Archive for July, 2009

CISD to get $1.3M in federal stimulus funding

By Christina Rowland / Star Community Newspaper
June 25, 2009

Carroll ISD will benefit from a bill signed earlier this year by President Barack Obama.

Funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide the CISD with $1,332,457 in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-B) funding, in addition to the funds they normally receive. The district will also receive $34,432 to be used for preschool students with disabilities.

Dr. Cathy Friar, executive director for special programs and state assessments with the CISD, notes her excitement with the additional funds, because the normal IDEA funds only cover about 17 percent of the cost needed to educate a child with a disability.

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Commissioners OK repairs to Tarrant County Courthouse

By Anthony Spangler / Star-Telegram.com
June 23, 2009

FORT WORTH — A cast-iron plate recently fell off the face of the historic Tarrant County Courthouse as officials were inspecting the tower sections of the 1895 pink granite structure.

The hefty plate did not cause any other damage or injuries, but it did signal that the aging courthouse is in dire need of extensive repairs.

“We were already up there looking it over to see what work needed to be done,” said David Phillips, Tarrant County facilities director. “We were in the process of bidding a project to replace some bolts. We stopped that bid because it looks like a whole lot more work is necessary.”

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New business still coming to Southlake

By Christina Rowland / Star Community Newspaper
June 21, 2009

Despite the current economic recession around the country, new businesses are still coming to Southlake.

The city council approved two variances for signs during Tuesday night’s meeting and a specific use permit for a new business.

The first sign variance that was approved on the consent agenda was a conditional sign permit for Bank of America, located on 112 State Street inside Town Square. The second-story tenant requested 15-inch letters on their business signage. While the current regulation is 10 inches there have been previous signs approved in Town Square with 20 inches letters. The Bank of America variance request was approved.

The second sign variance that was requested is for a new GameStop, to be located at 1251 East Southlake Blvd. inside the Shops of Southlake at suite 351. GameStop will be closing their other Southlake location in order to open this larger store.

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Westlake Academy students win indie book award

By Christina Rowland/ Star Community Newspaper
June 4, 2009

Westlake Academy students recently learned they have won a 2009 Next Generation Indie Book award in the category of “education/academic”. The award is an equivalent to winning an award at the Sundance film festival.

The 29 student-authors beat out adult authors competing in the same category. Their book, The Best of the Black Cow: Great Writing by Great Kids, is a compilation of stories that have been published in their student newspaper over the past three years.

Their student newspaper is printed monthly and is open to all students at the school. The newspaper is not a school class, as it is in most schools, but rather a volunteer opportunity that the students have a choice to make. Westlake Academy parent and published writer David Lieber is the club sponsor for the event.

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