GROVES — With all K-3rd grade sites ranking exemplary marks from the state and positive showings for Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests, the Port Neches-Groves Independent School District Board approved its annual performance report.

“We’re good,” Suzanne Mondey, director of special programs for the district, remarked after making her presentation to the board Tuesday.

She noted that the district employees 112 teachers with more than 20 years of experience and that the student attendance rate is about 95 or 96 percent.

Larry Perio, Groves City Councilman, read a proclamation in honor of January as School Board Recognition month and the board honored Port Neches Elementary Resource Teachers, Deliane Faseler and Stacia Fisher, with a Spotlight on Excellence.

Diana Lege, a Groves Middle School teacher with breast cancer, addressed the board regarding catastrophic sick leave policy. She encouraged a policy change that would more readily allow teachers to pool unused sick days and donate them to those who need them.

The board began a pre-construction contract with H. B. Neild & Sons for replacement of the Port Neches Middle School and Groves Middle School portion of the 2007 bond construction program.

The board also began an pre-construction contract with Allco for the addition and renovation of the Port Neches-Groves High School portion of the 2007 bond construction program.

Dr. Lani Randall’s report included an image of the Indian stadium at PN-G High School bleacher demolition so that new construction may begin. Abby Deaton, board president, said the sight of the beloved stadium being torn up was “shocking.”

“Sometimes you have to shock your system for a change,” she said.

Mark Viator of the Southeast Texas Workforce Development board gave an Industrial Workforce Alliance report to the school board. His research shows that area industry will need thousands of workers for area plant projects totaling more than $10 billion.

To prepare students for a career path, not just a job, he encouraged the district to promote random drug testing so students could be prepared for similar measures in the work force. He also asked the board to encourage technical training at PN-G campuses.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.