Board Approves Hiring of Belton New Tech Principal |
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The Belton ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Kimberly Winters as the next principal at Belton New Tech High School @ Waskow at its May meeting.
Winters is currently the principal of Pearson Ranch Middle School, a science, technology, engineering, art and math-focused campus in Round Rock ISD she helped open in 2016. Her 20 years of education experience also includes leading Noel Grisham Middle School in RRISD, a campus with an International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program
Winters holds a bachelor's degree from Texas State University and a master's from the University of Texas at Austin. She will begin working on a doctoral degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor this summer.
Winters replaces Jennisty Thomason who will continue her career in Holland ISD next year. Thomason served in leadership at BNTH@W for four years.
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Student Showcase - Belton High School Madrigal |
Belton High School students performed a snippet from this year's Madrigal and Harmony Spring Show titled "Blast From the Past." The Madrigal Men performed "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. The group includes seniors Robert Brown, Ethan Matous, Jouper Muring and Paul Vassar along with juniors Corban Hammonds, Will Hayes, Daniel Holcomb, Jackson Reasoner and Nick Wagner. The BHS choir is under the direction of Tonya Lovorn and Trey Shonkwiler. |
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Re-Elected Trustees Take Oath of Office, Board Reorganizes |
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Chris Flor and Erin Bass were sworn in as Area 4 and Area 2 trustees, respectively. As part of the Board’s annual reorganization and in accordance with the Board’s operating procedures, Jeff Norwood was selected as president. Ty Taggart will serve as vice president and Manuel Alcozer will be secretary. |
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Board Recognition -
UIL State Solo-Ensemble Qualifiers (Band, Orchestra & Choir)
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Forty-four students from the district’s high school band, orchestra and choir programs qualified for the UIL Texas State Solo-Ensemble contests held recently.
Students earned the opportunity to participate at the state level by receiving a Division 1 “Superior” Rating at the Region 8 Solo-Ensemble Contest. In addition to receiving the highest rating available, they also had to receive that rating on the most difficult level of music available to them.
The 18 Belton High School band students qualifying for state include: Samuel Foreman, Michael Jones, Nicholas Sullivan, Emily Ebers, Joshua Krieg, Jacob Masters, Michael Eckert, Angel Rios-Torres, Andrew Johnson, Ethan Rasmussen, Alex Rendon, Michael Summers, Joshua Fuentes, Samuel Fothergill, Brandon Bechtel, Nolan Koloroutis, Jacob Wiley and Grayson Necessary. Shannon Gill is the school’s band director.
Orchestra students from both of the district’s high schools also reached the state competition. From Lake Belton High School, Elana Irom qualified on violin. Bryan Barrett is the school’s orchestra director. From Belton High School, Jackson Belobrajdic, Aditi Bhat, Krithika Rajesh, Maheshwari Rajesh, Gwyneth Sachsenmaier and Kara Shin qualified on violin. John Fairlie is the school’s orchestra director.
Belton High also had 19 choir students qualify for the state Solo-Ensemble contest. They include: Mackenzie Bramlett, Megan Sloane, Daniel Holcomb, Preston Ramirez, Ashland Reyes, Jackson Reasoner, Joshua Martinez, Ethan Matous, Jouper Muring, Erica Aguillon, Annalysse Miller, Nicholas Wagner, Hayley Cavazos, Kaitlyn Kidd, Amy Villanueva, Sarah Millington, Rachel Schiller, Paul Vassar and Sunshine Phelps. Tonya Lovorn is the head choir director at Belton High.
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Board Recognition -
UIL Academic State Qualifier
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Belton High senior Gautam Ghamande advanced to the UIL Academic State Competition in Current Issues and Events with a 2nd place finish against 32 competitors. The state competition was held in Liberty Hill on May 1 where he placed 9th in the State 6A division out of 30. Pam Rodriguez is his academic coach. |
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Delivery Method Chosen for Next Elementary School
The Board approved using a construction manager at risk as the delivery method for the district’s next elementary school. During the Board Facilities Committee meeting held earlier this month, the construction manager at risk process was discussed as providing the best value for the district as it includes the construction manager in the design process and estimation of construction costs.
Michael Morgan, assistant superintendent of operations, told the Board this process will help the district be prepared when the time comes to construct a new school, which won’t be too far into the future based on enrollment projections that show the district growing by 360 elementary students each year.
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Board Recognition -
National FFA Organization State Qualifier
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Six teams of students from Belton FFA qualified for the state Career Development Events (CDE) contests held at Tarleton State University, Sam Houston State University and the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest with one team earning state recognition.
The Environmental and Natural Resources team, including Belton High School seniors Julie Johnson, Luke Read, Colton Schlickeisen and Cade Wenberg, placed 3rd at state. Luke Read and Cade Wenberg placed 1st and 2nd, respectively, as individuals.
Other teams and members included: Homesite Evaluation (BHS students Hana Erskine, Anthony Jones, Kelton McBride and Rawan Tarabeh); Land (Emma Canales, LBHS; Carter Hitt, LBHS; Alexis Lisenbe, BHS; and Avery Jones, LBHS); Milk Quality and Products (Rachel Mahan, BHS; Veronica Morales, BHS; Josh Roberts, BHS; and Emma Winkler, Belton New Tech); Nursery/Landscape (BHS students Thomas Gallaway, Aimee’ Jones, Sarah Mikeska and Brooke Moger) and Wildlife (Josiah Kahler, BHS; Joseph Knox, BHS; and Brady Scott, Belton New Tech). Advisors for these teams are Josh Flowers, Jeffry Heffernan, Brad Hobbs and Lori Hobbs.
CDE contests build on what is learned in agriculture classes and encourage students to put their knowledge into practice. About 3,800 teams of about 14,000 students competed in 28 different events at the state competition.
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Board Committee Reports
Policy: The policy committee met on May 3 and discussed the possibility of hiring the Texas Association of School Boards to help systematically review all Board policies. This type of thorough review has not happened since 2001. The committee also discussed a first reading of FFAC(LOCAL): Wellness and Health Services - Medical Treatment and continued talks about EIC(LOCAL).
Facilities: The facilities committee met on May 12 and continued discussions about the recently completed facilities assessment and the impacts of a future bond election. The committee also discussed how the district's Journey of a Graduate could influence a new elementary school design concept.
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Board Recognition -
Texas Bioscience Institute Graduates
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Jocelyn Aguirre, Benjamin Broom, Joseph Dominguez, Lexi Marshall, Loris Mendoza, Ashley Perrier, Riley Suiter, Drew Vuong, Lynsie Ware, Aimee Jones and Brandt Menzie were recognized in a special Silver Cording Ceremony held by Temple College on April 27 for completing dual credit coursework in the Texas Bioscience Institute (TBI) Middle College program.
The TBI Middle College program is a partnership with Temple College that allows qualified Belton ISD students to enroll in rigorous STEM-focused dual credit coursework in their junior and senior years of high school. Nine of these students have also qualified to receive an associate of arts degree from Temple College in May.
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Superintendent's Report
- Enrollment Update: The district has 12,839 students as of May 13, which is 2 more than reported at the last Board meeting.
- Highlights from the month included attending award ceremonies, presenting Every Kid A Winner awards. Graduation planning is underway for our June 10 ceremonies at Tiger Field.
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Board Recognition - Temple Rotary Club's Educator of the Month |
Eric Regier, an algebra I teacher at Belton High School, was recognized as Temple Rotary Club's Educator of the Month for April. He is in his ninth year in education and his third with Belton ISD. "He has meant so much to the overall growth and success of our school, academically, emotionally and culturally," said BHS principal Ben Smith. "We are so thankful for all he has given to the students and staff at BHS." |
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Consent Agenda Highlights
- Unaudited financial report for the month ending April 30, 2021
- Gifts, grants and bequests
- Supply, equipment and service bids (RFP for school photography services)
- Revision to FFAC(LOCAL): Wellness and Health Services - Medical Treatment (2nd Reading)
- Budget Amendment #8 for 2021-2022
- Expenditures over $50,000 (Renaissance Learning Software license renewals, Emergent Tree and Suspension Netting System)
To review Belton ISD board meeting agendas and full packet materials, click here.
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Board Recognition - Temple Rotary Club's Educator of the Month
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Raquel Mungia, a third grade bilingual teacher at Charter Oak Elementary, was recognized as Temple Rotary Club's Educator of the Month for May. She is in her 17th year in education and her eighth with Belton ISD. Principal Jennifer Conner said that Mrs. Mungia always gives her students 100 percent, builds relationships and develops trust with parents and knows each students' academic and social-emotional needs. |
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