Travis County Commissioners Court
August 21, 2007
Citizens communication
Citizens communication is next. This gives citizens the opportunity to discuss any matter not on the agenda for up to three minutes. Jimmy castro has signed in. Gus pena has signed in also.
>> thank you, judge. Good morning. My name is jimmy castro. I'm here to speak on my own behalf, here to remind everyone that mind, August 27th, is the first day of school for the 79,000 students of the Austin independent school district. All the preparations have been underway for the anticipation of the Austin independent school district's first day of school on Monday, August 27th. There's been teacher training this summer, in service training for the teacher of the Austin independent school district. Especially for the 750 new teachers of the Austin independent school district. The office employees have been helping with preregistration. The classified workers have been making sure all the school facilities an buses are ready to roll. And the teachers have been working on all the decorations in the classrooms and which the teachers are paying for with their own money. Appear a parent you hear it all the time, get vosmd in your child's learning, get involved in your child's school, education. But why should I get involved? How can I get involved? The first step is by joining your campus pta. National pta's research shows that when parents are involved in their child's education, students have higher grades and test scores, better attendance and completed homework assignments more consistently. The second step is by attending your campus back to school night. This allows the time for teachers to meet the parents and especially the parents to meet the teachers. All drivers need to remember the speed in the school zones is 20 miles per hour. And failure to observe the school zone speed may result up to a 250-dollar fine. All drivers need to remember the school bus law, which states, to stop while school buses are loading and unloading students, be and failure to observe the school bus law may result in up to a one thousand dollar fine. Among the most obvious, but forgotten items on the back to school list is making sure your chiel's immunizations are up to date. The Austin-Travis County health and human services combine with the Texas department of health is offering the shots for tots program. Keeping in mind school children will not be allowed back to school if they have not had their shots. Austin independent school district will follow a no shots, no classes policy. Finally, another annual event is the Austin independent school district 35th annual band jamboree set for September 11th at the burger strvment one of the participating schools will include the anderson high school Marching band and drill team. Families are encowrnld to join all the band parents at this event, which will include some of the top rated bands statewide. Thank you, judge and Commissioners.
>> thank you, mr. Castro.
>> jimmy, on your presentation where the back to school night, you left out the part about the times and that. Do you want to just say that?
>> I'm just trying to keep it under three minutes. But if I could mention the times. For back to school night, the times are set by each campus. Aisd elementary school dates are set by each school. Aisd middle school is set for Tuesday, isn't 4th. Aisd high schools is set for Wednesday, September 5th. Thank you, Commissioners.
>> thank you.
>> mr. Pena and luc I don't.
>> he's grown so much I hardly recognize him.
>> I hardly recognize him too. Good morning, judge, Commissioners. Gus pena and lucio to my right. Judge and Commissioners, first and foremost I want to thank sheriff hamilton for visiting war veterans in temple. This is a great thing to do to remember the veterans and thank them for the service to their country, regardless of whether it was with a war or not. It's pretty tough, marine coshd training is pretty tough. And the british marines even tougher. Been through it and done it. First and foremost, Commissioner Gomez, I think you're a representative for capital metro? There are several community forums regarding an increase in the fare of the ridership of capital metro. It was in the paper from 50 cents to a dollar. Judge, Commissioners, Commissioner Gomez, a lot of poor out there cannot even afford 50 cents, much less an increase. Let me finish, first. It has been 20 years since there has been a fare increase, I understand that, but remember this, poverty does not relate to time or years or whatever, 20 years. Poverty is prevalent and relevant to the leads of the community and -- to the needs of the community. And a lot of them cannot afford it. There are several forums here. The first will be August the 23rd. Call capital metro at 416-5700 for the dates and times of the forums. Please, you know I'm advocating for the poor. I grew up poor in east Austin. You have a nice paying job, I don't. Let me finish. Capital metro in its lack of wisdom has spent money not as judiciously as it should be in our opinion, a lot of the community's opinion. Let me get off of that bandwagon. Number two, corrections officer. Again I'll bring it over here to you, former i.r.s. Investigator, former federal corrections officer, there was a fight involving alleged gangs. I don't know whether it was at tyc or the main jail, Travis County jaicialtion not enough corrections officers puts their lives in dire straits, but also the other inmates who are there for a reason, but not there to be hurt by any of these idiots, so there is a need for corrections officers. And whatever number it is from zero to 22, whatever, please remember that fact also. And also, when I was a bailiff at municipal court and I became a bailiff here at Travis County, I went into the done johns and I know what the corrections officers field, having been there before, I know that rate is not acceptable. And I didn't mean any disrespect to you, Commissioner, take it as professional comments, what mr. Castro said is right on target. Safety of the children, preparedness, immunization. Remember this, a lot of organizations out there -- I'll wrap up quickly. A lot of organizations asking for help for clothes and shoes for people who don't have it. Please support the veterans, regardless of what your political statement is on the war.
>> I want to give you one fact. And that is that we've instructed the capital metro staff to make sure that they make it clear in all the information they put out to the public that anyone who is poor can be certified through the c.a.n. Process, so we don't intend to leave anybody off of the bus who needs to get to work. But they do need to go through that process, social service agencies who will certify.
>> who do they talk to?
>> someone at c.a.n., I guess. And it depends on the social service that everybody uses.
>> can you give the explanation of the acronym c.a.n.?
>> the community action network.
>> I know that, but a lot of people on television don't know that.
>> it deals with a lot of the social sfts agencies and deals with indigent and poor. We have that base covered, mr. Pena.
>> I'm glad you have some bases covered. The main telephone number is 414-1700 at the Austin independent school district. June, I'm sorry for running over. Usually I don't. Thank you for your time. And remember the corrections officers and their need. Thank you very much.
>> thank you. Anybody else for citizens communication whether you signed in or not?
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Wednesday, August 22, 2007, 18:30 AM