AggiesAreWe

One thing that you might want to know is that the economically disadvantaged number is Silsbee is higher that advertised as well in other districts I'm sure. The number of economically disadvantaged in the WOS is probably pretty accurate. The way this number is derived is by the number of students that take advantage of free and reduced lunches. At WOS there is no distinction between a free and reduced and a full fare paying student. At Silsbee there are several lines in which to purchase lunch and the free and reduced in limited, thereby creating a stigma for some students. These students will go without before being designated free and reduced. Now the Silsbee administration is currently seeking a plan to allow the free and reduced students to freely choose what line they purchase out of which will not create such stigma. The problem is with the state monitoring what they can and cannot have. Along the lines of cutting transportation cost for after school extra curricular activities, I have to agree that the school districts sole purpose is to educate kids! But, I also know that if it were not for athletics some students would get involved in the wrong things after school.....and YES, athletics is the driving force for some students to succeed in school (LIKE IT OR NOT)! This is not taught by their teachers and coaches nor is it dealt down by the administration of school districts..... It is a fact of life. This comes from years of repression and single parent families trying to make it. Some of these students do not see the long-term effects of no or little education and simply feel that they cannot make it (unless they can be a STAR ATHLETE)..... I am making no excuses, just stating what you will learn if you talk to these students and really get behind their thoughts. Now, the state has been changing school districts financial accountability, and one of the changes has been that 65% of the money that is spent in the district must to directly to the classroom to educate kids. That gives the district only 35% to spend of transportation, athletics, maintenance etc. The district has no choice but to cuts cost outside the classroom where they can. I agree that the district needs to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers, but we have to do what is right for student body as a whole. I do know that there are several students in Silsbee that have to get a ride with friends, relatives and I do know that we have coaches that take students home from time to time. The way I see it this decision should be made by the number of students that take advantage of the service and the number that would otherwise not participate! One thing to BucFan, apparently you are not economically disadvantaged nor do you understand the stressors in these family's lives. When times are tough for the middle and upper income class, they are far more stressful for the lower income families. I only mention this b/c you made mention that your kids are involved in academic extra curricular and at no time have you expected transportation for these events. Both of my kids participate in both athletic and academic events and I do not expect transportation either, but I do know that there are several VERY BRIGHT students in our district that would help our academic UIL teams, but they cannot participate because they have no means of transportation unless they catch the bus!!!!! So please know that not everyone is as fortunate as you or I! Awesome post, Silsbee88. Coming from you, I know the truth has been spoken. Thank you for your post.

If Hanna can get Honorable Mention(which he should), then Grogan should have also.

WOW!!! I don't know how you can possibly spin a 1-11 record into a 9-3 one. That my friend, is really, really reaching. :

I am not disputing these numbers. But I would like to know where you got them for my own benefit. Thanks

So true, so true.

This area?? I take it you mean for class 4A. You know, there are other teams locally that make it past the first round of regionals.

Explain to me how WOS is so different than Silsbee, Newton and other school districts in regards to this problem. These other school districts have single parent homes. These other school districts are experiencing tough times through the bad economy. How is this apples and oranges?

Now, now, K...............

Sorry, but I respectfully disagree that "football provides them an education". Colleges graduate maybe 50% of the football players, and also take into account many of the athletes take the simplest classes available. Students should attend school to get an education, "athletics" should not be the motivating factor to keep kids in school. Some schools simply don't get this. The GURU will now speak on this most unfortunate of topics! First of all bucky, I believe the comment about football helping kids with education was that extra curricular activities gives kids incentive to make good grades, stay in school, and get a college education. This is 100% accurate in the WOS school district. By cutting out transportation for extra curricular activities you will cut out the number of kids that will participate in these activities and will cause some to even not participate in school all together. I have a brother that has worked in this district and I can honestly say that the mismanagement of money for YEARS has caused this district the hardships that it is currently enduring! Unfortunately, the CHILDREN are ALWAYS the ones that SUFFER! Sorry bucky, but the buck stops here and The GURU has spoken!! I can only speak for my local school district, Silsbee, on this matter. Silsbee does not provide transportation back home for extra curricular activities, yet they have not suffered any loss to speak of in participation. The only numbers that have dropped in Silsbee are due to the population decline, therefore why we are in 3A now. The percentage of students participating in extra curricular have not changed. Silsbee hasn't provided transportation in years. I think it's great that WOS was still providing transportation for their students. But in these times, it was inevitable that it would change. I think you'll be suprised that the numbers will not drop significantly at WOS because of these changes.

I was in the house too. WOS is okay.

Thanks for clearing that up, Nos. I knew that but I was just curious if Boutte had a master's or not. Btw, like it was mentioned earlier, if he did get the job, do you have any clue as to who Ozen would be interested in? You can pm me your thoughts if you would like.

This is as about a smart a post as I have ever read on these forums. Kudos ECBucFan. Please continue on. BTW, these kind of changes are happening all over, not just at WOS.

Glad to see that Andre has bigger asperations in life, but it really doesn't suprise me that he does. My question, does Boutte have a master's?

and I've been preaching this for how many years? : My sentiments are, if you are going to have an all-state team, do the PROPER research and do it right! It's like last year's 4A team, Dravantti Johnson of Nederland was second team all-district, but garnered 1st team all-state and 4A defensive player of year. You can go back over the years and see this kind of assinine results on the AP teams.

I agree. The regional should have stayed at Lamar.

My thoughts on this is that the YMBL knew what they were getting this year. Moving back to the Montagne came with some stipulations. I believe in the future, things will be scheduled better. Contrary to what Miss Walters thinks, if I am Coach Roc, I am going to have my shoot around where I am going to play my game, the Montagne, not McDonald. This is my homecourt, and for this very important home game, I would not want to have to adjust to someone else's schedule. Lamar basketball is more important to Lamar University than the YMBL tourney is to LU and that it should be.

Believe me Lazeek, I am with you on all this back and forth Silsbee-HJ talk. But, it doesn't look good if the HJ players and coaches are concerned with what fans are saying about them. Now, if the Tiger players and coaches were making these comments, that definetly would be bulletin board material.

Another thing you guys need to understand on this, these awards are based on regular season, not playoffs. It is my understanding that they are decided on before the playoffs, but only are released afterwards.

You got that right, Chad.

The new floor had everything to do with the schedule. There were some setbacks in the instillation of the floor, therefore Silsbee had to move a couple of their home games to away games.

Who did you see New Waverly play? So in your opinion New Waverly is better than HJ? I saw my Silsbee Tigers beat New Waverly at the Big Sandy tourney, 70-60. I think HJ and New Waverly are very closely matched.

I will grace it in the basketball forum. I do love this website!

Hilarious!! Silsbee loses 1 game, drops 3 spots. HJ loses a game at home, moves up a spot.

I could not agree with you more, ST4life. Good post.

New Waverly definetly the better team. I'll put you guys ahead of Kountze though.