BY JONATHAN CANNON

HERALD DEMOCRAT

The Sherman Independent School District received a clean financial audit report at Monday night's board meeting.

The board heard from Brian Grisham, of Adami, Lindsey and Company, which performed the required yearly independent audit. He reported that the district had no irregularities and met all grant requirements.

Board members also voted unanimously to approve their votes for the Grayson County Appraisal District Board. They cast 834 votes to SISD board member Al Zorrilla, guaranteeing him a position on the board, and the remaining 380 votes went to Keith Nathan.

The board heard from one member of the public during the open meeting. Kenneth Raney returned for the second month to encourage the board to take action toward a new athletic complex.

"I respectfully submit to you that we have some of the worst facilities in the state" when compared with comparable districts, he told the board. "The need is obvious and the time is now."

Raney expressed similar concerns during October's meeting. SISD Superintendent Dr. Al Hambrick said he contacted Raney in a letter, following the meeting, addressing his concerns and thanking him for his input.

Hambrick said the concerns about the current stadium were timely as the district begins an assessment of its stadium. However, the superintendent emphasized there had been no determinations made about any possible action.

The board also heard from Construction Manager Chuck Edwards. He told the board the construction of the district's new education service center, which will house the administration and service the district in other ways, is behind schedule by four weeks due to rain. However, he said, he thought the schedule could be recovered and hopes to pour the foundation slab on Friday.

In other business, the board:

• accepted funding from the major saver fundraiser campaign to the Sherman Education Foundation totaling $48,715;
• accepted various gifts totaling $86,313;
• recognized the district's 28 gold performance awards;
• heard that 100 percent of the district's teachers met highly qualified standards;
• voted to approve the SISD textbook committee;
• approved the purchase of 345 document cameras, equipping every classroom with the technology at a cost of $195,443, and of new computer for Wakefield Elementary School at a total cost of $156,692. Both purchases will be funded with money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.