This has been a wonderful year, and while we are sad to see everyone go, we are proud of our students’ accomplishments. They will continue to impact their community wherever they travel with the knowledge they gained while walking the bricks of our campus. Congratulations, graduates!
This is Teacher Appreciation Week. Nurses’ Day will be celebrated on Wednesday. Progress reports will be issued in AISD this week. Taylor County schools are encouraged to send their weekly events calendars for inclusion in the “Chalkboard.” This column is published in the Abilene Reporter-News on Mondays during the school year. Email information to by noon Fridays to be included in the week after next’s column. Map/directions to away events are provided at the school office. For more information on Abilene ISD schools, visit . For information on Wylie ISD schools, visit . Information on high school athletics is included in the Sports Section of the Abilene Reporter-News.
AUSTIN ELEMENTARY
Morning Announcements: Mrs. Farina’s class.
Field Trip: Planetarium, kindergarten, 12:15 p.m. Thursday.
Fundraising: Chick-fil-A Family Night, Thursday.
BASSETTI ELEMENTARY
Field Trip: Second grade, from 9:30 to 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
KENLEY SCHOOL
General: After School Reading program open to all students in Big Country, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
If you tried emailing me earlier and received a bounced email message for your trouble, it’s all OK now. Here’s what happened…
Aaaargh!!Emails sent to are automatically forwarded to . But today, some computer at Easyspace decided that I hadn’t paid for this free service, and stopped it. Fortunately, the tech support people there are excellent, and the person I spoke to had me up and running again within minutes.
So, if you tried to email me, try again now – and if it happens again, use the second email address above, or you can always use the Contact Us link on the ICT in Education website.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused.
The 10K race starts on Coleman Blvd. in Mt. Pleasant and goes over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge into the historic downtown Charleston. This annual race is both a competitive event for serious runners and a leisurely event for those who want to enjoy the scenic view and do a little exercise.
Since the 2011-12 school year began, the Abilene Independent School District child nutrition department has not been fully staffed even once.
Joann Knox, the district’s child nutrition director, said on average 21 of its 248 staff members are absent on any given work day. That’s an absentee rate of 9 percent.
Knox said there were 11 absences on Tuesday and that 29 substitutes were called in. The department currently has 18 vacancies that it won’t fill because it’s near the end of the school year and the expense of training people who may not return next school year.
“Absenteeism is just killing us,” Knox told AISD trustees at Monday’s meeting.
To curb the trend, Knox said she is looking at creative ways to encourage her employees to have perfect attendance — something 24 people achieved last semester.
Employees are on their feet throughout their 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. shifts, she said.
However, the job provides its share of perks with free breakfasts and lunches, not having to clock out while eating, full health insurance and pay based on experience.
“It’s not an easy job, but Abilene ISD gives these employees benefits and other incentives to be our employees,” she said. “