A “Meet & Greet” to introduce Livingston ISD’s new superintendent, Dr. Jeff Pack, was held in the Livingston High School Commons Area prior to Monday’s regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Livingston Independent School District.
Another highlight was the introduction of LaMona Coleman, the new Livingston Junior High School principal. Coleman has 24 years in education and served previously as a math and science instructional coach at LJH. Prior to coming to LISD, she worked for nine years as an assistant principal and principal in Lufkin ISD and in various classroom and administrative positions in Diboll ISD, even serving in an unexpired term on the school board. She holds bachelors and master’s degrees in education from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Coleman’s son, Z’Calvin, has a finance degree from Sam Houston State University and her daughter, Ashley, has a degree in cellular and molecular biology from Stephen F. Austin State University. Her family has been members of Providence No. 1 Baptist Church in Leggett for over 20 years, where her late husband, Ronnie Coleman Sr., served as pastor.
Creekside Elementary School Principal Deanna Willmann reported on progress on her campus and recognized students who have excelled this year.
Under the direction of Sergeant First Class Grady Tinker (US Army, Ret.), the LJH JROTC Junior Cadet Leadership Corps presented the colors and performed a short drill.
Tinker, LISD’s military science instructor, said the course is designed to prepare students for employment following high school, that the backbone of the program is to teach solid leadership skills required to function successfully within the workforce, and that students learn about honor, courage and commitment.
“We’re not there to put them in the military. We’re teaching them leadership. If you can’t be the best follower, you can’t be a leader,” Tinker said.
Members of the LHS state-qualifying mock trial team provided a presentation for the board. The students were given two goals last year – increase student participation and make state – and succeeded in reaching both goals. The students explained a little about the process, commenting that they receive the case in October and have until January to prepare it for competition.
The board approved several action items related to playground equipment. The playground equipment at Pine Ridge Primary School is not designed for pre-K and kindergarten kids, so the board approved removing it and moving it to Cedar Grove Elementary School which needs playground equipment. New, age-appropriate playground equipment will be purchased for the Pine Ridge Primary School campus. Additionally, the board approved replacing the cushion and border on all of the playgrounds to make sure that all of the elementary schools have the correct certified wood fiber cushion.
The board approved the district’s implementation of SMART tag™, an all-in-one transportation management system that uses tablet technology on school buses to ensure authorized ridership through patented features that improve the safety and security of students who utilize school bus transportation.
Also approved was an authorized representative change for the Lone Star Investment Pool.
“It’s Day 17 on the job. Everyone’s been very warm and welcoming. I’ve been to each campus multiple times and transportation to meet the bus drivers. We have great things going on in Livingston,” Superintendent Dr. Jeff Pack said. He added that he has met with the architect and construction manager for the stadium project and they are still on track for completion and he met with representatives from Schneider Electric and they are finishing up as well.
Athletic Director Tucker Carter reported that the district has just capped off spring athletics and that all competitive sports are over now. He said he is extremely proud of all springs sports and that the district had 57 students make academic all-district in just spring sports and in cheer, 10 students were named All-American. Additionally, both the baseball and softball teams made it to the first round of district.
“Our coaches are doing a good job of holding our students’ feet to the fire,” he said. “We have our strength and speed camp coming up this summer and over 220 seventh through 12th-graders are signed up already. I’m really excited and optimistic.”
The board entered into an executive session to consult with the school attorney regarding pending matters, but no action was taken upon return to open session.
The consent agenda, which was approved, included: minutes of the previous board meetings; financial statement report; personal property donations; the SFE contract; overnight trips; the depository contract with First State Bank; and the shared services agreement with the Lufkin Regional Day School Program for the Deaf.
