I have to admit I grimaced when I typed the date. I can’t say I am quite ready for school to start. I’ve been in and out taking care of business, attending workshops and rearranging my room, but that was on a my schedule basis. In just two short weeks, I shall have to get up bright and early and head out to work. I can hear kids all over the county groaning in agony! I love to teach, that’s not the problem. Like the kids, like you and millions of others, it’s the daily "have to" stuff that wears you out.

I attended the board meeting Monday because they were going to present a science teacher for approval. I think that will fill our roster. There will be changes this year as any other but I think the atmosphere is much lighter this year. We have a solid staff, our scores are up again this year, and we have some super neat kids. Don’t let me forget our dual position leader Mr. Fowler. He is pumped and anxious to show everyone the path which he would like us to follow. Coach Burkhart already has his year made. Last week the Coyotes were voted the team of the decade! What a great testimony to our program leaders and athletes. Richland Springs is just a great place to be these days. I hope Mr. Winn is enjoying his retirement, and is getting in some fishing time. Maybe he’s missing us just a little bit. The board is still looking at improvements to the elementary buildings. They are run down and very inefficient when it comes to power usage. We all love our school, but it needs a little modernization. I guess we’ll be hearing more about that down the road.

The meeting was interesting in that they discussed a bond election for building a new elementary building. Someone on the board asked about using local contractors. The government will allow local contractors, but they have to be bonded and insured. In layman’s terms, that means putting out big bucks to insurance companies. We have some super good contractors in the area, but not many can afford the insurance. There has to be a way to get around that hurdle. According to the accounting folks, we have plenty of money in the bank, and although we’re not like the big schools with their thousands of students, we are doing just fine. The doing fine is definitely due to the tax issue that passed last year. It allowed us more money to run our school properly. Thank you voters.

We’re all waiting to see how the new testing will work out. I feel sorry for the high school students who will be moving from one testing system to another. We have no materials as yet to guide us as we prepare our students. I know there has to be testing, but one test doesn’t prove anything. It doesn’t accurately measure a students work capabilities. It doesn’t measure a teacher’s abilities. You can have a student who shows they grasp the concepts you’re teaching, then bingo, he/she has a bad test day and the finger pointing starts!

I hear my jelly jars popping in the kitchen. I have to find a new candy thermometer. The ones I have aren’t long enough for my big pot. I don’t trust them either. My spoon shows they’re ready to fill jars but the thermometer reads too low. I have three of them and no two read the same. That’s just wrong. Come to think of it; who’s testing those little doodads? I hope I will get a second crop of tomatoes. The grasshoppers destroyed the bunch I have. That just goes to show you. I had so many plants this year I thought I was ridiculous. Turns out, if I hadn’t had so many, I wouldn’t even have had enough to make salsa. Kay McKee has been giving hers away, she has so many? I just don’t know what happened.

The school supply lists are in the school foyer and at Wal-Mart. I guess it’s time to spend more money. I try not to get too anxious about our economy, but it sure isn’t easy.

I found a cheap fare ticket to Canada, so I think I’m going to desert Russell for the week and spend some time with my sisters and brother. I think a week beside the lake, just being pampered by my family will do me a world of good. I’m going to miss another Germany birthday. Kaitlynn will be 12 on the 14th of August. My stepdaughter Chris will be 29 and holding, on the 13th. I could have those two dates mixed up.

I met Brenda Roberd’s husband in Super S on Friday. He told me the name I was looking for was Wanda, so it was Grandma Wanda who went tripping the light fantastic. That’s one of the reasons I don’t do a regular column. I would get all the names wrong! I was sorry to hear that Brenda does not yet have a new teaching assignment. She is an excellent science teacher. I understand science scores went up 15% after one year of teaching in San Saba. I call those excellent results. Teachers who are at the top of the pay scale have a difficult time getting small town jobs. There is a tendency to hire new teachers at base pay. It helps with the budget, but it is more of a scatter shot in terms of competency. Hang in there, God’s in control.

We had a light turn out for VBS on Sunday. It seems coming home after 1:00 a.m. doesn’t make for good early morning wake up calls. Please note, there will not be a VBS service this coming Sunday, but we will resume on August 15th at 9:00 a.m. I have to give great praise to Bucky and Tana for getting their kids up for VBS after a very late night. Hutton won two buckles! One was for All Round, and I’m not sure what the second was for. Congratulations Hutton. Chandler did his steer riding with a broken wrist. I call that tough! I heard the chicken-fried revival event in San Saba went very well also. We have you parents to thank, for getting up early Sunday morning, and bringing your kids to church. I hope to see you all there this Sunday. I will leave directly after church to fly to another climate zone.

The Stars and Stripes will be holding a fund raiser for next year’s fireworks display. Tentative plans are for September 25th. Please block in that date and make plans to enjoy some barbecue sandwiches. After this year’s magnificent display, they are really going to have to work to match the splendor we watched this year!

Bobby Soto came through his surgery just fine. I was told Chris Pappas is doing better after his hospital work. Desiree Bessent still needs our prayers for a speedy recovery. School is upon us everyone. I’ll write this column from Canada next week. I hate to say it but I probably won’t see any 100 degree weather. Sorry. Please pray for our government, our school, our President and our precious troops. We are a blessed nation. God bless America.