Construction updates given at YISD meeting

Construction and school safety updates were provided at the Yoakum Independent School District meeting on July 14.

An update had to do with the new Maintenance Building.

“The maintenance crew started moving into this new building this week,” Weaver and Jacobs Representative Shawn Brandt said. “We have the Internet connected and the HVAC system got moved over this week. The building is pretty much done, we are wrapping up some details. Th e main thing left to do is the fencing and the gates. We have a fence that wraps around the building and a double gate as well. We also have 10-foot tall metal wall panels on all the walls that is pretty durable.”

The maintenance building also works as a tennis building as well. There is also a limestone parking lot in front of the building. Another update had to do with the new Career and Technology Education (CTE) Building.

“We don’t have the metal wall panels on it yet,” Brandt said. “That will be finished up this week. The inside, however, is looking awesome. They are working on getting the air conditioners ready to start up as well. We’ll then drop the ceiling tiles in. By the end of next week, we’ll be wrapped up with that building.”

The HVAC systems in the school were also recently replaced. “We did lifts for the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) replacements,” Brandt said.

“They replaced the auditorium space as well as the cafeteria and the blue gym.”

The softball field is still in the early stages. Currently, work is being done on taking out extra brush on the soon to be field.

School safety updates were briefly given at the meeting. “We just had a very good safety meeting recently,” Assistant Superintendent Chris Kvinta said.

“That was our third meeting. We reviewed the emergency operation plan. We also talked about all the drills that are required on each campus. We also will have our silent panic buttons that will be ready for when school starts. We did discuss our Guardian Program as well. We also talked about that if we get future money, we may be expanding the cameras at the Primary Annex school.”

In other business:

• The tax assessor collector collect $13.6 million in Maintenance and Operations and $6.2 million in Interest and Sinking.

• Board members approved a rule that homeschooled students cannot participate in UIL activities.

• Board members approved income eligibility guidelines for the National School Lunch Program.

• Board members approved changes to the financial procedures manual.

• Board members approved a transfer agreement between Yoakum ISD and Sweet Home ISD.

• Several resignations were turned in including 10th grade English teacher Juliette Siegel and Special Ed teacher Madison Wenske.

New Band directors were also introduced Head Band Director Victor Posada and Assistant Band Directors Krystal Pacheco and Alexis Ortiz.

Check future issues of the Yoakum Herald-Times for welcoming the new Head Band Director.