Today... Steer Nation Message 2-24-23

GOOD MORNING & HAPPY FRIDAY!

Legislative Advocacy- As you are aware, the Texas Legislature is currently in session. Our Texas Legislators are Senator Drew Springer and Representative David Spiller.

I encourage you to be informed and to contact Senator Springer and Representative Spiller regarding legislation that will impact public education in general and Graham ISD. A great place to begin is by reading the legislative priorities of the associations that support public education. The ones I have reviewed so far are linked below.

• Association of Texas Professional Educators

• Texas Association of Midsize Schools Legislative Priorities

• Texas Association of School Administrators Legislative Priorities

• Texas Association of Rural Schools

• Texas PTA

• Equity Center

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, I was in Austin visiting legislators with a group of superintendents from ESC 9 and the Texas Association of Midsize Schools. Out talking points and questions included-

• Increase in the Basic Allotment for schools.
• An increase in the basic allotment triggers and sustains funding for a teacher pay raise.
• Education Savings Accounts, Tax Credits, Vouchers- Our stance is that tax dollars should not be used to fund private schools.
• There is talk at the Capital that funding may be increased for small/midsize/rural schools to get their legislators to accept a voucher bill.
• Our stance is that if vouchers are going to be debated and considered they need to be considered on their own merit and not connected to funding for public schools.
• Tax Compression vs Increase in the Homestead Exemption- School district “hold harmless” can go away in future legislative sessions. Tax compression impacts all taxpayers- homeowners and business taxpayers. Tax compression is revenue neutral for school districts.
• The State share for public school funding is 31%. The State claims this number to be 41%. State adds recapture as state revenue but it in effect locally collected taxes.
• Methodologies used prior to HB 3- State share- 38%
• If you remove charter school funding the state share drops to about 29%
• Current spending for Texas Public Schools
• $17 B for Regular Public Schools (93% of Schools in Texas)
• $4 B for Charter Schools (7% of Schools in Texas)
• Ch. 313- The removal of this program has eliminated local control for school districts. Particularly harmful for small, midsize, and rural school districts as they have very limited ways to increase their local revenue.
• Special education funding gap of $2 B. Schools need to be funded for what we are required to do.
• Legislation is needed to allow for the prosecution of truancy and the ability to discipline young students who have extreme behavior challenges.

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Tennis- Our tennis teams will be competing in the Cowtown Classic today. GO NETTERS!

Lady Blues Soccer- Congratulations on the Monday evening victory over Mineral Wells. The Lady Blues will be playing Wichita Falls High School at Memorial Stadium. The start time will be 5:30 pm. GOOD LUCK LADY BLUES!

Graham Steer Soccer-  The Steers are at Memorial Stadium this evening facing Old High. The contest will begin at 7:30 pm. GO STEERS!

Lady Blues Softball- The Lady Blues are playing in the Abilene ISD tournament today and tomorrow. GO LADY BLUES!

Lady Blues and Steer Track- Our track athletes will be competing in the Mineral Wells Track Meet today! RUN FAST!

Graham Steer Baseball- Graham Steer Varsity Baseball Tournament- GO STEERS!

One Act Play- Mark Your Calendar- Our GHS One Act Play will be competing in the UIL District One Act Play contest on Saturday, March 4, 2023. The performances will begin at noon with the following order- Glen Rose, Mineral Wells, Graham, Brownwood, and Stephenville. A public performance will be held at 7:00 pm on Thursday, March 2nd in the GHS Auditorium.

Today…

I have responsibilities to fulfill today.

Today I get to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy (icy) or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because I am blessed with shelter for my mind, body, and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!

Have a nice day...unless you have already made other plans!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What kind of doctor is Dr. Pepper? (Scroll down for the answer.)

A Fizzician!

Pay it Forward- Steer Nation Message 2-17-23

GOOD MORNING & HAPPY FRIDAY!

Graham ISD Calls Bond Election- On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the GISD Board of Trustees unanimously called a bond election for May 6, 2023, in the amount of $49.4 million for the purpose of the following scope of work.

• Consolidating Woodland, Crestview, and Pioneer into 2 campuses.
• Additions to Pioneer Elementary to allow grades PK-2 to be served on the campus.
• Construction of a new campus on the current Woodland Elementary site to accommodate grades 3-5.
• Renovations and additions to Graham Junior High School including the construction of a new band hall, conversion of the current band hall into a library, conversion of the current library into a new front entrance and office for the campus, expansion of the cafeteria dining space, and minor updates to the exterior of the building to match the new construction.

I will be presenting information to each campus staff, community groups, etc. Additionally, our technology team of Chris Rasile and Padgett Thigpen are working to create a web page that will contain bond information, etc.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

2023-2024 School Calendar- On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the GISD Board of Trustees approved the 2023-2024 School Calendar. This calendar is a modified 4-Day School Week calendar. There will be logistical opportunities and questions we need to work through as we implement this calendar for the coming year.

We have created a 2023-2024 Calendar FAQ Document that contains questions/answers that have been generated to date. Should you have a question not addressed in this document, please add your question to the 2023-2024 School Calendar Question Form. This form will capture email addresses so that we can respond directly in addition to adding the Q&A to the FAQ document.

Additionally, please feel free to contact Sonny Cruse (940-549-0595, 940-282-7870 [text/call], sonny.cruse@grahamisd.com) or Robert Loomis (940-549-0595, 940-550-9107 [text/call] robert.loomis@grahamisd.com).

Graham Steer Basketball- Congratulations to Coach Hise and our Graham Steer Basketball Team on earning a Second Place District finish with the Tuesday evening victory over Stephenville!  The Steers will compete in the Bi-District Playoff vs Levelland at 6:00 pm in Anson on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. GO STEERS!

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Tennis- Congratulations to our tennis team members for their performance at the MacArthur Cardinal Invitational! Luke Qualls/Reagan Birdwell- 1st in Mixed Doubles; John Upton/Rebekah McCord- 2nd in Mixed Doubles; Jadyn Noyola/Scott Grimes - 1st in Boys’ Doubles; Denys Klymenko/Hayden Burrows- 1st in Boys’ Doubles; Josh Gipson- 3rd in Boys' Singles; Barron Burrows- 1st in Boys' singles; Jade Dospapas- 2nd in Girls' Singles; Sydney Jensen- 1st in Girls' Singles. Good luck today at the Coyote Classic in Wichita Falls!

Lady Blues Soccer and Graham Steer Soccer-  The Lady Blues and Steers are hosting Burkburnett this evening at Newton Field. The Lady Blues will take the field at 5:30 pm and the Steers game will begin twenty minutes following the girl's game at approximately 7:30 pm. GO LADY BLUES & GRAHAM STEERS!

Lady Blues Softball- The Lady Blues will be at home today for a 5:00 pm contest vs WF Old High. GO LADY BLUES!

Graham Steer Baseball- On Saturday, the Steers will play a home doubleheader vs Alvarado. The first game is set to begin at 11:00 am. GO STEERS!

One Act Play- Mark Your Calendar- Our GHS One Act Play will be competing in the UIL District One Act Play contest on Saturday, March 4, 2023. The performances will begin at noon with the following order- Glen Rose, Mineral Wells, Graham, Brownwood, and Stephenville.

Pay It Forward….For Your Mental Health

Science shows that one of the best ways to take care of yourself isn’t all about you at all. But when we are feeling overwhelmed and struggling, the reality is, we are probably not thinking much about other people. And that’s totally fine- it’s not selfish to focus on yourself when you need it most. But taking a little time and doing something for someone else can potentially help how you’re feeling.

Here are a few reasons why we should consider paying it forward for our own mental health.

1. Our Brain’s Chemicals Change- If you’ve ever done something kind for someone else, you probably know that euphoric feeling you get afterward. There’s actually a name for that, it’s called a “helper’s high.” Research shows that when you help someone, there’s a process that happens in your brain that releases serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin – the ‘feel-good’ chemicals. The reward center of your brain is kick-started and you get a rush of endorphins, making you feel happier.
2. We Can Give In So Many Different Ways- Acts of kindness can sometimes mean giving your time and money – and that can steer a lot of people away. But one study found that acts of kindness don’t need to include face-to-face interactions or monetary donations at all. While those larger actions can still have their own unique benefits, you’re still improving your mental health by just calling someone you love or saying ‘thank you’ to a stranger.
3. Kindness Builds on Itself- If you think of compassion like a muscle, every time you do something for someone else, that stretches the muscle a little bit more, and acts of kindness get easier. Science shows that it can actually become an instinct to respond to others in a helpful, kind, and compassionate way. So you start to reap the benefits of kindness more often, with less effort.
4. It Decreases Stress- Studies have found that people who show kindness and concern for others had a 23% lower level of cortisol – the stress hormone – compared to the average population. You’ve got a natural stress reliever, just by showing compassion for someone else.
5. It Changes How You View Yourself-  Studies show that random acts of kindness can also improve your feelings of self-esteem and self-worth. Some people also reported a stronger sense of meaning and purpose after acting out of compassion.
6. It Gets You Out of Your Own Head- If only for that one selfless moment, your mind isn’t worried, stressed, sad, angry – whatever it may be. Instead, you’re focused on what you’re doing for someone else. In those minutes, your brain will be thinking about the good things that you are doing for something outside of yourself and the connection that you’re making with them.
7. The Good Stuff Starts Immediately- This isn’t one of those things where you have to put in serious effort before you see results. Paying it forward can benefit you the second you act with compassion. You’ll start to feel better instantaneously.

Although the above basic concepts can benefit us individually, let’s not forget how those actions can then help someone else! Doing something kind for another person, no matter how big or small, leaves a positive impact on your mental health, while also changing another person’s day for the better. These actions go a long way… pay it forward today!

Have a nice day…Take care of yourself and others!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

Why are doctors always so calm? (Scroll down for the answer.)

They have lots of patients!

What We Do- Steer Nation Message 2-10-23

GOOD MORNING & HAPPY FRIDAY!

Bad Weather Day Make-Up Plan- As you know, we have missed 4.5 days of school due to the weather. The 2022-2023 GISD School Calendar contains adequate "banked minutes"  for students. Additionally, the calendar contains bad weather days of March 10 and April 10.  Our current makeup plan is to

• Use 4.5 of the "banked days" for student missed days.

• Use March 10 and April 10 as staff work days.

• Request for the board to consider approval of a resolution exempting staff from making up the remaining 2.5 staff days.

The above plan is subject to change based on future weather and school board approval.

GISD Facility Improvement/Bond Election- The GISD Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, for the purpose of discussing facility improvements and the pros/cons of considering a bond election for May 2023. The board voted (5-1) to move forward with calling a bond election for May 2023. The board also voted (5-1) to accept the Community Advisory Boards' scope of work recommendation for the bond project. A decision was not reached regarding the exact $$ amount for the bond election.

We have been working with a low-high range of estimates for the considered projects. As the board has selected the exact scope of work, we will consult with our architect and construction manager to reach a final decision regarding the estimated cost of the projects. This will allow us to have our financial advisor provide more exact financial projections.

The official calling of the election will be an agenda item on the February 15 board meeting agenda. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, etc. My cell is 940-282-7870.

2023-2024 Calendar Update- This will be an agenda item on the February 15 board meeting agenda. The results of the survey that was sent to staff, parents, the community and the Chamber of Commerce business members can be viewed HERE.

Lady Blues and Graham Steer Tennis- Our GHS tennis teams will be competing at the MacArthur Cardinal Invitational! GO Netters!

Lady Blues Soccer and Graham Steer Soccer-  The Lady Blues and Steers are hosting Hirschi this evening at Newton Field. The Lady Blues will take the field at 5:45 pm and the Steers game will begin twenty minutes following the girl's game at approximately 7:30 pm. GO LADY BLUES & GRAHAM STEERS!

Lady Blues Softball- The Lady Blues will be at home on Saturday for scrimmages vs Jacksboro and Comanche at 10:00 am and Noon. GO LADY BLUES!

What We Do….

Two stonecutters were asked what they were doing.

The first said, "I'm cutting this stone into blocks."

The second replied, “I'm on a team that's building a cathedral."

The sad and wonderful thing is that both of them are correct!  We either see our role as an independent contractor or as part of a victorious team.

Whether one’s responsibility is maintaining a building, preparing lunches, driving a bus, managing an office, administering, supervising, or teaching I hope each of us sees ourselves as part of a team that is building children and changing lives.

Have a nice day…Take care of yourself and others!

CORNY JOKE OF THE DAY:

What did the horse say after he tripped? (Scroll down for the answer.)

Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t giddyup!