puppies, fried okra, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, fries and more. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more, call 314-5219. (See story on page 14)
NOY’S BISTRO, 976 Coronado Blvd. in
MAVEN HAIR STUDIO, 719 S. Seguin Road
IN OTHER NEWS NORTHEAST LAKEVIEW COLLEGE AND JUDSON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT on Oct. 31 announced a partnership introducing the college experience to JISD students at all levels along the education
LOWDOWN continues on pg. 07
Diabetes? Renal disease? Or both? You must have one of the following conditions: • Controlled diabetes, Type 1 or Type 2 OR • Controlled diabetes, Type 1 or Type 2 with renal disease OR • Mild to moderate renal disease ICON Early Phase Services is now seeking individuals with these conditions for an investigational research study.
call Jenny Bingham (210) 590-5000 office (210) 646-2727 Direct (210) 710-5003 cell jbingham@remax.net Central Texas Allergy and Asthma www.CTxAA.com www.facebook.com/CTxAA.com
LOCAL LOWDOWN
independently owned and operated
To qualify for this study, you should also: • Be 21 years of age or older • Have poor vascular access
If you qualify, you may be compensated up to $2,500 for time and travel. To learn more, visit our website or call 210-225-5437 and ask about study VI116.
northeast
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8307 Gault Lane • San Antonio, TX 78209
7
SALOCALLOWDOWN.COM LOWDOWN continues from pg. 06 pathway. Under NLC’s Adopt-A-School Initiative, the college will “adopt” Salinas and Spring Meadows elementary schools and Kirby Middle School, providing mentoring and tutoring to pupils during the next academic year. The project will also include college campus visits to NLC and other activities throughout the year. NLC and JISD educators will collaborate to share best practices and college expectations regarding instruction, officials said. JISD Superintendent Willis Mackey and NLC President Craig Follins said the initiative would help students gain an understanding of college and the importance of setting career goals. THE ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE IS TEAMING with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Subaru of America for a year-end “Share the Love: Take Me Home for the Holidays” pet-adoption event, which began Nov. 20 and runs through Jan. 4, 2015. Adopters may purchase a puppy or dog for $60 or $40, respectively, and any cat or kitten for $20 at ADL headquarters, 11300 Nacogdoches Road in San Antonio. Pet adopters will
receive free starter bags of premium cat or dog food, coupons for their next pet-food purchases, 30 days of free pet insurance, two tickets to SeaWorld San Antonio, and more. Animals will be spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. During the event, North Park Subaru, 9807 San Pedro Ave., and North Park Subaru-Dominion, 21415 Interstate 10 West, will donate $250 to ADL for each new Subaru purchased or leased at either dealership. For more, call 655-1481 or visit www.adltexas.org. GREATER RANDOLPH AREA KIWANIS CLUB has been busy staging a variety of community events. The organization held its 30th annual pancake breakfast at Randolph Church of Christ on Nov. 1, where Key Club members from Judson Early College Academy and Clemens High School assisted in preparing take-out, delivery and dinein meals. Through November, Kiwanis Club members distributed more than 2,500 children’s books to area elementary schools. The club’s Happy Hearts program on Nov. 27 took one area student – selected monthly from Rose Garden, Schertz and Wiederstein elementary schools – shopping for $150 in clothing and school supplies. Kiwanis members joined the Randolph
Area Christian Assistance Program in sponsoring Christmas shopping for needy children Dec. 13 at the Walmart on FM 3009 in Schertz, with over two dozen children selected by RACAP receiving $100 in gifts. At the same site Dec. 20, both organizations will shop for 10 families. Area high school Key Club members also plan participation in both events. CONVERSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORP. RECEIVED TWO AWARDS for Excellence in Economic Development during the International Economic Development Council’s annual conference in Fort Worth on Oct. 19-22. Converse grabbed gold in Sustainable and Green Development for “Converse Goes Green Day” events held this spring, and bronze for its 2014 project in General Purpose Print Brochure. Both were conferred for communities with populations of fewer than 25,000 residents. “It is a great honor to be recognized by the premier professional organization of economic development,” Converse EDC Executive Director Kate Silvas said. “We are thrilled to receive these recognitions.” OPERATION GRINCH, A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO END CRIME and car burglaries
at The Forum at Olympia Parkway and other high-traffic shopping areas in Live Oak, Selma and Universal City, geared up for its third season during ceremonies at the shopping center on Nov. 25. Representatives from the three police departments and other area officials discussed elements of the program, which will include additional police patrols, onduty and off-duty officers and detectives during holiday shopping. This year’s effort began on Black Friday, Nov. 28, and is scheduled to continue through the New Year’s holidays, with officers from the three communities looking for wrongdoers in the The Forum and Gateway shopping areas, Academy Sports and Outdoors and Costco adjacent to The Forum, plus other popular areas of commerce. LINDA FLEETWOOD, DIRECTOR FOR VISUAL ART in the North East Independent School District, was recently named as the Texas Art Education Association’s 2014 Texas Art Educator of the Year. The award honors significant contributors to the association and to art education on the local and national levels. Fleetwood accepted the honor during the TAEA’s annual conference, held in November in San Antonio.
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Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Homeowners coverage is written through non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Boat and PWC coverages are written through Seaworthy Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and through other non-affiliated insurance companies, and are secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency. Motorcycle and ATV coverages are underwritten by GEICO Indemnity Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. GEICO Gecko image © 1999-2014. © 2014 GEICO.
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TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP WITH US!
DISTRICTS continues from pg. 01
Local control over academics, wealth management preferred by WILL WRIGHT
P
ublic school districts in the Metrocom are pondering how to handle the fiscal and academic consequences that could arise after the Legislature convenes in January.
Registration now open for Spring 2015 ALAMO.EDU/NLC 1201 Kitty Hawk Rd. Universal City, TX 78148 The Alamo Colleges are an EOE. For any special accommodation issues or an alternate format contact the Title IX Coordinator at (210)-485-0200.
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2014. This Information is accurate as of the day of posting, but is subject to change without notice. This is not an offer of extension of credit or a commitment to lend. www.NMLSconsumeraccess.org
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In August, the Texas Education Agency issued report cards to the state’s public school districts, based on data received during the previous school year. Each independent school district in the Metrocom – Judson, Schertz-CiboloUniversal City, Comal, North East and Randolph Field – passed with flying colors. However, recent history has proven that nothing is safe from the actions of state lawmakers. During the 2011 session, legislators cut an estimated $5 billion in funding from all Texas districts, which resulted in a current funding plan declared unconstitutional in August. Though some funding was restored in 2013, more than 600 Texas school districts have since sued the state, claiming the system not only didn’t fairly distribute money, but had rules that kept some districts from raising revenues. In the meantime, administrators from SCUCISD, NEISD and Comal ISD have their worries about what might happen during the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 13. “I suspect they will not take up school finance until the Supreme Court weighs in on the lawsuit,” SCUCISD Superintendent Greg Gibson said. “I
DEC. 16-JAN. 17, 2015 think they will set aside enough money during the session to address what could be the result of that lawsuit, which is making sure that school finance will be more equitable and adequate.” While most area districts are not part of the main lawsuit filed by their financially strapped brethren, each is grappling with how to accommodate and instruct increasing numbers of students in light of House Bill 5. The measure, passed in 2013, substantially changed the state’s curriculum and graduation requirements and assessments, but did not provide funding for districts to carry out the new mandate. New laws have trimmed the number of state-mandated tests students must take, but also establishes curriculum changes that help steer students toward a vocational education or to college. Although area superintendents are optimistic about their HB 5 plans, they remain apprehensive about changes and additional edicts that could arise from the next legislative session. Their districts, just now recovering from the massive budget cuts of the 2011 session, are trying to deal with additional academic and other measures established during the 2013 session. Because the 2013 measures were largely unfunded, administrators are unsure how they will implement the latest state mandates under already strapped budgets. Those include meeting higher Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills requirements and raising the bar for students in English Language Learning programs. They want to have the time – and local control – to set their own schedules and procedures to satisfy the additional challenges. That could have the greatest impact on the area’s faster growing districts.
DISTRICTS continues on pg. 09
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9 DISTRICTS continues from pg. 08 Gibson and NEISD Superintendent Brian Gottardy are two of several members serving on the steering committee of the Fast Growth School Coalition, which has its own legislative agenda. Gibson said his district is focused on two of the coalition’s top three priorities, which are also contained in a similar game plan outlined by the Texas Association of School Administrators. Gibson said restoring the New Instructional Facilities Allotment, which provided funds for each student attending the first two years in a new facility, is paramount. The program, capped at $26 million annually, lost revenue beginning in the 2011-12 school year. A decrease in funding provided through the Existing Debt Allotment program – which also bolsters the ability of fast-growth districts to meet financial needs – has led those districts to find other ways to compensate for shortfalls. That worries SCUCISD, which projects student enrollment to rise by 6 percent over the next five years. “We’re slated to gain 600 additional students each year – a total of 3,000 students,” said Gibson, who estimates it could cost SCUCISD an additional $1 million to $3 million annually to implement HB 5 mandates at the high school level. “We really feel strongly about it. If the state is not fully funding schools with average growth, then they are substantially underfunding schools with fast growth. We need them to be even – and provide additional funding for fast-growth schools. “Our students don’t care whether we’re a fast-growth district or not. They just want to be able to learn what they can learn to be ready for their next stage in life.” The NEISD board is considering other priorities, which include adjusting basic allotments to account for inflation and the need to set guidelines on how districts can raise additional funds to compensate for budget shortfalls. “The current funding system does not fully account for inflationary costs, nor does it enable locally elected school boards to raise sufficient revenue to meet inflationary cost pressures,” said Aubrey Chancellor, an NEISD spokeswoman. “The current formulas do not adequately capture all districts’ costs and increases due to growth and inflation.” Chancellor said the NEISD board favors providing alternate testing options
DISTRICTS continues on pg. 12
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COACH continues from pg. 01
Expanded program sessions to resume in January by ARTHUR SCHECHTER
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AN ANTONIO – After recently helping secure the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four basketball tournament’s much-publicized Alamodome return, San Antonio Sports is basking in the afterglow. Out of the limelight, the nonprofit organization is pursuing a mission considered no less essential – the quest to better youth sports at the grass-roots levels. An SAS program, Coach Ed, instructs volunteer coaches on proper fundamentals and conditioning, while emphasizing role-model responsibility, child-abuse prevention, understanding legal issues and stopping and treating injuries. Andy Seaman, the SAS’ Coach Ed program manager, said the
DEC. 16-JAN. 17, 2015 half-day symposiums are very important to the community. “The NCAA Final Four – all the money generated through that – helps fund Coach Ed,” he said. “Events like the 2018 Final Four bring economic impact to the city of San Antonio. Overall, the premier sporting events that have been brought (in) by San Antonio Sports have delivered more than $460 million.” While Coach Ed has certified more than 85,000 coaches during the past 15 years, including 1,200-plus Spurs Youth Basketball League instructors who attend annually, the course was only reaching audiences of 25 to 30 individuals. San Antonio Sports President & CEO Russ Bookbinder wanted more and said a decision was made to enhance the clinics even before Esquire Network aired the reality television series, “Friday Night Tykes,” which depicted some unsavory tactics employed by area coaches competing in the Texas Youth Football Association. “We would be doing what we’re doing, if that had happened or not happened,” Bookbinder said, adding there was a need to provide “the highest level of training and motivation” to the local coaching fraternity. Previous sessions saw attendance only
by the handfuls, but audiences swelled in August when an inaugural, football-oriented Coach Ed symposium included an expanded curriculum with hundreds participating at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The conference – part classroom lecture, part pep rally – not only contained basic Xs and Os, but also tutorials on topics such as why kids play and quit sports, how to effectively communicate with difficult parents, how to blend winning and losing into life lessons, and promoting and encouraging good sportsmanship. Featured speakers included UTSA football head coach Larry Coker, American Football Coaches Association Executive Director and former Baylor coach Grant Teaff, Texas High School Coaches Association Executive Director and ex-Judson coach D.W. Rutledge, and David Wetzel, head football coach at Reagan High School. “We could deliver a much more impactful program by gathering the coaches in a large group and bringing in top-notch speakers that can have a great influence,” Bookbinder said. “The (attending) coaches … were so motivated to do the right thing after that.” Attendees also received glossy goto guides providing facts, guidance, safety tips and other information.
Bookbinder described the handbook as “an extremely comprehensive youth-sports training manual,” and added, “Education is a critical piece of any vocation that you’re in. If I spend four hours being trained, and I read the material, I’m going to have some checks and balances on my behavior.” Local child therapist Michael Berler, who’s not affiliated with SAS, endorsed the information and communicative skills contained in the curriculum. He said many coaches know how to guide on-field talent, but also must realize players have mental, social and psychological needs. “Eight- and 9-year-olds aren’t little adults; they have to be taught in a way that their brain is capable of digesting,” Berler said. Alamo Heights Little League baseball coach Scott Kohler isn’t a Coach Ed graduate, but the veteran instructor realizes its potential benefit. “It’s probably much needed in the realm of youth sports with all that’s going on (with) some of the bad stories that are out there,” Kohler said. Seaman, who is also a Windcrest Little League baseball instructor, said WLL’s
COACH continues on pg. 11
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KITTY HAWK continues from pg. 01
complete complement of 73 volunteer mentors earned Coach Ed certification. “They took the course in order to improve their knowledge of coaching, in general, as well as the sport,” Seaman said. “How the coaches interacted with the kids before training, and seeing the coaches implement the training we taught them, was a cool deal.” Seaman said interpersonal techniques – especially how instructors communicated with players, parents, umpires and opposing coaches – improved the league. SAS is always seeking to further advance the area’s youth-sports community through its clinics. “We do see a void; we do see a need. There’s a long way to go before we achieve the goals that we would like to achieve,” Bookbinder said. Coach Ed trains and certifies volunteers in football, basketball, baseball and cheerleading programs, with soccer on the horizon. Its next large-scale conference – designed for youth-basketball coaches – is slated for mid-January. Sessions, big or small, cost $25, including materials. For more on Coach Ed seminars, visit a link at the SAS website, www.sanantoniosports.org.
Educator vows to return following surgery by J.E. JORDAN
U
NIVERSAL CITY – On Nov. 21, Kitty Hawk Middle School held a Cancer Awareness Pep Rally. The event, however, possessed a special and more personal meaning to its students, staff and educators – especially sixth-grade English and reading teacher Katherine Martz.
One week short of her 32nd birthday, Martz was diagnosed with a rapidly growing form of breast cancer, which prohibited immediate surgery. She chose to continue teaching while undergoing chemotherapy with surgery delayed until early December. The school’s all-out pep rally was an encouraging send-off. “This was kind of a surprise to me,” said
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Kitty Hawk Middle School teacher Katherine Martz, wearing a bandanna and seated with her husband Matt and son Logan, center, enjoyed activities at the send-off pep rally the school held prior to her surgery. Photo by Rudy B. Ornelas
Martz, who wiped away tears and shared tissues with others seated nearby as the 1,300-student body thundered into the gym. The pupils brought with them the kind of energy only a crowd of adolescents can generate, nearly drowning out the amplified music of “What Faith Can Do” and “I Believe I Can Fly.” Crowding onto bleachers until full, the overflow streamed in to sit cross-legged on the floor. Once chemotherapy treatment ensued,
Martz wore bandannas and scarves. Since Nov. 3, students, or anyone wanting to show support, could purchase bandanas at $2 apiece at lunchtime. Sales totaled $1,000. On pep-rally day, at least momentarily, lunchroom greenbacks were overtaken by another color – gymnasium pink. Students, teachers and administrators alike were decked out in pink T-shirts, with
KITTY HAWK continues on pg. 12
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KITTY HAWK continues from pg. 11 pink bandannas as neckwear or headbands. Some went further with pink sneakers and socks. Amongst the pink sea was Josalyn Medellin, 12, with pink under-eye patches and a frilly pink skirt. The sixth-grader said she was not one of Martz’s students, but “I wish I was. She seems nice. She’s like family.” Breanna Talamantez, 11, one of Martz’s pupils, said, “She’s awesome. She treats us like we’re her own kids.” The pep rally ranged from ceremonious and sincere to solemn and sensational. To open, teachers Nancy O’Donnell, Jennifer Hunt and Amiee Escamilla, with aide Maggie Vincent, sang, “Lean on Me.” History students Noah Zuckerman, Zach Rhoads, Lilly Roelofs and Megan Lehmann led Pledge of Allegiance salutations to the U.S. and Texas flags. Principal Mike McFalls took the microphone and told his students, “You all know you’ve got the best school in the Judson district … and you’ve got the best teachers in the district.” McFalls switched gears in relating how cancer took his father and fatherin-law, as well as his best friend, and “it’s
taking another friend.” He exhorted the students to be courageous and kind. During a touching ceremony, the gym fell silent as Martz and five others lit candles in remembrance of those who succumbed to cancer, and those whose struggles continue. The crowd remained quiet as students brought in banners they made with love – some bearing encouraging slogans including “Flyers (Kitty Hawk’s mascot) are on your side,” “Losing is not an option” and “Fight like a girl.” Cheerleaders performed dance, cheer and acrobatic routines before throwing Kitty Hawk T-shirts into the crowd. Next, teachers formed a flash mob, coming out of the audience to dance to the song, “Let Me Clear My Throat.” Students erupted into wild roars and applause. The gym silenced once again as the Kitty Hawk Middle School Choir sang, “Inscription of Hope,” a poem based on fragments of Jewish text found on a cellar wall in Cologne, Germany, during World War II, believed to have been scrawled by a child hiding from the Nazis. It was set to the music of a Russian folk tune and arranged for a children’s choir by composer Z. Randall Stroope. Finally, band director Lacy Lansford reminded the throng how in the “Mission
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Impossible” movies the heroes always faced seemingly insurmountable challenges, but always persevered, and for those battling cancer, “You are our heroes.” Then, musicians played the film’s theme song. Martz’s husband Matt, 32, and their 7-year-old son, Logan, were by her side throughout. Following the pep rally, as the gym emptied, Martz described herself as an “under-the-radar kind of person,” and not entirely comfortable being the center of attention. Martz said she was disappointed when her original surgery date was postponed because the tumor had grown too large. Thanks to chemo, she is now ready. “I’m anxious – in a good way,” she said. “It will be wrapping things up. I do have radiation afterwards, but the hardest part will be over, and I’ll be back to work after the holidays.” The educator praised the staff, teachers and students for their support, and thanked co-workers who organized drives to provide ready-made food for her and the family when treatments caused incapacitation. Martz said she knows people who stop working while undergoing chemo, but she kept teaching because, for her, “Taking off just wouldn’t be healing.”
DISTRICTS continues from pg. 09 to meet State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness requirements for ELL students whose English language deficiencies make it hard for them to master standards in proficiency. North East prefers to provide English I and II end-of-course exam alternatives for students who begin their U.S. school educations in eighth-grade and beyond. The district’s preferences fall under what’s called “local control” – the need for districts to set their own academic standards, while being given the time – and the funding – to create their own agendas. “We’re all saying the same thing,” Gibson said. “In the last legislative session, they approved HB 5, which outlined the foundation educational program and endorsements. We’re saying we need time to implement those correctly without (legislators) making many or any changes to them. “These are not small items – we’re talking about completely retooling our high schools and that takes years to do. We don’t need them to change as we’re trying to do that.”
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The late Powell M. Smith, a retired Army colonel, founded Alamo Mobility in 1992, said his stepson, Ralph Boles, who is the company’s president. Smith’s widow, Anita, is owner and CEO of the business, with locations at 6473 De Zavala Road in San Antonio and 16262 Interstate 35 North in Selma. “As an automotive dealership, we are specially equipped and trained to provide solutions to the transportation needs of
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AN ANTONIO – Mark Hill, owner of Bayseas Seafood Restaurant, has a mantra.
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