February 27, 2025 • 43 mins
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Roy West Radio Show right here on
KLBIAM five sixty. I am your guest host for today.
My name is Debbie Bridgeman. We've got a full hour
full of great guests, including details on the Beaumont ISD.
Educator job Fair which is coming up in March. We're
going to talk about the Spindletop Rotary roast of Jimmy Singletary,
(00:22):
and we're going to see what's going on with some
other place. But to kick it off, we're going to
talk about something very important that's on the top of
everybody's mind is the eighty ninth Texas Legislative Session and
a lot of critical decisions are going to be going
on that are going to impact public education, including funding
policies and resources that directly affect Beaumont ISD students, teachers
(00:45):
and families. So to give us some more information, please
welcome my first guest. She's the Superintendent of Beaumont ISD,
doctor Shannon Allen.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Hello, de b, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
You bet so today it's Sunday the second, but you're
going to Austin tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
But you just came.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
From Austin, So what was going on this week? In
Austin that you got to be a part of.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So I was really excited to participate in the Texas
PTA Rally Day. And this is a day where students
and parents from all over the state come together in
support of Texas Public schools. I am privileged to serve
as a board member for the Texas PTA, so really
(01:29):
I had an opportunity to see firsthand, you know, democracy
in action. I was able to share as a guest
speaker for the student caucus. Once the caucus ended, we
had a student caucus in an adult caucus. At the conclusion,
two thousand students and parents marched to the capital for
the actual rally on the steps of the Capitol, led
(01:52):
by Round Rock Marching Band. It was just a great
thing to see so many individuals across our state who
were in support of Texas Public schools. So I was
excited to be a part of that. And we also
had the opportunity to actually meet with our legislators. That
was the purpose, so seeing students being educated on the
(02:14):
priorities as well as how their voices are actually being heard.
It was a great opportunity to just see so much
support for Texas Public schools. So I was glad to
be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Well, that's exciting, and now you're going back again, and
you know a lot of stuff is you know, in
social media, on the news, everything going on, vouchers, vouchers.
Why do we need to say no to vouchers.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
We need to say no to vouchers because our legislators
need to fund public schools one hundred percent and not
take dollars from Texas public schools to give them to
private entities. The education savings accounts, as they're actually called
right now, is really a subsidy to families who are
(03:00):
already planning to send their students to private schools. It
will drain resources from our Texas public schools and give
them the families in the name of choice. But truthfully,
the only individuals who actually have the choices are those
private schools because they can pick and choose which students
(03:21):
they want to receive. They have no obligation to take
any student who actually would apply for those education savings accounts.
They don't have the same accountability. They don't for finances
as well as state testing accountability. That's some of the
frustrating things about the education savings account proposal and the
voucher proposals that are on the table right now, because
(03:44):
it's unfair. It's not a level playing field. So you're
going to take a billion dollars from the five point
five million students that are being educated in Texas public
schools and give it to this very small subset without
fully funding our Texas public schools. Is it is very frustrating,
and we are speaking up and we are fighting back
(04:07):
and really asking our legislators to say no to this
and ensure that all students in the state of Texas
are educated. And the majority five point five million are
being educated in public schools. So how can we deny
those students the resources that they need to be successful
and sacrifice the five point five for a very small percentage.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yes, and those resources are very important. So let's also
talk about funding public schools and you know, making sure
that our teachers are having competitive salaries and of course
special education needs as well. So talk a little bit
more about funding public schools.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
So another significant priority for this legislative session is to
increase funding. As you know, the state has not increased
what's called the basic allotment since twenty nineteen. In the
basic allotment in Texas six and sixty dollars is the
amount that we receive on average for each student who
(05:06):
is in average daily intendance. We are well behind inflation.
We need at least a fifteen to seventeen hundred dollars
increase per student, which gives school districts the flexibility to
do what invest those resources directly into students. Increased teacher
compensation makes certain that our students have all the resources
that they need, and we as leaders would have the
(05:28):
flexibility to implement these state mandates with the security making
certain our students have all of the curriculum resources, personnel
just to meet the basic needs of our students. Inflation
costs have skyrocketed since twenty nineteen. Our costs as school
districts have skyrocketed since twenty nineteen. But to not receive
(05:51):
additional funding in the basic allignment has made has been
a struggle for many school districts. Several have actually pass
deficit budgets. We are fortunate in Beaumont is Isd. That
we have not passed the deficit budget. Our board has
said clearly, doctor Allen, we do not want to do that,
but many districts are in the whole. You know, we
(06:12):
were fortunate in November, our community supported us with the
voter approval tax rate election, which generated an additional thirteen
million that we immediately you know, put into compensation and maintaining,
which will it will allow us to maintain programs that
we've already implemented that support our students. But at the
end of the day, we still need more resources. We
(06:34):
still need to increase teacher compensation. I know there are
a couple of bills right now with increases to teacher
compensation and increases to the what's called the teacher Incentive Alignment,
which is restricted funds that the state are in alignment
that the state has that districts have to apply for
and teachers could possibly qualify based on their performances paid
(06:56):
pay for performance. But we want in increases that give
us flexibility so that we can give increases to all
of our teachers, all of our employees across school districts.
So that's the big, big fight right now, and not
getting as much traction as we would want to see
(07:18):
in an increase in the basic allotment because to do
what we need to do is going to cost the
state billions ten billion dollars, and I think right now,
there's only the projection of about four or five billion
into new money into Texas public schools, and that's frustrating.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Would you say, you know, you've been in education for
twenty plus years, do you feel this as one of
your most challenging times because of what's going on?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
You know, at the time, you know, we thought COVID
from COVID, and each year, you know, trying to rebuild
from COVID all the way till today. It's still very,
very challenging, and more so now I think because ours
a resource are no longer available because with COVID, we
were able to receive billions in federal dollars where those
(08:06):
moneys have ended, so you don't have that additional influx
of revenue to help support and meet the needs of
your students. So financially, it is critical right now that
our legislators go and increase the resources that are directly
impacting students in Texas public schools. Right now. You see
across the state schools are being closed. I see articles
(08:31):
from school districts all across our state. And one of
the reasons, of course reduction and enrollment. But it's also
cost saving measures because when you close the building, you're
saving the resources to educate those students. And right now
we're also struggling, you know, with teacher shortages, you know,
making certain that our classrooms and schools and the teaching
(08:52):
and education profession is one that want we want to
attract teachers to want to come and do the work.
And I think some of the systems, some of the
way that the system is designed, is keeping teachers from
actually wanting to work in our public schools.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
And it just seems like, for instance, like I just
went to a big conference with all the Texas public
school communicators and it just seems like a majority of
schools now you know, their big database or of kids
is economically disadvantaged students. So it's like, why would Texas
want to hurt these kids from getting public education.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
It's just it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I mean, there's a false narrative that Texas public schools
are received more money than ever and it's fourteen thousand,
maybe nine hundred and some dollars. That's a graph that's
being shown by the Texas Education Agency. But when you
break that graph down, you see that the increase in
overall funding is not from the state. Okay, the increase.
(09:56):
What they're showing with the increase in funding over the
last few years was federal dollars. That's money from the
federal government, not money from the basic Alignment, which is
what the state of Texas says, Hey, we're going to
give you this money for students in Texas, and we
are one of the lowest in the country as far
(10:18):
as funding Texas funding of public schools, Texas is one
of the lowest. At the same time, our state has
one of the largest economies and has large surplus. I
think it's a twenty four billion dollar surplus this year,
but yet and still will not invest in our public schools.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
So we've got about a minute left. What would you
say is the most important way for people to be
informed and to let their voice be heard.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I encourage all of our citizens to Number One, you
can go to our website. You can look at Beaumont
ISD's legislative priorities. You can also go to our website
and you can see ex exactly who your representatives are.
Please make certain you know who they are, and make
certain that you are emailing and reaching out to them
(11:11):
and asking them to support Texas public schools. I really
hope that our community stays informed on potential legislation. And
we're going to do our best as a district to
push our information on our website so that our team
and our community can actually look and see what bills
are being proposed. But what is very important, and I
(11:33):
was recently talking to our legislators, they want to hear
the voices of the community because remember we elect them.
We elect these individuals who are making these decisions. So
let them know how you feel about vouchers. Let them
know how you feel about funding in Texas public schools.
Let them know how you feel about more special education funding,
(11:53):
are full day pre K funding. They need to hear
from you, not just you know, the leaders in the community,
but their entire constituency.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
All right, doctor Shannon Allan, thank you so much for
being a part of the show and say note avouchers.
All right, we'll be right back with the Roy West
Radio Show on AM five sixty klv I. And we're
back with the Roy West Show on klv I AM
(12:25):
five sixty. I am your guest host, Debbie Bridgman, and
we are continuing the fun. We are going to talk
about the spindle top rotary roasts that is coming up
on April third, and my guest is a fellow Rotarian
and my best friend, Jay Shepherd from the Better Business Bureau.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Welcome.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So we have this big roast that's coming up. Jimmy Singletary,
the former Beaumont Police Chief, will be roasted, and we've
got quite an impressive list of people that will be
roasting him. But we want to make sure that people
understand this isn't like Comedy Central roast. It is more
like a celebration. But you've had a great relationship with
(13:06):
Jimmy and you've worked with him for a while. So
for anybody who's really not familiar with anything besides him
just just being a former Beaumont police cheap tell us
a little bit about Jimmy.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
He really is a great guy. I mean, he's somebody
that's been, you know, a great leader, but he's also
somebody that's been a great friend. I got to know
him probably about maybe almost twelve fifteen years ago because
we did a PSA together and I just I think
that was the first time I actually really talked to him,
(13:37):
and ever since then, we just you know, he he
would he would always you know, have his people send
people to buy the Better Business Bureau, and then I
would have. I would We started doing a lot of
things together. We started working together. I mean, some people
don't realize that VBB does investigations. We work with law
enforcement and Beaumont Petie was always so great to work
(14:00):
with us, and we just developed a great relationship with them,
and I just developed a pr personal relationship with Chief Singletary.
I just think there's so many cool things about him.
One funny thing is, you know how he decided he
wanted to go into police work. How's that? Well? He
(14:20):
used to watch Adam twelve. That was really cool. He originally,
you know, he was a great golfer and he played
golf when he went to Lamar and he thought he
was going to be like a golf bro and have
this professional golf career. And then he realized the senior
year that that just wasn't working out and so ended
up I'm going to work for the Beaumont Pete back
(14:40):
in like I think nineteen seventy and has just had
a very rich career there fifty four years, you know,
something to be so proud about. And we thought he
was retiring, but no, no, no, no, you know he's
working at the DA's office. He just can't he just
can't stop.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Well, I know for the event, which is going to
be Thursday, April third at the mcml A Dante Uh,
it will be starting at seven o'clock. All proceeds are
going to be going to Spindle Coot Rotary for the
service projects that we do, but a portion will also
go to his charity of choice, which is Beaumont Animal Care.
And of course his dog is a big part of
(15:21):
his life and will be at the event.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Absolutely, Bozzie is you know, he's a rescue dog, one
of I think Jimmy has four dogs. Yeah, one of
four rescue dogs that Jimmy has that Beaumont Animal Care
is so so close to his heart. And the funny
thing about it, you know, he was telling us that,
you know, he didn't mind going out and being a
(15:44):
tough guy doing police work, but the minute he walks
into Beaumont Animal Care, he cannot he cannot see animals
and not want to take them home. It just breaks
his heart. So Bozzie will Bozzi, his dog is going
to be at the roast. He's he's practically a celebrity.
He he's out in the community all the time because
(16:04):
he has separation anxiety. So Jimmy was explaining that he
has to take Bozzie out with him because you know,
he doesn't if he leaves, my homie might just tear
up property. He told some funny stories about him destroying
some property because of the separation anxiety. But but yes,
that Beaumont Animal Care, I mean, you know, we just
(16:24):
did that. We we were just all there volunteering and
it was it was so great. I just it was.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
It was really nice walking some of the dogs. One
of the dogs walked me. Uh so that was that
was a little challenging until I meant Bruce and Bruce
just needed love, didn't need that. He just needed some love.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And I think he should go back and Bruce and
I developed a relationship with Moby, and I just loved him.
He was such a great dog.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Well, a lot of those animals, you know, some of
them are are going crazy and they're ready to get
out of there so fast, and some you know, it's
very nerve racking for them to be around all that
noise and everything that goes on at the shelter. And
Beaumont Animal Care actually came and talked to Spindletop Rotary
this past week and we just learned so much about
(17:12):
everything that they have to offer with the reduced and
free spae and neutering, fostering, you know, what they need
for volunteers, so much that they offer, and even transporting
animals because they were saying they have stricter laws about
spey and neutering up in the Northern.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
States as opposed to the Northern States.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
So there's so many more animals that come into the
shelter in Beaumont, and so they do transport them a
lot up to the Northern States where they don't have
as many animals available to find homes. So yeah, learn
a lot.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I'm really thinking hard about possibly doing some fostering because
it's short term and you know what if it's going
to help some animal not not lose their life, because
that's with the fostering thing. You know. She was explaining
that that if you will foster an animal for a
few days, well you know, before because it might be
(18:07):
just it's about to get adopted, but they need room
for new animals to come in. So I think that
that's something, you know, maybe a lot of people would
do if they knew more.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
About it, But I would get so attached once you're
in my home, I wouldn't want you to leave.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So I don't know. I know several people that do it,
and they actually kind of like that. They like just
being able to give the dog some care for a
few days and then you know that way, it's not
a huge commitment.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah, well, we're excited that we're going to be able
to host this event to of course raise funds for
Spindletop Rotary. We do our big Rotary Reads project with
Blanchet Elementary, supplying a book for every single student on campus.
That's over five hundred books. So money goes towards that
goes towards some of our service projects. We've got a
pollinator project we're doing with Beaumont Rotary. You know, we
(18:59):
do a lot of different things in the community and
so it's good to have those funds.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
For the things that we do.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
And then of course a portion of the funds will
go to Beaumont Animal Care, so that's really exciting. So
the roastes that we have that are going to be
telling nice, fun stories about Jimmy not being mean. But
I have heard that they I guess cops like really
like to jab on each other a lot too, they do.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
This could be interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
But we've got Keith Giblin, a criminal District attorney for
Jefferson County, is one of our roasters, and he will
be presenting with Britt Featherston, who's the first assistant at
the US Attorney's Office in Jefferson County as well. So
that should be a quite the duo, kicking, dynamic duo,
that's what That's what I've heard. Jimmy Ellison, who's the
(19:45):
chief of police for Mount Bellevue is one of our roasters.
Earl White with the City of Beaumont Fire Department, he's
the chief there.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Fellow roaster, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yeah. Don Shaver is one of our roasters. We also
have Jason Plunkett, We have Robert Hobbs. I mean, we
have quite the list of roasters that are signed up
and excited to celebrate Jimmy at our event on April
third at the mcmiligan today. Tickets are available now and
sponsorships spindletop Roast dot org. That's spindletop roast dot org
(20:20):
and Jimmy. You know, Jay, we had a chance the
other night to honor him with a nice little dinner.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
He's so humble, like he just.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Thinks nobody's gonna come to this event and we want
to fill the room.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
For sure. We will because and we you know, he
has a lot of fans out there. I mean, tons
of people love him and have funny stories about him
and are gonna really enjoy seeing him get honored and
all the pictures I've seen some really great pictures of
him early in his career. It's just gonna be it's
gonna be so great. All of our roasts have been
(20:56):
so good, and I think this one will be awesome
and everybody will really really enjoy it. You don't want
to miss this.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
And I'm thinking back, you know, we we this will
be our fourth roast to do and they're just so
much fun. But we kicked it off with Chelsea Tipton
with the Symphony of Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Then we went and we honored Greg Bosswick and that
was really an honor.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I mean, some.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Old media guys, old TV guys came into town for that.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
That was so much fun.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
But last year it's gonna be hard to top because
we did roast the one and only Roy West.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
This is his show.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Beaumont Mayor and the Roasters really set the bar at
that event because it was really fun.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
They really did, and you know, they surprised us. There
were I tell you, coming out of the woodwork. Somebody
doctor doctor Shannon Allen. I thought I thought she would
come across a lot differently. She was hilarious. I mean
she really was. And of course brand Roy's brother in law,
(22:00):
Judge Brannett, yes, he was hilarious too. They were all great.
Everybody that got up there was awesome. It was great.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
So this year, Jimmy Singletary, the event is going to
be Thursday, April third at the mcml Agante. Tickets available now,
Sponsorships available now spindletop roast dot org. Everything you need
to know spindletop roast dot org. Jay, thank you for
joining the show today.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
You're welcome. It was awesome. All right, we'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
We'll be right back off the Roy West Radio Show
right here on AM five sixty klv I. And we're
back with the Roy West Radio Show on AM five
sixty KLVI. I'm your guest host, Debbie Bridgman, and we
are back with Beaumont isd and the Assistant director for
Human Resources, mister Brandon Bassinger.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Hey Brandon, Hey, how you doing this?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Doing great?
Speaker 1 (22:53):
So we have got the educator job fair coming up
this month because it is March second today, So tell
us a little bit about the fair, why it's important
and what's going on.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
Well, it's going to be happening on Saturday, March twenty ninth.
We're going to be at the Westbrook High School cafeteria.
It will be going on from ten to twelve and
we do this annually. This one is a little bit different.
We're only focusing at this job fair on instructional positions
at the campus level, and that's everything from teachers to
(23:28):
teacher aids, classroom aids, and school leaders, counselors, et cetera.
So everything instructional. We've decided we're going to do auxiliary
positions separately at a different job fair. So anyone who
has any interest in being in the education field, whether
it be beginning as an aid substitute or if it's
(23:50):
a leader from outside the district that's looking for opportunities,
every campus will be represented. We'll have departments there such
a special education et cetera, will be doing interviews on
site with the campus principals and directors so that someone
shows up and they're good fit, we can go ahead
and lock them in for next year.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
And I love when you guys do lock someone in
because you ring the bell and you make a big
spectacle and embarrass them just a little bit, but just
show the excitement of joining team.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Bid. I love it. So tell me this.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
So would this fair be applicable to, say, some graduating
seniors from college that might be in the education field
or is there still more that they need to do
before they can come on board?
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Absolutely, anyone will. Well you don't even have to have
a college degree because we can have them come in
as substitutes or aids. So anyone with an interest come
talk to us. We'll see what requirements you have and
where you would fit. Any graduating seniors that have a
degree that are interested in education, and the degree doesn't
even have to be in education. We have various paths
(25:00):
ways to assist people with getting certified as a teacher.
We do have adjunct teacher positions if they meet the
right qualifications and they do have a degree, where we
can get them in as an adjunct teacher while they
join a program, and we're partnered with Region five and
we'll take anyone who's in Texas Teachers or any other
alternative certification program and actually have them in the classroom
(25:23):
working for it is full time as a teacher while
they're doing the program for alternative certification. If someone is
interested in becoming a teacher or things, they might be
interested and would like to try their hand at being
a teachers, they aide to get their foot in the door.
I started out substituting, and I know many other educators
(25:43):
started out as substitutes and then fell in love with
it and moved on from there. We have opportunities to
help people get their certification as well. Once they've been
an AID or a pair professional of any capacity with
the district for one year, then they qualify for what
we call our Race program, and that is where we
(26:06):
have current para professionals and will actually help them go
through and finish their bachelor's degree if they're not quite finished,
because we do know life sometimes getting the way of
our plans, and there are some people who may have
had a couple of years of college and then life
happened and they haven't gotten a chance to finish, and
(26:26):
we recognize people that are in the district working for
us in the classrooms and they have that calling. We
do assist with that as well, and the district will
actually pay tuition for people that are in that program
to finish their degree, and of course they need to
commit to come teach with us and help our kids
for a couple of years after they're finished. But anyone
(26:46):
who has any interest to work in the education field
and the instructional part of it at the campus levels,
we hope they'll show up because you'll be able to
meet people from every campus, every department. Explore your interests
and see what we have that'll fit you. I'm sure
we have something.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Sounds so easy that bid makes it just you know,
that pathway so easy for anyone that has a heart
for education. So if somebody is let's say, in Austin
or in Dallas, what makes Beaumont ISD stand out in
your opinion that people would want to come here.
Speaker 4 (27:23):
Well, Beaumont ISD. It's a very tight knit group.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
I graduated, came through BID schools and have gotten my
degrees of LAMAR and I have had opportunities to go elsewhere,
but I haven't seen then. We have extremely dedicated professionals
at all levels. I personally, my feeling is we have
an amazing superintendent and she has assembled an outstanding team
(27:53):
of leaders whose mission core mission in calling is to
provide the chill in this city with the best education
and opportunities possible. And I believe that and that's kept
me here because I want to help further that goal.
I honestly don't think any district that you're going to
find will have a superior group of leaders than we
(28:14):
have right here.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
And that's my opinion.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
I've been in it twenty five years, and if I'm
still staying here because of our leadership and their goals
and I know their commitment and dedication to kids. That's
what I would tell anyone from coming from any other district,
is I challenge you to find better.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
Why don't you come and see what we have to offer.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
I do love the support system, and I love seeing
how teachers lean on other teachers and how you have mentors,
and it is it's a very tight knit group, and
especially at convocation when you see each campus and they're
cheering and they're excited, they're ready for the school year
to go. What would you say is like some of
the most in demand positions that will be available, like
(28:55):
about how many do you have an idea how many
people were looking to add to the team.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
Well, we won't know the full number until retirement season
actually ends. We have people that are choosing to retire
don't usually come in all the way through March and April,
but we anticipate around sixty to eighty openings as classroom
teachers with turnover. We usually bring on about twenty new
(29:21):
para professional aides every summer, so there will be opportunities.
I can't say exactly how many are what they'll be
in until summer gets here, but I do know that
the typical areas we do need we always need elementary
teachers because there are I mean you're looking at pre
K through fifth grade that all run on the same
certificate and elementary easy through sixth certification. And with all
(29:46):
of that, we have about fourteen elementary schools the city
in the city, so we're always looking for I few
elementary teachers. As far as secondary, it's been interesting. We've
seen a shift.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
The shift. It goes back and forth about every five
to ten years.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
As far as which subjects are most in demand because
universities will push those subjects and then saturate that field.
But right now it's been pretty consistent. We're always looking
for some secondary math and science, but lately we've been
seeing the demand for English language, arts and reading teachers
quite a bit, and I think that's because five years
(30:26):
ago and beyond everyone was pushing math and science so hard.
There seems to have been a lack of people going
in for ELAR certifications, and districts are looking for those
right now as well. We also have many, many, many
opportunities for career and technology education, and even if someone
has not worked in the education field, but they've worked
(30:47):
in a career technology industry such as robotics, software engineering, industrial,
or even at the plant, they definitely can come out
and talk to our CTE department who will own also
be there because there are opportunities for people with job
related experience which we can bring in in lieu of
(31:08):
an actual teacher certification to come in and teach those
fields that they have that experience with to our students.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So you mentioned that this is just for educators for
this job fair coming up March twenty ninth, and that
there'll be an auxiliary job fair at another time for
some of the other positions in the district. Do you
have a date or kind of a month to when
you think you might host that.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
I don't have a date for that one yet.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
That one typically runs closer to the summer once we've
gotten through contract season and gotten all of the educators done,
maybe April or mank and one will be when we'll
announce that, and we'll have lots of publicity on that,
But that'll be for people that are in any auxiliary
positions such as food service or custodial maintenance, mechanics for
(31:58):
transportation bus drivers, that are all other fields that are
outside of the classroom. And we did it separate last
year and there was an outstanding turnout for that as well,
So we're looking forward to both of them. But we
think separating them helps provide everyone who's coming in more
of an opportunity to have equal access to people that
(32:20):
are on demand to talk.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
To perfect All right, Brandon, Well, thank you so much
for being a part of the show. The Educator Job Fair, Beaumont,
ISD March twenty ninth, Westbrook High School in the cafeteria
ten to twelve and for more details bmtisd dot com
backslash Careers.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Thank you, Debbie, see you all right.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Brandon, Thank you so much. We'll be right back with
the Roy West Radio Show on AM five sixty klv I.
And we're back with the Roy West Radio Show right
here on AM five sixty klv I. I'm your guest host,
Debbie Bridgeman, and we are wrapping up today's show with
the executive direct sure of some other place. Please welcome
(33:02):
Chris Robertson. How are you doing, Chris, yay, I'm great,
Thanks for having me all right. So, you know, I
think everybody in this area, we assume they know about
some other place, but they may not. So briefly, what
exactly what services do you guys provide to the community.
Speaker 6 (33:22):
Yeah, I agree, even myself when I came here, I
think that some other places are recognizable meme, but not
everybody quite knows everything, including me. When I came over,
I was shocked. I thought I thought it was like
a homeless agency. Not even the majority of our services
are for the homeless. We just also have so just
running through the list, we have special projects which kind
(33:42):
of focuses on the children's programs, it's where we do
the Thanksgiving Day Store, which is for families who otherwise
wouldn't be able to provide a holiday meal for their family.
We have the Backpack program where we give out backpacks
for kids. We have the Giving Treat, which is you know,
for Christmas gifts for children, and the vetting criteria is
(34:02):
such that, genuinely, I don't think that they would have
had a Christmas gift not for the service. Then we
have a food pantry. We have three clothing stores, men's,
women's and children's. It's all free. We have the rent
and utility assistance and the viction prevention. We have the
soup kitchen. We have the homeless case management, and then
of course Henry's Place, which is our homeless day center
(34:23):
where clients can come in and get breakfast, take showers,
and do their laundry.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Well, I like kind of what you were saying when
you had sent over some of your notes, and I
just don't think people really think about this, But you're right.
More people that are older are used to making monetary
donations and your younger generation is more about hands on,
you know, and it's a big difference. So what do
(34:49):
you do to try to keep monetary donations coming in,
but also have opportunities for volunteers.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
To help out.
Speaker 6 (34:58):
Yeah, and that's a tough that's you know when I
I used to be a program director and I would
create these programs. The last one before I came here
was Market to Hope, and so you kind of end
up with, hey, this is the idea, and then you create.
And so coming over to some other place was one
moving into the executive director position. It was a difference
in day to day there but two kind of just
(35:20):
you have to find that line between am I bragging
by telling people what I'm doing? But I also have
to tell people what we're doing. And so I think
that I was fortunate when I came over that a
lot of people some other places there's like a huge shop,
local nonprofit. It's like the backbone of Beaumont for so
many families. So I know a lot of people are
aware of it and a lot of people give their
(35:41):
contributions on a regular basis that I stepped into and
that's just been wonderful. But as far as what can
I do in the future, So it's like I said,
we have this new approach. One of the things that
I said in the notes that kind of relates to
this question is I think that you have to look
(36:01):
at all of your programs constantly, and that's one of
the most important things, especially for the younger generation and
keeping them involved the world. Getting them involved is volunteer
interactions and and kind of making sure you're offering a
really good service things that they can get excited about.
We've implemented. We now have a Facebook page and we
have an Instagram to try to keep you know, kind
of the younger demographic in the loop, their their social media,
(36:24):
you know, that's kind of their forte and so we've
tried to update and modify, and we try to keep
keep new and innovative ideas rolling in all of our
programs that would entice people to come. I also keep
one foot at Lamar University. I still I'll go and
I'll guess lecture whenever they invite me, and try to
loop the students from the social work department into volunteering
(36:47):
with us and kind of seeing what it looks like
one on one. Honestly, some other places I've been at
other agencies post graduation, I say, some other places the
perfect catch all if you're in social services and want
to see what it looks like in real life some
other places, just the social service experience, it's it's unbelievable.
But I'd say that we made some adjustments and modifications
(37:09):
to try to be innovative and then captivate their attention,
both by going out to them in the in the colleges,
but also social media. That's the biggest adjustment for trying
to keep people in the loop and catch that demographic.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Let's talk a.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
Little bit about the homeless population and some of the
emergency services that you have. You know, of course, just
a couple of weeks ago, it was freezing cold, and
you know, how do you accommodate so many people that
don't have a place to go?
Speaker 6 (37:41):
Yeah, so that's that's new. I came here almost three
years ago, and before that that we had never some
other place had never done any sort of in house programs.
Nobody can stay overnight. It's just not something we're set
up for facilitated. It's not part of our mission statement.
But it started to get cold around the time that
I was hired, and I thought, and coming from one
of my previous programs was a disaster response. I had
(38:02):
a lot of partners and one of them was Natalie
Warren who's with the Red Cross, and so I just
try to keep a close connection with all of my
former partners and coworkers and whatnot. And I reached out
to her and I said, listen, I think this is
something we got and look at Salvation Army has capacity,
and having Henry's place, the day center is pretty easy
to see more people are going in than I think
(38:23):
they have beds for it, and so we need to
look at doing something immediately. So she said, no problem,
let's get some cots over there. And so we have
two buildings. One was just used as a storage at
the time. Since then we've implemented homeless case management and
that's not her office. But we had two buildings, including
the day Center in the Kabala building which is case
management office. That Red Cross came and stocked full of
(38:44):
cots and we just did the overnight thing and so
it's something that went so well year one that now
we do just kind of as a default. I stay
in communication with Salvation Army and the time the weather's
going to drop and I say, you know, what are
the numbers looking like? And we just that's our default.
We automatically assume we're going to be there, just as
a plan be and we're gonna And since then there
(39:06):
have been churches who have volunteered and things like that.
So we always line up an on call volunteer list
on the weather gets like that and just wait to
hear the word that hey, we need to help them.
We just open the doors and let it go. We're
fortunate that we have to kitchen so we can do
hot coco and I mean we can make it as
you know, comfortable as possible, but no one's.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Freezing to death.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
And I really like how all the nonprofits in the
area do communicate with one another, and everybody has the
same goal is to you know, try to help as
many people as they can. So we touched on Henry's place,
touched on your soup kitchen.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
Let's talk a little bit. We've just got about a
minute left.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
But the rent and utilities, how does that program work
to help people?
Speaker 6 (39:46):
Yeah, so we've when I came in, what we did
was I've always thought it was incredibly important, and everybody
seems to be able to get on board no matter
where you stand on you know, charity or this and that.
What I do when I come out and either create
these programs or look to to modify them. Logistically is
if we can all agree that this program was originally
designed for someone who needs can we reach someone needs it,
(40:09):
then let's find that person. And so what I did
was implemented a screening process, so when you call some
other place, there's a quick screen that kind of filters out.
What we're doing is we're looking for prioritization and urgency.
Like the single mother who's been with our lights and
water cut off for two weeks already, We're going to
make sure she comes to the top of the list.
And so there's a screening process which gets forwarded to
(40:30):
the case manager, who then calls and does an assessment
and then get your appointment to come in and we
go ahead and make sure that you don't get evicted
or that we get you up on rent or whatever
that may be. And same with utilities. And we also
have Power to Care, which is for the senior generation
and so it's sixty three or sixty five and over
that we have specific funding for it that we facilitate,
(40:53):
and so we're kind of across the board no matter
what the need is, we've got a program for that,
and we're constantly looking to make sure we're doing it
for the right people and as thoroughly as possible.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
Well, Chris, we could talk forever about everything that some
other place does, but we're out of time. So what
is the website where people can get more information?
Speaker 6 (41:11):
So it's www dot someotherplace, Beaumont dot com.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Got it all right, Chris, Thank you so much for
being a part of the show.
Speaker 6 (41:20):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
We'll be right back with the Roy West Radio Show
right here on AM five sixty k l v I.
And we're back with the Roy West Radio Show on
AM five sixty klv I. We had a packed pull
show today, kicking it off with doctor Shannon Allen, the
superintendent of Beaumont ISD, talking about the eighty ninth Texas
(41:43):
Legislative Session. So much going on, so much affecting public education,
and she explained how we should say no to vouchers.
So if you need any more information on that, go
to BMTISD dot com and there'll be a whole page
on the eighty ninth at Texas Legislative Session with all
kinds of details. We also talked with Jay Shepherd, she's
(42:06):
with the BBB and also a Spindletop rotarian. We talked
about the upcoming rotary roast of Jimmy Singletary, the former
Beaumont Police chief. That event is going to be April
third at the mcml Agante. Tickets are on sale right
now at spindletop.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Roast dot org.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
Spindletoprooast dot org, get your tickets, get your sponsorships, and
be a part of this really exciting night. We also
talked with Brandon ba Singer. He is with the Human
Resources department at Beaumont ID and the upcoming educator job
fair for teachers and anybody in education is going to
be Saturday, March twenty ninth at Westbrook High School. You
(42:44):
can go to BMTISD dot com backslash careers if you
want to be a vendor and have a table. If
you want to get into education, you want to be
a teacher, this is the place to go to. They're
going to have interviews on site and you could get
hired to be a teacher at Beaumont ISD. And then
we just wrapped up with Chris Robertson, he's the executive
director with some other place, talking about all the programs
(43:05):
that they have for our community, including emergency services, rent,
utility assistant, clothing store, Henry's Place. Just a really great
organization for the Beaumont community. So thank you again to
all the guests. I am Debbie Bridgman, your guest hosts
for today's show. Hope you enjoyed it and we'll be
back next week for the Roy West Radio Show on
(43:26):
AM five sixty KLBI.
Welcome to the Roy West Radio Show right here on
KLBIAM five sixty. I am your guest host for today.
My name is Debbie Bridgeman. We've got a full hour
full of great guests, including details on the Beaumont ISD.
Educator job Fair which is coming up in March. We're
going to talk about the Spindletop Rotary roast of Jimmy Singletary,
(00:22):
and we're going to see what's going on with some
other place. But to kick it off, we're going to
talk about something very important that's on the top of
everybody's mind is the eighty ninth Texas Legislative Session and
a lot of critical decisions are going to be going
on that are going to impact public education, including funding
policies and resources that directly affect Beaumont ISD students, teachers
(00:45):
and families. So to give us some more information, please
welcome my first guest. She's the Superintendent of Beaumont ISD,
doctor Shannon Allen.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Hello, de b, thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
You bet so today it's Sunday the second, but you're
going to Austin tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
But you just came.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
From Austin, So what was going on this week? In
Austin that you got to be a part of.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
So I was really excited to participate in the Texas
PTA Rally Day. And this is a day where students
and parents from all over the state come together in
support of Texas Public schools. I am privileged to serve
as a board member for the Texas PTA, so really
(01:29):
I had an opportunity to see firsthand, you know, democracy
in action. I was able to share as a guest
speaker for the student caucus. Once the caucus ended, we
had a student caucus in an adult caucus. At the conclusion,
two thousand students and parents marched to the capital for
the actual rally on the steps of the Capitol, led
(01:52):
by Round Rock Marching Band. It was just a great
thing to see so many individuals across our state who
were in support of Texas Public schools. So I was
excited to be a part of that. And we also
had the opportunity to actually meet with our legislators. That
was the purpose, so seeing students being educated on the
(02:14):
priorities as well as how their voices are actually being heard.
It was a great opportunity to just see so much
support for Texas Public schools. So I was glad to
be a part of it.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Well, that's exciting, and now you're going back again, and
you know a lot of stuff is you know, in
social media, on the news, everything going on, vouchers, vouchers.
Why do we need to say no to vouchers.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
We need to say no to vouchers because our legislators
need to fund public schools one hundred percent and not
take dollars from Texas public schools to give them to
private entities. The education savings accounts, as they're actually called
right now, is really a subsidy to families who are
(03:00):
already planning to send their students to private schools. It
will drain resources from our Texas public schools and give
them the families in the name of choice. But truthfully,
the only individuals who actually have the choices are those
private schools because they can pick and choose which students
(03:21):
they want to receive. They have no obligation to take
any student who actually would apply for those education savings accounts.
They don't have the same accountability. They don't for finances
as well as state testing accountability. That's some of the
frustrating things about the education savings account proposal and the
voucher proposals that are on the table right now, because
(03:44):
it's unfair. It's not a level playing field. So you're
going to take a billion dollars from the five point
five million students that are being educated in Texas public
schools and give it to this very small subset without
fully funding our Texas public schools. Is it is very frustrating,
and we are speaking up and we are fighting back
(04:07):
and really asking our legislators to say no to this
and ensure that all students in the state of Texas
are educated. And the majority five point five million are
being educated in public schools. So how can we deny
those students the resources that they need to be successful
and sacrifice the five point five for a very small percentage.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Yes, and those resources are very important. So let's also
talk about funding public schools and you know, making sure
that our teachers are having competitive salaries and of course
special education needs as well. So talk a little bit
more about funding public schools.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
So another significant priority for this legislative session is to
increase funding. As you know, the state has not increased
what's called the basic allotment since twenty nineteen. In the
basic allotment in Texas six and sixty dollars is the
amount that we receive on average for each student who
(05:06):
is in average daily intendance. We are well behind inflation.
We need at least a fifteen to seventeen hundred dollars
increase per student, which gives school districts the flexibility to
do what invest those resources directly into students. Increased teacher
compensation makes certain that our students have all the resources
that they need, and we as leaders would have the
(05:28):
flexibility to implement these state mandates with the security making
certain our students have all of the curriculum resources, personnel
just to meet the basic needs of our students. Inflation
costs have skyrocketed since twenty nineteen. Our costs as school
districts have skyrocketed since twenty nineteen. But to not receive
(05:51):
additional funding in the basic allignment has made has been
a struggle for many school districts. Several have actually pass
deficit budgets. We are fortunate in Beaumont is Isd. That
we have not passed the deficit budget. Our board has
said clearly, doctor Allen, we do not want to do that,
but many districts are in the whole. You know, we
(06:12):
were fortunate in November, our community supported us with the
voter approval tax rate election, which generated an additional thirteen
million that we immediately you know, put into compensation and maintaining,
which will it will allow us to maintain programs that
we've already implemented that support our students. But at the
end of the day, we still need more resources. We
(06:34):
still need to increase teacher compensation. I know there are
a couple of bills right now with increases to teacher
compensation and increases to the what's called the teacher Incentive Alignment,
which is restricted funds that the state are in alignment
that the state has that districts have to apply for
and teachers could possibly qualify based on their performances paid
(06:56):
pay for performance. But we want in increases that give
us flexibility so that we can give increases to all
of our teachers, all of our employees across school districts.
So that's the big, big fight right now, and not
getting as much traction as we would want to see
(07:18):
in an increase in the basic allotment because to do
what we need to do is going to cost the
state billions ten billion dollars, and I think right now,
there's only the projection of about four or five billion
into new money into Texas public schools, and that's frustrating.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Would you say, you know, you've been in education for
twenty plus years, do you feel this as one of
your most challenging times because of what's going on?
Speaker 2 (07:44):
You know, at the time, you know, we thought COVID
from COVID, and each year, you know, trying to rebuild
from COVID all the way till today. It's still very,
very challenging, and more so now I think because ours
a resource are no longer available because with COVID, we
were able to receive billions in federal dollars where those
(08:06):
moneys have ended, so you don't have that additional influx
of revenue to help support and meet the needs of
your students. So financially, it is critical right now that
our legislators go and increase the resources that are directly
impacting students in Texas public schools. Right now. You see
across the state schools are being closed. I see articles
(08:31):
from school districts all across our state. And one of
the reasons, of course reduction and enrollment. But it's also
cost saving measures because when you close the building, you're
saving the resources to educate those students. And right now
we're also struggling, you know, with teacher shortages, you know,
making certain that our classrooms and schools and the teaching
(08:52):
and education profession is one that want we want to
attract teachers to want to come and do the work.
And I think some of the systems, some of the
way that the system is designed, is keeping teachers from
actually wanting to work in our public schools.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
And it just seems like, for instance, like I just
went to a big conference with all the Texas public
school communicators and it just seems like a majority of
schools now you know, their big database or of kids
is economically disadvantaged students. So it's like, why would Texas
want to hurt these kids from getting public education.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
It's just it's crazy.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
I mean, there's a false narrative that Texas public schools
are received more money than ever and it's fourteen thousand,
maybe nine hundred and some dollars. That's a graph that's
being shown by the Texas Education Agency. But when you
break that graph down, you see that the increase in
overall funding is not from the state. Okay, the increase.
(09:56):
What they're showing with the increase in funding over the
last few years was federal dollars. That's money from the
federal government, not money from the basic Alignment, which is
what the state of Texas says, Hey, we're going to
give you this money for students in Texas, and we
are one of the lowest in the country as far
(10:18):
as funding Texas funding of public schools, Texas is one
of the lowest. At the same time, our state has
one of the largest economies and has large surplus. I
think it's a twenty four billion dollar surplus this year,
but yet and still will not invest in our public schools.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
So we've got about a minute left. What would you
say is the most important way for people to be
informed and to let their voice be heard.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
I encourage all of our citizens to Number One, you
can go to our website. You can look at Beaumont
ISD's legislative priorities. You can also go to our website
and you can see ex exactly who your representatives are.
Please make certain you know who they are, and make
certain that you are emailing and reaching out to them
(11:11):
and asking them to support Texas public schools. I really
hope that our community stays informed on potential legislation. And
we're going to do our best as a district to
push our information on our website so that our team
and our community can actually look and see what bills
are being proposed. But what is very important, and I
(11:33):
was recently talking to our legislators, they want to hear
the voices of the community because remember we elect them.
We elect these individuals who are making these decisions. So
let them know how you feel about vouchers. Let them
know how you feel about funding in Texas public schools.
Let them know how you feel about more special education funding,
(11:53):
are full day pre K funding. They need to hear
from you, not just you know, the leaders in the community,
but their entire constituency.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
All right, doctor Shannon Allan, thank you so much for
being a part of the show and say note avouchers.
All right, we'll be right back with the Roy West
Radio Show on AM five sixty klv I. And we're
back with the Roy West Show on klv I AM
(12:25):
five sixty. I am your guest host, Debbie Bridgman, and
we are continuing the fun. We are going to talk
about the spindle top rotary roasts that is coming up
on April third, and my guest is a fellow Rotarian
and my best friend, Jay Shepherd from the Better Business Bureau.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Welcome.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So we have this big roast that's coming up. Jimmy Singletary,
the former Beaumont Police Chief, will be roasted, and we've
got quite an impressive list of people that will be
roasting him. But we want to make sure that people
understand this isn't like Comedy Central roast. It is more
like a celebration. But you've had a great relationship with
(13:06):
Jimmy and you've worked with him for a while. So
for anybody who's really not familiar with anything besides him
just just being a former Beaumont police cheap tell us
a little bit about Jimmy.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
He really is a great guy. I mean, he's somebody
that's been, you know, a great leader, but he's also
somebody that's been a great friend. I got to know
him probably about maybe almost twelve fifteen years ago because
we did a PSA together and I just I think
that was the first time I actually really talked to him,
(13:37):
and ever since then, we just you know, he he
would he would always you know, have his people send
people to buy the Better Business Bureau, and then I
would have. I would We started doing a lot of
things together. We started working together. I mean, some people
don't realize that VBB does investigations. We work with law
enforcement and Beaumont Petie was always so great to work
(14:00):
with us, and we just developed a great relationship with them,
and I just developed a pr personal relationship with Chief Singletary.
I just think there's so many cool things about him.
One funny thing is, you know how he decided he
wanted to go into police work. How's that? Well? He
(14:20):
used to watch Adam twelve. That was really cool. He originally,
you know, he was a great golfer and he played
golf when he went to Lamar and he thought he
was going to be like a golf bro and have
this professional golf career. And then he realized the senior
year that that just wasn't working out and so ended
up I'm going to work for the Beaumont Pete back
(14:40):
in like I think nineteen seventy and has just had
a very rich career there fifty four years, you know,
something to be so proud about. And we thought he
was retiring, but no, no, no, no, you know he's
working at the DA's office. He just can't he just
can't stop.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
Well, I know for the event, which is going to
be Thursday, April third at the mcml A Dante Uh,
it will be starting at seven o'clock. All proceeds are
going to be going to Spindle Coot Rotary for the
service projects that we do, but a portion will also
go to his charity of choice, which is Beaumont Animal Care.
And of course his dog is a big part of
(15:21):
his life and will be at the event.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Absolutely, Bozzie is you know, he's a rescue dog, one
of I think Jimmy has four dogs. Yeah, one of
four rescue dogs that Jimmy has that Beaumont Animal Care
is so so close to his heart. And the funny
thing about it, you know, he was telling us that,
you know, he didn't mind going out and being a
(15:44):
tough guy doing police work, but the minute he walks
into Beaumont Animal Care, he cannot he cannot see animals
and not want to take them home. It just breaks
his heart. So Bozzie will Bozzi, his dog is going
to be at the roast. He's he's practically a celebrity.
He he's out in the community all the time because
(16:04):
he has separation anxiety. So Jimmy was explaining that he
has to take Bozzie out with him because you know,
he doesn't if he leaves, my homie might just tear
up property. He told some funny stories about him destroying
some property because of the separation anxiety. But but yes,
that Beaumont Animal Care, I mean, you know, we just
(16:24):
did that. We we were just all there volunteering and
it was it was so great. I just it was.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
It was really nice walking some of the dogs. One
of the dogs walked me. Uh so that was that
was a little challenging until I meant Bruce and Bruce
just needed love, didn't need that. He just needed some love.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
And I think he should go back and Bruce and
I developed a relationship with Moby, and I just loved him.
He was such a great dog.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Well, a lot of those animals, you know, some of
them are are going crazy and they're ready to get
out of there so fast, and some you know, it's
very nerve racking for them to be around all that
noise and everything that goes on at the shelter. And
Beaumont Animal Care actually came and talked to Spindletop Rotary
this past week and we just learned so much about
(17:12):
everything that they have to offer with the reduced and
free spae and neutering, fostering, you know, what they need
for volunteers, so much that they offer, and even transporting
animals because they were saying they have stricter laws about
spey and neutering up in the Northern.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
States as opposed to the Northern States.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
So there's so many more animals that come into the
shelter in Beaumont, and so they do transport them a
lot up to the Northern States where they don't have
as many animals available to find homes. So yeah, learn
a lot.
Speaker 3 (17:45):
I'm really thinking hard about possibly doing some fostering because
it's short term and you know what if it's going
to help some animal not not lose their life, because
that's with the fostering thing. You know. She was explaining
that that if you will foster an animal for a
few days, well you know, before because it might be
(18:07):
just it's about to get adopted, but they need room
for new animals to come in. So I think that
that's something, you know, maybe a lot of people would
do if they knew more.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
About it, But I would get so attached once you're
in my home, I wouldn't want you to leave.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
So I don't know. I know several people that do it,
and they actually kind of like that. They like just
being able to give the dog some care for a
few days and then you know that way, it's not
a huge commitment.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Yeah, well, we're excited that we're going to be able
to host this event to of course raise funds for
Spindletop Rotary. We do our big Rotary Reads project with
Blanchet Elementary, supplying a book for every single student on campus.
That's over five hundred books. So money goes towards that
goes towards some of our service projects. We've got a
pollinator project we're doing with Beaumont Rotary. You know, we
(18:59):
do a lot of different things in the community and
so it's good to have those funds.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
For the things that we do.
Speaker 1 (19:04):
And then of course a portion of the funds will
go to Beaumont Animal Care, so that's really exciting. So
the roastes that we have that are going to be
telling nice, fun stories about Jimmy not being mean. But
I have heard that they I guess cops like really
like to jab on each other a lot too, they do.
Speaker 3 (19:24):
This could be interesting.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
But we've got Keith Giblin, a criminal District attorney for
Jefferson County, is one of our roasters, and he will
be presenting with Britt Featherston, who's the first assistant at
the US Attorney's Office in Jefferson County as well. So
that should be a quite the duo, kicking, dynamic duo,
that's what That's what I've heard. Jimmy Ellison, who's the
(19:45):
chief of police for Mount Bellevue is one of our roasters.
Earl White with the City of Beaumont Fire Department, he's
the chief there.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Fellow roaster, Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Yeah. Don Shaver is one of our roasters. We also
have Jason Plunkett, We have Robert Hobbs. I mean, we
have quite the list of roasters that are signed up
and excited to celebrate Jimmy at our event on April
third at the mcmiligan today. Tickets are available now and
sponsorships spindletop Roast dot org. That's spindletop roast dot org
(20:20):
and Jimmy. You know, Jay, we had a chance the
other night to honor him with a nice little dinner.
Speaker 3 (20:26):
He's so humble, like he just.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Thinks nobody's gonna come to this event and we want
to fill the room.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
For sure. We will because and we you know, he
has a lot of fans out there. I mean, tons
of people love him and have funny stories about him
and are gonna really enjoy seeing him get honored and
all the pictures I've seen some really great pictures of
him early in his career. It's just gonna be it's
gonna be so great. All of our roasts have been
(20:56):
so good, and I think this one will be awesome
and everybody will really really enjoy it. You don't want
to miss this.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
And I'm thinking back, you know, we we this will
be our fourth roast to do and they're just so
much fun. But we kicked it off with Chelsea Tipton
with the Symphony of Southeast Texas.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
Then we went and we honored Greg Bosswick and that
was really an honor.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
I mean, some.
Speaker 1 (21:20):
Old media guys, old TV guys came into town for that.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
That was so much fun.
Speaker 1 (21:25):
But last year it's gonna be hard to top because
we did roast the one and only Roy West.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
This is his show.
Speaker 1 (21:33):
Beaumont Mayor and the Roasters really set the bar at
that event because it was really fun.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
They really did, and you know, they surprised us. There
were I tell you, coming out of the woodwork. Somebody
doctor doctor Shannon Allen. I thought I thought she would
come across a lot differently. She was hilarious. I mean
she really was. And of course brand Roy's brother in law,
(22:00):
Judge Brannett, yes, he was hilarious too. They were all great.
Everybody that got up there was awesome. It was great.
Speaker 1 (22:06):
So this year, Jimmy Singletary, the event is going to
be Thursday, April third at the mcml Agante. Tickets available now,
Sponsorships available now spindletop roast dot org. Everything you need
to know spindletop roast dot org. Jay, thank you for
joining the show today.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
You're welcome. It was awesome. All right, we'll be right back.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
We'll be right back off the Roy West Radio Show
right here on AM five sixty klv I. And we're
back with the Roy West Radio Show on AM five
sixty KLVI. I'm your guest host, Debbie Bridgman, and we
are back with Beaumont isd and the Assistant director for
Human Resources, mister Brandon Bassinger.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
Hey Brandon, Hey, how you doing this?
Speaker 3 (22:52):
Doing great?
Speaker 1 (22:53):
So we have got the educator job fair coming up
this month because it is March second today, So tell
us a little bit about the fair, why it's important
and what's going on.
Speaker 5 (23:05):
Well, it's going to be happening on Saturday, March twenty ninth.
We're going to be at the Westbrook High School cafeteria.
It will be going on from ten to twelve and
we do this annually. This one is a little bit different.
We're only focusing at this job fair on instructional positions
at the campus level, and that's everything from teachers to
(23:28):
teacher aids, classroom aids, and school leaders, counselors, et cetera.
So everything instructional. We've decided we're going to do auxiliary
positions separately at a different job fair. So anyone who
has any interest in being in the education field, whether
it be beginning as an aid substitute or if it's
(23:50):
a leader from outside the district that's looking for opportunities,
every campus will be represented. We'll have departments there such
a special education et cetera, will be doing interviews on
site with the campus principals and directors so that someone
shows up and they're good fit, we can go ahead
and lock them in for next year.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Nice.
Speaker 1 (24:11):
And I love when you guys do lock someone in
because you ring the bell and you make a big
spectacle and embarrass them just a little bit, but just
show the excitement of joining team.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
Bid. I love it. So tell me this.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
So would this fair be applicable to, say, some graduating
seniors from college that might be in the education field
or is there still more that they need to do
before they can come on board?
Speaker 5 (24:37):
Absolutely, anyone will. Well you don't even have to have
a college degree because we can have them come in
as substitutes or aids. So anyone with an interest come
talk to us. We'll see what requirements you have and
where you would fit. Any graduating seniors that have a
degree that are interested in education, and the degree doesn't
even have to be in education. We have various paths
(25:00):
ways to assist people with getting certified as a teacher.
We do have adjunct teacher positions if they meet the
right qualifications and they do have a degree, where we
can get them in as an adjunct teacher while they
join a program, and we're partnered with Region five and
we'll take anyone who's in Texas Teachers or any other
alternative certification program and actually have them in the classroom
(25:23):
working for it is full time as a teacher while
they're doing the program for alternative certification. If someone is
interested in becoming a teacher or things, they might be
interested and would like to try their hand at being
a teachers, they aide to get their foot in the door.
I started out substituting, and I know many other educators
(25:43):
started out as substitutes and then fell in love with
it and moved on from there. We have opportunities to
help people get their certification as well. Once they've been
an AID or a pair professional of any capacity with
the district for one year, then they qualify for what
we call our Race program, and that is where we
(26:06):
have current para professionals and will actually help them go
through and finish their bachelor's degree if they're not quite finished,
because we do know life sometimes getting the way of
our plans, and there are some people who may have
had a couple of years of college and then life
happened and they haven't gotten a chance to finish, and
(26:26):
we recognize people that are in the district working for
us in the classrooms and they have that calling. We
do assist with that as well, and the district will
actually pay tuition for people that are in that program
to finish their degree, and of course they need to
commit to come teach with us and help our kids
for a couple of years after they're finished. But anyone
(26:46):
who has any interest to work in the education field
and the instructional part of it at the campus levels,
we hope they'll show up because you'll be able to
meet people from every campus, every department. Explore your interests
and see what we have that'll fit you. I'm sure
we have something.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Sounds so easy that bid makes it just you know,
that pathway so easy for anyone that has a heart
for education. So if somebody is let's say, in Austin
or in Dallas, what makes Beaumont ISD stand out in
your opinion that people would want to come here.
Speaker 4 (27:23):
Well, Beaumont ISD. It's a very tight knit group.
Speaker 5 (27:29):
I graduated, came through BID schools and have gotten my
degrees of LAMAR and I have had opportunities to go elsewhere,
but I haven't seen then. We have extremely dedicated professionals
at all levels. I personally, my feeling is we have
an amazing superintendent and she has assembled an outstanding team
(27:53):
of leaders whose mission core mission in calling is to
provide the chill in this city with the best education
and opportunities possible. And I believe that and that's kept
me here because I want to help further that goal.
I honestly don't think any district that you're going to
find will have a superior group of leaders than we
(28:14):
have right here.
Speaker 4 (28:15):
And that's my opinion.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
I've been in it twenty five years, and if I'm
still staying here because of our leadership and their goals
and I know their commitment and dedication to kids. That's
what I would tell anyone from coming from any other district,
is I challenge you to find better.
Speaker 4 (28:30):
Why don't you come and see what we have to offer.
Speaker 1 (28:32):
I do love the support system, and I love seeing
how teachers lean on other teachers and how you have mentors,
and it is it's a very tight knit group, and
especially at convocation when you see each campus and they're
cheering and they're excited, they're ready for the school year
to go. What would you say is like some of
the most in demand positions that will be available, like
(28:55):
about how many do you have an idea how many
people were looking to add to the team.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
Well, we won't know the full number until retirement season
actually ends. We have people that are choosing to retire
don't usually come in all the way through March and April,
but we anticipate around sixty to eighty openings as classroom
teachers with turnover. We usually bring on about twenty new
(29:21):
para professional aides every summer, so there will be opportunities.
I can't say exactly how many are what they'll be
in until summer gets here, but I do know that
the typical areas we do need we always need elementary
teachers because there are I mean you're looking at pre
K through fifth grade that all run on the same
certificate and elementary easy through sixth certification. And with all
(29:46):
of that, we have about fourteen elementary schools the city
in the city, so we're always looking for I few
elementary teachers. As far as secondary, it's been interesting. We've
seen a shift.
Speaker 4 (30:01):
The shift. It goes back and forth about every five
to ten years.
Speaker 5 (30:04):
As far as which subjects are most in demand because
universities will push those subjects and then saturate that field.
But right now it's been pretty consistent. We're always looking
for some secondary math and science, but lately we've been
seeing the demand for English language, arts and reading teachers
quite a bit, and I think that's because five years
(30:26):
ago and beyond everyone was pushing math and science so hard.
There seems to have been a lack of people going
in for ELAR certifications, and districts are looking for those
right now as well. We also have many, many, many
opportunities for career and technology education, and even if someone
has not worked in the education field, but they've worked
(30:47):
in a career technology industry such as robotics, software engineering, industrial,
or even at the plant, they definitely can come out
and talk to our CTE department who will own also
be there because there are opportunities for people with job
related experience which we can bring in in lieu of
(31:08):
an actual teacher certification to come in and teach those
fields that they have that experience with to our students.
Speaker 1 (31:16):
So you mentioned that this is just for educators for
this job fair coming up March twenty ninth, and that
there'll be an auxiliary job fair at another time for
some of the other positions in the district. Do you
have a date or kind of a month to when
you think you might host that.
Speaker 4 (31:31):
I don't have a date for that one yet.
Speaker 5 (31:33):
That one typically runs closer to the summer once we've
gotten through contract season and gotten all of the educators done,
maybe April or mank and one will be when we'll
announce that, and we'll have lots of publicity on that,
But that'll be for people that are in any auxiliary
positions such as food service or custodial maintenance, mechanics for
(31:58):
transportation bus drivers, that are all other fields that are
outside of the classroom. And we did it separate last
year and there was an outstanding turnout for that as well,
So we're looking forward to both of them. But we
think separating them helps provide everyone who's coming in more
of an opportunity to have equal access to people that
(32:20):
are on demand to talk.
Speaker 1 (32:21):
To perfect All right, Brandon, Well, thank you so much
for being a part of the show. The Educator Job Fair, Beaumont,
ISD March twenty ninth, Westbrook High School in the cafeteria
ten to twelve and for more details bmtisd dot com
backslash Careers.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Thank you, Debbie, see you all right.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
Brandon, Thank you so much. We'll be right back with
the Roy West Radio Show on AM five sixty klv I.
And we're back with the Roy West Radio Show right
here on AM five sixty klv I. I'm your guest host,
Debbie Bridgeman, and we are wrapping up today's show with
the executive direct sure of some other place. Please welcome
(33:02):
Chris Robertson. How are you doing, Chris, yay, I'm great,
Thanks for having me all right. So, you know, I
think everybody in this area, we assume they know about
some other place, but they may not. So briefly, what
exactly what services do you guys provide to the community.
Speaker 6 (33:22):
Yeah, I agree, even myself when I came here, I
think that some other places are recognizable meme, but not
everybody quite knows everything, including me. When I came over,
I was shocked. I thought I thought it was like
a homeless agency. Not even the majority of our services
are for the homeless. We just also have so just
running through the list, we have special projects which kind
(33:42):
of focuses on the children's programs, it's where we do
the Thanksgiving Day Store, which is for families who otherwise
wouldn't be able to provide a holiday meal for their family.
We have the Backpack program where we give out backpacks
for kids. We have the Giving Treat, which is you know,
for Christmas gifts for children, and the vetting criteria is
(34:02):
such that, genuinely, I don't think that they would have
had a Christmas gift not for the service. Then we
have a food pantry. We have three clothing stores, men's,
women's and children's. It's all free. We have the rent
and utility assistance and the viction prevention. We have the
soup kitchen. We have the homeless case management, and then
of course Henry's Place, which is our homeless day center
(34:23):
where clients can come in and get breakfast, take showers,
and do their laundry.
Speaker 1 (34:28):
Well, I like kind of what you were saying when
you had sent over some of your notes, and I
just don't think people really think about this, But you're right.
More people that are older are used to making monetary
donations and your younger generation is more about hands on,
you know, and it's a big difference. So what do
(34:49):
you do to try to keep monetary donations coming in,
but also have opportunities for volunteers.
Speaker 2 (34:55):
To help out.
Speaker 6 (34:58):
Yeah, and that's a tough that's you know when I
I used to be a program director and I would
create these programs. The last one before I came here
was Market to Hope, and so you kind of end
up with, hey, this is the idea, and then you create.
And so coming over to some other place was one
moving into the executive director position. It was a difference
in day to day there but two kind of just
(35:20):
you have to find that line between am I bragging
by telling people what I'm doing? But I also have
to tell people what we're doing. And so I think
that I was fortunate when I came over that a
lot of people some other places there's like a huge shop,
local nonprofit. It's like the backbone of Beaumont for so
many families. So I know a lot of people are
aware of it and a lot of people give their
(35:41):
contributions on a regular basis that I stepped into and
that's just been wonderful. But as far as what can
I do in the future, So it's like I said,
we have this new approach. One of the things that
I said in the notes that kind of relates to
this question is I think that you have to look
(36:01):
at all of your programs constantly, and that's one of
the most important things, especially for the younger generation and
keeping them involved the world. Getting them involved is volunteer
interactions and and kind of making sure you're offering a
really good service things that they can get excited about.
We've implemented. We now have a Facebook page and we
have an Instagram to try to keep you know, kind
of the younger demographic in the loop, their their social media,
(36:24):
you know, that's kind of their forte and so we've
tried to update and modify, and we try to keep
keep new and innovative ideas rolling in all of our
programs that would entice people to come. I also keep
one foot at Lamar University. I still I'll go and
I'll guess lecture whenever they invite me, and try to
loop the students from the social work department into volunteering
(36:47):
with us and kind of seeing what it looks like
one on one. Honestly, some other places I've been at
other agencies post graduation, I say, some other places the
perfect catch all if you're in social services and want
to see what it looks like in real life some
other places, just the social service experience, it's it's unbelievable.
But I'd say that we made some adjustments and modifications
(37:09):
to try to be innovative and then captivate their attention,
both by going out to them in the in the colleges,
but also social media. That's the biggest adjustment for trying
to keep people in the loop and catch that demographic.
Speaker 3 (37:23):
Let's talk a.
Speaker 1 (37:24):
Little bit about the homeless population and some of the
emergency services that you have. You know, of course, just
a couple of weeks ago, it was freezing cold, and
you know, how do you accommodate so many people that
don't have a place to go?
Speaker 6 (37:41):
Yeah, so that's that's new. I came here almost three
years ago, and before that that we had never some
other place had never done any sort of in house programs.
Nobody can stay overnight. It's just not something we're set
up for facilitated. It's not part of our mission statement.
But it started to get cold around the time that
I was hired, and I thought, and coming from one
of my previous programs was a disaster response. I had
(38:02):
a lot of partners and one of them was Natalie
Warren who's with the Red Cross, and so I just
try to keep a close connection with all of my
former partners and coworkers and whatnot. And I reached out
to her and I said, listen, I think this is
something we got and look at Salvation Army has capacity,
and having Henry's place, the day center is pretty easy
to see more people are going in than I think
(38:23):
they have beds for it, and so we need to
look at doing something immediately. So she said, no problem,
let's get some cots over there. And so we have
two buildings. One was just used as a storage at
the time. Since then we've implemented homeless case management and
that's not her office. But we had two buildings, including
the day Center in the Kabala building which is case
management office. That Red Cross came and stocked full of
(38:44):
cots and we just did the overnight thing and so
it's something that went so well year one that now
we do just kind of as a default. I stay
in communication with Salvation Army and the time the weather's
going to drop and I say, you know, what are
the numbers looking like? And we just that's our default.
We automatically assume we're going to be there, just as
a plan be and we're gonna And since then there
(39:06):
have been churches who have volunteered and things like that.
So we always line up an on call volunteer list
on the weather gets like that and just wait to
hear the word that hey, we need to help them.
We just open the doors and let it go. We're
fortunate that we have to kitchen so we can do
hot coco and I mean we can make it as
you know, comfortable as possible, but no one's.
Speaker 4 (39:23):
Freezing to death.
Speaker 1 (39:25):
And I really like how all the nonprofits in the
area do communicate with one another, and everybody has the
same goal is to you know, try to help as
many people as they can. So we touched on Henry's place,
touched on your soup kitchen.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
Let's talk a little bit. We've just got about a
minute left.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
But the rent and utilities, how does that program work
to help people?
Speaker 6 (39:46):
Yeah, so we've when I came in, what we did
was I've always thought it was incredibly important, and everybody
seems to be able to get on board no matter
where you stand on you know, charity or this and that.
What I do when I come out and either create
these programs or look to to modify them. Logistically is
if we can all agree that this program was originally
designed for someone who needs can we reach someone needs it,
(40:09):
then let's find that person. And so what I did
was implemented a screening process, so when you call some
other place, there's a quick screen that kind of filters out.
What we're doing is we're looking for prioritization and urgency.
Like the single mother who's been with our lights and
water cut off for two weeks already, We're going to
make sure she comes to the top of the list.
And so there's a screening process which gets forwarded to
(40:30):
the case manager, who then calls and does an assessment
and then get your appointment to come in and we
go ahead and make sure that you don't get evicted
or that we get you up on rent or whatever
that may be. And same with utilities. And we also
have Power to Care, which is for the senior generation
and so it's sixty three or sixty five and over
that we have specific funding for it that we facilitate,
(40:53):
and so we're kind of across the board no matter
what the need is, we've got a program for that,
and we're constantly looking to make sure we're doing it
for the right people and as thoroughly as possible.
Speaker 1 (41:03):
Well, Chris, we could talk forever about everything that some
other place does, but we're out of time. So what
is the website where people can get more information?
Speaker 6 (41:11):
So it's www dot someotherplace, Beaumont dot com.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Got it all right, Chris, Thank you so much for
being a part of the show.
Speaker 6 (41:20):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (41:22):
We'll be right back with the Roy West Radio Show
right here on AM five sixty k l v I.
And we're back with the Roy West Radio Show on
AM five sixty klv I. We had a packed pull
show today, kicking it off with doctor Shannon Allen, the
superintendent of Beaumont ISD, talking about the eighty ninth Texas
(41:43):
Legislative Session. So much going on, so much affecting public education,
and she explained how we should say no to vouchers.
So if you need any more information on that, go
to BMTISD dot com and there'll be a whole page
on the eighty ninth at Texas Legislative Session with all
kinds of details. We also talked with Jay Shepherd, she's
(42:06):
with the BBB and also a Spindletop rotarian. We talked
about the upcoming rotary roast of Jimmy Singletary, the former
Beaumont Police chief. That event is going to be April
third at the mcml Agante. Tickets are on sale right
now at spindletop.
Speaker 3 (42:21):
Roast dot org.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
Spindletoprooast dot org, get your tickets, get your sponsorships, and
be a part of this really exciting night. We also
talked with Brandon ba Singer. He is with the Human
Resources department at Beaumont ID and the upcoming educator job
fair for teachers and anybody in education is going to
be Saturday, March twenty ninth at Westbrook High School. You
(42:44):
can go to BMTISD dot com backslash careers if you
want to be a vendor and have a table. If
you want to get into education, you want to be
a teacher, this is the place to go to. They're
going to have interviews on site and you could get
hired to be a teacher at Beaumont ISD. And then
we just wrapped up with Chris Robertson, he's the executive
director with some other place, talking about all the programs
(43:05):
that they have for our community, including emergency services, rent,
utility assistant, clothing store, Henry's Place. Just a really great
organization for the Beaumont community. So thank you again to
all the guests. I am Debbie Bridgman, your guest hosts
for today's show. Hope you enjoyed it and we'll be
back next week for the Roy West Radio Show on
(43:26):
AM five sixty KLBI.
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