The Bastrop Advertiser and County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 135, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 26, 1988 Page: 4 of 46
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Page 4, Section I THE BASTROP ADVERTISER AND COUNTY NEWS Thursday, May 26, 1988
Issues and Opinions
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Pat Steubing's farewell
By Dr. Pat Steubing
I prepared a short speech. When
my husband accepted a position in
Las Vegas in February, I thought
I could wing it by myself for two
years, because I love Bastrop so
much. I didn't want to take the kids
out of BISD, and I didn't want to
resign from the board, but it took
just a short time to realize that I
can't make it without my husband
and visa versa.
I have learned far more about the
realities of running a school dis-
trict, than I ever thought possible.
Before I was a board member and
even though I taught at BISD for
two years, I knew very little about
the real responsibilities of the ad-
ministration in running a district,
and of the board as a policy mak-
er and overseer of the district as a
whole. The first year was the
hardest on the board, because I did
not know how to work as a team
to come to a consensus in a posi-
tive way. I think it was hard for
everyone on the board at that time.
1 now feel I have earned the respect
of the board, and I respect every
single member of the board.
The board is not a 'rubber
stamp', a misconception I once
had. Many unseen hours of posi-
tive debate, and education through
workshops occurs for each mem-
ber. Anyone who thinks they want
to get on the board so they can
change everything - really has alot
to learn about the inner workings
of the district.
I have the upmost respect for
Mr. Deviney. I know we have got-
ten into many a heated discussion,
and I'm sure that sometimes he
wished the 'Yankee would go
home'. Through all our discussions
we always worked things out and
were able to put it behind us.
I believe this district has an ex-
cellent board, and I have all the
confidence in the world that my
replacement at the June meeting
will be made with much consider-
ation and foresight.
I would like to address some is-
sues, that the current board mem-
bers may want to consider when
they come up. That is why I'm giv-
ing out a copy of the speech.
1. Three months ago Mr.
Deviney changed the format of the
board meetings on a trial basis. My
opinion is the old way is better. I
feel each administrator should
report on their specific area, and
I feel it should be as previously
done in open session before the ex-
ecutive session. As it is now the
reports are placed in the informa-
tion section given by Mr. Deviney
after our executive session. At this
late time, I have observed that all
the board members including my-
self are tired and not enough time
is being spent on these excellent
reports.
2. I am earnestly against splitting
any of the K or 1st grades from
their main campus. Eventually we
do need to go to a K-6 campus, but
until then we may need to consider
K, 1, 2 on the current elementary
campus, 3 and 4 at the primary,
and 5 and 6 at the intermediate.
T.E.A. commented on the lack of
continuity in the elementary cur-
riculum. It is hard to maintain con-
tinuity when K-6 are not under the
same roof. This lack of continuity
would be accentuated by splitting
some K and 1 classes. The read-
ing program at the primary and
elementary are not the same. The
current reading program at the
primary has proven to be very suc-
cessful reflected by the TEAMS
and SRA scores. This program
needs to be officially adopted as the
elementary reading program for the
lower grades.
3. I would also ask the board to
consider a new member orientation
given by an educator skilled in de-
veloping team working techniques,
and methods in reaching a positive
consensus. These orientations
should be attended by all members
to permit interaction and to develop
early rapport.
4. I have mentioned previously
that the board needs to do a self-
evaluation, so that goals may be set
and members can grow.
I want to make a final comment.
I keep hearing criticism of the
board and administration, I believe
it is unfounded. This administra-
tion under Mr. Deviney has gone
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•iiiil (County iVctus
TEXAS' OLDEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Published 102 times a year (excluding two issues), Mon-
day and Thursday at The Bastrop Advertiser office, 908
Water Street, P. O. Box 459, Bastrop, TX 78602. An in-
dependent home-owned newspaper, non-sectarian, non-
partisan, devoted to the welfare of the people of Bastrop
County. Subscription rates: $11.00 per year in county,
$16.00 per year out of county, payable in advance.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 459,
Bastrop, TX 78602.
321-2557 - 321-6444
Jack Fraser—Publisher
Jerry Appel—Business Manager
Davis McAuley—Editor
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Erlene Goertz—Advertising
PRODUCTION
Sharon Roper, Carrie Knox
Laverne (ilaeser
CIRCULATION
Fay Pannell, Carolyn Wright
Debi Mott
BASTROP ADVERTISER (UPS045-020)
MEMBER TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
1988
out of their way to listen to the staff
and the community. One complaint
I recently heard is on teacher sa-
laries. Maybe the community does
not realize that in 1984-85 with a
tax rate of .67, the average teacher
salaries for our district was
$19,208. In 1985-86 still without
increasing the tax rate, the salar-
ies went up to $20,066. In 1986-87
with an increase in the tax rate to
.72 (the maximum allowed to pre-
vent a roll back) the average
teacher salaries went up to
$21,234. In that- same year the
average teacher career ladder sup-
plement was $1,973 compared to
a state low of $1,676.
For the 1987-88 school year, the
tax rate went up to .82 (maximum
allowed) and the salaries have in-
creased again. In a rural commu-
nity with very little tax base and
with our depressed Texas econo-
my, I think this administration un-
der Mr. Deviney and our current
board is doing an above average
job in increasing our teacher salar-
ies. If the board goes above 8% in
increasing the effective tax rate,
then we certainly would have been
open for a roll back in the
depressed economic climate of to-
day. It is my opinion that if any
employee of BISD is dissatisfied
with how the district is run, then
maybe they should seek employ-
ment elsewhere. I guarantee that
even though they may get a higher
salary elsewhere, they'll never find
a more caring administration, com-
munity, or school board as we have
in Bastrop. The whole goal of a
school district is to educate the stu-
dents, and when there are em-
ployees who do not enjoy working
in the district, then it will definitely
have a detrimental affect on the
education of our children.
One of my greatest regrets is that
I wanted Sarah and Joey to go to
Bastrop from K-12, but we hope
to be back in two years. I have
100% confidence that I'm leaving
the district in good hands.
May 19 comment added: It is im-
portant that any parents, who are
concerned with the splitting of K
or 1st grades mentioned in #2
above please contact Mr. Deviney,
and the current board members.
This decision needs to be addressed
shortly, and will certainly come up
at a board meeting this summer.
One more chance
J> On the surface the deal between
Bastrop and the Bastrop Hospital
Authority for the city to buy half
the hospital's land (See Page 1 sto-.
ry) doesn't sound unreasonable.
The contract will get the HUD
onerous mortgage payments off the
back of the beleaguered hospital
and will give the city a potential
new water well pool.
Unless the hospital gets one
more chance to show that it can be
well managed and break even, the
hospital's faithful backers proba-
bly will not allow any other ar-
rangement, such as the emergency
station deal with St. David's
Hospital. So let's give it one more
try, realizing it will be a struggle.
But the full story of the hospital
operation, its costs, its budget, its
needs etc. still should be unveiled
soon. Too much of the negotiations
on the land purchase have been
done in secret and it's time to bring
out all the details in the open.
Many questions are still unan-
swered. Will all local doctors use
the hospital? They must to make it
successful. Depending on newly
imported doctors won't do the trick
because it hasn't in the past. Can
a 25-bed hospital generate enough
income to support equipment and
personnel needed to compete with
Austin hospitals?
We will find out and it won't
take a year to know the answers.
Bastrop has a last chance to sup-
port a full fledged hospital but it
will take the most skillful opera-
tion to gain community confidence.
Administrator Joe Rice has our
confidence. If he pulls this off he
will be Miracle Worker No. 1.
***** *****
Esther Vasquez used to be the
enchilada queen of Chestnut Street
at her former, much missed El
Gallito.
But even when you were enjoy-
ing one of her inimitable plate
lunches (good for lifting your
spirits on a tough day) Esther had
more to offer than food. Her opin-
ions on kids, schools and the com-
munity were to the point.
She will be a fresh and historic
face on the Bastrop Independent
School District Board.
Bicycle city good idea
Dear Editor:
Your idea of Bastrop being the
bicycle city of Central Texas, is an
excellent idea. A few other cities
have tried to be their nome to bi-
cycles here is a partial list and ex-
amples of what happened.
Witchita Falls - Hotter than Hell
100 Bike Ride, last year had
12,000 bicyclists for their weekend
plus families.
Tyler - Beauty and the Beast 100
Bike Ride, 2,000 riders first year,
3,500 riders second year plus fa-
milies for at least one night.
Tyler Chamber estimates
$500,000 to $750,000 spent that
weekend by tourists alone.
Crested Butte, Colorado - Fat
Tire Week for off road bikes
played host to 12,000 people in-
cluding families.
Can Bastrop become the bicycle
city of Central Texas or at least be
cyclist friendlv?
As you know Bastrop is known in
the Houston, Austin and San An-
tonio cycling communities for its
scenery and the hills between the
parks. This recognition could be
capitalized on and harnessed to
benefit the city, its merchants and
citizens. The citizens of Bastrop
County would need to realize that
bikes are governed by the same
laws that cars are and are entitled
to use the same roads. Such activi-
ties as throwing items at riders is
against the law and the riders do
not like to ride in areas where these
things happen.
If the citizens do not treat cyclists
friendly then the cyclist will not be
a tourist in our town.
We can become a cycling capi-
tal of Central Texas if we ban
together and hold a major ride each
year as well as a few smaller rides
during the year. This would mean
a few small inconveniences like
some streets being closed during
the start and possibly the finish.
But the money generated by taxes
alone would be enough to see some
improvement in city services, and
benefit the local economy. (
Just think what if one of these
riders was chief executive officer
of a major company. What might
happen? Maybe he would like the
area and move his company here
or open an office in Bastrop
County. The roads being closed for
a few hours one day a year would
be a small price to pay for the
chance of that chief executive
officer bringing new jobs to Bas-
trop. What do you think? Can we
become the bicycle city of Central
Texas?
J. Hill
Bastrop
Install Con Keirsey now
Dear Editor:
I believe that the newly elected
Sheriff of the Democratic Party for
Bastrop County should be installed,
now, by the Commissioners Court.
For the good of the county, as
well as the proper service to the
citizens, the commissioners should
not delay any further in this most
important action.
It is not fair to the employees in
the department of the sheriff or to
the people which it serves.
Proper new procedures and such
may not be initiated, as the acting
sheriff will try to start things which
will be attention-getters for him,
and may in turn retard the effec-
tiveness of the elected nominee in
order to further his own write-in
campaign.
Money rrtay be spent on "eye-
wash programs" when it may well
be used for other things. The same
money that the new sheriff might
use in a more effective way, may
Not DHR
Dear Editor:
I was an employee of the Texas
Department of Mental Health and
Mental Retardation at the time of
my arrest, not the Department of
Human Resources.
Sincerely,
Laura Spector
Buffalo, NY
be spent to help the acting sheriffs
cause.
The new jail and office complex
also needs the ideas and expertise
of the new sheriff, since he will
have to administer to that for the
next four years.
The employees are not going to
be able to work with full efficien-
cy under the present conditions, not
knowing just what their destiny
will be.
It is legal, and just good common
sense to go ahead and install the
newly elected sheriff now. Instead
of allowing the sheriff s depart-
ment to either flounder in the state
of limbo or just maintain the sta-
tus quo.
If the commissioners are con-
cerned about the money spending
and the development of the
sheriffs department, they should
move on this matter in the very
near future. If there was a concern
about their placing this acting
a X&k*'.
sheriff in this position, remember,
he was not a law enforcement
officer anyway, and he did not
keep the trust they believed was in
the reason for appointing him. He
was not supposed to be a candidate
for sheriff, or else they would
never have appointed him as such.
Thank you,
Daniel Vasquez
Cedar Creek
Editor's Note: The purpose of the
primary election recently held was
to nominate someone from each
party as the candidate for the
general election in November.
Since both the Democratic and
Republican primaries did nominate
a candidate, the voters should
make the final selection, not the
commissioners court. In cases
where there is only one nominee,
appointment by the commissioners
court is not unreasonble.
Jail paint risky
Dear Editor:
I am so glad my work in the area
of domestic violence has not been
forgotten. It is nice to be
remembered.
In the upcoming future, look for
me to (a) petition the County Com-
missioner's Court in Bastrop for
the need to hire a female guard for
the women's side of the jail (b) file
a complaint with OSHA about the
peeling paint in the jail. This is
most likely causing a certain level
of toxicity amongst employees and
prisoners in the way of lead poison-
ing, and (c) file a complaint with
the Texas Commission on Jail
Standards over the lack of an ex-
ercise program for the prisoners in
the Bastrop County Jail.
Thank you,
Laura Spector
Buffalo, NY
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McAuley, Davis. The Bastrop Advertiser and County News (Bastrop, Tex.), Vol. 135, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 26, 1988, newspaper, May 26, 1988; Bastrop, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391003/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bastrop Public Library.