LISD to extend employee contract of athletic director

By Brian Besch
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The Livingston ISD School Board decided on a contract extension and cosmetology lab Monday evening in the district’s administration building.

The board unanimously accepted the recommendation of superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins to extend the employee contract of athletic director and head football coach Finis Vanover. The contract will run until Dec. 31, 2024. 

Vanover has guided the Lions for the last five years, compiling a 19-33 record. They were district champions in 2020, Livingston’s only football title in 50 years.

Also accepted was a cosmetology lab that will take the place of students traveling to East Texas Cosmetology.

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“We are at $130,000 for 13 students to complete a program,” Hawkins set of the funds dedicated to cosmetology education. “There is $9,540 of books and kits that we have to buy. The state exam is $2,100, so the grand total cost is $131,700. We also have the driver expense, as well as the expense on our vehicle, for a total of an additional $36,000. That is a gross combined expense of $167,000.

The district also calculated the costs of 15 students taking the course in a lab set up by the school. There are startup costs, like fees for Texas Department of Licensing, pumbing, carpet removal and concrete finishing. 

The superintendent said there is a teacher who has expressed interest in teaching the class, and based on her experience, there is an estimate of just over $58,000 for her salary. Combined, Hawkins said the new lab would total for about $119,000 for 15 students, while the total was $167,000 for fewer students.

“Really, it would be a cost-saving deal and I think it would be a situation where we can grow our program.”

The cosmetology lab would be placed at the baseball/softball complex, contingent on licensing. Hawkins said he could envision the program growing to 30 students and needing an additional teacher over time. Funds from CTE and other grants will also be used to fund a portion of the lab.