South Belt-Ellington Leader (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 18, 1992 Page: 1 of 12
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Girls basketball camp
set for Dobie
Bulletin: The South Belt, also known as the Sam Houston Beltway and Beltway 8,
opened a new section from the Gulf Freeway to Sabo-Hughes Wednesday. The old
roadway is closed for reconstruction.
Miss South Belt
contest entry forms
Page 2A
Page IB
outh Belt-Ellington Teaher
June 18, 1992
“The Voice of Community-Minded People
Vol 17 Number 20
Beauty contest deadline nears
Wednesday, June 24, is the deadline to turn in applications for the Miss South
Belt beauty contest without paying a late fee.
The contest will be held all day Saturday, June 27, at San Jacinto College South.
Participants may register until 30 minutes before the competition for their age group
begins by paying a $5 late fee.
There is a $25 entry fee, and those desiring to enter the photogenic competi-
tion will pay $10 for the first photo and $5 for each additional picture submitted.
Age categories are 6 to 18 months; 19 to 35 months; ages 3 and 4, 5 to 7, 8
to 12, 13 to 15, and Miss South Belt will be an unmarried girl age 16 or over.
Entry forms can be picked up at Bonnie Siscoe School of Dance, the South
Belt-Ellington Chamber of Commerce and the South Belt-Ellington Leader.
For further information, call Dianna Benavides at 481-9771, Glenda Coe at
the chamber office at 481-5516 or Joan Collins at 481-5656.
Monsanto agrees
to pay $39 million
settlement locally
Special PISD meeting Monday
The Pasadena school board will hold a special meeting Monday to consider
the salary of Gloria Gallegos and to discuss contracts for principals.
Gallegos is one of three administrators whose illegal raise was revoked by the
board. The board is expected to approve a raise for Gallegos, assistant director of
special programs.
In closed session at May’s regular meeting, the board reportedly rejected five
administrative recommendations for principals. Those five plus a new principal for
Teague are expected to be considered Monday. The meeting will begin at 5 p.m.
CCISD board to meet
The Clear Creek school board will hold its regular monthly meeting Tuesday,
June 23, at 7 p.m. at the district administration building, 17045 El Camino Real
at Gemini.
3 traffic lights feet apart
When the newly installed traffic light at Featherwood at Fuqua becomes opera-
tional, there will be three successive lights in just four-tenths of a mile. Motorists
going east on Fuqua hit a light before Interstate 45, another immediately after crossing
I-45, then the Featherwood light is a short block away.
Steven Ha with the city’s signalization department said installation for the new
light is complete and awaits service from Houston Lighting & Power.
Walls come tumbling down
Workmen carefully remove the walls of the United Savings Building on Scarsdale
Boulevard, careful to keep the roof intact. Kim Heyns, construction manager
for Bell-Mann Corp., said they are making way for a covered drive-through
adjacent to the United Savings office.
Photo by Cheryl Bolen
Benefit Saturday for Lindsay Medical experts detail
A roller skating party Saturday night is the highlight of an evening of fund-
raisers to benefit Lindsay Ann Simpson, the Scarsdale toddler who recently under-
went a heart transplant.
The skate party will be held at the Almeda Skate Center, 10750 Almeda Genoa,
from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Dancing, a bake sale and an auction will be offered, with
all proceeds helping to defray the large medical expenses the Simpson family has
incurred.
By Cheryl Bolen million. The rest will then be given to plain-
Southbend residents who have been tiffs according to their injury rating,
waiting for their day in court may not get Attorneys have rated the children plain-
that day. tiffs on a scale of one to five. Those with
Their attorneys reached a $39 million a rating of one get the least amount of
out-of-court settlement with Monsanto on money; those with five get the most.
Monday in what would have been the first Plaintiffs with a rating of one have
Brio-related court case to consider health allegedly been exposed to toxins but have
problems. no visible health effects. Those with a
Lead attorney Joe Jamail said he expects rating of five have severe health problems,
another settlement today (June 18) with The severe health problems associated
Farm & Home, a developer of the subdi- with Brio, most of them documented in
vision. children, include leukemia, heart defects,
Farm & Home is expected to buy up all Williams syndrome, spina bifada, absence
the Southbend houses owned by plaintiffs of reproductive organs and a rare disease
in the lawsuit. known as dysmorphic facies.
The trial, which was scheduled to begin Money awarded to children will not go
June 22, had an estimated 1,700 plaintiffs to their parents; it will be held in trust for
represented by four legal firms. them until they reach adulthood, except in
Attorneys have not released details of the cases of children with catastrophic health
settlement. They said they will notify their problems requiring immediate attention,
clients of their portions of the settlement The original suit involved approximate-
within the next two weeks. ly 700 Southbend adult plaintiffs and 800
The plaintiffs all had some connection children. Another 200 plaintiffs with ties
with Southbend and were suing for com- to the closed-down Weber Elementary
pensation because of health problems or joined the suit.
possible health problems related to ex- The Weber group includes Sageglen
posure to the Brio Superfund site next to children who attended the school and
the subdivision. former teachers and workers there. The
If the plaintiffs choose to reject Monsan- school’s long-time principal Charles Win-
to’s offer, they will have to get new at- sor is in the suit.
torneys, sources say. Attorneys for each side selected 20
The $39 million will not be divided even- children to represent their case. One child
ly. First, attorneys are expected to get $13 Continued on Page 3A
Thompson kids oj
more days
In addition to the recently approved eight staff development days, Thompson
Intermediate teachers will get two more inservice days, Nov. 16 and 17. Those days
will be student holidays.
The state’s education agency approved the extra days for special programs.
Earlier in the year, Thompson was selected as a Partnership School. Partnership
Schools can be exempt from certain state requirements in the interest of developing
innovative programs.
PISD meeting moved back
Trustees of the Pasadena Independent School District have moved back their
regular monthly meeting one week. The board will meet the fifth Tuesday in June,
instead of the usual fourth. The June meeting will be held June 30.
Brio health problems
By Marie Flickinger complished. However, scientists say Brio
Although Monsanto officials will not will teach the medical world what happens
I acknowledge a connection between health when children are exposed to toxic
I issues and Southbend children, nationally chemicals.
■ renowned experts who have studied these Rare birth defect cluster
■ children say a strong connection exists. One of the strongest newly found birth
Birth defects and illnesses of these defects related to the Brio site is a condi-
| children are connected to exposures at the tion called dysmorphic facies. The defect
I Brio Toxic Waste Site, experts say, and is a skeletal abnormality of the face.
I they named specific chemicals responsible This birth defect cluster was discovered
I for many of the problems. by Dr. David Ozonoff, professor of public
Monsanto officials contend their $39 health and chairman of the department of
I million settlement to Southbend residents Environmental Health at Boston Universi-
I does not mean the company acknowledges ty School of Public Health.
I health problems resulting from proximity Ozonoff found the cluster when he ex-
I to Brio. amined medical histories of the 39 children
Most medical doctors and epidemologists trial plaintiffs.
I agree that establishing a connection be- “This is an extremely unusual syndrome.
I tween toxic exposure and health problems Only 70 cases have been described in the
I is extremely difficult and rarely ac- Continued on Page 2A
Beamer to Telephone belt coming
The state highway department’s beltway project from Beamer to Telephone is
expected to be open in the summer of 1993.
Project engineer Charles Gaskins said there have been some rain delays, but
March and May were good months. The contract was let in the last half of 1991.
Eventually, the beltway should extend from the Gulf Freeway to Highway 288.
City pools restrict ages
Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by a parent when using city
of Houston swimming pools, said Greg Washington, director of aquatics.
Washington said he expects pool personnel to enforce the regulation, which
is written in their manuals.
Metro rail vote due
The Metro board is expected to vote on commuter rail at its regular weekly
meeting Thursday, June 25. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. on the 16th floor con-
ference room at Metro headquarters, 1201 Louisiana.
The meeting is open to the public, and those wishing to address the board need
to call Rose Gonzales at 739-4834 to get on the agenda.
The Clear Lake line, proposed along Highway 3 (Old Galveston Road) would
serve the South Belt area.
July 4 donations needed
Donations are needed to fund the July 4 fireworks display, and forms are
available for the ice cream crankoff to be held that day.
Marie Flickinger, chairman of the chamber’s Fourth of July Spectacular, needs
donations to ensure the fireworks display is as good as last year’s which cost ap-
proximately $7,500 for almost 15 minutes.
The chamber only pledged $5,000 toward the display this year. (The $5,000
was made through Friday’s Casino Night.)
Flickinger can be reached at 481-5656.
The Dobie Soccer Booster Club is sponsoring an ice cream crankoff July 4 to
benefit their program. Wayne Hanks, 481-5518, has the forms.
In case of flooding, call. . .
Following last week’s Leader article titled “Fuqua flooding reaches all-time
high,’’ several area residents said they wanted to know who to call to report street
flooding which is out of the ordinary.
Residents should let their elected officials know first. City Councilman Frank
Mancuso can be reached at 247-2008. County Commissioner El Franco Lee can
be called at 991-6881. These men and their staffs have been responsive to citizens’
complaints.
In addition, Lee’s precinct has a staffer who specializes in flood-related prob-
lems. John Bruton asks that residents call him, day or night, in the event of flooding,
and he will investigate. His office number is 490-3405 and his beeper number is
684-4000.
Court date set for Freeman
Constable Gary Freeman’s trial date has been rescheduled to July 15 in the 174th
District Court. Freeman was charged April 29 with seven counts of accepting il-
legal campaign contributions from corporations.
1991
Texas Assessment of Academic Skills
(Percent Meeting Minimum Expectations - 70%)
District
Texas Average
Pasadena
Clear Creek
Pearland
Friendswood
Grades
3rd
5th
7th
9th
11th
56
46
35
34
48
41
78
72
84
39
28
31
N/A
70
53
79
53
50
60
41
52
43
59
53
60
CCISD committee looks at year-round schools
, j 1 Texas YRE schools have somewhat
By Cheryl Bolen to year-round students who missed 2.3 days round schoolsno need remediation can get solved the problem by allowing students to
The Clear Creek School board will soon a year. California state averages were 10.8 •Students whoineed remediatla for the participate in the extracurricular activities
be faced with making a decision on year- and 3.6.traditional summmer school during their recessions, provided they are
round education. Oxnard teachers, during the four-year traditional summmer schoolmaking a passing grade on the last day of
The administration is expected to make study, missed 6.4 days per year in the tradi- • Traditional summer vacations a nool
a recommendation at the July board tional setting and only 5.5 days a year in detrimental to retention of learning, s u les Another drawback to YRE for high
■ meeting. the year-round program show. Disadvantages school students is it prevents them from get-
At their May meeting, trustees directed The Jefferson County (Colorado) school Disadvantagesting summer jobs
the administration to bring forth a recom- district found the reduction in sick days and Parents and the community generally Teachers who oppose YRE point to
mendation on year-round schools. personal days for YRE teachers computed pose moving to YRE. Districts making the scheduling conflicts with their own children
The board’s directive followed a lengthy to a gain of 74 cents per pupil. switch need to spend timecand money who are not on the same calendar and the
report by the district’s 48-member commit- Roger Davis, Clear Creek school board educating mmur indicates oositive inability to take summer courses and/or
tee which studied year-round education. president, has been studying YRE for over The CCISD report indicates P summer jobs.
The committee had been charged with a year, and he points to its success with results with YRE in elementary ar dmid- Other disadvantages to YRE are:
reviewing the literature on year-round latch-key children. dle grades, b YRE IS P •Increased air conditioning costs for
education to determine if it could be a “I think three months of kids being on ment in his schor s YRE encounters summertime classes.
viable option to the traditional calendar in their own is just too long, Davis said. Some of the Pro S.2 = with • Prevents high school students from tak-
the Clear Creek district. “Changing from three months of vacation at the high school level are difficult ing college courses during the summer.
Any recommendation forthcoming is ex- to three months on-one month off classra disch P • A multi-track program is difficult to
pected to be for a pilot-type program for discourages them (students) from illegal ac- finishing until late in the suumi in ex- implement.
students in lower grades. tivities.” . High school students participating many * YRE can divide the community.
The committee investigation, condensed Davis cited concerns over suburban gang tracurricu c have Davis said for YRE to be successful, it
here, shows the positive as well as the membership.scheduling obstacles and studiesraur must have support of the community. “You
negative aspects of year-round schools. Another advantage to YRE is a reduction sho nt participa o can’t force it on parents.”
Many districts which have implemented in dropouts. The Jefferson County dropout ricular activities declines 1 .
YRE have students attend school 45 days, rate was 5 percent before YRE and 2 per-
followed by 15 days of vacation. That ac- cent after. CA A 1 1 11 CQ/9
tually translates to nine weeks on, three Studies have also shown that teachers, 4T91A WVITT OidEO DY e s
weeks off. Another choice is the 60/30 students and parents participating in YRE • CIWU VV A V<KJ T
plan. show a high rate of satisfaction.-
Many districts, like Pasadena’s Mae In 1987, the California State Department 118 ■
Smythe Elementary, have a school-within- of Education reported 74 percent of the 61 11614 1 IC11I D
a-school plan, where students attend year teachers favored teaching in the year-round
round as an option while half the school schools.i 1 1
follows the traditional calendar. Teachers indicated YRE had a positive The Clear Creek scha lidist to make up The increase is primarily due to a boost
Districts using YRE follow a single-track impact on students in several areas, in *c5mbling lion budget shortfall in state in the County Education District tax. The
method or a multi-track method. eluding student attitudes, learning and a $ . g CED tax was 82 5 cents this year and will
A single-track has all students within a returning from breaks ready to work, funding, strict learned this week the state CED to 90 cents next year.
districtonthesamecalendar. Studies show teachers in year-round Te s Deck 33.4 million promised for The recently passed bond election will
A multi-track calendar, in which students schools did not experience an extreme is holding . ’ ,. P have a minor effect on the 1992-93 tax rate,
are in three-to-five tracks at different times amount of stress, as indicated by the thebudeethueawar offunds' comes about The owner of a $100,000 house will pay
allows for overenrollment in a limited Maslach Ruout yentorlidthat 78 per- from the state s practice of prorating at the an additional $2.85 more on the 1992-93
space. A Utah study in 1909 found, and the budget vear tax bill.
Advantages cent of the parents gave YRE a very end of thenbreigedistricts 1 ike Clear Creek “ Local school dDistrict taxpayers cannot
The advantage to YRE cited most fre- positive overall rating.floured the anticipated revenue when ap- shoulder the school-funding burden to com-
Parents also perceive that year-round figured the anncipared revenue • "P write F the lack of planning and action
school attendance allowed their children to proving the budget last summerpensate for the lack saidoningMcLeod
perform Xecademia chool 8 them of funding to Clear Creek schools has CCISD superintendent..
Some outer advantages to YRE are: dropped from 39.3 percent to 12. 4 percent. The Legislature will be trying to devise
• Decrease in vandalism Taxpayers are being asked to make up another school-funding plan now that the
Decrease in Vandals. : difference CEDs have been declared illegal.
mnlShort-term savings on construct,on for thwithbur CCISD raising taxes a cent , next "It is time that the state of Texas resolve
multi track YRE. ss rate is expected to jump from this the school-funding dilemma,” McLeod
The Oxnard district reported traditional • Educationally disadvantaged students year’s ra _ P J P 1992-93 said
students missed 8.8 days a year compared have better academic achievement in year- year s $1,299 to $1,430 for the 1992
quently is a reduction in absenteeism for
both students and teachers, both of which
would generate additional revenues for the
district.
Among the school districts reporting im-
proved attendance with YRE were Houston
and three California districts: Oakland, Ox-
nard and San Diego.
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South Belt-Ellington Leader (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 17, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 18, 1992, newspaper, June 18, 1992; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1693340/m1/1/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .