By Chris Edwards
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TYLER COUNTY – Just, seemingly, as it began, the summer break is ending for public school students across Tyler County, with three of the county’s five school districts beginning the new term this week.
Chester and Colmesneil ISD both rang their inaugural bells for the 2024-25 school year this Wednesday morning, August 7, while Warren ISD returns to classes at all its campuses on Thursday, August 8. Spurger and Woodville ISD both return next Wednesday, August 14.
Before the school year kicks into gear with classrooms full of learners settling into routines, along with faculty and staff, some of the districts in the county have experienced administrative changes.
Both Colmesneil and Warren ISD have new athletic directors, with Brian Ramsey and Buddy Adams, respectively, heading up those schools’ athletic programs.
Bridget Toler is now serving as the assistant principal for Chester ISD and Arlene Robinson is in as the principal of Spurger High School.
At the statewide level, security measures are chief among the concerns of both legislators and public school officials, regarding educational priorities.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced in late July the launch of Sentinel, which is described by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as an innovative and comprehensive system designed to enhance the safety and security of students, faculty and staff in school buildings across Texas.
Sentinel utilizes cutting-edge technology to recognize and assess threats, offer real-time communication capabilities and better safeguard children and educators.
“As a new school year approaches, the safety of students, school faculty and staff across Texas remains a top priority,” said Abbott.
The Sentinel system standardizes behavioral threat assessments into a single reporting protocol, so that school districts have a way of managing threats, and with a uniform approach, helps identify, assess and mitigate risks.
The program was developed following the passage of House Bill 3 in the last legislative session and the accompanying Senate Bill 30, which provided an additional $1.1 billion for school safety.
Safety is a priority at the schools in Tyler County. Colmesneil ISD superintendent Sharon Tule said of the district’s security, that it has been “reviewed at all levels so that students and staff have a safe environment that is continually monitored.”
On another note unrelated to school security or academics, yet important to parents, shoppers can save money on clothes and school supplies this weekend with the statewide sales tax holiday, which runs from Friday through Sunday.
State law exempts sales tax on qualified items, such as clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks, priced below $100, which, according to the State Comptroller’s office, saves shoppers an average of $8 on every $100 spent.
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