The Colony Courier-Leader (The Colony, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 28, 2014 Page: 3 of 12
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Sunday, September 28,2014
The Colony Courier-Leader
starlocalmedia.com 3A
News & Business
PRESTWICK OPENS
HHHRS ENRICHES MINHS
Project-based learning campus focuses on student interaction
TIM GLAZE
tglaze@sta rlocalmedia, com
Town officials and LEISD ad-
ministrators flocked to the new
Prestwick STEM Academy on
Sunday as the school held a wel-
come reception to the public
after a month of classes.
Serving Little Elm ISD and
located in The Tribute, a subdi-
vision in The Colony, Prestwick
Science, Technology, Engineer-
ing and Math (STEM) K-8 Acad-
emy is one of the first of its kind
in Texas - and acting Superin-
tendent Matthew Gutierrez
couldn’t be happier with the
first weeks of classes.
“We had a pivotal first few
weeks and the feedback from
parents, teachers and students
* 1—: „ PHOTO COURTESY OF LITTLE ELM INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
has all been very positive, Little Elm ISD officials and The Colony and Little Elm town representatives
Gutierrez stated in a press re- were on hand for the dedication ceremony of Prestwick STEM Academy,
lease. “Parents like the layout,
and when they walk in the mands of our economy, and it an asset for the Little Elm Inde-
school, they can see the learning has been proven that graduates pendent School District and its
building is separated into
“houses” for each grade, with
open centers for small group
and school-wide meetings.
Students in grades six
through 12 were given laptops
for school work, and fourth- and
fifth-graders were recently given
Google ChromeBooks. STEM is
part of LEISD’s gradual switch
to project-based learning, where
the students take ownership of
their learning and teachers fa-
cilitate.
The opening of Prestwick is
yet another education change
for the town of Little Elm, join-
ing the recent decision to build
a Denton Independent School
District high school on U.S.
Highway 380. When the new
DISD school is built, Little Elm
will be represented by three
school districts: Little Elm,
Frisco and Denton.
“Little Elm is really moving
taking
place.” who have STEM experience children, but also for Denton forward in regards to educa-
Joining Gutierrez at the opening have vastly more earning poten- County and our region as well.” tion,” English said. “This new
was State Rep. Pat Fallon, The tial over a lifetime, so clearly The Colony council members [STEM] campus is awesome. It’s
Colony Councilman David Terre, this is the direction schools approved an interlocal agree- one of the more unique schools
STEM Principal Christine Gib- need to be headed,” Fallon said, ment with Little Elm ISD for not only in the area, but also the
son and LEISD School Board “As a child of two public school joint use of property and con- state.”
President DeLeon English.
teachers, I understand the im- struction facilities for Prestwick For continuing coverage of
"We must educate our work- portance of quality education. STEM Academy in November Little Elm ISD, visit starlocal
force to keep up with the de- This school will be not only be 2013. The 90,000 square-foot media.com.
AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE
fiveonthree
ALBERT GUTIERREZ
General manager, Kwik Kar-Flower Mound Lube & Repair Center
TAwik Kar is AAA
A certified and of-
AXfers a two-
year warranty on all
mechanical repairs. It
does all types of pre-
ventive maintenance
and repairs on over 50
types and models of
cars, and it carries 30
kinds of oil. Its techni-
cians are required to
do continuing educa-
tion annually. They are
the full-service, fast,
efficient alternative to
the dealership.
Business address: 2212
Long Prairie Road, Flower
Mound
Year opened: 1994
Number of employees: 18
What does your business
offer that is unique when
compared to similar busi-
nesses?
We pride ourselves on of-
fering dealership-quality
service at an independent
price.
What is the most impor-
tant part of your job on a
daily basis?
I have been in this busi-
ness for over 34 years, and I
have learned that listening to
the customer is the most im-
portant part of my job.
What are your keys to
success?
Success in this business is
achieved by employing the
best, most experienced peo-
ple at every level - from the
technicians who drain the oil
to the technicians with the
highest levels of certification.
What surprises you most
about your job?
Kwik Kar truly lives by the
statement, “Quality endures
long after the price is forgot-
ten.” Customers are sur-
prised by that ethic, and that
surprises me.
Tell us something most
people wouldn’t know
about your company.
We are open and offer me-
chanical services seven
days/week. I like to think
that everybody knows that we
stand behind what we say,
but sometimes folks need to
be reminded. And we were
the first business in the local
area to have free Starbucks
available to customers while
they wait.
To submit a Five on Three,
contact Heather Goodwin at
hgoodwin@starlocalm edia. com
Utility rate increases to fund repairs, upgrades
New price to
go into effect
Wednesday
Staff report
After seven straight years
of static or decreased utility
rates, The Colony residents
and businesses experienced
same percentage scheduled Miller, assistant city man-
between 2013 and 2017 in ager of operations These im-
order for the city to meet the provements are much
is more than $55 million.
The bulk of the funding
(about $37 million) is
ice to its residents and busi-
nesses while at the same
time doing its best to man-
increased demands for serv-
ice amid an aging infrastruc-
ture. The next increase will
take effect Wednesday.
“As they know, the new
rate affects our residents by
increasing their utility bills
slightly, but it also affects
them by providing a more
a 3-percent increase in Octo- modern, efficient water and
ber 2013. It was the first of waste water infrastructure
five annual increases of the for years to come,” said Tim
needed considering the
growth of the community
both in terms of population
and overall development.”
With a wastewater treat-
ment plant nearing legally
accepted capacity alongside
aging water towers and
transmission lines, the cur-
rent cost estimates of
needed improvements to the
needed for expanding the ca- age the costs of providing
pacify of the wastewater
treatment plant to 6.1 mil-
lion gallons per day by 2019.
Many of the water system’s
lift and pump stations, water
towers and well sites also re-
quire repairs and/or expan-
sion.
The city has always
strived to deliver the best
those services.
However, the city has
reached a pivotal point in its
growth and development,
and it can no longer delay
rate increases vital to fund
the repairs and upgrades
needed for the water and
wastewater systems.
home or business budget, the
rate increase is being phased
in beginning with last year’s
increase and each subse-
quent year for five years.
This equates to an increase
of approximately $2.30 per
month to a customer’s bill
each year.
The city council and city
staff will continue monitor-
ing utility rates and revenues
going forward in the hopes
water and wastewater system water and wastewater serv-
Understanding the impact an opportunity arises to
a rate increase can have on a lower the rates back down.
ou’ve Got a Friend in Me
Lakeview Middle School AVLS students
“Buddy up” in PE class
Staff report
Randy Newman famously
sang in “Toy Story”: “You’ve got
a friend in me...”
Lakeview Middle School
AVLS (Academic Vocational
Life Skills) and FLS (Func-
tional Life Skills) students
have a “buddy” friend in PE
class.
“In years past, our AVLS and
FLS students would partici-
pate in an adaptive PE class
with just their Special Educa-
tion peers,” said Jennifer
Shaw, AVLS/FLS teacher. “But
this year, they are joining to-
gether with general education
students for a fun, interactive
gym class.”
When they get to the
school’s gym, the students
meet their “buddy” for a few
warm-up laps around the
court. Then, one at a time, the
AVLS or FLS students will lead
the group in various stretches.
The students will then work to-
gether on a group activity, such
as a gym class parachute. Fi-
nally, they will spend time to-
Teachers said students love cheer class with the LVMS
gether playing basketball, the class.
bowling or tag; crawling
“It used to be very hard for afternoons.
Leopard cheerleaders in the
through tunnels; riding adap- him to come out of his shell in “General education stu-
tive bicycles; or walking. his adaptive PE class,” said dents are really clinging to
This was the brainchild of Denise Bechtel, FLS aide re- this,” said Jennifer Shaw,
LVMS Coach Shawn Hudson. ferring to one of her students. AVLS/FLS teacher. “If they see
“I borrowed this idea from “But now, he loves it. He will the FLS/AVLS students in the
[fellow Lewisville ISD school] play tag with his buddy and re- hallway, they will say ‘hi’ to
Arbor Creek Middle School,” ally enjoys the time.” them and acknowledge them.
Coach Hudson said. “It’s great In addition to the PE class, It’s great to see that they’re
to see the students of all abili- the FLS/AVLS girls participate noticing these students are
ties working together.” in a combined dance and just like them.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRITTANY WHITACRE
Lakeview Middle School AVLS students
participate in a “buddy” PE class that in-
cludes students with all abilities in adap-
tive PE classes with a general education
“buddy.” In addition, the special educa-
tion students participate in several inclu-
sive electives at LVMS, such as art,
outdoor education and dance/cheer class.
Jennifer Shaw leads the AVLS class and
Coach Shawn Hudson leads the PE class.
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Aldaz, Gina. The Colony Courier-Leader (The Colony, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 33, Ed. 1 Sunday, September 28, 2014, newspaper, September 28, 2014; Plano, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1622287/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Colony Public Library.