Faber leaves KISD board after 24 years
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

Terry George, (left) and Dereck Borders get sworn in at last nights KISD board meeting.

The Kilgore Independent School District held their final board meeting of the school year last night with a little history attached.

George Faber, board of trustee member for 24 years stepped down as the oldest serving board president in the State of Texas.

Faber's position is being filled by Dereck Borders, who won the position for Place 1 in the May election. Faber did not seek re-election.

Superintendent Jody Clements, KISD, presented Faber with a plaque in honor of his service.

Borders and Terry George were then sworn in by Jeanette Holt, officially taking their positions on the board. George was already a board member, winning Place 2 in the May election.

One of the informational items on the agenda was school enrollment.

Revard Pfeffer, business manager for KISD said the district was down 82 students at this time, as compared to the same time last year.

Pfeffer said if the numbers stand, KISD funding could decrease for next year by as much as $500,000.

George Faber (left) receives a plaque from KISD Superintendent Jody Clements for 24 years of service.

"I won't know the exact numbers until the second week in June," Pfeffer said. "Next years budget could be extremely tight."

The board has already scheduled budget workshops to begin at the first board meeting in June.

In action items, the contract for concessions at R. E. St. John's Stadium is coming up for renewal. The current contract is held by the band boosters.

Clements said the board tabled any action on this item at this time because the district wanted to examine the contract and options for renewal.

The KISD board did approve a quitclaim deed for the City of Kilgore for a piece of property on Hwy 31 where Kilgore is building a new building for use by Champion Ambulance Service. The property is owned by the city and is non-taxable.

In another action item the board was slated to fill the position of Kilgore High School principal which will be vacated by Bobby Wheeley at the end of the regular school year.

This item was also tabled and no action was taken.

Clements said the committee had selected a final candidate, but at the last minute that candidate backed out of the position.

"We were not completely happy with our other choices," Clements said. "We are going back to the hiring process to make sure we get the right person for the job."

Clements did announce to the board that Assistant Principal Andy Adams will be promoted to the position of principal at Kilgore Intermediate School.

"We will now start a hiring process to fill the assistant position at KIS," Clements said.

In other employment action taken by the board, Melissa Vansenden and Terry Everitt were hired to fill the two assistant principal positions at Maude Laird Middle School.

In construction updates given by Clements, the new indoor practice facility at KHS is mostly complete, but the contractor has not yet turned the building over for occupancy by KISD.

"There are still some minor finishing touches on the building that has to be done before it can be occupied," Clements said. "The new classroom addition should be completed by the end of August."

KISD is also looking to get rid of some portable buildings and needed board approval to sell same.

Pfeffer said the portable building that is being used by the tennis program at KHS is in bad shape, but a larger portable building on the KHS campus is going to be moved to replace the tennis building.

Mike Brown, maintenance director for KISD, said the tennis building is in need of major repairs, but at a cost of approximately $10,000 the larger portable can be moved, restrooms updated so there will be a separate dressing room for the boys and girls.

Clements said this changeover will take place over the summer, but he hopes in the future a more permanent structure can be put in place for the tennis program.