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They did try to get it with a bond in 2009 and it failed. Thank God.

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And there's the problem. Taxpayers don't want to pay for facilities and admin doesn't want to pay the salaries.

If I seem harsh on Belton football, hey, it's only because I care

It's because what I see in Belton ISD is a vibrant, growing district that has a lot of advantages that many other school districts don't have. They have everything the need to excel in everything the do, and frankly they so well in a lot of things -- baseball, golf, band, choir, volleyball, etc.. And they have good academics

But make no mistake, their football program is a doormat despite the advantages at their disposal. Whether it's coaching, leadership, I don't know. But is something and its systemic. Hopefully it will be corrected soon

And I do disagree about the socio-economic profile of Belton iSD. The kids aren't all THAT poor..

There's a HUGE middle class in Belton ISD, and a lot of well off people. There are places a helluva lot more poverty stricken than Belton ISD

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and admin doesn't want to pay the salaries.

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What do you mean?

Salaries aren't high at Belton because of being a property poor district. I've never met a soul that left BISD for the money and been happy with their decision. I know a lot that have taken the paycut to come to BISD and been happy with that decision.

baseball, golf, band, choir, volleyball, etc..

I don't think it's a coincidence that Belton is good at these extracurricular activities.

On a plus note this is the most activity the Centex board has ever gotten on a Friday night.

Cjags, I'm referring to coaches salaries. And face it. Your varsity teams start in the middle schools.

The next few school board meetings ought to be crowded and interesting if they discuss the next coaching hire.

Gotcha. I was thinking teacher salaries.

I agree there, but that's life. I provided what I felt was a pivotal service to the district and first year position coaches made as much if not more. Stinks but it's just how the system is.

I never felt unappreciated though. I enjoyed my time there and would recommend working there to anybody.

[This message has been edited by C-jags (edited 1/31/2014 7:19p).]

Midway isn't all that wealthy. They have some nice areas out by the lake, new housing off Hewitt Rd, and they also have a lot of old 70s era middle class/lower middle class housing, and plenty of run down areas

Not all that different from belton, except about 1000 fewer students in their HS

Their demographics aren't that different from belton - about 59% white, 21% Hispanic, and 12% Black. About a third considered economically disadvantaged

So that's out the window





[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 1/31/2014 7:17p).]

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baseball, golf, band, choir, volleyball, etc..

I don't think it's a coincidence that Belton is good at these extracurricular activities.

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Then why not football?

Temple has been pretty good at most of those things too, and stellar in fine arts

Would you think that just by looking at Temple's demographic profile?

Whoa, Belton doesn't want to pay coaches?

Didn't Southern have like 5 full time assistant AD's who had no teaching duties, and who focused primarily on football?

Who else has that?

He was also the ad over the district. Lots of responsibility I assume.

This is one if the reasons I hope they at least give Rick Rhoades a look... Because if there is one district around here whose motto is "we refuse to suck at anything", it's Cameron

Whether it's athletics, fine arts, academics, whatever

They do not accept failure over there

And they ain't rich by ANY stretch of the imagination...

No. But Cameron people have a different work ethic and different standards for discipline. Parents probably don't stick their noses in where they don't belong and gripe about petty crap.

And you know this how?

You think belton is the only place with meddling locals?

Maybe some places just deal with it better






[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 1/31/2014 7:46p).]

But should we add "nosy locals" to "whiteness", "poorness", "lack of traditionness", and "bad voterness" to the list of excus...., I mean REASONS why Belton can't play football

I can only go by what I've seen and heard. My parents went thru Belton high school, my aunt's, my grandmother worked there, my brother and I graduated from there and now my kids are. It has never been consistently good in football. Every now and then a star player or a coach with kids with heart succeeded, but not year after year.

Oh and add nepotism and "we like to hire our own" to the list of excuses. That's a good tradition bisd upholds.

Fair enough. Kinda like being an Aggie MBB fan, right?

Now here's my take... That place has all the potential in the world. They just have to figure out a way to shed decades of futility, a culture that expects to lose, and a can't do attitude

This is not the Belton HS of the 20th century. Belton is no longer a small, country school. It just needs to find its way...

They can do it.

They just need to find their Billy Clyde










[This message has been edited by Captain Pablo (edited 1/31/2014 8:00p).]

The culture doesn't expect to lose. They just refuse to acknowledge that they do. Every kid a winner. Say it enough and people believe it.

I'm going to take a little issue with that.

I've sat in several meetings where "every kid is a winner" was discussed. That is a term saying that BISD wants every kid to have an opportunity to succeed. Not in a socialist, sort of way but in a every kid is a person not a number and they want the district to give their best. Meeting after meeting I went to began and ended with trying to figure out what was best for the students.

The district is flawed but they care about the kids in a way that is above and beyond what I've seen in other districts... And I've been a part of a lot of districts.

I'm sorry. I was just using the isd motto against them. I haven't sat in many meetings, but that is going to change. From the ones I have and looking at the new middle school boundaries, I feel as if some like to pat themselves on the back and say "look what we did, it was our best". I feel the board wants to appear as if they are reaching out, but they really aren't. 44% of the students are at risk? At risk for what, failing, dropping out, drugs? The middle school boundaries are really going to fix that.
They honestly don't know how to reach out to the parents of the second highest demographic population.
They are having heartburn over 2 mascots when there are two highschools.
I know there are good people, but who's interests are they serving?

My 5th grader made an 89 on her mock benchmark reading test. She and any other students that made less than 90 have to have extra study/prep time before the next test. So teachers will divide their time with students that pass well above passing and students that really need help. Makes no sense.

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But Belton is predominantly poor.....

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I believe you have a very different opinion of what the word predominantly means. Just over 50%? And with all the new housing that is being built in BISD? Not to mention that is where all of the Scott & White big wigs are moving. I would say far from poor....

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And I do disagree about the socio-economic profile of Belton iSD. The kids aren't all THAT poor..

There's a HUGE middle class in Belton ISD, and a lot of well off people. There are places a helluva lot more poverty stricken than Belton ISD

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Ding ding ding ding ding.....they aren't building all those new homes in BISD for the "po-folk!"

edit for typo

[This message has been edited by Crusaders41 (edited 2/1/2014 12:05a).]

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baseball, golf, band, choir, volleyball, etc..

I don't think it's a coincidence that Belton is good at these extracurricular activities.

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we have a winner!!!!

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My 5th grader made an 89 on her mock benchmark reading test. She and any other students that made less than 90 have to have extra study/prep time before the next test. So teachers will divide their time with students that pass well above passing and students that really need help. Makes no sense.

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my understanding of the ratings model is that you get more points for scores in the higher ranges. What they used to call Commended Performance.

41, 50%+ students in bisd are on free or reduced lunches. That may not = poor but based on some criteria, they qualify for it.

I Just Know Belton is too white and their is too much construction going on in BISD for them to be too economically disadvantaged.

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My 5th grader made an 89 on her mock benchmark reading test. She and any other students that made less than 90 have to have extra study/prep time before the next test. So teachers will divide their time with students that pass well above passing and students that really need help. Makes no sense.

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my understanding of the ratings model is that you get more points for scores in the higher ranges. What they used to call Commended Performance.

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So it's not about the kids, it's about the higher scoring kids. And yes, my daughter mentioned something about only getting "recognized". But without these designations, the district gets less money from the state so it's a viscous cycle.

Mazzag,

Not sure I would say "it's not about the kids".... more like it is "about all kids"....Belton does a great job academically, and usually perform pretty well in the typically "white" sports (baseball, golf, etc. )

Just burns me when people try to say their kids are as poor, difficult to educate as Temple, other surrounding districts' kids and then follow that up with degrading remarks about the make up of those districts.

Oh, and the part about less money from the state isn't necessarily true as they make it up in other areas, such as increased property values due to the amount of construction in the district.

Haven't read all of this thread, just the firs 15 or so posts. I graduated with Ramonce. He was the most gifted athlete I have ever played on an athletic field with. However, Johnathan Ferguson (played a ACU), and William Bell (spent a year at Okie lite) were also tremendous athletes on our team. Ramonce was literally so much better than everyone else we played that it didn't matter how good the rest of the team was. Obviously we needed some offensive blocking and a competent defense, but he was so unstoppable that we had the edge all the time.

The thing that really irks me about that situation is he really wanted to go to A&M; however, they wouldn't give him an offer.

Please note the following is my opinion...

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baseball, golf, band, choir, volleyball, etc..

I don't think it's a coincidence that Belton is good at these extracurricular activities.

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Okay, I've read through most of this thread...

David Tidwell made Belton baseball what it is. IMO, it has nothing to do with Belton being a predominantly white school, he just knew what he was doing. Eddie Cornblum has very similar principles and is a great person for the job. If anyone new comes in and tries to change that, they are idiots. I may be off on this, but I think Belton has been to the playoffs in baseball like 20 of the last 22 years.

Football is a total different subject, and race DOES play a role in it. Cove has been a power house in the district since the 90's when Belton jumped up to 5A for a brief period. Cove and Killeen and the Killeen schools owe their success with athletes to the shear amount of people that are continually entering their school districts because of Fort Hood.

Belton will never be a Westlake or Midway equivalent. There's not enough financial structure in Bell County to make Belton into the premier luxury school disctric.

[This message has been edited by rather be fishing (edited 2/1/2014 2:19a).]

Belton will never be a Westlake or Midway equivalent. There's not enough financial structure in Bell County to make Belton into the premier luxury school disctric.

Couldn't disagree more......Belton considers itself THE elite school district in Bell County. Just ask anyone that has kids in BISD or who works there. Besides, that is where anyone who is anyone, Scott & White admin, Wilson Art or Mclane Execs,etc lives. Heck, doesn't the Temple supt even reside in Belton???