Wylie Today

The City of Wylie invites you to attend a reception Tuesday, June 3, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Birmingham House, in honor of outgoing Mayor John Mondy.  Mayor Mondy served the City of Wylie for fifteen years as Councilmember and Mayor from May 1993 through May 2008.   The Birmingham House is located at 301 N. Ballard Street.  For more information please email citysec@wylietexas.gov or call 972-442-8126.  

Ayanna Gillespie is a Birmingham Elementary student who had her school year cut short when she was hit by a vehicle on the way to school April 30th, 2008. Although Ayanna is recovering, there is still a long road in front of her and her family and they could use help and support during this time.

Sat. May 31, 2008 from 11am to 1pm
at Birmingham Elementary
To Support Ayanna Gillespie and her Family

There has been an account set up in Ayanna’s name at the local Texans Credit Union for any donations.

 Click on image above for a large, large, large version.

The Wylie ISD Board of Trustees approved an altered version of the Wylie High School and Wylie East High School attendance zones on Monday night, May 18th. This is the second reading of the new high school attendance zones and again it was mentioned there would be parent forums to solicit feedback from the community before the final reading and approval is made.

There was only one change and it is not that significant. In order to account for the possibility of a large development north in St. Paul, the dividing line has been straightened out a bit. To see the previous map, click here.

Congratulations to the 20 teachers who have been selected as members of the WISD Teacher Leader Academy Class of 2009.  The selection committee reviewed the applications of more than 40 teachers; criteria included evidence of leadership abilities as demonstrated in current and previous positions as well as commitment to ongoing professional growth.  Good luck to the members of this new Teacher Leader Academy Class!

Class of 2009 members are:

Mindy Allen, Draper IS

Tracey Baskeyfield, Birmingham ES

Suzanne Burnham, Cox ES

Carma Gay, Akin ES

JoAnn Elliott, McMillan JHS

Barbara Gilmore, Whitt ES

Jennifer Gustavson, Dodd ES

Tiffany Cook-Harrod, Cooper JHS

Andrea Henderson, Wylie East HS

Kathryn Lee, Draper IS

Lynda Maynard, Birmingham ES

Michael McAloon, Wylie HS

Sharla McCrary, McMillan JHS

Elizabeth McDorman, Birmingham ES

Michelle McGaughy, Wylie HS

Cassie Nickel, Harrison IS

Diana Pecorino, Whitt ES

Lindsay Pitts, McMillan JHS

Beth Schara, Davis IS

Jessica Taylor, Wylie East HS

The Wylie ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously on new school hours for the 2008-2009 school year on Monday night. During the end of March, Dr. Fuller was recommending that high school students start school at 7:30 am. But tonight Dr. Fuller relayed what he had heard from the community that prompted the change in high school start time to 9:00 am.

Dr. Fuller mentioned the countless amount of studies showing that later start times contributed to better students as they got older. He also talked about the concerns of parents regarding teenagers out of school and on the roads driving while the younger kids are walking and biking home. I recalled the discussion on the Wylie View about the school hours and seeing those exact points brought up. It’s fantastic to see Dr. Fuller and the Board listening to the concerns of parents.

The new start times:

Elementary Schools: 7:30 am - 2:30 pm

Junior High and Intermediate Schools: 8:15 am - 3:15 pm

High School: 9:00 am - 4:15 pm

On Monday night, May 19th, 2008, the Wylie ISD Board of Trustees elected officers for the next year, voting unanimously to keep Susan Shuler as President and Ralph E. James as Vice-President. Sam Satterwhite was elected Secretary. The evening began with newly elected Trustee Lance Goff taking his oath of office along with Ronni Fetzer and Ralph E. James.

I’m still amazed at the results of the Fetzer/Goss race. Five votes. Wow. The people still have faith in Ronni Fetzer. And the people believe that Barbara Goss is the right type of person needed on the School Board. Maybe the time will come where everyone can be happy and support both Ronni Fetzer and Barbara Goss. Personally, I have no doubt that they will both put our children’s education as the top priority in each decision they make.

After the election, Ronni Fetzer said, “My sincere thanks to all the voters who made an effort to have their voice heard on the Wylie ISD elections, and to those who supported me during the campaign. Thanks also to Barbara Goss and all the candidates who put their hats into the ring to serve the students and families of Wylie ISD. We are in an important time for our district, and the dedication and commitment of many people is vital to our success. Please stay involved with your local schools.”

I also think it’s real funny (sorry, Sam) that they elected Sam Satterwhite as Secretary, even after Ronni Fetzer told everyone he said he didn’t want to be. It’s too bad Mr. Satterwhite was doing his job as WEDC Executive Director in Las Vegas today and wasn’t there to nominate someone else as Secretary. You know, Stacie Gooch, or someone like that.

Newly elected Mayor Eric Hogue was officially sworn in on Friday night, May 16th, 2008. His family stood by him as Judge Terry Douglas did the honors. Also sworn in for their second term each, Carter Porter and Rick White.

Photos courtesy and copyright 2008 Earl Newsom

Yeah, right. The only way you didn’t see a plethora of Lycra clad individuals riding in Wylie this morning and afternoon is if you didn’t leave your house. Otherwise, you witnessed another amazing event.

So what was the deal with all those bikers, you ask? They were riding in the WildRide Bike Rally benefiting the Lance Armstrong Shaped Beam Surgery™ Program at Richardson Regional Cancer Center.

The following is from the literature on the WildRide website:

This ride, presented by the Richardson Regional Medical Center Foundation, is held in conjunction with the 16th annual Wildflower! Arts & Music Festival in Galatyn Park on May 16th-18th. Wildflower!, which was recently named “Best of the Fests” by D Magazine, is the area’s premier arts and music festival, drawing more than 50,000 visitors featuring national headliners.

WildRide! is the only bike ride to allow riders across the long stretch of the beautiful Lavon Lake Dam, closed all other days of the year! Enjoy rolling hills and scenic byways through small North Texas towns that open their arms to this annual event.

The ride features 16, 40 or 64 mile routes. It makes me tired thinking about it.

Photos copyright 2008 Wylie Today

From the Wylie Community Newsletter:

Congratulations to the 22 Wylie High School graduating seniors who have been selected as Birmingham Scholars. On Monday the students completed the interview phase of the scholarship process and attended a celebratory banquet with their parents. Those 11 scholars who have been awarded $11,000 each are: Yasmin-Pei Chau, Lauren Dennis, Maggie Emerson, Heath Gipson, Sheila Hobbs, Jennifer Lipe, Brittany Murrie, Stephanie Oliver, Robin Reininger, Allie Spillyards and Monica Wyrem.

Students receiving $1,500 awards are Joey Bartley, Joshua Burkhart, Katherine Griggs, Zahidul Haq, Jace Lington, Wesley Murack, Rachel O’Steen, Charles Partridge, Korey Stephens, Blake Stevens and Erica Wickett. The scholarships are funded annually by the Pearl Birmingham Scholarship Trust Fund which was formed in 1947. From that initial gift by the former WISD teacher, students today continue to receive benefits.

Saturday, May 17th @ 9 am @ Pirate Stadium

Proceeds will benefit the William Henry Smith, III fund at Inwood National Bank

Will is the son of BJ and Lajuana Smith. BJ is a coach and teacher at Wylie East High School. Lajuana is a teacher at Hartman Elementary. Will has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Phelan-McDermid Syndrome/22q13 Deletion Syndrome. Specific developmental and physical features are affected by the loss or deletion of a small amount of genetic material from chromosome 22. Fewer than 300 people worldwide have been diagnosed as of 2006.

Please help support the wonderful teachers and contributors to our school district by walking on Saturday or sending in a donation.

More details can be found on the flyer distributed by the WISD.