Volume VIII, Issue 2 (February 1, 2023)

Voice THE ongview

FULL STEAM AHEAD

Districtwide technology fair has great turnout

The annual Longview ISD STEAM Fair had a great turnout as students showed off their ingenuity with their science projects. We are so proud of everyone that participated!

STEAM|Continued to page 6

Calendar set for 2023-24

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved the 202324 District Calendar during a special meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023.

Classes will begin Aug. 9, 2023, and end May 24, 2024. Commencement ceremonies are tentatively set for May 17, 2024.

LISD Community Relations conducted a survey to gather feedback from teachers and staff on two proposed district calendars for the 2023-24 school year.

“According to the survey results,

Calendar|Continued to page 19

‘Voice’ scholarship seeks applicants

Applications for the 2023 Voice Scholarship are now available. To download an application please go to LISD.org

The Longview Voice is a district-wide newspaper that covers student, staff, and local community news. The paper is produced by the LISD Community Relations department in partnership

Voice|Continued to page 8

Sharing the good news about Longview Independent School District

The latest LOBO Talks explained the difference between good and bad credit. See Talks on page 4

The train of progress keeps moving forward in Longview.

During National Signing Day, 10 Lobo athletes started the next step of their futures. See sports on page 11

Tickets are on sale for the annual Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. raffle. See foundation on page 14

“Science is magic that works.” ― Kurt Vonnegut

OPINION

The train of progress keeps moving

By Mayor Andy Mack

Dear Lobos, Wow! What a wild past few months it has been. Let me just say in all clarity – GOD IS GOOD! For those of you who know and those who don’t, I had a recent health scare. I suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (a brain bleed) and spent 9 long, lonely days in the Neuro ICU with only 3 hours of visitation allowed a day. Having so much time in isolation gives you a lot of time to reflect. And reflect I did.

It is impossible to explain to you how many texts, emails, cards and letters of encouragement, phone calls, and prayers I received during my recovery. Each and every one was felt and greatly appreciated. But most importantly were the prayers and for me, as a Believer, prayer works. It gives you healing, strength, encouragement, hope, and comfort knowing there is Someone far superior to any of us, who is in absolute control. Miracles take place around us every day. We need to open our eyes and recognize them.

Anyone who has had a health crisis or walked alongside anyone who has had a health crisis knows the feeling of desperation, fear, and concern that accompanies the unknown. Being someone who is usually in control and caring for others – this event definitely got my attention. I am

definitely NOT in control of very much, but lucky for me, I know Who is.

Many blessings often accompany crises, and being given the gift of time through my healing and recovery – allowed me the opportunity to focus on many of those blessings. Over and over again on my “blessing list” appeared “my community” and of course many of you by name.

Through serving as a volunteer the majority of my life with almost 20 of them being in public service, I have gotten to see the good, the bad and the ugly that comes along with the territory. In this particular situation, I must say the good from all of you carried me through – and continues to even today – 30+ days post brain bleed.

It can be said that you are only as strong as those you surround yourself with. And boy did you guys lift me up. Both spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Your gifts of kindness, compassion, prayer, love, understanding ,and empathy are something I will never forget. They have also served as examples for me and for the people closest to me in my life of how we should all treat others. When one of us hurts, all of us hurt and it is the duty of the strong to carry those less strong through the rough

waters. That’s what you all did for me and I am so grateful.

Moving forward with restored health, I also move forward with restored hope in our community and the future generations coming behind us. Of course, I always knew how awesome y’all are – why else would I choose to make Longview my home for 6 decades? But going through a crisis like this was particularly encouraging to me in humanity and that people are good and want to see others do good, too.

I am one of the lucky ones. No, never mind. There is no such thing as luck. I am one of the blessed ones that lived through this even when others with the same condition do not. I am fully recovered. I never had any mental, physical, or cognitive deficits, by the grace of God. I am back at work full-time and looking forward to what lies ahead.

As I mentioned to you before, the number of people who reached out to me for encouragement far outnumbered the votes I received to be elected the Mayor of Longview. This shows me just how much Longview cares. A recurring theme through all of your encouragement was “We need you back doing the Mayor thing”. This brought me to a re-

alization of why I did this in the first place. As I look back, I ran on a platform of progress for our community. My goal as Mayor was and has been to improve quality of life in Longview, show others how great Longview is to bring others to Longview and to find a way to get our young people to come home after they go off to college to get their education.

I think we have done this over the past 7.5 years. But it reminds me I still have 18 months in my last term. Trust me, I am not going to sit back and let these last 18 months just pass by. I am going to do exactly what you elected me to do and what you have encouraged me to do through your communication with me.

The Longview train of progress is going to move forward at a high rate of speed over the next 18 months. Won’t you jump on board and take this ride with me? Because we are #onelongview and that’s who we are.

God bless you all and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Study hard, have some fun, and say your prayers – and GO LOBOS!

A closer look at this month’s issue of the Voice...

By Matthew Prosser

This newspaper you’re holding is the collective work of the LISD Community Relations department, our campus representatives, students, and staff. I hope you enjoy all the photos and articles, especially a few that I would like to point out specifically...

• “College in a bottle,” (Page 4) takes you on a journey with Longview High School senior Luke Farr as he attends a prestigious academic camp for future Pre-Med students at Stephen F. Austin University. It was thrilling to see read

about this amazing young man’s adventures and makes me excited for what a wonderful future lays out before him. Each year I marvel at the vast and diverse talent of our graduating seniors. Luke’s story is just the latest in a long history of LHS grads going out and changing our world for the better.

• “Lobo grad receives national FFA honor,” (Page 7) another example of my previous point is shown in the recent post-graduate accomplishments of Mr. Carter Mayes (LHS

‘22). Having watched Carter and his family live through heartbreaking tragedy to not just survive but to thrive has been personally inspiring. Reading about his national FFA achievement as well as his success as a collegiate fisherman proves the mettle of this excellent young man.

Of course, you’ve probably already read the front-page articles on our students participating in the annual district STEAM Fair, as well as the new calendar for 2023-24, and

how students can apply for a scholarship for this very newspaper! But these are a few of the excellent stories we’ve got in the rest of this edition of The Longview Voice. I hope you’ll give it a close reading, and let us know what you think!

We’re always on the lookout for interesting stories about the many amazing students, employees, and families of our community. So drop us a line if there’s something you’d like to read more about. You can email me at ask@LISD.org or call 903-381-2200.

— Dr. Andy Mack is a 1978 graduate of Longview High School. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon for more than 25 years, he is owner-operator of East Texas Oral and Maxxillofacial Surgery in Longview.

— An award-winning journalist and photographer, Matthew Prosser is Communications Director for Longview Independent School District.

PROSSER

INCASE U MISSED T I YO

Baseball Signup open

Baseball sign ups have started and continue until February 18th. In person registration will be February 4th at the Greggton Community Center. Registration is $100 and LBBA will now offer a multi-player discount. Players must be between the ages 4-14 (as of May 1st) in order to be eligible to participate. Register online at LongviewBoysBaseball.org.

FREE Kids’ Fishing Derby

The City of Longview Parks and Rec department is hosting a FREE kids’ fishing derby on Saturday, February 18 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Teague Park Pond. Children ages 3-16 years old are welcome to participate. Fishing poles and bait will be available for use. For more information, please call 903-237-1270.

Spring Break Sports Camp

Mega Sports camp will host its first Spring Break sports camp. Thank you to Thrive Longview, area school districts, and First Baptist Church of Longview for putting this campus together. Sessions will be at Thrive (600 W Garfield Drive 75602) and will focus on physical activities.

Campers will rotate 1st-6th graders in groups of 12 to practice a daily sport, rec activity, bible story, and play.

Camp fee is $1. To register your student: subspla.sh/4jbv4wp/. If you would like to volunteer at the camp, please reach out to Katie Yoder (kyoder@ fbcl.org). Online registration will close March 4.

Camp schedule as follows:

Monday: soccer

Tuesday: basketball

Wednesday: kickball

Thursday: volleyball

Friday: SURPRISE

Did we miss your district news?

Did we miss district campus or organization news? Send us the pertinent information to ask@LISD.org and we’ll include it in our next issue!

julie woods & associates real estate firm

College in a bottle

LHS senior talks about time at SFA pre-med camp

By Luke Farr

This past July, I had an amazing opportunity to attend the Joint Admission Medical Program PreMed Camp at Stephen F. Austin State University, a six day camp that included three classes, professor lectures, labs, shadowing opportunities, volunteering, and time in the recreation center. In the process of packing and preparing for this camp, I realized it was my first time to be completely separated from my family and home. Once we arrived, the reality set in that I would be left with total strangers for six days; however, looking back, I realize that the experience was beyond what I could have possibly expected.

On the first day of camp, we began with a packed schedule until 10 o’clock that night. I quickly learned to expect my day to last from 7 AM to at least 11 PM. There were twenty-two campers, including myself, who came from all parts of Texas, ran-

ging from fifteen minutes to six hours away. We attended daily lectures from professors in chemistry, biology, and statistics, and, of course, completed daily assignments that followed. At the end of the week, we faced final exams in each of the classes. Also, I par-

ticipated in three labs throughout the week: conducting enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing, dissecting a pig’s heart, and suturing an open wound model.

Luke|Continued to page 8

LOBO Talks presents good, bad credit

By Dr. Joycelyne Fadojutimi Infinitie Plus Magazine

The recent LOBO TALK featured Jill Alley, Eastman Credit Union Regional D irector.

She spoke on an especially important financial topic – CREDIT. She started out by defining credit. According to Ms. Alley, credit is your credit history or how you use money.

She gave these examples:

1. How many credit cards do you have?

2. How many loans do you have?

3. Do you pay your bills on time?

Alley said, “How you handle your money and how you pay your bills, help lenders and others decide if they want to do business with you.” Hence, if you pay your bills timely, lenders are more apt to do business with you. Another financial plus of timely payments is the interest rate you get when borrowing money for any purchase.

Secondly, she explained to students who uses credit history. They are as follows:

1. Lending institutions such as banks and credit unions.

2. Some employers especially financial industries.

3. Landlords and insurance companies. Furthermore, she delved into credit report. According to Alley, credit report is a person’s credit history. There are 3 credit bureaus that collect credit information. They are TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian. Furthermore, she explained to students what a credit score is. It is a number between 300-850 based on one’s credit report. A larger number on the credit score rewards the person with borrowing power and lower interest rates. Conversely, a lower credit score penalizes a borrower. They will have to borrow with high interest rates because the person is deemed high risk. Students participated asking various questions about borrowing and credit.

Talks|Continued to page 19

FARR

CHARTERS

Stacie Wheeler teaches the importance of history

Meet Stacie Wheeler , IB Diploma Programme history teacher at Longview High School. Mrs. Wheeler teaches juniors the History of the Americas, a course in which students “do comparative studies of the US and other American states.” For example, she says, “When we study the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and World War II, they complete a comparative analysis of the impact of that event on the US and Canada or Mexico or another selected nation.” As seniors, students take History of World Topics, “which is basically “the history of the world through war [in the 20th century],” including World War I, the Spanish Civil War, the rise of fascist governments in Germany, Italy, and Japan, the Cold War, and ending with the Vietnam War. The

course doesn’t include World War II because “it’s just too much and IB doesn’t require it.” In both classes, Mrs. Wheeler covers US government and economics in such depth that students receive credit for those two typically senior-level courses.

Early in the school year, Mrs. Wheeler tells her students that “history is hard; it’s a lot... and if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.” She regularly embeds memes and funny pictures in her lessons. On Mondays, they have “Monday

Punday,” and on Tuesdays, they have “Terrible Joke Tuesdays.” Since her students are on an A-Day/B-Day schedule, they can count on “having a joke the first day of the week.” On occasion, they depart from serious study to “have a good time,” like decorate cookies with the face of an historical figure (if they so choose). She also shares cocoa, tea, and chocolate with them.

Of the IB Learner Profile Traits, Mrs. Wheeler values inquirer the most because, “If you don’t ask ‘why,’ history is dead. As long as we’re coming up with new answers to questions, then history is still alive and evolving.” Inquirer also applies as students do research; they must learn how to discern valid sources. She says, “History is built on

Bryan Warren helps his students understand how they learn

Meet Bryan Warren , 5th grade science teacher and UIL Chess Puzzles Coach at J. L. Everhart Elementary School. Mr. Warren, who has been teaching for seventeen years, many of them at the fully authorized IB Everhart campus, begins the year with Essential Agreements. Before dividing the class into small groups, he familiarizes students with the ten IB Learner Profile traits, then he assigns each group 3 traits and asks them to fashion 4-5 Essential Agreements from the perspective of a teacher. Students design these statements to tell how they will behave in class

WARREN

using these 3 traits; for example, “I will not make fun of others,” or “I will treat others with respect.” Each group then presents their Essential Agreements to the class and the class must guess which Learner Profile Trait is exemplified by each statement: for example, “Caring.” This student-driven activity starts the year off on a positive note along with an individual self-portrait in which each student tells how he or she can practice the IB Learner Profile traits.

After these “kick-off” activities, Mr. Warren “dives into” exploring with students

Ag students represent at SFA

A few of our Lobo ag students were selected as Stephen F. Austin Ag Scholars. On Monday, Jan. 31, students traveled to campus and spent time learning about college life and learning about the application process. There were only 15 students chosen and Longview ag students earned 6 of those spots. All of these students are applying for college and plan to

pursue a degree in Agriculture. Please help us congratulate:

• Tanea Laury

• Aniah Stansell

• Emily Morin

• Mollie (Matts) Burton

• Inesha Combs (not pictured)

• Maya Legarda-Vargas (not pictured) Amazing job, everyone!

how they learn, or the various Approaches to Learning, such as researching, collaboration, thinking (analysis,

creativity, transfer), and communication skills, which

WHEELER

Wheeler|Continued to page 7

Warren|Continued to page 8

IB leads to front of the line

By Christy Triece Guest Writer

Full-ride scholarships to Ivy League schools were recently awarded to three Longview High School International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme seniors. As a result of their exceptional academic efforts in the rigorous IB program, Zoe Hightower, Carolina Rodriguez, and Martin Guerrero will receive endowments including tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and some travel expenses to Columbia, Notre Dame, and Duke Universities respectively. These three students are shining examples of what impresses college admissions and scholarship officers, and their fellow IB classmates are also at great advantage when applying for admission and scholarships at four year universities. IB participation puts students at the front of the application line because universities recognize the program’s academic rigor and excellent college preparation.

Many qualities of the IB program make high school seniors

STEAM |Continued from page 1

TOP 10

attractive to colleges as prospective students. The Diploma Programme “is a whole program which includes six college level advanced courses taken across two years,” says Margaret Davis, CEO of Texas Council of International Studies, the charter organization for several LISD schools including Longview High School. “Students can’t pick and choose subjects that are easier for them; for example a student who’s strong in math still must take a college level English class. Also, schools have to be authorized by IB to be able to provide the program. Schools can’t just offer the class [like AP or Dual Credit], teachers are required to be trained, and the school must be reauthorized every five years.” According to Mrs. Davis, these standards “are quality control, and all of these quality control components provide the whole school with the ability to prepare students

5th Grade: Bristol Dowdy and Ava Swetnam, 1st place; Andrew Lundy, 2nd place; Joseph Kaan, 3rd place; Andrew Odindi, 4th place; Christy Flores, Kemberly Rocha, and Mia Saucedo, 5th place; Kayden Gabriel, 6th place; Tamya Brown, 7th place; Cera Dykes, Alexas Dehart, and Natalie Kilpatrick, 8th place; Isabel

for university.” College admissions officers know that IB graduates “will come to them well prepared and will persist in college.”

In a parent brochure and on their website, IB states that “DP students in the US who enrolled in post-secondary education immediately after high school enrolled in and graduated from four-year institutions at much higher rates than the national average enrollment at four-year institutions (public and private).” Specifically, “95% of DP [Diploma Programme] cohort versus 60% national cohort for enrollment at four-year institutions, and 79% of DP cohort versus 39% of national cohort for graduation rates. (ibo.org).

Locally, Kay Ray, Scholarship Coordinator at Longview High School, points out the benefits of IB, saying that it improves students’ GPA and class rank, thus improving

Bailey, 9th place; Maria Garay and Jason Ramirez, 10th place

Jr. Division: Keshav Vattikuti, 1st place; Reya Srivastava, 2nd place; Amelia Beebe, 3rd place; Zayden Hawkins and Beckham Warren, 4th place; Taryn Morris, 5th place; Henry Mekala, Kaden Starling, and Ram Undavalli, 6th place; Cameron Black, Ruthie Black, 7th place;

their chances of ranking in the top 10% and therefore gaining automatic admission to Texas public institutions (with the exception of UT Austin which requires ranking in the top 6%). Some students aspire to being ranked in the top 2% or becoming valedictorian or salutatorian; their chances are also increased by participation in the IB program. Because IB classes are considered the most academically rigorous classes at LHS, they are weighted more heavily than AP or dual credit classes. In addition, Mrs. Ray says that “IB improves chances for admissions to highly selective universities such as Harvard, Rice, Stanford, Princeton, Brown, Yale, and Pepperdine,” along with pretigious Texas

IB|Continued to page 19

Research Shrestha, 8th place; Que Craig and Isaac Thomas, 9th place; Jamauri Harris, Kennard Lilly, and Addison McGee, 10th place

Sr. Division: Jessica Hernandez, 1st place; Sam Avaltroni, 2nd place; Sydney Hudman, 3rd place; Ryan Hull, 4th place; Kelvona Shephard and Jenetta Carter, 5th place

Trustees OK new ‘sensory’ playground

Coming at a cost of up to $76,000 total for all six campuses, funding for the purchase will come from IDEA-B Formula-ARP grant monies.

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved the purchase of sensory-friendly playground equipment for Bailey, Bramlette, J.L. Everhart, Johnston-McQueen, Ned E. Williams, and Ware elementary schools, during their regular meeting Monday, January 9th.

Mrs. Cindy Verhalen, LISD Director of Special Pro-

grams, said the district’s elementary campuses “lack appropriate equipment for students with significant disabilities and those with Autism.”

“Sensory play and sensory

playground equipment allows for accessibility for children of all ages and abilities,” she said. “Specialized equipment fosters the development of real-life skills through interactive play.

Sensory playground equipment helps children develop problem-solving skills, express emotion, promotes empathy, and engenders lasting confidence.”

Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox said this is part of the district’s ongoing priority to “meet our children where they are, in providing the most beneficial educational experience for all the young people in our care.”

Please go to LISD.org to download the resolution and related documentation.

Lobo grad receives national FFA honor

During the January regular board meeting, the board and administration recognized 2021 Longview High School graduate Mr. Cooper Mayes for receiving the American FFA Degree from the national organization for outstanding achievement in agriculture business, production, processing, or service programs.

Mr. Gary Krueger , Executive Director of Longview Educates and Prospers (LEAP), said the American FFA Degree is awarded to members “who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their

supervised agricultural experiences.”

“This accomplishment is a testament to this young man and his family’s belief in bet -

tering goodwill to man and society, and also his agriculture teachers for promoting Agriculture Education,” he said.

bers last year, less than 1 percent of members attain this level of achievement.”

One of the organization’s highest honors, the American FFA Degree is awarded at the National FFA Convention & Expo each year.

Eligible members must have earned and productively invested $10,000 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own, or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise.

Recipients must also complete 50 hours of community

WHEELER |Continued from page 5

classes, students are currently working on a scrapbook of the Great Depression. Each student researches one year of the Great Depression and is provided with two pages for the class scrapbook in which to display newspaper headlines, artifacts, a timeline, and authentic photographs with an explanation of what each image shows about life during the Great Depression.

“Of the 850,000 FFA mem -

word essay counting 20% of their final grade, moderated by the IB.

LISD is fortunate to have IB Diploma Programme teachers of Stacie Wheeler’s caliber, whose expertise and dedication to excellence, well prepare her students for university and beyond.

Board|Continued to page 17 sources,” and in order to help students determine the reliability of sources, she gives them an exercise in which the students themselves come up with measurement tools for evaluating sources, such as “is the source objective, balanced in its argument, complete, accurate, honest, and can it be corroborated by other sources?” to name a few student-generated criteria. Among the variety of sources they encounter are political cartoons and speeches.

Because the IB exams are comprised completely of written responses, students write essays for their major grades in her class, resulting in consistently excellent scores on IB exams come May of their senior year. Students also complete one project per semester, and in her junior

Once completed, students give a presentation of their pages, telling what they learned about how the Great Depression affected peoples’ lives then. In her senior World Topics class, from September through May, students research a world event, such as the collapse of the Soviet Union or the violations of neutrality before Pearl Harbor, which will result in a 2,200

Longview Gaming & Esports

VERHALEN

WILCOX

Group of Lobos graduate, head to next step in life

The Longview Early Graduation High School celebrated their January class of 2023 Thursday night, Jan. 26, in an inspirational ceremony. Congratulations graduates! Lobo Nation is so proud of you and all your hard work!

Aside from my classes and lectures, we had the opportunity to shadow at two different doctors’ offices according to our areas of interest. On Tuesday, I visited Dr. Vyas’s clinic where she specializes in internal medicine. Then, on Thursday, I visited Dr. Kelly Moon ’s family medicine clinic. Dr. Moon was very friendly, and her compassion for her patients was apparent. On Wednesday, we traveled to Stephen F. Austin’s nursing facility where we learned how to give shots, manually take blood pressures, and care for wounds. Also, we learned and witnessed the process of agglutination with synthetic blood types.

Through the countless activities and detailed procedures, the staff and counselors involved with our group did a spectacular job incorporating fun events and tasty treats. They provided snacks between class lectures and took us ziplining at the university’s ropes course. Since the counselors were current or upcoming graduates, they were great resources for advice and recommendations about college. On the final day, we visited Hope, a local food

pantry in Nacogdoches, where we volunteered by cleaning, mopping, and moving furniture. After we returned to campus, the SFA staff hosted a lovely luncheon and awards ceremony. I was honored to receive the Outstanding Biology Student Award for the highest overall scorer in that class.

During a week full of new experiences and new people, people who were strangers at first quickly became friends and life-long connections. I learned about the value of time management, college and dorm life, and the opportunities in college that await me. I am thankful for the unforgettable experiences I had this past summer as I was enlightened about college life and the medical career in such a short period of time. Most of all, I would like to show my appreciation to Mrs. Ray who works beyond the expectations to help the students of Longview High School reach and achieve their goals. If it were not for her time and communication with the students, I would have never learned of this incredible SFA camp opportunity.

with the Thrifty Nickel, as well as campus staff and volunteers.

Each year the Community Relations department selects a Longview High School senior student who contributes work to The Longview Voice for a scholarship to the school of their choice.

To qualify a student must submit a news article, op-ed column, or photo to be published in any edition of The Longview Voice newspaper, and fill out an application by April 7 to be considered.

PAST WINNERS

• 2016 — Estrella Gonzales, Keyarro Hollins, Uwa Ihionkhan

• 2017 — Yosef Ibitayo, Gaylon Wiley

• 2018 — German Zelaya, Jose Velazquez, Michael Vera

• 2019 — Alyssa Shobert, Brady Miller, Payton Schaap

• 2020 — Jesse Gonzalez, Emily Mendenhall

• 2021 — Audrey Smith

• 2022 — Joshua Sanders, Adriana Corona

• 2023 — It could be YOU!

For more information please contact the Community Relations department via email at ask@ LISD.org or call 903-381-2235

they will need throughout 5th grade, beginning with their Science Fair Projects, now completely digital. At this time in class, students are “right in the middle” of working on these projects along with conducting experiments and reflecting on their outcomes. In particular, students must transfer what they saw during the process of an experiment to a written record of it in their reflective journals—not a simple task, and one that requires much practice.

Students will soon explore “How the World Works,” a transdisciplinary unit in which they study the solar system and ecosystems, among other things. Because IB fosters inquiry-based learning, in this unit students will seek to discover “How do human

choices transform the environment?” Pairing with the social studies teacher, Mr. Warren encourages students to ask “burning questions” like “How did the Civil War [social studies] affect change in the ecosystem [science] where soldiers fought?” They not only explore historical human choices that have transformed the environment, but also consider the current transformation of places in Longview where “trees have been cut down for the building of apartments” resulting in loss of habitat for birds and animals of the local forest ecosystem.

Kudos to Bryan Warren and his fellow 5th grade teachers for their dedication and creative ways of implementing IB principles and practices in their 5th Grade classrooms

A part of your past. A partner for your future.

Southside has provided the people and businesses of Texas exceptional service since 1960. Let’s grow together.

— Luke Farr is a senior at Longview High School.

LUKE |Continued from page 4

WARREN |Continued from page 5

AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM

HOME INTERNET ACCESS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERY STUDENT'S SUCCESS.

HOME INTERNET ACCESS IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERY STUDENT'S SUCCESS.

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with up to a $30 discount off their monthly internet bill or anACP Free Internet Package.

The Affordable Connectivity Program provides eligible households with up to a $30 discount off monthly internet bill or anACP Free Internet Package.

You may qualify if your student receives free or reduced school lunch or breakfast!

You may qualify if your student receives free or reduced school lunch or breakfast!

Does your student participate in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision?

Does your student participate in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision?

If the answer is Yes, your household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

If the answer is Yes, your household is eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

You may also qualify if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or a member of the household participates in certain federal assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or WIC, or Tribal assistance programs.

You may also qualify if the household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines member of the household participates in certain federal assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or WIC, or Tribal assistance programs.

1 2

Two Steps to Enroll

Go to AffordableConnectivity.gov to submit an application or print a mail-in application. Contact Cablelynx Broadband to select an eligible plan and have the discount applied bill.

Eligible households must both apply for the ACP program and contact Cablelynx at the number below.

Call 501-500-1168

Call 501-500-1168

Visit A ordableConnectivity.gov

Visit A ordableConnectivity.gov

LHS athletes sign to colleges during ceremony TO THE NEXT LEVEL... SPORTS

Lobo Athletics had 10 student athletes that signed to play at the collegiate level during National Signing day on Wednesday.

Congratulations to these amazing athletes! Lobo Nation is so proud of you!

Thank you Peters, the official sponsor of Lobo football!

• Jordan Allen (Football) — Henderson State University

• Michael Fields (Football) — Howard Payne University

• Kaden Brooks (Football) — University of Arkansas-Monticello

• Fredirick Hawkins (Football) — North American University

• Omarian Watkins (Football) — Texas College

Hoopsters bounce back from close loss

The Lobo basketball season is off to a strong start. At the time of writing, Feb. 7, both boys and girls are 7-3 in district.

BOYS

The Varsity boys basketball team is kicked off district play against Marshall and cut it close with 51-48, but then came up short in the following game against Whitehouse, 4942.

They would follow this up with a strong win against Texas High, 65-49, but then a loss against No. 1 ranked undefeated Mount Pleasant, 52-40. They then went on a series of strong wins, except for a tense win against Hallsville, 59-55, in overtime.

Their latest match was a close loss against Texas High

Start|Continued to page 12

• Laquavean Jackson (Football) — North American University

• Jakayla Morrow (Volleyball) — Panola College

• Brayleigh Mitchell (Volleyball/Track) — Wiley College

• Amirah Alexander (Volleyball) — Rock Valley College

• Jeremiah Rougely (Football) — Lamar University

Soccer teams continue success in district play

The season of soccer has begun, and the Lobos are off to a great start!

BOYS

The Varsity boys soccer team is 9-3 for the year, with 3-0 for district, 9-3 overall. They started the district games with a close matchup against Tyler, 2-1, but blew away the competition after that, facing Hallsville, 4-0, then Texas High, 7-0.

GIRLS

The Varsity girls have tasted defeat, but are still going strong overall. Their first district game was against Tyler, whom they demolished with a 3-0 score. After that, they faced Hallsville on Friday, Feb. 3, and lost in a close game, 1-0. They quickly redeemed themselves though as the next day they soundly defeated Texas High, 3-0. Awesome job, everyone! Keep going strong!

Lobo swim goes the distance at Texas High

Lobo Swim attended the district meet at Texas High!

Congratulations to all our swimmers! You are doing the Lobo Nation proud!

Girls 50 Yard Freestyle —

Gracie Ponder , 1st place

Girls 100 Yard Butterfly —

Riley Gonzalez , 1st place

Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay

— 2nd place

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle

Relay — 2nd place

Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke

— Riley Gonzalez, 2nd place

Girls 400 Yard Freestyle

Relay — 2nd place

Girls 100 Yard Freestyle —

Ximena Torres , 3rd place

Girls 100 Yard Backstroke

— Ximena Torres, 3rd place

Girls 200 Yard Freestyle —

Zareth Almonte , 6th place

Girls 100 Yard Butterfly —

Aurora Egbe, 6th place

Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke

— Sarah McDaniel , 6th place

Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke

— Aurora Egbe , 7th place

Girls 50 Yard Freestyle —

Paola Colon-Antommarchi , 7th place

Girls 100 Yard Freestyle —

Sarah McDaniel , 7th place

Girls 100 Yard Backstroke — Zareth Almonte, 10th place

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle

Relay — 3rd place

Boys 200 Yard IM — Noah

Bradley , 4th place

Boys 200 Yard medley Relay — 4th place

Boys 400 Yard Freestyle

Relay — 4th place

Boys 100 Yard Butterfly — Lono Wacasey , 4th place

Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke

— Jason Hubbard , 6th place

Boys 200 Yard Freestyle — Andrew Dean , 7th place

Boys 50 Yard Freestyle— Jason Hubbard , 8th place

Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke

— Gabriel Foster, 8th place

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle, Diego Garcia , 9th place

Boys 100 Yard Backstroke

—Noah Bradley, 9th place

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle —

JaiAyrus Bowens , 10th place

Viewettes make it big at Hollywood

At the end of January, the Viewettes went to Florida and took a class with Disney Entertainment staff. Then they went on to be superstars at Hollywood Studios! Awesome job, ladies!

Varsity tennis serves up some wins

The Lobo Varsity tennis team competed in the Rock wall tournament on Friday 1/27 and did a great job!

Congrats to:

First place boys A dou bles — Erick Van Zyl

Luke Archer; First place mixed B doubles —

Hough/Gabbi Nguyen

Second place Mixed B doubles — Phoebe Payne

Nate Roberts

START |Continued from page 11

once again, 56-53.

GIRLS

The Varsity girls team started off stronger as they defeated Marshall for their district opening game with a 10 point lead, 44-33. They would go on to win their next two games, Whitehouse, 4730, and Texas High, 38-36, before they ran into trouble and lost two games in a row.

They lost to Mount Pleasant, 39-38, which was followed

up by a loss to Tyler. They would then go on a 4 win streak, and their closest game requiring overtime again Marshall, 66-62.

Standouts named to Padilla All-State Team

Several Lobos were named to the Padilla Poll coaches 2022 5A D-1 All-State Team! All 5 were 1st Team!

Congratulations to Taylor Tatum, Jalen Hale, Jax Norman, Billy Smith and Ta’Darion Boone

LOBO BASEBALL 2023 SCHEDULE

LOBO SOFTBALL 2023 SCHEDULE

FOUNDATION

William C. Keese donates $10,000

By Kay Ray Executive Director

Bill Keese, Longview High School Class of 1970, has generously donated $10,000 to the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. in memory of fellow classmates Sam Satterwhite and Jim Mobley. With this donation, Mr. Keese not only honors his late classmates, but he also supports today’s students and educators. Today’s students will receive the educational benefits Mr. Keese did during his years in LISD, and today’s educators will receive the same community support his teachers did.

This overwhelmingly generous donation has been designated for the Foundation’s best use; therefore, the Foundation board will use $5,000 of the donation to fund its three grant

programs: the Great Rewards for Great Ideas Grant Program, the Campus Initiative Grant Program, and the John W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Grant Program. These three grant programs maximize the current academic programs of the Longview Independent School District, providing all students with enhanced learning opportunities above and beyond what the district offers.

To date, the Foundation has funded 770 grants through the Great Rewards for Great Ideas Grant Program, returning $827,092.75 to Longview ISD teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses so that they can provide the best education possible for their students. These grants have funded programs

and projects for students of all ability levels and in a variety of disciplines. In addition to strengthening academics, the grants have also funded projects in music, art, technology, character education, health and physical education, guidance and counseling, and STEAM education. Each day students in LISD benefit from the assistance the Foundation has provided their teachers so that they can expand the students’ educational opportunities.

In September 2007, the Longview ISD Foundation further enhanced education in Longview ISD by beginning a new grant program, the Campus Initiative Grant. To date, the Longview ISD Foundation has funded fifty Campus Ini-

tiative Grants for a total of $152,625.68. The Foundation believes that this grant program, targeting overall campus improvement, complements the Foundation’s annual Great Rewards for Great Ideas Program.

In 2019, the Foundation began the John W. Harrison, Jr. Academic Field Trip Grant to honor the late John W. Harrison, Jr., longtime LISD school board member and dedicated financial supporter of the Foundation, with funding for $7,000 for fourth and fifth grade and middle school students. The Foundation has now funded fourteen academic field trip grants for a total of $61,733.74 to give students hands-on, real-world learning experiences that cannot be replicated in the classroom.

Keese|Continued to page 16

Annual Foundation raffle tickets on sale

By Kay Ray Executive Director

Each year, the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. holds a raffle in conjunction with its Lamplighter Awards banquet.

Tickets are one (1) for $5.00 or three (3) for $10.00. When buying a ticket, one can check the item he or she hopes to win, spreading tickets among the items or putting all tickets on one item.

The Foundation will hold four separate drawings on Thursday, April 14, 2023, at 6:30 PM at the 23rd annual Lamplighter Awards Banquet at Pinecrest Country Club. Winners need not be present to win.

Information about the raffle and pictures of the items are also on the Foundation’s website at www.lisdfoundation.org.

To purchase raffle tickets,

contact Kay Ray, Foundation director, at 903-4527015 or gray@ LISD.org or purchase from any Foundation board member. Raffle tickets are also available for purchase from Kacy Swaim in the Longview ISD Community Relations Department at the LISD Education Support Center, 1301 E. Young Street, and at Henry and Moore Jewelry in the shopping center adjacent to Hobby Lobby on Loop 281.

To purchase raffle tickets, buyers may also text Kay Ray or email her exactly which items to check on their raffle tickets and then pay by Venmo at Gloria Kay Ray@longviewisdfoundation or Kay Ray@ besmart1, both of which will legally and securely transfer money to the Foundation’s checking account.

The 2023 Lamplighter Awards Raffle items are:

• Shimmering 4 mm 14K yellow gold and sterling ladies’ Vahan bracelet (the newest open style design)

with .09 ct diamonds (total weight). Donated by Henry and Moore Jewelry Retail value: $1,750.00

• DINE ACROSS LONGVIEW GIFT CARD BASKET ~ $25 gift cards to Longview’s favorite eateries plus a four-course luncheon for ten in the Lobo Bistro prepared by the culinary arts instructors and students. Retail value: $800.00

• Enjoy the Outdoors!

*Custom, fully lined, rolling drink cooler handcrafted from an original whiskey barrel, measuring 28” by 38” from BlackHawk Wood Designs. Retail value: $400 *Custom 36” X 36” square fire pit with

Rocking L cutouts with removable 12”x 32” cooking surface. Constructed and donated by LHS Welding I and dual credit students. Retail value: $400 (These items were given to the Foundation because the winner, by the luck of the draw, won two raffle items in 2022 and graciously declined accepting the two items. Now another lucky winner has a chance to win these great items!)

• 2023 Trek Marlin 6 Mountain Bike. Winner can select size XS to XXL and color (red, black, or orange). Includes complimentary bike fit and 6 month tune-up. Donated by Woolley G’s Bike and Fitness. Retail value: $1,000.00

OBITUARIES

Longview ISD offers our most sincere condolences to our extended Lobo family

Jennifer Breedlove Scott

Jennifer Breedlove Scott passed away on December 28, 2022 while visiting her daughter and family in Littleton, Colorado. She was born on September 1, 1950 in Tyler, Texas, and her family moved to Houston in 1951 to open Breedlove Nurseries.

After graduating from Westbury High School in Houston, Jennifer attended the University of Texas in Austin where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She married John Owen Scott and moved to Victoria, TX. Jennifer later went on to receive her Master of Arts degree and her Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

After moving to Victoria, TX, Jennifer was dedicated to community service and raising her daughter, Sarah Scott Sicotte. Jennifer served as President of the Junior League of Victoria, President of the Symphony Orchestra of Victoria, along with membership and leadership positions in philanthropic organizations in Victoria.

After receiving her PhD, Jennifer moved to Longview, TX where she was the Assistant Superintendent for Administrative & Pupil Services for Longview Independent School District. Following retirement, Jennifer continued in her involvement with the non-profit organizations and boards in Longview. Among Jennifer’s passions were art, history, gardening, travel, and most of all spending time with her two grand-

KEESE |Continued from page 14

The Foundation board will also use $5,000 to fund scholarships for Longview High School seniors. Through the Lobo Memorial Scholarship Fund within the Foundation, Longview High School seniors enjoy annual one-thousand dollar scholarships. To date, the Foundation has awarded $187,000 in scholarships, thus helping academically talented students and students with financial need complete a post-secondary education. Scholarship

children, Cecilia and Benjamin in Denver, Colorado.

Jennifer was preceded in death by her parents Jesse Breedlove, Jr and Virginia Hardee Breedlove; her ex-husband, John Owen Scott; siblings Cathy Jill VanderHee, Jesse Davis Breedlove III and wife LaDonna; and nephew Andrew Breedlove.

She is survived by her daughter Sarah Scott Sicotte and grandchildren Cecilia Jane Sicotte, Benjamin Roger Sicotte, and step-grandson Tyler Cecil Sicotte of Littleton, CO; her sister Judith (Judy) Jackson of Galveston, and brother Jefferson (Jeff) Breedlove of Kingsland, TX; Goddaughter and niece Amy Garcia, husband Michael and son David; niece Kimberly and wife Vicki; nephew Clay, wife Lauri, and daughter Karen; and nephew Brian Breedlove.

Jennifer is also survived by uncle Richard (Brooks) Hardee of Flint, TX and Aunt Rita Lynne Breedlove of Lindale, TX as well as numerous other family members and friends.

Visitation services will be held Friday, January 27, 2023 from 5-7 pm at Rader funeral home in Longview, TX. The funeral services will be at the Rader Funeral Home Chapel Saturday, January 28th at 10 am. Burial will immediately follow at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery in Chandler, Texas.

Jacklyn Roach

Services were for Jacklyn (Jackie) Morgan Roach of Longview, whom God sent to earth on October 15, 1932 and received back into His presence on January 11. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Services were held at Rader Funeral Home on Tuesday, Jan. 17, with visitation at 11 am, services at non and gravesite service following at Grace Hill Cemetery with the Dr. Tim Watson officiating.

Jackie was born to Harry and Johnnye Morgan in Longview. Her parents, husband Edward (Ed) N. Roach, and sisters Carala and Johnnye preceded her in death.

She is survived by her son Samuel (Sam), her daughter-in-law Kim and her children Meagan and Zachary, and several nieces and nephews.

She was a 1949 graduate of Longview High School and graduated from Tyler Junior College in 1951 where she was a member of the Apache Belles.

Jackie accepted Jesus as her Savior in Vacation Bible School while at First Baptist Church, Tyler. Later, she moved her membership to First Baptist Church, Longview. She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Union and was a worker with the Meals on Wheels for several years. She was a member of the Pathfinders Class.

She began her professional career working for Warren Petroleum, which later became Gulf Oil. She was a 20year trustee of the Noel Lutes Thompson Trust.

applications are currently available to the Class of 2023.

With generous support from Mr. Keese, the Longview ISD Foundation, Inc. can continue to serve LISD students and educators and fulfill its mission of requesting, receiving, maintaining, and using funds to maximize the quality of education available in the Longview Independent School District.

Thank you, Bill, for remembering your friends and Longview ISD’s students.

Jackie was a member of the Desk and Derrick, a member of the Ivy League Garden Club and a docent at the Gregg County Historical Museum, where she was honored for 20 years of outstanding service.

She and Ed married November 15, 1958. They were married 52 wonderful years.

Jackie enjoyed traveling to China, Hong Kong, London, St. Petersburg, Sweden, the Mediterranean and a Baltic cruise.

Thank you for taking care of our extended Lobo family in their time of need.

SCOTT

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

MATTHEW 5:4

PUBLIC NOTICES

Regular board meeting set for February 13

The Longview ISD Board of Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center, (1301 E. Young St.) but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district.

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, February 13. After that, the next regular board meeting is tentatively set for Monday, March 6, at the ESC building.

For more information about the LISD

meetings or about the boar members, go to LISD.org . Agendas and Minutes can also be found at the website, as well as information on financial transparency. Information about the areas of the district can also be found online.

District seeking architectural firm for various projects

The Longview Independent School District is seeking to retain an architectural firm with the qualifications and staff resources necessary to perform planning, designing, bidding and construction oversight phases of various projects deemed to be in the best interest of the District. In addition the District is looking for a firm with the capability to provide value added services including, but not limited to structural engineering, security consultation, technology consultation, interior design, etc. Therefore, it is the intent

of the Board to obtain information in the request for qualifications that addresses these options.

Firms are requested to submit their qualifications outlining their background and experience in campus planning and building design.

Selected firms may be invited to participate in interviews. Once the most qualified firm is determined, the District will attempt to negotiate a fee. If a fee cannot be agreed upon, negotiations will begin with the next most qualified firm. Once an

agreement is reached, the selected firm’s name will be submitted for the final approval by the Longview ISD Board of Trustees.

Submit one original and four (4) copies of the RFQ to the following:

Longview ISD Administration Office 1301 E Young Street Longview Tx 75602

Please mark on the outside of the envelope “RFQ #20-01.”

BOARD |Continued from page 7

service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement.

“Like so many of our programs here at Longview ISD, or Future Farmers of America students continue to perform at the highest levels,” said Dr. Wilcox. “Not just during their time here, but as they continue their careers and educational goals. It’s certainly no surprise to see Cooper receive this award, and LISD remains proud of his excellent work in the field of Agriculture.”

ESSER FUNDS

Dr. Wayne Guidry , Assistant Superintendent for Finance, told trustees that the Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services (RIPICS) plan was revised in December 2022 and the Use of Funds Plan remains as it was previously presented. It should be noted that the district’s total ESSER III total allocation was $19,666,123.

The purpose of the American Rescue Plan: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER III) funding is for school districts

to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools.

Dr. Guidry explained to the board that the American Rescue Plan (ARP) statute requires that local education agencies develop and make publicly available their plans for the use of funds after having engaged in meaningful consultation with stakeholders. This plan must be reviewed and revised every six months.

“The district conducted a needs assessment at the campus, in-district charter partners, and district level with input from students, parents, staff, and the community through direct communication, surveys, board meetings, and prior needs assessments to determine how its portion of ESSER III funds should be used,” he said.

“Per that assessment, Longview ISD has written a plan and it is posted to our website. Should revisions to the plan become necessary, the plan will be updated and a revised version posted as well.”

SUPT’S REPORT

During the Superintendent’s Report portion of the meeting, Dr. Wilcox honored the LISD Board of Trustees as

part of School Board Recognition Month, as Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of District Services, presented award plaques, gift baskets, and student artwork to LISD board members, explaining that the theme this year is “Forward, Together.”

HOCKENBERRY

Although showing appreciation should be a year-round process, Dr. Wilcox said taking advantage of the designated month “ensures that these important people receive some of the thanks they deserve.”

“Our school board members are volunteers who shoulder critical responsibilities and often make difficult choices for our district, all without pay,” he said. “Their goal is always focused on the future success of the children in our district.”

Other items in his report included the latest RAPTOR (Rapid Algorithmic Prototyping Tool for Ordered Reasoning) data from the Office of Innovation, as well as departmental reports from the LISD Office of Innovation and Community Relations.

In addition, Dr. Wilcox discussed the TASB 2022-24 Advocacy Agenda, in addition to

receiving updates from public school charter partners: East Texas Advanced Academies (ETAA), Longview Educates And Prospers (LEAP), and the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS).

During the course of the meeting, the LISD Board of Trustees also:

• APPROVED a multi-year contract with Comprehensive Training Center to assist with the application of a 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) grant;

• APPROVED Minutes and Board Time Use Tracker for the Dec. 12 Regular Meeting; and

• APPROVED Financial Statements as of November 2022.

FOR MORE INFO

Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street), but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 13, 2023.

For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please go to LISD.org

Calendar 2 was the clear winner, receiving 76.3 percent of the vote, while the remaining 23.7 percent of voters preferred Calendar 1,” he said, adding that the feedback from the survey also encouraged an additional adjustment to the final version approved by the board.

The survey, which ran from Jan. 19-24, received a total of 777 votes and nearly 200 comments from staff.

Thanking staff members for their participation and candor, Dr. Hockenberry said he hopes that intervals of time off over the course of the year, “will help provide staff and students with some strategic downtime at busy times of the school year.”

“Hopefully, we can get relief from the restrictive guidelines and have something even more marvelous to consider in the future,” he said. “But under the tight guidelines we are currently forced to work within, this calendar is a good step in a new direction.”

Important dates for next school year include:

TALKS |Continued from page 4

Sam Jackson, a 10th grader has a good knowledge about credit. His father Worth Jackson is a banker.

Sam says he learned from his father to pay bills on time.

Avery Gonzalez, another 10th grader is not in the dark about good credit. “Good credit is something you build up. You get a credit card; you use it wisely and pay your bills in a timely manner.”

Addison Martin was excited to attend the LOBO Talks. She has

IB |Continued from page 6

• Aug. 9 – First day for students

• Sept. 4 – Labor Day (observed)

• Nov. 20-24 – Thanksgiving Break

• Dec. 20-Jan. 3 – Winter Break

• Jan. 15 – Dr. Martin Luther King Day (observed)

• March 11-15 – Spring Break

• April 1 – Good Friday (observed)

• May 24 – Final day of school

• May 27 – Memorial Day (observed)

• May 28-29 – Bad weather makeup days (if needed)

EOC/STAAR testing dates include the weeks of Dec. 5-15, April 16-30, and May 1-10 with STAAR makeup dates on June 18-28. For the complete 2023-24 Academic Calendar, please go to LISD.org.

CLEAN AUDIT

Later the board approved the financial audit report for the 2022 fiscal year.

Dr. Wayne Guidry , Assistant Superintendent for Finance, praised the tireless efforts the LISD Business Office staff throughout the audit process, citing their attention to detail and fierce integrity in accounting for every dollar

limited knowledge about credit and borrowing but she is willing to learn from the presentation.

In addition, Alley discussed rules for using credit.

She told the students to do the following :

• Pay credit card balances in full to avoid paying any interest.

• Be aware of early loan payoff penalties. Besides that, pay loans off quickly by paying more than the minimum payment.

universities like UT and TAMU. It also increases the chances “of getting the major college of their choice once admitted. While IB does not guarantee them the major of their choice, it certainly helps when applying to exclusive schools within the university such as the McCombs School of Business at UT and the Mays School of Business at TAMU.” Also, “Many, certainly all I can think of, who were admitted to honors programs at state or private Texas universities were IB students.”

IB students are also excellent candidates for generous academic scholarships at universities. In the last several years at Longview High School, IB students have earned the lion’s share of the college scholarships awarded to graduating seniors, according to Kay Ray. With 77% of academic scholarships earned in 2019 to 62% in 2022 (but with an unfortunate slump during the two years affected by COVID), these figures for scholarships are impressive. Mrs. Marsha Childers, IB DP Language and Literature teacher at LHS, says that 80% of IB students receive some form of scholarships and remembers that one student who went to Em-

of public funds coming in and going out of Longview ISD.

everyone involved in the process.”

Giving her report to the board, Mrs. Murrell explained that the district will receive “an unmodified opinion, with no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting and compliance.”

A “clean” audit means that financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting standards and that there are no material misstatements.

In attendance were district staffers Mrs. Xenia Durham , Ms. Kaitlyn Fugate , and Ms. Tiffany Lee , but Dr. Guidry extended his praise to the entire department, as well as Ms. Susan Murrell from the Lufkin-based CPA firm Alexander, Lankford & Hiers.

“An audit is always a time-consuming and complicated process, and I can’t imagine it going better than this,” he said. “That is a tremendous credit to the professionalism and excellence of

• Keep debt to income ratio (DTI) below 28%. Be aware that borrowing too much in one swoop is not a good idea.

• Pay 20% down for large items such as homes or cars. it helps the borrower not to borrow the full amount of the purchase and pay it off with assurance and ease.

Alley concluded her presentation by reminding students that credit has a big effect on their

ory University pieced together a number of smaller scholarships to total a full-ride there. The many benefits of an IB education are well known by college admissions and scholarships officials, but looking beyond that to how students perform at university proves out these benefits. As Scholarship Coordinator at LHS, Mrs. Ray has learned from thankful former LHS students that “IB prepared them regarding time management once they were at college, for they had learned how to manage their classes and extra-curricular responsibilities; it prepared them for doing research at college and writing papers that required citing sources because they had written those papers in IB English, and it taught them to write papers in classes other than English as well. IB prepared them for sitting for lengthy exams before they sat at college for mid-terms and finals.” Mrs. Childers, who also hears from grateful former students, says, “The point of IB is not to get the college credits because that’s entirely up to the universities and the students’ major, and other factors that we have no control over, but what puts them at

The clean audit comes on the heels of Longview ISD’s perfect score from the Texas Education Agency’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. The district also holds a AAA bond rating from S&P Global and an Aa2 bond rating from Moody’s Investment Service Inc. The S&P rating indicates that bonds are of the highest quality and offer the lowest degree of investment risk. Issuers are considered extremely stable and dependable.

lives since it is one of the determining factors for borrowing in the future.

LOBO Talks is patterned after the worldwide motivation and education program, TED TALKS: where various experts visit college campuses and theatres to educate their audience. Longview ISD community relations created LOBO Talks with a similar format. Once a month, they invite community experts to Longview High School to speak to at-risk and business students.

the front of the line is their study habits and time management skills. They come back to us and tell us ‘I get assigned 1200 word essays frequently. I go back to my dorm room or apartment and sit down to write [an essay] in about 3 hours, and I receive an A on it,’ and this is in places like UT and Texas A & M where we know the rigor is there.”

Quite importantly, IB places students at great advantage for college admissions and scholarships, but most importantly, IB gives them the solid foundation to succeed once they get there

— Christy Triece is a retired teacher who taught for 22 years. She taught AP Jr. English as well as IB English at Longview High School.