Lockney Elementary School (Alex Driggars/Floyd County Record)
LOCKNEY – It was a meeting that could be described as the “Era of Good Feelings” by historians.
The Lockney ISD board held a jovial meeting Tuesday night with highlights from Lockney’s three principals about how the year is going and from Superintendent Jim Baum about enrollment being higher than expected.
The meeting started with a report from Baum about how the district is working to target the need for thermostat repairs amid Digital Air Control of Lubbock informing them the current units are obsolete. Rather than replace the entire system at this time, Baum asked the company to identify other districts that might have spare units or be in the process of replacing their systems so that LISD could purchase the older units.
The principals of each campus were then invited to speak. Elementary principal Mike Michaelson told the board he had 181 students on his campus, and that attendance was at 96 percent for the first six weeks. He reported the school had a successful book fair, and that the new Student Success Coordinator was “taking the bull by the horns” in her work. That caused Baum to quip “Well, we are Lockney,” in reference to the district’s mascot.
High School principal Michelle Southard went next, with praise for the recent student-led conferences where students set up their own parent-teacher meetings. She said more than 100 students took part in setting up the meetings. She also reported the school’s attendance committee was working hard and holding students accountable at being in school and being there on time.
Junior High principal Dewayne Jones proudly reported that his campus had reported no major disciplinary issues for the first six weeks, and that no cell phones had to be confiscated due to students using them in class. He also discussed the plan for his campus to hold a Hispanic Heritage Month recognition, and reported that the school was still debating how best to celebrate.
Baum was the last employee to give his report to the board, stating the district had 406 students at the end of the first six weeks on Friday the 23rd. The district had planned for roughly 30 less students, but were glad to have them and had no major issues due to having that many more. He talked about upcoming events students would be attending, with Cross Country’s district meet on October 11 and the Longhorn Band competing at their regional marching contest on October 15. Much was discussed among the board about the improvement in student morale and encouragement in the band this fall.
Board President Mike Lass talked about a recent seminar he attended at the Texas Association of School Boards conference in San Antonio on Head Start programs. He believes based on academic progress of early learners the district should look at bringing the federally-funded program to the elementary school. A majority of Lockney’s population could benefit from Head Start, beginning at age 3. Floydada CISD has a similar program already established at their elementary. Baum agreed he would begin looking into what would be needed, and targeted a location near the back of the Lockney Elementary campus that could facilitate such a program.
