North Forest names high school, picks colors

By GILBERT HOFFMAN
NORTH FOREST– At their monthly board meeting last Monday night, the NF District voted to adopt the name “North Forest High School” for the two consolidated high schools, and to have the official school colors black and gold, and the mascot name the “Bulldogs”.
Input on the new name and colors came from cards handed in by students, staff and the public at several meetings, according to Nakisha Myles, spokesperson for the district.
Other names that were considered in the voting were Obama High School, Northeast High School, MLK High School, and George W. Bush High School.
This vote continued the consolidation and downsizing that the district is going through, with the goal of returning to financial stability and to satisfy the Texas Education Agency so that the state monitors or “conservators” that are overseeing the district could be concluded.

However, financial problems continue to plague the district, exemplified by a $250,000 electic power bill that was questioned by the board as out of line, and no one seemed to have a good answer as to why. Assistant Administrator Carl Williams said he thought part of the problem was lack of A/C controls, that allowed the buildings to run 24/7.
Trustee Lemons indicated that the district needed an Energy Efficiency plan, and that it needed to be implemented with an inservice training, and with penalties and rewards for those in charge of useage. He indicated that this program was in effect in his school in Houston ISD, where he is a principal.
TEA report on possible Probation, closure
During the meeting, a “preliminary” report to the district from TEA was discussed. This report was not to be made public, according to a frustrated TEA representative at the meeting, Ron Rowell, and he suggested that someone on the board or the superintendent had leaked the report to the media. The report detailed the failures of the district, and laid the groundwork for a possible closure of the district, a drastic step which TEA now had the authority to do, but has not exercised elsewhere in the state.
During the meeting, a new Special Ed director, Dr. O’Connor was introduced. He replaces Dr. Ruth Watson, who was criticized in the media for the way she ran her department, and who the board says is now on medical and family leave.
Academic Conservator Barbara Wilson made a report to the board that indicated improvements in the academics of the district, and that TEA had found her Improvement Plan acceptable.
In the public comment section of the meeting, Robin German Curtis spoke on the need for cooperation between the board and her organization, NEEF. She said “Let us make a Plan together, for the good of our children.” NEEF was the group that brought former U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige to the district a few months ago to encourage this improvement.
Interim superintendent William Jones noted, in the discussion on the Visor Camp and other summer programs, that federal funds use and related programs were being investigated by the District Attorney. He stated that all children would have summer programs available, but that he was limited in what specifics he could promise.
In a note of levity during the meeting, Trustee Albert Lemons was asked if he would consider being superintendent. He answered “No. I’ve tried to live to make it into Heaven.”