Feb. 24, 2015
The West Orange-Cove CISD is dealing with unbudgeted expenses that have to come from reserve funds, or savings. During a school board meeting Monday night, trustees discussed and disagreed on spending more from the reserves to honor a retired coach. Trustee Bryan “Chop” Thomas Muhammad wants to spend money from the reserves to pay for banner signs and an addition to the scoreboard at the high school football stadium to honor Leroy Breedlove “whatever it costs.” The board, in a split vote on August 25 agreed to name the football field in honor of Breedlove, a longtime middle school coach and teacher. Monday, Muhammad said “it’s almost to the point where it’s being disrespectful” to Breedlove by not having the signs installed. He said he wants a banner up for track season, which is starting now. The stadium retains the name of Dan R. Hooks Stadium with Leroy Breedlove Field added. Finance Director Melinda James said she researched how the district paid for the signs for Hooks and the money was raised through donors. Board President Pete Amy said no one has raised money for the Breedlove signage and he suggested that if all the people who spoke to honor Breedlove would donate $50 the signs could be bought.
Board members talked about a previous quote of $7,200 for a banner to go across the press box to read “Leroy Breedlove Field.” However, the cost may have changed. Muhammad said he wants the board to approve buying the sign from the reserve funds Trustee Nathaniel Colbert said “I don’t want to vote on it and get (a bill) for $10,000 or $11,000. I would feel more comfortable knowing what it would cost.” President Amy said he would not vote on spending money on something that doesn’t have a cost.
Muhammad said the sign needs to be dealt with “in a timely manner” and should be up by April. “Pay for it whatever it will be,” he said. His motion to buy the signage was seconded by The Rev. Hardy O’Neal. Colbert also voted to buy the signage. Amy and Trustees Sarah Jefferson Simon, Eric Mitchell, Ruth Hancock voted against the proposal, so it failed 3-4. Hancock suggested getting an inexpensive banner from the local OCARC to install at the entrance welcoming people to “Leroy Breedlove Field” in time for track season.
James said she “by no means wants to be disrespectful” but her job is to explain the financial status of the district. She said she will pay for any expense the board approves. James pointed out that district is having to spend about $200,000 extra on legal fees because of lawsuits. “We didn’t foresee the lawsuits that have happened,” she said. The money is coming from the reserve funds. The district also has had to repay FEMA more than $5 million from hurricane damage loans. The district is paying back more than $1 million a year to FEMA from the reserves. She pointed out that the district has lost students and attendance is down, meaning less money will come from the state. “The budget is tight right now,” she said.
James said the district has worked for more than four years to build its reserves to the level that the Texas Education Agency requires. She said TEA monitors fund balances for all public school districts.
While discussing financing for the signs, James said Austin real estate developer Michael Wray, a graduate of West Orange-Stark High School, wrote a letter saying he gave $2,000 to $3,000 about eight or nine years ago after a coach requested he help make up a difference in donations. James said Hogan Steel provided installation. Insurance agent Tony Dallas paid to repair the scoreboard after hurricane damage.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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