Tyler County News - Breakout

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The annual citywide Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade took place in Woodville on Monday morning. Many in the community turned out to honor the late, great civil rights leader. Photos by Donna Hammer | TCB

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Woodville Elementary and Intermediate Gifted and Talented students presented the WISD Board of Trustees with customized globes as gifts for their leadership in moving the district forward. CHRIS EDWARDS | TCB

By Chris Edwards
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WOODVILLE – At its regular monthly meeting on Monday night, the Woodville ISD Board of Trustees discussed a future possibility of a four-day instructional week.

The approach, which has been adopted by some districts in the region, such as Colmesneil ISD and Jasper ISD, has been the subject of a discussion by the district’s advisory team and a subsequent survey distributed to faculty and staff, according to WISD Superintendent Lisa Meysembourg.

Meysembourg said that, overall, the results of the survey showed that 46% of respondents preferred, or would like to try, a four-day week, while 20% have no preference and the rest did not.

“We need some more information, and will be going out to the community,” Meysembourg said.

Meysembourg stressed the importance of gathering the community’s input, and that of businesspeople, as to how such a change might affect them.

The purpose of Monday night’s discussion was to gather the thoughts of the trustees, Meysembourg said. Many of the board members agreed that it was important to reach out to other districts that have adopted four-day weeks to gather information on how the change has worked for them.

Trustee Kris Fowler asked if a move to a four-day week would allow teachers to be able to do their best and emphasized that if such a change were instituted that it be carefully and strategically implemented. “I’d like to see it not rushed in to,” he said.

FIRST rating results announced

Prior to the regular agenda, the WISD Board conducted a public hearing to review and discuss the district’s 2021-22 FIRST rating results.

Assistant Superintendent/Finance Manager Cody Jarrott said the district received a mark of “Superior Achievement,” with an overall score of 98. A passing score, Jarrott noted, is 78.

The acronym, which stands for Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas is a system of accountability conducted by the state to ensure that public schools are held accountable for the quality of financial management practices.

Jarrott said it is getting “harder and harder to meet these scores,” and added that the district did very well.

WISD Board President Jimmy Tucker, on behalf of the board, commended Jarrott for an outstanding job in handling the district’s finances.

ESSER funds put to use

Several action items on Monday night’s agenda approved the allocation of the district’s ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds toward different district projects.

The ESSER funding is part of a federal program, approved by the Department of Education, as part of aid that came about during the pandemic. The funds were designed to help keep schools open, invest in infrastructure and provide emergency financial assistance for projects necessary to school districts, with funding available through Sept. 2024.

The trustees unanimously approved proposals for a district-wide security system; a district-wide communication system overhaul; a budget amendment for repair to the football field turf and the approval of the purchase of exercise equipment, all projects funded through the district’s ESSER allotment

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Floyd Marsellos Photo by Mollie LaSalle | TCB

By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – East Texas author Floyd Marsellos held a poetry reading and book signing at the Allan Shivers Museum, Saturday, Jan. 7.

At 97, he showed very little of the advance of time; he struck this writer as having the stamina and appearance of someone at least 20 years younger.

Marsellos began reading selections from his book, and after about an hour, asked if it was alright with everyone if he sat down.

Marsellos was born in East Hampton New York in 1925. He is a WW II veteran, an accomplished architect, having designed several buildings in Lufkin at Angelina College, and several buildings at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has also designed numerous churches and homes in the region. Marsellos retired in 1991 after 35 years to devote all his free time to painting and writing.

Marsellos has written five books, the latest of which is a compilation of poetry titled Once I Had a Garden. It is a collection of poems written over a span of 65 years, which he wrote for his own satisfaction.

Woodville resident Chuck Royston and his wife Pat have known Marsellos for quite a few years. Royston, in his introduction, praised Marsellos as one of the finest people he has ever met. “He’s an accomplished architect, artist, and author of five novels, the latest which he will read from today.”

Royston recalled a time when his home caught on fire, and Marsellos and his wife offered for Royston and his wife to stay with them while their house was being repaired. “We didn’t live too far away from Floyd and his wife, so we graciously accepted their kind offer. We stayed for seven months. I offered to re-imburse Floyd for putting up with us, and initially, he refused. I finally convinced him to accept some of the insurance money from the fire.”

Royston’s wife Pat had these words to add: “His heart and his soul and his consciousness and his just giving spirit are of the purest nature, and it has been an unbelievable gift for Chuck and I to know Floyd.”

Back in the day, when Marsellos was pondering writing his first book, he approached Royston about how to get started. He told Royston, “a novel is rattling around in my head. It’s about Alexander the Great, and I have no idea how to write it all down.” Royston offered to help, and at the time, he taught writing at Angelina College.

He told Marsellos he would give him an outline of how to do it.

For his latest book, he had been writing down poems and thoughts on bits and scraps of paper throughout the last 65 years. With Royston’s help once again, Once I Had a Garden was born.

The cover of the book is an original painting by Marsellos, and Royston loved it so much that Marsellos gave it to him as a gift.

Dianne Amerine, who is the president of the Women’s Study Club of Woodville was Marsellos’ chauffer for the event; They were delayed arriving due to the fact that Marsellos’ batteries in his hearing aids had died on the trip from Lufkin. After a stop at the local Wal-Mart for new batteries, they arrived for the event, with Marsellos commenting that he felt like he’d “been born again” when he could hear once again.

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By Michael G. Maness

CHESTER – Mayor Robert Poynter welcomed a nearly full council to the City of Chester’s new year at its regular called meeting Monday evening, Jan. 9.

Poynter asked Councilman Austin Odom and the council to schedule a budget workshop on Tuesday, to they could work a more detailed budget for the upcoming year. Poynter, Odom, and Councilmen Chris Cocco and Wes Whitworth voiced some needs for some line items.

Councilwoman Gale Williams called the council’s attention to some discrepancies in some receipts, small, but every penny counted.

There were some anomalies in the internet billings. Even Odom had received some odd texts, and City Secretary Balela Mahaffey mentioned other concerns. They would be working out the bugs in the weeks ahead.

In the light of the previous meeting with Magnum Gas, they were pleased to announce that because of the reserve credit the Chester Gas was able to pay its month’s bill from that credit.

The minutes from the previous meeting and the financials were approved.