NEWSBRIEFS

Rockdale ISD will start “mini graduations” on Thursday, continuing through Saturday

Seniors and their immediate families (parents/guardians and siblings only) will arrive at Tiger Stadium at pre-assigned times for mini-graduation ceremonies designed to follow social distancing guidelines as nearly as possible.

RHS Principal Brent Hasselbach said the families will present diplomas to seniors. Schedules have been sent to seniors with their alloted times and days.

“There will be multiple photo opportunities with the graduate and their family,” Hasselbach said.

Also on tap will be a photo op on the stadium scoreboard, official graduation photo, the formal tassel move and cap toss, he said.

Graduation night, Friday, May 29, will wrap up with a stay-in-vehicle parade on the traditional commencement evening.

That will be followed by a “virtual graduation viewing” at 8 p.m. in the stadium parking lot, according to Hasselbach.

AREA—Area school districts are awaiting word from authorities on what kind of graduation ceremonies they will be permitted to have in this COVID-19 era.

Mindy Miller, Milano ISD Director of Student Services, said the district have submitted five graduation plans to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and local authorities.

Plans are for “some kind of ceremony: on Friday, May 29.

Thorndale’s graduation, whatever form it takes, is set for Saturday, May 23.

Thorndale ISD’s Jennifer Parnham said the district has also submitted five graduation plans.

Rockdale ISD signs 650 households for meals

During past week, Rockdale ISD successfully enrolled over 650 students plus their siblings in the Emergency Meals-to-You program.

Staff members person ally called over 650 households in three days to enroll families in the program. Emergency Meals-to-You (eMTY) is a collaboration between Baylor University and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It provides breakfasts and lunches to students who were eligible to receive those meals through the National School Lunch Program at a free or reduced price. eMTY mails 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches every two weeks directly to the student’s home while schools are closed due to COVID-19.

“The meals will be packaged by vendors approved by eMTY and mailed directly to the students’ homes via UPS, USPS and FedEx,” Dell Giles, RISD Instructional Coordinator, said.

“This program will run through the end of June. It’s available to all children (and their household siblings) who are eligible for free or reduced price meals during the regular school year,” she said.

Dwelling burns Friday night near Rockdale

The sole resident of a dwelling just west of Rockdale escaped without injury Friday night as fire heavily damaged the structure.

The Rockdale Volunteer Fire Department responded to Wiley Auction at 9:53 p.m.

Herbie Vaughan, assistant fire chief, said the woman was able to escape from the rear of the structure.

He said the front was fully involved in flames when firefighters arrived.

Vaughan said the RVFD was able to “knock down” the blaze quickly.

He said the fire was suspected to be electrical in nature.

Appraisal notices sent out to Milam residents

CAMERON—Most Milam County property owners should have received their 2020 property valuations from the Milam Appraisal District (AD).

Chief Appraiser Dyann White said notices have been mailed with the exception of Business Personal Property, because of an extended deadline of May 15 due to the COVID-19 situation.

“Property owners will have until June 1 to protest their values after getting their notices,” she said

“Due to COVID-19, protests must be filed by mail, email, fax, or online through the milamad.org website. There will also be no person-to-person informals this year,” she said.

Protest hearings may be held over the phone if COVID-19 issues persist. Certified Appraisal Values will be sent to the taxing units by July 25.