NISD School Board embraces JH changes
Examiner photo by Matthew Ybarra The Navasota Junior High Fang football team showed up in style and were recognized by the Navasota ISD for the strides they are making within the program through academics, leadership and athletic development.
The motto around Navasota is “brick by brick” and Navasota Superintendent Dr. Stu Musick and the seven board members heard firsthand how that foundation is being built at the junior high level in the Navasota KickStart Kids program and Fang football program during the monthly board meeting Monday, Nov. 18.
Master Benjamin Mendez spoke about the busy schedule his students have been enduring over the summer and during the fall semester attending several competitions.
“We just returned from a TKO (Texas Karate Organization) State Championship in Houston over the weekend. We have been to Houston several times to compete and have also competed in San Antonio, Dallas, Bryan, Louisiana and Georgia.”
At the TKO State Championship Mendez said 10 of his 11 students that competed won state championship rings. Mendez also recognized winners from other tournaments that the group participated in.
After showing off a room full of awards won by the KickStart Kids, Musick had a little showing to do himself. “This is a rendering of the back of the junior high and that will be the entry of the new KickStart Kids classroom and workout facility,” stated Musick as he showed the students a slide of the upcoming facility. He also stated the classroom will feature KickStart Kid signage outside and inside.
Another group more impressive than their buttoned shirts and bowties they wore were the Navasota Junior High Fang Football teams.
Ed Glendening who serves as the junior high athletic director talked about the changes within the program. He said they are developing a new foundation with three simple rules; if you fight-you’re out, if you steal-you’re out and if you refuse punishment-you’re out.
“We decided this year we are not going to play junior high football,” explained Glendening. He said, “We aren’t going to run a double fake reverse pass, kick onside kicks all the time and do the things that are going to help you win junior high games. We have the mantra of brick by brick, and we live that.”
The board was in awe of the look, class and respect the players showed and then several took time to give the team words of encouragement reminding them to stay on the right path, continue to work hard and put school first.
Action Items
The board approved the purchase of a van from the Child Nutrition Department in the amount of $10,000. Dr. Ronnie Gonzalez stated the van was purchased with the funds from the Child Nutrition Department and was used to transport food from John C. Webb Elementary to Bizzell Academy. He stated there is now a kitchen at Bizzell, and the Child Nutrition Department no longer needs the van to transport food.
The board declined to accept the UIL Update by a vote of 6-1, with Amy Jarvis lone voter to vote against. If the update had passed it would allow a student that has not passed all its classes but is in enrolled in a state approved music course and participates in UIL concert and sight-reading evaluation to perform with the ensemble during the UIL evaluation. If passed the update would have affected the band and choir programs.
Navasota band director Martin England stated the school needed to have a clear rule whether it be to either allow or disapprove the update. The school will continue to keep the “no pass no play” rule across the board in all its extracurricular activities.