KISD board approves drilling at Ag Farm

Kilgore Independent School District officials Monday evening approved an agreement to allow drilling at the high school ag farm.

Superintendent Jody Clements said Samson Lone Star drilling company will pay the school district $20,000 for the trees and land it will use for a gas well site.

"Samson agreed to move the well to the far northeast corner of the ag farm and changed the angle of the entry road, but added a turn-around for the trucks, taking up less of the original acreage called for in the initial presentation to the board," said Clements.

Clements added the dirt work is scheduled to start at the first of October and drilling will begin the first of December.

Assistant Superintendent Bobby Wheeley announced the board will hold a special meeting sometime within the next couple of weeks to discuss what action should be taken against the student who brought a gun to the high school campus on Friday. He said the boy's parents will be given a chance to respond.

"The student is currently under suspension," said Wheeley.

Clements gave a report to the board on current construction projects which, basically said, are done.

"We have signed off on all the construction at the high school, " said Clements. "There was one provision — new lighting is being added to the indoor practice facility to bring the lighting up to specifications — but everything else is complete."

Clements said there are no new construction projects in the works at this time, but the district will be looking at some long-term goals in the near future.

As in every school year, the KISD board and administrators look at changing board policies. One policy the board was asked to consider involves its drug testing policies, which Wheeley said will be addressed during next month's board meeting.

"The board requested more information on drug testing and wanted to look into this policy further before making any changes," said Wheeley.

Any changes made to school policies would then go to the state board of education for final ratification and then be sent back to KISD officials for final approval. This action could take as long as three months to complete.

Clements said discussions would start next week with the Texas Collegiate League, which operates a wooden bat amateur league at Driller Park.

"We are looking at facilities, as well as costs to operate the league and we want each party to have a better understanding of who has what responsibilities during the time the park is operated by the league, " said Clements. "I will come back with the administrations recommendation to the KISD board of trustees at the next regularly scheduled meeting."

The board of trustees also took time last night to give Kilgore Intermediate School students academic recognition. The students, who were fourth grade students last year were presented certificates by the board for their achievement.