Kevin O’Connor Kommentary October 30

More Meetings About The Future “Inner Loop” Highway To The East Of Bryan/College Station And A Request To Brazos County Commissioners To Get Citizen Input

For the second and third times this month, there are public meetings involving the future “inner loop east” highway that will be built to the east of Bryan/College Station. Opponents to the highway are meeting Wednesday (November 20) from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. at the Bryan High School blue campus auditorium. That’s according to an e-mail sent to WTAW News by a group of residents and landowners called “No East Loop”. Click HERE to read and download the news release from the group “No East Loop”. That follows an open house Tuesday (November 19) hosted by the B/CS metropolitan planning organization (MPO) on future transportation projects that includes the inner east loop. The open house is taking place from 4:30 until 6:30 at the Brazos Center. Click HERE to read and download the MPO’s Mobility 2050: Bryan/College Station Metropolitan Transportation Plan. References to the “inner loop east” are on pages 28-29 as items #92, #113, #117, and #118. A public speaker at Tuesday’s (November 19) Brazos County commission meeting called on the commissioners court to get their own citizen input. John Book brought up that an open house held earlier this month by the Texas department of transportation provided “misinformation or miscommunication” about the project. Book also said “a groundswell of concern” from residents who live in the affected area “requires us as a county to have that conversation, to have it out in public and in a vocal way, more than just on a website or as a come and go (MPO) event” which “is not this body.” Click below to hear comments from John Book during the November 19, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.  

Bryan ISD School Board Approves Hiring A New Principal At Collegiate High School

The Bryan ISD school board fills one principal vacancy and creates a new opening. Board members unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendation to move Jane Long intermediate principal Desiree Caperton to Bryan Collegiate High School. Caperton, who is a former assistant principal at Collegiate, was in her third year as Long’s principal. Before that, she was the principal at Fannin elementary for three years. The only board member to make a comment, Ruthie Waller, cheered the recommendation then said Caperton “will begin her reign as only the third principal of Bryan Collegiate High School since it opened in 2007. So it’s a good gig.” Who will take Caperton’s place at Long was not mentioned at the meeting and a Bryan ISD news release stated only that “there is a plan for her (Caperton’s) departure”. Click below to hear comments from the November 18, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting:   News release from Bryan ISD: At the November 18 Bryan ISD School Board Meeting, the Board of Trustees unanimously approved experienced educator Dr. Desiree Caperton to lead Bryan Collegiate High School (BCHS) as its principal. This marks a return to Bryan’s early college high school as Dr. Caperton previously served as the school’s associate principal. Bryan ISD Superintendent Ginger Carrabine said the transition will be seamless because of Dr. Caperton’s experience at Bryan Collegiate as associate principal. There is also a plan for her departure from Jane Long Intermediate School. “We are excited for our school community,” Ms. Carrabine said. With over 21 years of experience in the district and 26 years in education, Dr. Caperton has served in a variety of leadership roles at multiple levels including as principal, associate principal, teacher, coach, high school counselor and compliance coordinator. Prior to this post, Dr. Caperton has led as principal at Fannin Elementary School and Jane Long Intermediate School. Dr. Caperton earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from Prairie View A&M University, a Master’s degree in Secondary Education, and a second Master of Arts in Counseling from Sam Houston State University. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Arkansas, where she also ran Division 1 Cross Country and Track. Dr. Caperton currently holds principal, counselor, and teacher certifications.

Five Building Projects On The Texas A&M Campus Get Board Of Regents Approval

Action at November’s Texas A&M system board of regents meeting included five building projects on the flagship campus. Almost three years in development, construction is scheduled to start in January 2025 on Texas A&M’s new veterinary teaching and research complex. Construction of the two story building begins after demolishing an existing vet med building at Raymond Stotzer Parkway and Agronomy Road. Completion of the $181 million dollar complex is scheduled in June 2027, weather permitting. Click HERE to read and download information about the veterinary teaching and research complex that was approved at the November 7, 2024 board of regents meeting. Approval was also given for projects at two utility plants. The electric generator will be replaced at the central utility plant that is located on the main campus. The $26.5 million dollar project replaces a generator that was installed in the mid-1950’s. Work begins in December 2024 month with completion expected in March of 2026. Click HERE to read and download information about the central utility plant project that was approved at the November 7, 2024 board of regents meeting. Regents also agreed to move up a year, the expansion of the satellite utility plant serving A&M’s west campus. The regents also authorized spending $3 million of the $30 million dollar budget on pre construction services. A&M’s utilities director Les Williams said this was key to the new vet hospital and the future Aplin Center. Click HERE to read and download information about the satellite utility plant project that was approved at the November 7, 2024 board of regents meeting. And two more A&M residence halls are getting new heating and air conditioning systems. Work starts in December 2024 at Moss and Davis-Gary Halls. Completion is expected in August 2025. Each replacement, at more than $9 million dollars, will alleviate more than $4 million dollars in deferred maintenance at each location. Click HERE to read and download information about the Davis-Gary Hall HVAC replacement that was approved at the November 7, 2024 board of regents meeting. Click HERE to read and download information about the Moss Hall HVAC replacement that was approved at the November 7, 2024 board of regents meeting. Click below to hear comments from the November 7, 2024 Texas A&M system board of regents meeting.