Kevin O’Connor Kommentary July 1

Texas A&M’s President Messages About Communication, Upcoming Retirements, And Ongoing Searches To Fill Leadership Positions

Texas A&M president Mark Welsh publishes online messages the Thursday and Friday before Christmas. Welsh’s message on Thursday (December 19) where subjects included efforts to improve communication, announcing retirements of two longtime leaders, and providing the status of ongoing searches to fill leadership vacancies. The subject of improving communication was the only subject initiated by the president during a visit at the December A&M faculty senate meeting. Welsh said the “university’s greatest shortfall as an organization, is communication.” He asked faculty members to assist him in that area. One of the upcoming retirements announced by the president was the vice president of research Jack Baldauf, who is finishing more than 40 years at A&M on February 28, 2025. Welsh also said R.C. Slocum’s last day will be January 2nd, which is the 53rd anniversary of the first day as an assistant football coach for Emory Bellard. Slocum would spend 30 years with the Aggie football coach, including 14 years as head coach. Slocum would later serve two stints as interim athletic director and would serve Welsh and others as a special assistant to the president. Welsh said his search committee to help select a new Corps of Cadets commandant has finished its first round of interviews. Three or four finalists will be invited to the campus in late January for interviews and open forums with members of the university community. As previously reported, a search committee has been named to help select a new vice president of student affairs and the interim VPSA is associate vice president Tom Reber. Searches will begin soon for vice president of human resources and the chief operating officer of A&M’s operation in Washington D.C. And searches are underway for the next dean of A&M’s college of veterinary medicine and pharmacy college. On Friday (December 20), Welsh posted a video where he and his wife Betty wished everyone happy holidays. Click below to hear Mark Welsh’s comments about communication during the December 9, 2024 Texas A&M faculty senate meeting. Listen to “Texas A&M president Mark Welsh publishes online messages the Thursday and Friday before Christmas” on Spreaker. Screen shots from Mark Welsh’s letter published December 19, 2024:

Cleanup Resumes Following Flooding At College Station ISD’s Pebble Creek Elementary

The start of Christmas break in College Station ISD meant the resumption of cleaning and assessing damage at Pebble Creek elementary school following flooding earlier this month. CSISD assistant superintendent Josh Symank provided an update during December’s school board meeting. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the December 17, 2024 CSISD board meeting. Board members were told administrators have been meeting with insurance adjusters and the two days that classes were cancelled will not have to be made up. Symank said there was a hole the size of his fist in an underground water line that feeds the building’s fire sprinkler system. The hole was in a place where the city of College Station had to turn off a valve. Symank thanked all CSISD employees for their assistance. That included a shoutout to affected Pebble Creek teachers for preparing their rooms the day before classes resumed. Symank said water damage closed the library and it hit hard the music room. The kindergarten and first grade wings escaped and there was little damage to second grade rooms. During the Christmas break, there will be a two foot cut and replacement of sheet rock in affected areas, base moulding will be reinstalled, affected flooring will be replaced, and there will be additional air and moisture testing. After Symank’s update, the board ratified agreements that were approved by administrators that allowed the cleanup to start immediately. The approvals included $250,000 dollars associated with the cleanup and $95,000 for the repair of the fire alarm system. Yet to be determined, is the cost of repairs. Click HERE to read and download a memo associated with an emergency resolution for Pebble Creek. Click HERE to read and download the emergency resolution approved by the CSISD board. Click HERE to read and download a memo associated with fire alarm system repairs at Pebble Creek. Click HERE to read and download the list of services associated with the cleanup at Pebble Creek. Click below to hear comments from Josh Symank during the December 17, 2024 CSISD board workshop meeting.  

College Station City Council Accepts A State Grant To Form A New Mental Health Unit

The College Station police department (CSPD) is establishing a mental health crisis response team. Officer David Simmons, speaking on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs, says the new unit make sure people keep up with their medications and medical appointments among other things. The College Station city council approved the unit at their last meeting, accepting the recommendation of police chief Billy Couch, who applied for a state grant that provides up to two years of funding. Grant funding for the first year is more than $464,000 dollars, which covers the officer’s salary, benefits, overtime, equipment, training, and one vehicle. Click HERE to read and download the resolution that was approved at the December 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting. Click below for comments from CSPD chief Billy Couch during the December 12, 2024 College Station city council meeting and a visit with CSPD officer David Simmons on The Infomaniacs December 20, 2024 with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber. Listen to “College Station city council accepts state grant to create a mental health unit” on Spreaker.