Talpa Centennial Independent School District
Talpa Centennial School District was a public school district which served the community of Talpa, Texas (USA). Talpa Centennial merged into the Mozelle Independent School District to form the Panther Creek Consolidated Independent School District.
History
[edit]Before its consolidation, the district consisted of 371 miles squared. In 1981, it had managed two schools. The teacher-student ratio was approximately 10:1.[1]
The last attempt to consolidate both districts was in April 1973.[2][3] Had both Mozelle and Talpa Centennial consolidated in 1973, the name of the new school district would have been Blackwell Hill Consolidated Independent School District. Talpa Centennial voters defeated the proposal.[3]
Though efforts for the Talpa Centennial and Mozelle ISDs to merge were not new, in 1986 the suggestion by several residents was brought into consideration. There was a later attempt to consolidate with the now-defunct Novice ISD in April 1981, though Novice community members voted to defeat the proposed consolidation.[citation needed]
Its board agreed to discuss the new proposed merger with Mozelle in January 1986. Talpa Centennial now sought to consolidate for financial reasons after House Bill 72 passed in 1984. The merger resulted in an area of 600 miles squared. It was initially planned a $2 million bond would be passed to build a new school in the town of Voss and that the school would open in September 1987. The last evaluation of Talpa Centennial ISD was $50 million, $34 of which consisted of oil and gas.[2]
The consolidation was approved. Results showed results of 284 votes in favor to 169 against the merger.[4]
The proposed $2 million bond passed by a 60-point margin in July after the successful vote to consolidate. Funds would be made available only after the end of August. Talpa Centennial facilities were still actively used through the 1986–1987 school year, where kindergarten through fifth-grade students would attend school. The superintendent of TCISD was hired as superintendent of the new PCCISD.[5]
In 1997, over ten years after the consolidation with Mozelle, teachers talked about the positive aspects of the consolidation of the districts to the San Angelo Standard-Times in light of the proposed consolidation of the Miles and Veribest Independent School Districts. Reportedly, the first few years saw an internal rivalry between students of both former districts that eventually healed. The consolidation of both districts was attributed to Panther Creek High School's six-man football state championship in 1992 and 1993.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "August 2, 1981". Abilene Reporter-News. pp. 18-F.
- ^ a b Sanders, Kathy (April 3, 1986). "School Districts Courting Consolidation". Abilene Reporter-News. pp. C.
- ^ a b "Voters Defeat Consolidation". Brownwood Bulletin. April 8, 1976. pp. 12-A.
- ^ "Mozelle, Talpa Centennial Consolidation Is Approved". Abilene Reporter-News. April 6, 1986. pp. 18-A.
- ^ Jewett, DD (August 23, 1986). "School Districts' Consolidation Going Smoothly". Abilene Reporter-News. pp. 5-A.
- ^ "Mozelle and Talpa-Centennial built a winner by merging into Panther Creek". San Angelo Standard-Times. p. 1.