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Jose Vazquez is project director and F. Sunnie Frazier is site project director of a new afterschool enrichment program at Livingston Junior High School that is being funded by a grant in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas. Photo by Emily Banks WootenBy Emily Banks Wooten
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An afterschool enrichment program at Livingston Junior High School will soon be underway and is being funded by a grant through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Center in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Deep East Texas. The opportunity has been awarded to Livingston, Crockett and Nacogdoches.

Worth $750,000, the grant will be distributed over five years and will fund a project director and core subject tutors.

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century CLC is a program supports the creation of community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. The program helps students meet state and local student standards in core academic subjects, such as reading and math; offers students a broad array of enrichment activities that can complement their regular academic programs; and offers literacy and other educational services to the families of participating children.

Jose Vazquez, a 2010 graduate of Livingston High School, has been named project director. Vazquez is a 2015 graduate of the University of Texas with a bachelor of science in biology. He said all through college he wanted to be a pediatrician until he did some internships at hospitals and realized that was not the career for him.

“I began working summer camps for a non-profit and I absolutely loved it. I worked there for three years and then the grant was not renewed. I went to the YMCA of Greater Williamson County. In 2018, I moved to Houston and went to the YMCA of Greater Houston. I worked with 21st Century as site director for three years,” he said, adding, “I always knew I wanted to work with children.”

F. Sunnie Frazier, of Woodville, has been named the site project director. A third-generation educator, Frazier said she comes from a lineage of educators. “The Fraziers are farmers and educators.” Educated at Prairieview A&M University, Georgetown University and Columbia University, Frazier has been an educator, a Christian school principal and a consultant and has worked in New York, Maryland and Houston. “Math is my focus,” she said.

The afterschool enrichment program will be from 3:30-6:30 p.m. weekdays on the junior high campus. On Mondays through Thursdays, students will have strategy and academic support where they will work on homework and receive tutoring. The students will have a light dinner and will also participate in enrichment activities such as passport to manhood, character development, arts and garden club. On Fridays, the entire three hours will be spent on enrichment activities.

“This will be academically focused and intentional. We’re incorporating project-based learning. Everything we do is intentional, including the selection of students,” Vazquez said. He said the primary goals are to increase academics, specifically math and reading scores, then increase attendance and finally, increase parent involvement.

“We’re focusing on sixth-graders because we want three consecutive programs but we’re not eliminating seventh and eighth-graders,” Frazier said.

“That strategy was actually suggested by Ms. Frazier and Mr. Nettles (Junior High Principal Jared Nettles). That’s why they’re targeting that group,” Vazquez said.

Frazier and Vazquez have been busy working with teachers, specifically the ELA (English Language Arts) teachers, as they said Nettles’ big push is reading.

“We encourage siblings of our scholars, which is what we call our participants,” Frazier said, adding that that was Vazquez’ idea.

Frazier said a six-week program will be offered in the summer at which time students will go on field trips, as well as participate in STEM courses (science/technology/engineering/math), art and substantive topics.

“The bonus is that we provide a light dinner and transportation. Dr. Hawkins is giving us a lot of support,” Frazier said of the LISD superintendent.

“One of the rules though is no pull-outs. Attendance is key. We have to have them there consistently. We get graded just like the school gets graded. We get to stay as long as the students are improving,” Frazier said of the five-year grant. “We’re here to help the school, support the school district, Mr. Nettles and the students.”

“Our priority is academics, then ESL (English as a second language) students and new arrivals and lastly, behavior and social skills,” Vazquez said. 

Another important component of the program is providing outreach events for parents in the community.

“We will provide adult education for families that need it, ESL, fitness, nutrition, whatever the needs are. We’ve hired a family engagement specialist to serve the program,” Frazier said.

They also said there will be all types of activities to get parents on the campus.

“This is also an opportunity to reach out to those parents who can’t attend things in the mornings or during the work day,” Vazquez said. “We want this to be an extension of the school.”

“We’re wanting to partner with groups in the community,” Frazier said, adding that the first big project will be forming a garden club.

Frazier said there are still several spots open for employment for those who are innovative and like to work with kids. She added that they are committed to having bilingual youth development specialists.

The program is free and there is space available for 150 students. Two to four teachers are expected to be hired.

“I think we’re going to have space for everyone interested,” Frazier said. “My direct line is 936-328-2120 Ext. 6110. For any questions about the program, please call me.”

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By Emily Banks Wooten
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Following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, that occurred at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pa., flags throughout Polk County could be seen flying at half-staff.

Stunned office workers all over town huddled around televisions and radios to hear updates on the catastrophe. Although it was occurring thousands of miles away, it may as well have been here, as one could feel the quite pall that fell over everyone as shock and disbelief gave way to tears and anger.

Some may think that Polk Countians had nothing to worry about in conjunction with the attacks, but regardless, numerous precautions were underway locally that fateful Tuesday.

Although none of the school districts in Polk County closed or dismissed early that day, several campuses in the Livingston ISD were under a self-imposed lockdown.

Prayer vigils open to the public were held at Central Baptist Church, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and First United Methodist Church.

 As the Polk County Commissioners Court convened to hold a public hearing on its proposed budget, many people felt helpless and somewhat silly continuing to go through the motions as if it was an ordinary day

“The importance of this budget somewhat pales compared to what’s going on with our country right now,” John Thompson, then county judge, said.

Area law enforcement agencies were on alert and based on recommendations by the county’s Office of Emergency Management, extra units patrolled the courthouse area that day.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office patrolled area schools and monitored local price gouging in the days that followed.

The Trinity River Authority and Lake Livingston Dam took precautions as well, by increasing the number of security personnel, including security personnel in boats on Lake Livingston.

“We had no indication to think we were under threat, but wanted to do this as a precaution,” Bill Holder, then project manager, said. “At that time, we didn’t know if it might spread across the nation.”

The local hospital, then called Memorial Medical Center Livingston, and the Polk County Red Cross co-sponsored a blood drive to benefit the victims of the terroristic attacks.

“The Red Cross office, the sheriff’s department, the hospital and the county judge were receiving so many calls from people wanting to give blood, so Jay (Jay Dickson, then hospital director) and I got together and contacted Stewart Regional Blood Center to host it and they agreed to,” Dick Cooley, then the branch manager of the Polk County Red Cross, said.

An estimated 2,000 people decked out in red, white and blue turned out for Polk County’s “Proud to be an American” rally and candlelight service at Lions Stadium on Sept. 30. The event included a community choir, an essay contest, a tribute to citizens, a tribute to fire/rescue/law enforcement/military, prayer and a fireworks display.

In the days and weeks that followed, the Polk County Enterprise was tipped off to numerous local connections and managed to provide very localized coverage of the aftermath of the attacks.

Karen Burks Alexander, a 1987 graduate of Big Sandy High School and a member of the U.S. Army, was a staff sergeant assigned to the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Plans at the Pentagon. Were it not for a shift change, she would have been there when the attack occurred. She later told her mother, Earline Burks, that if she’d been sitting at her desk, the plan would have been in her lap.

Kelly Kohrman Fahel, a 1996 graduate of Livingston High School, lived in Northern Virginia at the time and worked for one of the federal government agencies right outside of Washington, D.C. She was flooded with calls and emails that day from people from her hometown who were worried about her and inquiring as to her welfare. Every day going and coming from work she drove by the Pentagon, the road she traveled being on the side where the attack occurred.

R. Keith Bullock, an Alabama-Coushatta tribal member, lived in New York at the time and worked on 46th Street. He contacted his parents, G. Wayne and Genny Bullock, that morning to report his safety and later followed up with an extensive email detailing what he saw that morning. “I walked in amazement at what was unfolding, but the worst sight was yet to come. I was heading in the south direction and I could see the building (about three miles in the distance) with the smoke just billowing out of it. At that time, I didn’t know that the first tower had already fallen. Then, before my very eyes at 10:28 a.m., I saw the second tower collapse. It was a sight that is imprinted in my memory and part of the New York skyline just disappeared.”

Travis and Gladys Jane Helpenstell were relieved when they received an email from their nephew, Lt. Col. Alan Maitland, who worked in the Pentagon, that he was okay. “I was on Corridor C showing another LTC where somebody was located when the building rocked and black smoke was seen from the window. I could not return to my office due to smoke and others saying the ceiling had collapsed. I returned (later) to offer assistance and was amazed at the damage … no evidence of a plane since it appeared to have either burned completely up and/or was under all of the rubble.”

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Thomas Allen JanczakFrom Enterprise Staff

Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested Thomas Allen Janczak, 22, of Livingston, Thursday night. Janczak was charged with capital murder and is being held in the Polk County Jail under a $1 million bond. The arrest was made in conjunction with the death of Janczak’s one-month-old child.

Polk County Detectives received information of the infant arriving at the Texas Children’s Hospital in The Woodlands in November of 2020. After doctors determined the severity of the injuries the infant was transported to Texas Children’s Hospital Downtown where he died from blunt force trauma 12 days later.

“Due to the severity of the crime of capital murder, these investigations require months of detectives conducting interviews, gathering evidence and consultations with professionals in the medical field, to obtain concrete evidence for prosecution. There is no way to predict how much time a police investigation will take,” Captain David Sottosanti, an investigator with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, said.                                                                         

Detectives conducted a full investigation, with assistance from the CPS Special Investigator’s Office, the Polk County District Attorney’s Office, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Texas Rangers Office.

“The hard work of all the agencies involved led detectives in obtaining an arrest warrant. I greatly appreciate the patience it took from the family and friends of the victim to see justice prevail and this case brought to an arrest and prosecution,” Polk County Sheriff Byron Lyons said.

Other possible criminal charges are being investigated and considered at this time, according to Sottosanti.  

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Ben Davidson LISD CFOThe Livingston Board of Trustees approved the budget, tax rate and additional leave for Covid-19 in a meeting Monday evening at Creekside Elementary.

The 2021-2022 proposed budget was presented by Livingston ISD Chief Financial Officer Ben Davidson. General fund revenues for 2021-2022 are projected at $40,207,901. Expenses are expected at $39,018,461 and LISD is anticipating a budget surplus at the end of the year. 

The funds are to be rolled into fund balance and earmarked for use to extend the initiatives funded by the ESSER program. Food service revenues are projected at $2,940,750 with expenses budgeted at $2,739,134. Debt service revenues and expenses are thought to be at $4,490,000, while instruction is budgeted at $22,174,705 with a 2% midpoint raise for all staff. The overall budget decreased from last year, as certain expenditures will be paid from federal ESSER funds. 

Dr. Brent Hawkins SuperintendentDavidson also presented the LISD tax rate history, current rate and proposed tax rate for 2021-2022. The tax rate is currently 1.0545 for maintenance and operations and .255 for debt service, for a total of 1.3097 per $100 valuation. The tax rate proposed is 1.2369 per $100 valuation for the 2021-2022 budget cycle, which the board approved. The new rate is a drop of 5.5% from last year and the third consecutive year LISD has lowered the tax rate.

LISD Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins presented Covid-19 leave plan for staff that would add three days for those who need the time. 

“Our school district was very successful last year in combating COVID in that there was no confirmed school spread,” Hawkins said. “Little did we know what blocks the Delta variant would put in the way. The Delta variant is four times more contagious than the Alpha variant. This has been the most trying time, it is extremely difficult to keep the doors open to school. 

“The challenge with this phase of the virus is (that) the change in health guidance from the state prohibits the district from using the plan that was so successful last school year. We have a low substitute pool and it has left us very shorthanded and it’s been very tedious to keep moving forward. We have to control the things we can control as a district. The district has implemented every part of last year’s plan that is not prohibited from the state and stood up more safeguards this year as well. We have to continue to be flexible and look at our data. As I said earlier in our Facebook Live Hawk’s Talk, we are in dire times and cannot sustain this trajectory as a district or as a state public education community. It is important that our staff, students, and community work together to mitigate the virus, as the doors being open to our school are at risk.” 

All employees receive five state days and two district days off. The resolution, which was approved, provides three additional district days for staff to help employees who need to be isolated. The resolution is retroactive back to the first day of school for anyone who has been affected by the virus. 

The board accepted the recommendation designating Leslie Jones-Burks, Polk County Tax Assessor-Collector to collect property taxes for the LISD and to submit updated electronic data to Polk Central Appraisal District as required by the property tax code. Among the approved items under the consent agenda were personal property donations, a budget amendment, and overnight travel.

After reconvening from closed session, the board approved the superintendent’s recommendation to file a complaint with the State Board for Educator Certification on LISD teachers Megan Wood and Christi Cox.