District Seeks Public Input On Stadium Name Change

GRAND SALINE—Carter Elliott was one of the most successful football coaches in Grand Saline ISD history, and the school board is considering renaming the district’s football stadium in his honor.

However, they want to know how district residents feel about the idea first.

Monday, the board opted to postpone action on the matter to allow time for public input on a proposed name change from Indian Memorial Stadium to The Carter Elliott Indian Memorial Stadium.

"I’m in favor of the name change, but I’d like to talk to a few more people. Coach Elliott did a great job here and I had a lot of fond memories during his time as football coach," trustee Michael Swain commented.

Victor Conley added, "I’d also like to get some feedback from the public, but like Michael said, I thought he did a great job here and mentored a lot of young men and women during that time."

Grand Saline ISD Superintendent Mark Keahey said it was a big step to consider changing the stadium name. "That’s very important and something we want to make sure we can live with. I’d like to get word out that we want public input on whether it is a good idea," he said.

Also in Monday’s meeting, the board approved a school lunch price increase of 15 cents for Grand Saline ISD students starting this fall.

That will bring school lunches for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students to $1.75, and sixth grade through 12th grade students to $2. The district’s breakfast program, which is currently $1.10 for all grades, will not change, nor will the adult and employees lunch price of $2.60.

"Like everything else in our world right now, prices are going up on foods we buy for our cafeterias," Keahey told the board.

The board also approved something new for the high school’s curriculum, a health science technology program.

Assistant superintendent Trish Elliott said the program would be of great benefit for Grand Saline students wanting to get an early jump on certifications in career fields like nursing or pharmacy technology.

Grand Saline High School Principal Gary Redding later noted that the courses would be applicable to the state’s new "4x4" requirement — mandating four credits each in English, Math, Science and History for Texas high school students — as a fourth science credit.

Redding said there is a related student organization, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), which could provide more instructional resources and opportunities for Grand Saline students to compete against other schools similar to events in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

In a related personnel decision, the board approved hiring Carla Milliorn as a health science technology instructor for the high school.

In other matters, the board took the following action:

— Accepted a notice of retirement of Butch Grier, high school/middle school ag instructor, and resignations of Dana Roberts, head boys basketball coach, and Brandy Griffin, kindergarten teacher.

— Hired Randy Munoz for fifth grade math, Shely Boyd as a high school counselor and Randi Boggs as a kindergarten teacher.

— Heard the first reading of Board Policy Update 83.

— Approved a change to Board Policy BE (Local) that will move the start time of the regular monthly school board meeting from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of each month.