Consultant Tyson Bennett provided the Alba-Golden School Board with a preliminary finding of the Panther Legacy Vision Team, which has just completed its recommendations for the district’s infrastructure needs. The team will be recommending a new continuing education center and a new competition gymnasium, with a formal presentation at the January board meeting.

Bennett noted that both projects remained top priorities throughout the four-month investigation and recommendation process. He also lauded the work of the team, saying, “I have been doing this work for many years, and I can never recall a development team which maintained an attendance rate of over 90%. It really demonstrates the importance of this school to the community.”

Director of Finance Beau Shelby reviewed the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas for the 2023-24 fiscal year in a public hearing. He noted that the district maintained a contingency operating balance which was nearly three-fold the state requirement. 

Shelby said the assets to liabilities ratio was very strong, and that the district received a weighted score of 100%.

In personnel actions, the board hired Kristen Galyean as a fifth-grade mathematics teacher and Winston Fullwood as band director. Fullwood, who most recently led the award-winning band program at Royse City High School, will report to Alba-Golden on Jan. 5. The board also accepted the resignation of Cynthia Weimer.

Director of Operations and Safety Terry Busby briefed the board on a technology agreement with University of Texas at Austin. The agreement is cost-free and provides cyber-security services. The board unanimously approved Alba-Golden’s participation.  

In other action, the board approved the following non-business days for open records: Dec. 19, 22, 23, 29 and 30 and Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30.

Fifth-grader Allison Gonzales and ninth-grader Ava Coventry were recognized as November students of the month. Gonzales, whose favorite subject is science, was lauded for “doing the right thing all the time.” Coventry’s maturity and leadership abilities were noted. A newcomer to Alba-Golden, Coventry stated that she was most impressed by the personal involvement of the teachers.   

Art teacher Sara Matlack and health science teacher Kayli Inman received recognition as employees of the month for elementary and secondary schools, respectively. 

The Alba-Golden Shooting Team received recognition and presented the board with recently attained trophies. The team finished eighth among 36 teams in state competition. 

Other achievements of note included the Elementary School placing first in the district academic competition, the secondary school achieving a second place in the academic competition among high schools, and the junior high one-act play claiming the blue ribbon in district.

The first hog show conducted by the FFA at the Pierce Boyd Arena saw 137 entries. The event was a huge success, and planning is afoot for the second edition.  

Career Day has been set for Tuesday, Feb. 17.