June 25, 2009

Emily Guevara

Public school students could start reading less from textbooks and more from computer screens if newly authorized state funds are put to use in Southeast Texas school districts.

A bill signed into law by Gov. Rick Perry last week allows school districts to use the state textbook fund to buy the technology and software needed for electronic textbooks.

This means that handheld readers or laptops with textbooks downloaded on them could be the classroom tools of the 21st century.

"It can really open up a whole new avenue," said Nancy Edwards, an eighth-grade math teacher at Austin Middle School in Beaumont.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Heather M. Smith

Recently, Gov. Rick Perry signed into law House Bill 4294. The landmark bill gives all Texas public schools more liberty in its decisions regarding money spent on textbooks.

"House Bill 4294 is landmark legislation that will place Texas at the forefront of education reform nationally, dramatically enhancing and enriching the learning environment for our public school students," said Johnny Veselka, executive director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).

June 28, 2009

Editorial

The VIA Metropolitan Transit board made a smart move by adopting a zero-tolerance policy on cell-phone use and text messaging by its bus and van drivers.

The action came after three of its drivers were involved accidents caused by text messaging and cell phone use.

In one instance, a bus driver was caught on a security camera on board the bus text messaging for five minutes before being involved in an accident.

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009

By William McCalpin

Richardon Echo

Just the other day, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed HB 51, a bill designed to set up incentives for the state's emerging research universities to become so-called "tier one" schools. This bill aims to encourage three universities in North Texas in that quest: UT Arlington, UNT, and most importantly for us in Richardson, UT Dallas.

This is happy news for UTD, which celebrated its 40th birthday just days before the signing of HB 51. 40 years – that got me to thinking

Governor Perry signs into law House Bill 51, a bill allowing for Texas' seven emerging research universities the opportunity to achieve Tier One status.