WISD breaks ground on elementary school
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Everybody got a chance to "turn some earth" at the groundbreaking ceremony Monday for WISD's new elementary school. Above, baggies were provided so that those attending could save a bit of history. Below are school administrators, members of the board and city officials.

The rains stopped just long enough to allow Whitehouse ISD to hold an official ground breaking for the new elementary school being built north of the junior high. Administration, students, parents and community members were on hand for the soggy celebration.

As Supt. Dennis Miller welcomed the faithful, he remarked how each campus has its traditions and how this new campus will as well.

"The building is not the school," Miller said. "The school is the kids, the teachers, the parents involved through PTA - that's what makes the building a school."

Everyone on hand was given the opportunity to turn a little dirt to mark the occasion.

Even with a few rain delays already under their belt, plans for a June 15, 2008 completion date are still in line. While no discussion has begun concerning a name for the new campus, work is well underway with Population and Survey Analysts of College Station as they continue to gather data that will be used to decide where school attendance boundaries will be.

Prior to the ground breaking the board held a short specialcalled meeting. On the agenda was the approval of Region VII contracts including scoring and data analysis as well as an interlocal agreement with the city of Whitehouse for a site to install an emergency siren warning system. The site agreed upon is on the Cain Elementary campus.

Following an executive session the board approved the employment of Stephanie Schminkey as a third grade teacher. The high school gained several faculty members with Charity Simpson teaching Science, Joel Ghrist teaching Economics, David McKain for Math and Michele Vaughn for French.