Nixon-Smiley CISD sets polling locations

Nixon-Smiley CISD made some changes to its Election Day voting locations during its monthly meeting Monday.

Election Day voting is usually held at Nixon City Hall, Leesville Encouraging Word Church and the Smiley Community Center, but certain factors came into play requiring a couple of adjustments.

“The Smiley Community Center is part of the Smiley Housing Authority which has just recently been bought out by an outside company,” superintendent Dr. Cathy Booth reported. “The Smiley City Council thought this would be a good time to change the polling place from there to the Smiley Volunteer Fire Department. By making this change, it is more centrally located for the public and has better parking.”

NCISD board member Jimmy Newman and his wife, Judy, own the Leesville Encouraging Word Church. “Since Mr. Newman is on the school board, the district needs to change polling places,” Booth said. “We have been given permission to conduct the election in the Leesville Methodist Church.”

Booth elaborated that by making these two polling place changes, the district does not have the purpose, or will not have the effect, of discriminating against racial or language minority group members.

Booth also said the 2013 Board of Trustee Election will be held May 11.

“Trustees are to be elected for Places 1, 5 and 7,” Booth reported. “Candidates for Place 1 must live in what was formerly the Nixon ISD; candidates for Place 5 must live in what was formerly the Smiley ISD; and Place 7 is at-large. Early voting will be conducted April 29 through May 7 at the Central Office from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.”

Booth added that on May 11, the polling places will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at Nixon City Hall, Smiley Volunteer Fire Department and Leesville Methodist Church.

The board also voted to designate the week of March 4-8 as Texas Public Schools Week for 2013.

“On Jan. 19, 1951, Gov. Allan Shivers signed the proclamation that began 60 years of Texas schools setting aside a week to observe Texas Public Schools Week,” Booth said. “The State Board of Education has declared that each school designate the week of March 4 through March 8 as the week of observation.”

The board also acknowledged upcoming personnel replacements and resignations. Jane Iams will be replacing Sarah Loer as middle school principal, with Loer replacing Cheryl Nance as the district’s director of technology. Fidel Marroquin Jr. will be replacing the departing Leticia Ramos as bus driver and mechanic’s helper. Elementary aide Amanda Bates and maintenance man/bus driver Devan Rodriguez will also be resigning. Bates’ tenure with the district will conclude on June 7, but Rodriguez’s final date has not been made official as of yet.

Nixon-Smiley CISD will hold its next meeting March 11 at the Smiley campus.