Head girls basketball coach named
By Melinda L. Lucas
In addition to an update about needed projects from Albany superintendent Jonathan Scott, AISD trustees heard the 2022-2023 audit during a Sept. 18 meeting on Monday, but approval is delayed until the October session.
Board members also learned of plans for the immediate future of the girls basketball program and increased substitute bus driver pay.
Audit Report
CPA Cameron Gulley presented the audit for last school year as “pending,” advising that no action be taken before final figures are received from the Community Foundation of Abilene regarding AISD investments. Those are expected in the next few weeks.
Gulley did not cite any compliance issues and noted that the district is in good financial shape, largely because of the way the budget is managed locally.
Basketball Coach
Scott announced that Brad Statzenberger has agreed to serve as head girls basketball coach for this season, with the help of M.J. Reneau.
Statzenberger, who was hired to teach elementary special education, is already an assistant coach in several areas at the secondary level.
The role of head girls basketball coach has been vacant since new hire Donnie Hart resigned suddenly just before the school year started.
“One of our goals is to get more girls in the program, and coach Statzenberger has good rapport with the kids,” Scott said. “He said he would need help, so coach Reneau will be his assistant, and there will be a bridge between those two programs.”
Reneau is head volleyball coach.
Project Update
Scott reported that the elementary library repairs and renovations resulting from water damage a few months ago are almost complete, with plans to have an open house when it is finished.
He also said that there are several playground equipment platforms that must be replaced soon, as well as one small slide.
The elementary gym was again a main topic on the list of facilities repairs, with plans for roof repair hopefully during the Christmas break.
Bus Driver Pay
Trustees agreed to increase substitute bus driver pay from $50/day to $75/day for the country route and from $30/day to $70/day for the city route.
Regular drivers have already received a raise.
Scott commented that it continues to be difficult to get people certified to drive buses, with three “working on it right now.”
Other Business
•The board accepted a single bid of $66,132 from Bayer Motor Co. in Breckenridge for a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 diesel 4x4 for the ag department that will also be used for the band and one-act play trailers, as well as for other purposes.
•Trustees nominated Bruce Bailey, Clint Bumguardner, and John Tate as AISD representatives on the Shackelford County Appraisal District board.
