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The Spectacle

Volume 2 Issue 1 October 2001

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Inside this issue:

Events of Interest

Proposition 8 on November 6th Ballot Benefits TSBVI

Gloria Bennett

More than 500 students arrive from all parts of Texas each year to spend part of their education at Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, where they live and learn concepts and skills that will guide them through the rest of their lives. The campus buildings, constructed between 1916-1920, are overdue for renovation to improve their safety, accessibility and instructional layout. The statewide election on November 6, 2001, will include a proposal for $850 million in general obligation bond authority for repairs to TSBVI and 11 other state agencies. The $22.6 million that would be provided to TSBVI by Proposition 8 will allow the school to carry out the its long-range Facilities Plan over the next six years and to maintain a dynamic but aging campus. Dr. Phil Hatlen, Superintendent of TSBVI, has stated, "Buildings constructed in 1916 are institutional, and not child-friendly. Children deserve comfortable, homelike surroundings. At TSBVI, families expect an excellent education for their child. They hope that it will be on a campus that is safe and secure."

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Students use the accessible kitchen equipment in a dormitory that was renovated in 1999. Funding from Proposition 8 will be used to renovate two more dorms.

Four dormitories, where learning continues after school hours, will be renovated to contain modern student-friendly living areas and wheelchair-accessible kitchens, bathrooms and elevators. Other campus buildings, including those used for education and administration, recreation and outreach are included in the renovation plan. Several other areas are slated for improvements: heating and air conditioning, lighting, roads and ramps, plumbing, flooring and auditorium facilities.

The Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is considered one of the finest centers for the education of blind and visually impaired children in the United States, with exceptional leadership and a highly qualified staff that serves students twenty-four hours a day throughout the year. The legislature has continuously supported the School in both maintaining and expanding its programs to children. Passage of Proposition 8 would allow the school to continue improving services to the blind and visually impaired children of Texas and their families.

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Bathroom facilities in a newly remodeled dorm creates easy accessibility for students.

Since there are also four other bond proposals on the ballot in November, voters could easily be confused. Proposition 8 will read: "The constitutional amendment authorizing issuance of up to $850 million in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for construction and repair projects and for the purchase of needed equipment." The text does not mention the agencies that will benefit from passage of this amendment or the project that will be included in each agency plan. For more information visit the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) website, www.tsbvi.edu, and select the link at the top of the page, or visit www.proposition8.org, which will give more details about the other agencies affected by the vote.

As Superintendent Phil Hatlen has remarked, "Every parent who votes should ask themselves this question: 'If my child needed a special program away from home, what kind of facility would I want?'"

Remember to Vote on Proposition 8!

Student Council Representatives Selected for 2001-2002

Residential areas selected representatives for TSBVI Student Council for the school year 2001- 2002. Twelve members were selected to represent the entire student body. Student Council Representatives are: Chasmon Demus, Kevin Brumfield, Kerri Polk, Peggy Copeland, Josh Spafford, Erin MacArthur , Emilio Hernandez, Christy Farley, Jeremy Reagan, Jessica Biggert, Cody Gootee, and Bryan Borgfeld. Peter Richter, Mike Sanchez, Nicole Penn, Canyon Sullivan, Celia Gonzalez, Austin Peyton, and Kaylee Foster were chosen as alternates. The Student Council then met on September 20 and nominated students to run for the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The election campaign ran from September 20-27. Handbills, posters, and speeches were all part of the political process. The results of the officer elections were: President- Kevin Brumfield, Vice President- Chasmon Demus, Secretary- Kerri Polk, and Treasurer- Peggy Copeland. Led by Student Council President Kevin Brumfield, the 2001-2002 student council voted to conduct a bake sale fundraiser to benefit The American Red Cross in light of the nation's recent tragedy. This year's Student Council members will promote citizenship, scholarship, leadership, human relations, and school pride throughout the year. Congratulations to everyone.

Student Ham Operators Acquire Computer and Study Materials

Grants Provide Funding for K5TSB Radio

Steve Bosbach KW5V

Made possible from a matching grant from the American Radio Relay League, the national organization of amateur radio operators, and the recreation program here at TSBVI, K5TSB has just received new study materials and a computer to access them. This will allow all students interested in becoming ham operators to have the tools they need to study for the license exam. The computer will also allow us to log our contacts and use digital modes of communication that will give us world wide contact capability.

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Students talk with other ham operators on the air.

We also now have a battery back-up power supply on line. The gelled lead acid batteries were donated by a ham friend of mine, Larry Linzer, at N5PAA in Houston. These batteries are sealed and spill proof and safe to use indoors . With a trickle charger constantly connected to the batteries, they will remain in good shape for the next big storm or hot summer day when power goes out. K5TSB will be able to remain on the air for many hours and provide a public service to the community relaying information needed by other public service agencies.

If you are interested in staying in touch with others, making new friends on the air, or just learning about the mysteries of radio, come to the K5TSB radio room on Wed. evenings at 6:30, upstairs in the recreation building. We always get on the air and talk with other ham operators, learning about radio in the process. Come join the fun from 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

Goalball Highlights Third Annual Sports Extravaganza

Mark Gronquist

The Third Annual Sports Extravaganza will be held in Dallas, October 26 and 27, 2001; hosted by Region 10. The TSBVI Goalball Team is positioned to defend or improve their last year's second place standing at the Sports Extravaganza Competition. Twenty-five students from TSBVI will participate in this year's Sports Extravaganza, which is open to all visually impaired students in Texas. Some of the activities include Track and Field events, Goalball, and Beeper ball. Goalball is a one-of-a-kind team sport for athletes who are visually impaired or blind. Unique attributes of the sport include a ball with a bell device that rings while in motion, which allow athletes to locate it by listening. In addition, the court has special tactile markings to help the athletes know their location on the court and what direction they are facing. To eliminate any advantage or disadvantage related to an athlete's vision, all athletes wear blindfolds to block out any residual vision. Two opposing teams play the game. Each has three athletes on the court, on opposite ends. The ball is thrown from end to end, with players trying to get the ball into the opposing team's goal.

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Chasmon Demus, Mike Sanchez, and Randy Brawner compete in goalball competition

Upcoming Events. 

TSBVI cordially invites you to our Parent Weekend, held February 2, 2002! Look for more information coming soon!

The Principal's Corner

Reactions to our national tragedy

The terrorist events of this fall, and especially Sept. 11, 2001, were a shock to us all. We continue to remember the lives that were lost in New York & Washington. The counseling staff at TSBVI have done an outstanding job of meeting with class groups and making themselves available to students to talk about what happened. As questions arise, teachers & residential instructors have been assisting the students in understanding what has happened and reassuring them that we will do our best to make sure that they are safe to continue to learn and grow.

Miles Fain, Principal

Health Center Update

Senate Bill 31 requires that public schools provide parents with information about bacterial meningitis. All parents will be receiving printed information mailed along with the progress reports sometime during November.

Editor: Ellen Grimmett,  ellengrimmett@tsbvi.edu  

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Last Revision: July 30, 2002