THE EMAIL PUBLICATION OF THE WHEEL
ROTARY CLUB OF PORT ARTHUR
MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
DISTRICT NO. 5910 CHARTER NO. 147
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
The foundation of every state is the
education of its youth.
Diogenes Laertius
UP FRONT
President Perry Snell presided over the September 30th meeting. The invocation and pledge to the flag was led by George Newsome. Director Mark Porterie introduced our visiting Rotarians and guests. Past President Ray Depwe led the members in singing "All Hail To Rotary". Past President Bill Coons gave the attendance report and Vice President Ramon Hill gave the Rotary Minute. Past President Clayton Salter reported no birthdays this week.
FRIENDSHIP DOLLAR
Past President Bill Worsham had the Friendship Dollar and gave it to No. 4; Russel Buss.
GUESTS
Dr. Dub Brown and Beverly Thornton (both from North Port Arthur Rotary Club), Boon Le, and Raniro Zuniga (guests of Director Johnny Brown), and Melvin White (guest of Past President Floyd Marceaux).
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
President Perry Snell presented Fellow Rotarian Mary Jean George with a Rotary Distinguished Award and also presented a check in the amount of $200 from our club to Mary Jean to go towards the Port Arthur Education Foundation.
MAKE UP LOCATIONS
MONDAY
North Port Arthur at Southeast Texas Medical Center at noon.
TUESDAY
Beaumont-Spindletop at Elegante’ Hotel at noon. Port Neches and Groves have combined and they meet at the Pompano Club at noon, and Orange at Ramada Inn at noon.
WEDNESDAY
Beaumont-Downtown at the Elegante’ Hotel at noon.
THURSDAY
Bridge City at the Community Center at noon.
FRIDAY
Nederland at the Pompano Club at noon.
Remember you can make up on the Internet at www.rotaryeclubone.org. You can make up 2 weeks before or 2 weeks after. Please visit our website at www.portarthurrotary.org in your
spare time.
CHANGES IN THE PAISD
Past President Floyd Marceaux, Program Chairman for the month of September, introduced our guest speaker, Fellow Rotarian Mary Jean George. Mrs. George grew up in Port Arthur and attended Port Arthur Schools, graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1951. She has a BS in Chemistry from Lamar (1955); MA in Biochemistry from UTMB (1959), and PhD in Human Physiology from UTMB (1966). Her teaching career consist of St. Mary Nursing School (Galveston 3 years); UTMB Nursing School (Galveston 3 years), and Lamar State College of Technology (Chemistry, Biochemistry-4 years). Mrs. George has been on the School Board twice 1981-99 and 2008-present and is currently the Secretary. She has also been on several committees in the education field. She is married to Dr. W.D. George and they have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Mrs. George is a member of the Port Arthur Public Schools Foundation, Texas PTA, First Baptist Church where she is a Sunday School Teacher, Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. Mrs. George told us the mission of the PAISD has stayed the same: "To meet the unique educational needs of our diverse population by providing a comprehensive quality education for students of the District." A lot of thing have changed; the students, enrollment, facilities, technology, finances, and Board of Trustees. The students have changed with digital natives, video games, high advantage of at risk students, English learners, and ethnic percentages. Mrs. George told us of the enrollment changes including the end of the baby boom, refinery lay offs, white flights, population loses, Port Acres, and Hispanic increases. The facility changes are school closures, high school consolidation, maintenance problems, deteriorated facilities, bond issues, construction/renovation and damages from Hurricanes Rita, Humberto, and Ike. Mrs. George said that the technology has gone from nothing to State of the Art. The finances in 1981 was a wealthy district but in the 80’s saw the taxable value decreases, local tax base recovery and changed state/local ratio. Mrs. George came on in 1981 and in 82-90 they had a good Board, ethnically balanced, and they worked together well. In 1990-97 there were micromanagement issues, less able people, agenda driven, superintendent changes, discord. In 1997-98 it was dysfunctional and in 1998-99 it was totally dysfunctional and last year for Mrs. George. They had an incompetent President and serious micromanangement. In 1999-2006 there was a superintendent conflict, micromanagement got worse and state sent monitors and battle over new high school. In 2005 there was new Board members, construction projects delayed and millions of dollars lost. In 2007 there were more Board turnovers and new high school started. Mrs. George told new that the Board now is a good one and they work well together.