Yoakum ISD

YISD approves Head Start contract, awards presented at May meeting

By Clayton Kelley

  • Yoakum Bulldog Band All-State Band Members.Head Band Director: Dr. JenniferVoges. Band Directors: Aaron Villarreal and Lacy Orsak. Three Yoakum High School students were selected as members of this year’s 3A All-State Band.One student was selected to the 4A All-State Band. Rafael Quilpas: all four years member of All-State Band with this year 5th chair French horn for 4A All-State Band; Abbie Galvan: 2nd year in a row 3A All-State Band earning 20th chair clarinet; Delanie Dominguez..
    Yoakum Bulldog Band All-State Band Members.Head Band Director: Dr. JenniferVoges. Band Directors: Aaron Villarreal and Lacy Orsak. Three Yoakum High School students were selected as members of this year’s 3A All-State Band.One student was selected to the 4A All-State Band. Rafael Quilpas: all four years member of All-State Band with this year 5th chair French horn for 4A All-State Band; Abbie Galvan: 2nd year in a row 3A All-State Band earning 20th chair clarinet; Delanie Dominguez..
  • U.I.L. State Theatrical Design Contest theatrical design sponsor – Adriana Bridges received 3rd place in 3A Group Design: Allison Cardona, Jenny Lopez, Ava Pierce, and Dylan Shimek. Individual contests: Allison Cardona – Marketing - did not place, but ranked one of 12 qualifiers. Jenny Lopez – Hair and Makeup; Ava Pierce – Costuming; and Dylan Shimek – Set Design.
    U.I.L. State Theatrical Design Contest theatrical design sponsor – Adriana Bridges received 3rd place in 3A Group Design: Allison Cardona, Jenny Lopez, Ava Pierce, and Dylan Shimek. Individual contests: Allison Cardona – Marketing - did not place, but ranked one of 12 qualifiers. Jenny Lopez – Hair and Makeup; Ava Pierce – Costuming; and Dylan Shimek – Set Design.
  • Yoakum Bulldog Track 2024 State Meet Head Bulldog Track Coach Jacoby Jones 4x100-Meter Relay won 1st place (41.81sec new school record): Trae Cuellar, X’Zavier Barnett, Zach Taylor, Qyion Williams, and Brayden Neubauer – Alternate. 4x200-Meter Relay won 2nd place (1:27.03 new school record): Trae Cuellar, X’Zavier Barnett, Zach Taylor, Qyion Williams, and Brayden Neubauer – Alternate. 400-Meter Dash: Chase Polk - 9th place (51.40 sec). Overall Team State Champions: Trae Cuellar, X’Zavier Barnett
    Yoakum Bulldog Track 2024 State Meet Head Bulldog Track Coach Jacoby Jones 4x100-Meter Relay won 1st place (41.81sec new school record): Trae Cuellar, X’Zavier Barnett, Zach Taylor, Qyion Williams, and Brayden Neubauer – Alternate. 4x200-Meter Relay won 2nd place (1:27.03 new school record): Trae Cuellar, X’Zavier Barnett, Zach Taylor, Qyion Williams, and Brayden Neubauer – Alternate. 400-Meter Dash: Chase Polk - 9th place (51.40 sec). Overall Team State Champions: Trae Cuellar, X’Zavier Barnett
  • Yoakum Lady Bulldog Track 2024 State Meet. Head Lady Bulldog Track Coach Dennis Muehlstein. 4x100-Meter Relay – 8th place: Jayla Hessler, Valentina Hopkins, Aubrie Jendrzey, Jayana Phillips, Emmie Leftwich – Alternate, and Makayla Olmedo – Alternate. Triple Jump: Jayla Hessler – 4th place, Jayana Phillips – 1st place – State Champion. Long Jump: Jayana Phillips – 3rd place.
    Yoakum Lady Bulldog Track 2024 State Meet. Head Lady Bulldog Track Coach Dennis Muehlstein. 4x100-Meter Relay – 8th place: Jayla Hessler, Valentina Hopkins, Aubrie Jendrzey, Jayana Phillips, Emmie Leftwich – Alternate, and Makayla Olmedo – Alternate. Triple Jump: Jayla Hessler – 4th place, Jayana Phillips – 1st place – State Champion. Long Jump: Jayana Phillips – 3rd place.
  • Yoakum High School Art State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (V.A.S.E.) High School Art Teacher Kalynn Bressler. Aeryn Anthony scored the highest score of 4 on her artwork and received a medal in her division at Regional Level and advancing to Area. Aeryn’s artwork, qualifying for State, put her in the top 7% of artworks submitted for Regional contests.State Qualifying Art: Aeryn Anthony–“Message to My Past Self”– scored a 3 (superior); the score put her in the top 25% of the state.
    Yoakum High School Art State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (V.A.S.E.) High School Art Teacher Kalynn Bressler. Aeryn Anthony scored the highest score of 4 on her artwork and received a medal in her division at Regional Level and advancing to Area. Aeryn’s artwork, qualifying for State, put her in the top 7% of artworks submitted for Regional contests.State Qualifying Art: Aeryn Anthony–“Message to My Past Self”– scored a 3 (superior); the score put her in the top 25% of the state.
  • A Spelling Bee Contest was held in April. Students participated in nine rounds of correctly spelling words at the Yoakum Primary campus. Jayla Pinon - 1st place - second grade; Troy Penuelaz - 1st place - 1st grade; Persaias Livingston - 1st place - 2nd grade. Pictured in the back row from left to right are YISD School Board President Glen Kusak and Yoakum Primary School Principal Rebecca Fitch.
    A Spelling Bee Contest was held in April. Students participated in nine rounds of correctly spelling words at the Yoakum Primary campus. Jayla Pinon - 1st place - second grade; Troy Penuelaz - 1st place - 1st grade; Persaias Livingston - 1st place - 2nd grade. Pictured in the back row from left to right are YISD School Board President Glen Kusak and Yoakum Primary School Principal Rebecca Fitch.

    In the agenda, the Yoakum Independent School District approved a contract through INK Education Services for the school’s Head Start Program at the May 13 meeting.

    “This is for our Head Start Program at the Primary Annex,” Superintendent Tom Kelley said. “INK Services is funding five teachers and two floater aides. The funds we will get from this contract is $286,000.”

    Head Start’s aim is to propel children from disadvantaged backgrounds toward success and prosperity. They serve children ages three and four. INK facilitates the Head Start program across 13 counties in Texas.

    “Head Start meets the needs of our community and are a very nice resource for our public school,” Kelley said.

    Two board members also took the oath of office. Glen Kusak and Terry Boening were all incumbents renewing their term. YISD board members also opted that the organization of Board of Trustees stay the same meaning Kusak remains as President and Boening stays as Vice President.

    “I am very satisfied with the current board,” Kelley said at a previous board meeting. “They support the students and do what’s best for the kids at Yoakum ISD. They also always make great decisions based on what’s best for the community and our students.”

    YISD also authorized to set an estimated tuition for transfer students at the Texas Education Agency’s limit.

    Other items on the agenda included:

    • Enrollment numbers are holding steady at 1,461 students. Last year at this time, it was 1,499 students.

    • Report of the tax assessor showed the district collected $11.4 million in maintenance and operations and $5.8 million in interest and sinking.

    • There will be an awards assembly next week for the High School. The academic banquet will be Monday, May 20 at 6 p.m. 

    • Kindergarten graduation will be Thursday, May 23 at 9:30 a.m. at the primary annex. 

    • Graduation will be Friday, May 24. Some of the board members will be handing out the diplomas. 

    • Board members will attend Region 3 conference tomorrow, May 16.

    • It was reported that those retiring this year are second grade teachers Sarah Berger and Kristi Bludau, third grade teacher Melanie Mikes, seventh grade teacher Angel Roedar, and Special Education teachers Valerie Thirey and Cindy Rodriguez.

    • New hires this year are Junior High Assistant Principal Candy Caka, Intermediate Principal Jodie Thompson, Special Education teacher Madison Jan, High School English teachers Valerie Thiry and Emily Meischer, Pre-K teacher Makayla Marcek, second grade teacher Kimberlyn Krouse, and third grade teacher Yami Deauzat.