The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, June 11, 1987 Page: 1 of 24
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THURSDAY
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Turn to BUDGET, page 3
New director
Seniors end high school career
“You have learned skills at Allen very special person.
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Allen preparing to upgrade computer systems
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Board, administrators
start work on budget
CARRIER ROUTE PRE-SORT
POSTAL PATRON LOCAL
High School which will enable you to
be a part of a fast-moving society
By KIM ROY
Staff Writer
By KIM ROY
Staff Writer
By KIM ROY
Staff Writer
You are important.
You hold a place in this world.
You are able to do anything you
want to do, if you are willing to
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BULK RATE
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ALLEN, TX
Permit No 22
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“As you cross this stage tonight and deal with all of the challenges
and receive your diploma, remem- life will bring to you,” he said.
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For a homeowner with property tion of money for education; a
valued at $100,000, a 32-cent tax mandated career ladder for school
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Gary Clark, salutatorian of the 1987 Allen you can do.” Two hundred and thirty-three
High School graduating class, told his peers students graduated Friday night as more
to Strive to be all you can be and do all than 3,000 guests looked on.
The Allen Extra
5.2 A Harte-Hanks Community Newspaper
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American Business Directory
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liigruie
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rate hike would increase his proper- district personnel and classroom
“Our ability to raise more tax ty taxes from $900 in 1986 to size.
dollars with the same tax rate is $1,220 in 1987; an increase of $320. “We (AISD) can’t make firm
practically the same (as the 1986-87 Davenport said the figures are commitments on anything until we
school year), so we either have to estimates from preliminary data know how the state will allocate its
strengthen the tax base, raise taxes collected from state information and funds,” Davenport said in a tele-
or both, said Allen Independent AISD budget forecasts. phone interview Tuesday morning.
School District Superintendent The final figures on state funding “Based on what we know, we
| Gene Davenport in reference to the and state rulings concerning educa- hope we have presented the worst
upcoming budget. tion will not be available until after possible scenario,” he said.
Davenport told the AISD Board the special legislative session which According to AISD estimates,
of Trustees Monday night that begins June 22. there could be a gap of $2.2 to $2.4
because of an increase in the AISD During the session, Davenport million between available and neces-
budget for the 1987-88 school year said the representatives might sary funds for the 1987-88 budget,
and a potential decrease in state change any number of crucial vari- These funds must be generated
funds, taxes might be raised ables which affect Allen’s funding, locally.
between 32 and 35 cents per Variables include the equalization
hundred dollar valuation. formula, which dictates state alloca-
utility billing, payroll and general Some of the additional functions includes installation of the micro- network of mini and microcompu- According to an environment
ledger. include word processing, database computers, is expected to take 15 ters instead of a mainframe compu- survey by Mak of 10 metroplex
The current network has been in management, complicated graphic months. The first phase is the only ter for several reasons, including cities, the city of Plano, population
t he city of Allen will begin use for five years, which is a typical mapping for community develop- phase budgeted at this time, Mak cost. According to Mak’s figures, a about 108,000, has a mainframe
implementation of a city-wide inte- life span for computer equipment, ment, flood plain analysis for the said. mainframe system would have an system, 1,030 city employees, a
grated computer system under the Mak said. Computer systems usual- engineering department, street The new minicomputer will be initial cost of approximately data processing staff of 20 and a
direction of computer processing ly become technologically obsolete inventory control and recreation purchased in the second phase of $254,000, not including program- data processing budget of $1.1
coordinator Nelson Mak. after five years, Mak said. Usually program schedules, Mak said. the plan, which is scheduled to start mers’ salaries. million.
Approval of Mak s conceptual the hardware becomes obsolete The microcomputers will give the during the seventh month of the A mainframe computer would Information from the same
plan, which includes four phases because of difficulty in purchasing city versatility to add additional project. require between 10 and 20 in-house survey showed White Settlement,
iplemented over 30 months, came software, he explained. functions as needed, he said. The third phase is scheduled to programmers to write software, the town closest to Allen in terms of
at the -une 4 city council meeting. The new network, which has an The specifics of each of the four begin in the 11th month of the Mak said. In addition to the cost of population with 15,000, has 100 city
g he proposed system consists of expected one-year cost of $128,000 phases will be decided as the action project and will include setting up the programmers’ salaries, mainte- employees, an IBM S/36 minicom-
" a minicomputer, IBM S/36 Central not including supplies, is expected plans are drawn up for each phase, the computer network. nance of the software and staff puter, 12 terminals, one personal
nrocessing Unit (CPU), 10 micro- to be viable for the next five years, Mak said. The fourth phase, which is sche- training would be expensive, he computer, a data processing staff of
computers and various peripheral he said. Although the minicomputer in the duled to begin in the 21st month of said. one and no data processing budget,
units. Mak said the network will “In the long-run,” he said, “the proposed plan is the IBM S/36, Mak the project, includes interfacing the Besides cost, Mak said the city’s Mak, who began work as Allen’s
expand and evolve as the city s new system will save money and said the decision on the brand of the personal computer system used by needs at this point do not require data processing coordinator in Janu-
needs change. . increase productivity.” microcomputers and peripheral the police department with the rest mainframe capacity, and the main- ary, has a bachelor’s degree from
he proposed network will The upgraded IBM S/36 mini- equipment will come in the detailed of the system to complete the city- frame is not as flexible nor as user Old Dominion University, Virginia,
replace the current system, which computer, which is 10 times bigger action plans. wide integrated network. friendly as the microcomputers. and a master’s degree from Texas
consists of an IBM S/34 minicompu- internally and has a much greater The brand of the peripheral Mak said he expects to have a “Our neighboring cities already Tech University in management
ter, our computer terminals and a capacity than the IBM S/34, will equipment is not important as long detailed master plan completed have computer systems. Allen is a information systems (MIS).
une printer. 1 he current system is provide additional functions as as the units are compatible, Mak within a month for submission to the little behind. People here (city staff) Originally from Hong Kong, Mak
“used exc uslve ly by th e financial defined in a needs analysis study, said. city council. are crying for computers,” Mak said he moved to the United States
department for functions such as Mak said. The first phase of the plan, which Mak said he proposed the said. In 1980.
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Scott Nowling/Staff photo
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Fire station remodeling
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Scott Nowling/Staff photo
Stacy Brown-McDaniel, the new director on setting up the next meeting of the
of the Allen Information and Referral board. Brown-McDaniel was introduced
Service, consults with Doug Trent, chair- to the board members and volunteers at a
man of the Allen I&R board of directors, luncheon Monday afternoon.
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d ber that what may seem like a small After expounding on the tradition work for it.
“ step to some, is indeed a giant step and vision of the eagle spirit, Don’t ever change. Be like the
for each of you as you step into your Davenport closed with a poem eagle. Be special. Be a winner.""
future,” said Allen Independent quoted from an anonymous letter in Mike Blackmon, senior class
School District Superintendent an educational magazine: valedictorian, also addressed the
Gene Davenport. audience and his peers.
The guest speaker for the 1987 _ You are an eagle, you are a “Today is for dreaming, and
Allen High School commencement winner, you are special. tomorrow is for making dreams
exercises, Davenport addressed An eagle flies high and soars come true. Tonight is our tomor-
233 graduating seniors and more above the rest. row,” he said.
than 3,000 guests at the ceremony ’ . Gary Clark, salutatorian, asked
Friday night in the Allen High stands for liberty, justice, bis peers to recall memorable
• School stadium, honesty pride and the will to live. It events and individuals who had an
Davenport told the seniors they always tnes to do its very best at impact on their lives. He told the
left their mark on Allen High School everything. It has the sense of fair students that each and every one
m the same proud tradition estab- Play- The eagle is a grand and had to live up to the standard of
lished by the first graduating class in majestic bird. success they had set as a class.
1937 and would become an integral This is how I see the eagle, this is After the speeches were
part of the school’s history of how I see you.
achievements. Always remember that you are a Turn to SENIORS, page 11A
.Work begins on Expressway
Work is under way on a construe- 544 and six lanes from FM 544 to the main lanes will be completed in
tion project involving a three mile Springcreek Parkway. March of 1990 and the work will be
section of Central Expressway from The contract for the work was completed by Jan. 1, 1991.
south of FM 544 in Plano to north of awarded to J.D. Abrams, Inc. and Traffic on Central Expressway
Springcreek Parkway. Southwestern Contracting Co. of and cross streets involved within
The project consists of grading, Austin with a low bid of $39,781, the work areas will be routed
structures, storm sewers, lime 121.12. The state has allotted 850 through construction and over
treated subgravel, asphalt stabilized working days to open up the main detours. Motorists are warned to
base, concrete pavement, pave- lanes to traffic and 1,100 working take particular caution with the
Q ment markings, signing and safety days to finish the contract. Charles construction area since traffic will
illumination to provide eight lanes of P. Worrell, vice president of J.D. be rerouted numerous times during
concrete pavement north to FM Abrams, Inc. said it is anticipated the construction sequences.
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Jorgensen, Karen M. The Allen American (Allen, Tex.), Ed. 1 Thursday, June 11, 1987, newspaper, June 11, 1987; Allen, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1523660/m1/1/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Allen Public Library.