Volume 8, Number 5 September 16, 2016

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!” The Blanco ISD

Construction Management Class Kicks off Building Project Architect Firm Fromberg Associates Teams Up with Class to Construct Ag Building Addition

When architect Randy Fromberg heard about Blanco ISD

implementing a new Construction Management program in

its curriculum, he felt a desire to help it be successful.

“In my 35 years of practice, I have noticed a shrinking

construction workforce and fewer real craftsmen,” said

Fromberg. “I believe that this is due in large part to young

people by-passing the building trades in their education and

career choices.”

“What students should realize is that construction is a pro-

fession that involves math, science, technology, teamwork,

art, and innovation. It can be both financially and personally

rewarding to contribute to our built environment.”

Fromberg, who designed both the high school and the ele-

mentary renovations for Blanco ISD, saw an opportunity to

extend his services to the new Construction Management

program when he was contracted to oversee the addition to

the current Ag Science building.

What developed was a relationship between teacher and

architect to incorporate the building addition into a class-

room project, letting the students learn all the elements that

are involved in a construction project.

“Allowing the students to be a part of the Ag Facility Ad-

dition Project is a great way for our students to get real life

Drew Cummings of Fromberg Associates (left), and teacher Calen McNett (right) review architectural plans with students.

experience by using the knowledge they have acquired in class and

applying it to the addition,” said teacher Calen McNett.

“The students have designed the addition from the ground up, and

will be involved in every aspect of the project. The project will in-

corporate over 90% of the required curriculum for the Construction

Management course.”

The joint venture had its kickoff on Thursday, when architect

Drew Cummings from the firm met with students, and shared archi-

tectural drawings that were based upon plans the students had gener-

ated.

Fromberg said, “It is difficult to find good, well-rounded building

designers. Having actual construction experience makes for a much

more practical building designer, and instills an appreciation of a

collaborative, holistic building process. I hope that some of Blanco’s

students are drawn to ar-

chitecture or engineering;

there are also excellent

opportunities in the design-

build field.”

Board of Trustees

Darrel Wagner, President

Charles Riley, Vice President Tim Nance, Secretary

Joe Hernandez

Troy Immel Larry Kuebel

Liza Struck

Superintendent

Dr. Buck Ford

Cont’d on...

Page 3

Spanish AP Students Recognized

(L to R) Spanish AP teacher Edit Quintanilla, student Sarai

Godinez, high school principal Keitha St. Clair. Not pictured

Yanet Betancourt, Josielynn Hernandez, and Melvin Vizcaino.

The Bell, Vol. 8, No. 5 Page 2

BOARD BRIEFS

The school board met on Monday, September 12. Among

the items addressed at the meeting:

“Spotlight on Students—High School”: Principal Keitha St.

Clair recognized Spanish AP students who had passed the

AP exam.

Received an update on Blanco CoAPT’s (Coalition on

Awareness, Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse)

successful Drug Free Communities grant award.

“District Recognition”: Dr. Ford recognized members of

the CoAPT coalition.

Received notice that the update on BISD Goal #3 (BISD

will master state and federal academic standards, and BISD

will close the gap that exists between student groups in

standardized test scores) will be moved to the October

board meeting. TEA had not released disaggregated test

data and distinction recognitions yet.

Received an early release notice for Wednesday, January

18, 2017, 12:00 noon—the middle school will be hosting

the District Academic UIL Contest.

Received an update on TASB’s pay systems review.

Received notice that a board team building workshop has

been scheduled with TASB for Monday, January 23, 2017,

from 6:00—9:00 PM.

Approved the creation of an Audit Committee.

Board President Darrel Wagner appointed Tim Nance and

Liza Struck to the Audit Committee.

Approved TASB

Policy Update 106,

affecting local poli-

cy EHBAF (Local),

which addresses

special education

and video/audio

monitoring.

Approved resolu-

tions regarding

extracurricular

status of the Blanco

County and Gilles-

pie County 4-H

organizations, and

approved adjunct

faculty members.

Adjourned to Exec-

utive Session.

Reconvened to

Open Session.

Adjourned.

CoAPT Members Honored

Several members of the Blanco Coalition on Awareness,

Prevention, and Treatment of Substance Abuse (CoAPT) were

honored and congratulated for their volunteer work that led to

the awarding of a Drug Free Communities grant.

Blanco CoAPT Members

(Front Row) Dr. Buck Ford, Keitha St. Clair.

(Back Row, L to R) Rev. Carlos Cloyd, Jan Christiansen, Amy Hackebeil,

Chris Delatorre, Terry Neill, June Newhouse, Kat Staas, Brad Taylor.

Several additional members of Blanco CoAPT were not present.

BHS students who had passed the Spanish AP exam were

recognized at Monday night’s school board meeting.

“All AP tests are hard, but the Spanish test is a monster,”

said principal Keitha St. Clair.

“We had four students who dedicated themselves to pass that

exam. They worked after school with their teacher. They were

relentless in their pursuit.”

“Because they passed their exam, they received college cred-

it for Spanish. We are all very excited about their success in

passing that exam.”

Construction Management Kickoff Cont’d from Page One...

The Bell, Vol. 8, No. 5 Page 3

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Lady Panthers 2—0 in District Play Next Game at Florence Next Tuesday

Blanco’s Lady Panthers are enjoying a well deserved night

off, after posting impressive wins over Comfort and Ingram in

their first two games of District play.

“I’m excited that all three volleyball teams (Freshmen, JV,

and Varsity) are 2—0 in district play,” said head coach Amy

Hackebeil. “It was a clean sweep on Friday against Comfort

and on Tuesday against Ingram. Blanco didn’t drop a set at any

level of play.”

“For the most part we have played consistently. We have

been focusing on reducing our number of unforced errors, as

this will be key in beating tough teams. Our aggressive serving

proved effective as we came up with many aces.”

Although being 2—0 in district is a good spot to be in, there

are twelve district games in total. There is still a long way to

go.

“We are staying humble as we have formidable adversaries

coming up in our district schedule,” said Hackebeil,” but we

are glad to be playing at a level that will give us an opportunity

for great success.”

“We have multiple offensive options, tenacious defense, and

overall a strong team cohesiveness.”

The Panthers’ next opponent is Florence. It will be Blanco’s

second consecutive road game.

“Florence has a new coach, so we

can expect a change from last year. I

expect to see strong serves and persis-

tent defense.”

Hackebeil will be on the road to Flor-

ence this afternoon to scout the Lago

Vista vs. Florence game.

“I would like to commend Blanco ISD on the institution of a

Construction Management program at the high school. Our

business does not directly employ traditional construction

tradesmen, but we do interface with them continually as archi-

tects serving public and commercial clients throughout central

Texas.”

“By offering this program, Blanco ISD is offering students

another set of professional options that they can explore.”

“A BIG thumbs-up to BISD for its foresight in preparing the

next generation!”

Blanco Cheerleaders Thank Blanco EMS

for its Community Support

Blanco’s cheerleaders thanked the Blanco EMS on behalf of

Blanco ISD because of its service and support of BISD

schools.

“Blanco EMS is donating its services to our Friday football

games as a community service,” said business manager Mat-

thew Streger.

“We thank them for their support of Blanco ISD and its stu-

dents, fans, and visitors.”

Blanco Elementary Student Art

Displayed at Bean and Biscuit

The Bell, Vol. 8, No. 5 Page 4

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

Underage Drinking:

You Binge, You Bust (Part 4)

As part of our effort to reduce substance abuse by our young peo-

ple, The Bell will be running Public Service Announcements each

week to educate students and parents in regards to substance abuse.

Today’s information, the fourth this series, comes from a pamphlet

titled “Underage Drinking: You Binge, You Bust,” published by Edu-

cation Specialty Publishing LLC, Metairie, LA, 2010.

What is Underage Drinking?

The national legal drinking age is 21. When anyone under

the age of 21 consumes alcohol, it’s against the law. Underage

drinking can have serious consequences to a young person’s

health, development, and future.

Your Future

In most states, the penalty for purchasing or attempting to

purchase alcohol is the same or greater than the penalty for

possessing or consuming alcohol. Breaking an alcoholic bever-

age law can lead to criminal charges before your 21st birthday

and will remain on your permanent criminal record.

It is illegal for those under the age of 21 to drive with any

measurable level of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). This

zero tolerance law is in effect in all 50 states. Get caught drink-

ing and driving and you will be arrested, charged in criminal

court, and have your name posted in your local paper. Get con-

victed of a DWI/DUI and you might lose your license, but you

will get a DWI/DUI on your permanent record.

Many people think creating and using fake IDs is a harmless

part of growing up. But, using or creating a fake ID or driver’s

license to acquire liquor is a felony. Penalties vary, but usually

include jail time, fines, community service, and suspension of

your driver’s license. Convicted felons cannot ever vote or

carry a gun. And, as criminal records are public information,

for the rest of your life you will have to check “Yes” in em-

ployment questionnaires asking if “you have ever been convict-

ed of a felony.”

Not having a driver’s license and having a permanent crimi-

nal record is no way to start off your life. The best choice is to

steer clear of underage drinking.

Students in K-5th grade have been conducting line and color

studies.

Primary students have been exploring different types of lines

artists use, and primary/secondary colors.

Intermediate level students are building on their knowledge

of color and line, and going deeper. They are learning about

monochromatic color schemes, abstraction through line and

shape, intermediate colors, and creating the illusion of depth

and movement.

Through all these studies, Art History is integrated.

These works of art are partly inspired by Kandinsky, Ro-

drigue, and Silberzweig.

September 16—25

Fri, Sept. 16 Allison Dowdy

Sat, Sept. 17 Opie Romero

Tues, Sept. 20 Shirley Johnson

Pam Meier

Sat, Sept. 24 Felice Marek

Raul Miranda

Sun, Sept. 25 Bertie May

Aurelia Hernandez

The Bell, Vol. 8, No. 5 Page 5

Blanco Elementary Grandparents Day by Collin Gaskamp

“Hear Ye, Hear Ye!”

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