Update

LACKEY NAMED ACTING DISD SUPERINTENDENT — Decatur High School Principal Lyle Lackey will serve as acting superintendent as the district seeks the next person to lead the district. The school board on Friday voted 4-3 to name Lackey to the interim role, after a vote to name DISD Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Michelle Wooten failed by the same vote. Lackey will continue serving as DHS principal while helping out as needed with superintendent duties. In another split vote, Stan Shults was elected board president by a 4-2 vote. Matt Joiner was elected vice president and Sandra Schneider secretary. The board will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 tonight at the DISD Administration Building. The agenda includes possible action regarding the two-way dual language program at Rann Elementary.

POSSIBLE SUPERINTENDENT ACTION ON FRIDAY’S DECATUR BOARD AGENDA — A special meeting of the Decatur School Board has been called for Friday afternoon with an agenda that includes the seating of newly-elected board members, election of board officers and naming of a superintendent or an interim superintendent. Following the canvassing of the May 4 board election, new board members Delvon Campbell, Matt Joiner and Nate Bayless will be sworn in. After a public forum, the board is scheduled to go into closed session to discuss board officers. The vote for president, vice-president and secretary will then be taken in open session. The board is then scheduled to return to closed session to discuss personnel issues related to the superintendent, including discussion of applicants for the superintendent position; consultation with an attorney related to employment of superintendent, possibly naming a superintendent emeritus and naming an active superintendent; and discussion of employment of superintendent, possibly naming a superintendent emeritus and naming of acting superintendent. Those same items are then listed as action items in open session. Friday’s meeting is at 5 p.m. at the DISD Administration Building, 307 S. Cates St.

ERCOT ISSUES WEATHER WATCH — Unseasonably warm temperatures today across Texas has prompted the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) to issue a Weather Watch for today. ERCOT said high temperatures along with high levels of expected maintenance outages during the spring shoulder months and the potential for lower reserves led to the warning. Grid conditions are expected to be normal, and no action from customers is requested at this time. In Wise County, the temperature is expected to top out around 90 today under sunny skies with a south wind 15 to 20 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Slightly cooler temperatures and a chance of rain is in Thursday’s forecast.

MINERAL VALUES DRIVE DECREASE IN TAX ROLLS — The state of the oil and gas industry tempered gains from a record amount of new residential construction expected in Wise County this year. According to Wise County Appraisal District’s 2024 preliminary value estimates, Wise County is projected to bring in $756 million in new construction, up from last year’s record of $658 million. However, mineral values are down approximately 55 percent. “Minerals have dropped significantly primarily due to gas prices dropping from $4.75 last year to $2.46 this year. That is a 48 percent decrease in price,” said Deidra Denton, Chief Appraiser of the Wise County Appraisal District. The projected value of Wise County’s tax roll is $13.52 billion, which is down 2.8 percent from last year. Certified values will be presented to entities in July after protests. The protest deadline for residential properties is May 17.

SCHOOL BONDS PASS IN BOYD, CHICO; FAIL IN BRIDGEPORT — Voters in two-of-three Wise County school districts with bonds on the ballot voted to approve the referendums in Saturday’s election. Boyd ISD’s $20 million, single-proposition bond passed by a margin of 405-360 (53 to 47 percent). It includes $11.644 million for infrastructure and plans, $5.356 million for HVAC improvements throughout the district and $3 million for land purchase, the latter which covers the district’s recent purchase of 76 acres on Cemetery Road at a cost of $2,867,655.35. Chico ISD’s $12 million, two-proposition referendum was also passed by voters. Proposition A ($10.5 million) was approved 191-136 (58 to 42 percent) and Proposition B ($1.5 million) 181-144 (56 to 43 percent). Prop A addresses maintenance and security, including HVAC replacements at all academic campuses; window replacements at the middle school; roof replacements at all academic campuses; secured entry control systems at all academic campuses; and new buses and district vehicles. Prop B is geared toward athletics, with proposed projects including track surface replacement; updating the field sprinkler system; grass replacement; replacing weight room equipment; updating sidewalks to ADA standards; and athletic field maintenance equipment. For the third time in two years, voters in Bridgeport ISD decided against a school bond. The district’s $26 million referendum was voted against 719-629 (53 to 47 percent). With a drastically reduced price tag from the May 2023 ($185 million) and November 2023 ($145 million) bonds, the package aimed to address three general areas: safety and security ($1.8 million), buses/SUVs ($2 million) and capital improvements/land purchase ($22.2 million).

RESCUE BOAT READY TO RESPOND — Wise County EMS has a new, jet-propelled swift water boat available for water rescues. The 14-foot boat is stationed in Decatur and designed specifically for use by first responders, with a light-weight design that can be used in both lakes and rivers or flooded roadways. “The main use will be responding to floods and on lakes,” Deputy Chief Brandon Daugherty said. Wise County Commissioners OK’d the purchase of the rescue boat for up to $47,000 in 2023. The boat is equipped with specialized underwater imaging equipment to help locate submerged people and vehicles. With its jet propulsion, the boat only requires 8 inches of water to operate. Daugherty said the lifeboat-style vessel was designed to fit into tight corridors and can be more easily lowered into bodies of water located off roads and bridges, where a boat ramp is not an option.

BULLS CLAIM GOLF STATE TITLE — Two years after making their first appearance at the 4A state tournament, the Bridgeport Bulls accomplished their goal of bringing home a team gold medal. Competing at Legends Golf Course in Kingsland Monday and Tuesday, the Bulls finished 13-over-par and carded a two-round team total 589 (291-298) to claim the program’s first team title. The Bulls outswung runner-up Wimberley (607) by 18 strokes to claim Bridgeport High School’s first state golf title since the Sissies won the 2002 3A tournament. Andrews took the team bronze with 611 — two strokes ahead of fourth-place Bullard. After shooting a first-round 74, junior Zach Kehoe (144) led the team in the second round with 70, finishing at even par to claim the silver medal behind Wimberley’s Jaxon Donaldson. Junior Brady Mann shot a two-day 145 (72-73), tying for third place. Junior Collin Moody (77-73 — 150) tied for 14th. Leading the Bulls in the first round with 71, freshman Aiden Green — the coach’s son — shot a second-round 83 and tied for 26th. Freshman Colton Paradise (74-82 —156) finished in a five-way tie for 32nd.

LAST DAY TO VOTE EARLY — Early voting for Saturday’s election ends today. Yesterday, 438 more votes were cast, bringing the six-day total to 2,801. Early voting continues 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today at the eight early voting locations: Alvord City Hall, Boyd Community Center, Bridgeport Community Center, Chico City Hall, Decatur City Hall, Lake Bridgeport City Hall, Norma Coble Civic Center (Runaway Bay) and Rhome Fire Hall. The ballot includes contested school board races in Boyd, Decatur and Northwest; contested city council or mayor races in Boyd, Decatur, Lake Bridgeport, Rhome and Runaway Bay; school bond elections in Boyd, Bridgeport and Chico; city bond propositions and a tax rollback election in Rhome; a sales and use tax election in Wise County Emergency Services District No. 1; and director elections in two water districts: Walnut Creek SUD and Wise County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1.