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Educators throughout the state were less than thrilled with the Texas Legislature in 2015 as lawmakers went forward with the passage of a controversial bill (House Bill 2804) establishing a change to the state’s public school accountability system beginning with the 2017-’18 school year.
Passage of the bill essentially established an A-F grading system whereby districts, as well as individual campuses within those districts, are given letter grades in five different domains: I - Student Achievement, or how students perform on the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (the STAAR test); II - Student Progress, or how students improve on the STAAR test from year to year; III - Closing the Gaps, or how well performance gaps are closed between low-income and high-income students; IV - Postsecondary Readiness, or how well students are prepared for college and careers after high school graduation; and V - Community and Student Engagement.

Dale Corbett took the oath of office Jan. 1, 2017, to become Van Zandt County’s new sheriff. Sheriff Corbett answered a few pressing questions as a way of providing transparency as he travels down the path of his first few weeks into office.
Sheriff Corbett said that “being a sheriff is a big task. But we will make it. Sheriff Ray’s tenure is water under the bridge. It is time for a new start.”
A new start is what prompted citizens to vote for Corbett, along with his knowledge and experience in the law enforcement system to help lead the county.
Sheriff Corbett tackled pressing questions such as the lack of adequate funding, the backlog of the criminal court system and changes that county citizens should expect to see within his first 90 days into office.
Sheriff Corbett said that the lack of funding is not uncommon throughout the state.

The Wills Point Independent School District Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting at the administration office this week, tackling an agenda that included public recognition of staff and students, a public hearing on a report heard last month, and the acceptance of a donation by Wills Point Ford.
Business opened on Monday night with the board several recognition items. In honor of January being School Board Appreciation Month, representatives from every campus presented board members with gifts for their dedication to the faculty, staff and children of the WPISD.
An appreciative C.W. Wilson, who serves as the board president, thanked the assembled staff for their kind gifts and support. “We’re always humbled when you honor us, but you are the ones that make it happen. Without you, we couldn’t make this school great. We honor you and appreciate all that you do.”

Inspiration and positivity can sometimes come sometimes be delivered in the most unexpected and unlikely means.
Residents in and around the Canton, Edgewood, Quinlan, Terrell, West Tawakoni and Wills Point areas have been reminded of that lesson first hand in recent months, with a local rock art movement geared toward generating joy and an increased sense of community beginning to take root.
Rocks painted in a variety of ways, including some with smiley faces to uplifting messages about being a good friend, having school pride, spending time with the elderly, and remembering others, have been distributed since early September. 
Marjory Bramhall, the driving force behind the local rock art movement, explained that she was first exposed to the idea after speaking with her sister Mary Lou Holland, a resident of California, Missouri.

In anticipation of the new year, we here at the Wills Point Chronicle requested that leaders within the WPISD look back on the district's accomplishments in 2016, and ahead at goals for 2017 and beyond. 

In anticipation of the new year, we here at the Wills Point Chronicle requested that city of Wills Point leaders reflect on the city's accomplishments in 2016, while also looking ahead at goals for 2017 and beyond. 
As the city reflects on 2016, city leaders focused on planning for future growth, business expansion, and economic development through collaboration with Wills Point Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, business owners, and property owners.  City employees focused on improving city services, customer service, and community awareness. Department heads worked together to create more efficiency within their budget, allowing availability of excess funds for unforeseen emergency repairs.  

The East Texas Chapter of Master Naturalist, a nonprofit organization announces it 2017 classes from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24  at the Tyler Nature Center, 11942 FM 848. 
Classes will continue on most Tuesday evenings through early April.  There will be one Saturday class and three Saturday field trips.  The 40 plus hours of classroom and in-the-field instruction aim to educate and prepare participants for service and volunteerism in the field of natural resources, and will include topics such as archaeology, mammalogy, aquatic systems, native plants and forests, and much more.
All-inclusive class fees are $125.  Space is limited, visit http://txmn.org/etwd/ for an application and more information, or contact Beverly Guthrie at finwren@sbcglobal.net.    Deadline for applications is postmarked by Monday, Jan. 16.

Around 100 people were in attendance in the Van Zandt County District Courtroom New Year’s Day Jan. 1 as newly-elected and re-elected county officials participated in the 2017 Inauguration Ceremony for county officials.
The ceremony opened with a welcome by County Judge Don Kirkpatrick followed by an opening prayer from newly-elected VZC Precinct 3 Commissioner Keith Pearson.
After Rachel Strickland led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States Flag and to the Texas Flag, Pastor Russell Harris was the special speaker for the ceremony. The pastor also led in the benediction.
Kirkpatrick issued the oath of office to the following county officials including Dale Corbett, sheriff; Shirley Chisham, county tax assessor-collector; Brandon Brown, Pct. 1 county commissioner; Keith Pearson, Pct. 3 county commissioner; Jesse Ison, Pct. 2 constable; Robert Tisdale, Pct. 3 constable; and Pat Jordan, Pct. 4 constable.

The Van Zandt County Genealogical Society had a great year in 2016. The monthly meetings were well-attended and excellent programs were presented at each meeting. The Society held an all-day seminar and a beginner’s workshop during the year. New board members have been elected and will be installed at the January meeting. New officers are President, Carrie Woolverton; First Vice President, Sandra Jones; Second Vice President, Beth Gordon; Recording Secretary, Sylvia Barbee; Treasurer, Scott Fitzgerald; Corresponding Secretary, Ellen Wheeler; Publicity, Sherrie Archer; Quarterly Editor, Laurie McDonald; Webmaster, Jan Crow; Directors At Large, Tom Tyler and Shirley Fuller. The officers will be installed at the meeting, Jan. 28 by Lou Ann Everett.    

Precinct 3 saw a changing of the guard on New Year’s Day, with Keith Pearson officially being sworn into office as one of the county’s four commissioners during a brief ceremony at the Van Zandt County Courthouse.
Pearson had been assured of the position for nine months, having won the Republican Primary by garnering 56.8 percent of the vote in a field that included two other first-time candidates back on March 1. 
Shortly before taking office, Pearson spoke with the Chronicle on the preparations he has taken to be ready for the job, and some of his goals as he enters the start of his four-year term.
Pearson pledged throughout primary season that keeping an open line of communication with the public was among his top priorities heading into office.

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