In The News

By MELISSA CROWE
Administrative officials, faculty and staff at Lindale Independent School District are pumped for the coming semester. The district's staff met Monday morning at the newly renovated Eagle Stadium for a special celebration and pep rally for the start of school on Aug. 23.
"If you're from Lindale and you're proud, yell it out!" chanted the cheerleading squad Monday morning, sending the crowd into a fury of stomps, claps and shouts. The district recently received an exemplary rating from the Texas Education Agency. Lindale Junior High School, E.J. Moss Intermediate School, Velma Penny Elementary School and Lindale Primary School received exemplary ratings. Lindale High School was recognized. Lindale was the only Smith County district to receive an exemplary rating.

"We're blessed with a great community and great kids," Superintendent Stan Surratt said, standing on the fresh Astroturf at Eagle Stadium. "It's a great culmination that leads to great success." Lindale High School cheerleaders, Star Steppers and the Lindale band rallied excitement to the bleachers. U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, Mayor Jim Mallory and Jimmy Johnson impersonator Roger Johnson inspired the crowd with praise for the coming school year.

"Exemplary teachers make exemplary students," Gohmert said. He encouraged the entire staff, teachers and others, to be mentors to students. Mayor Mallory declared Monday "Lindale ISD Educa-tors' Day," sending the crowd, yet again, into another roar of cheers. Pat Purl, a senior math teacher at Lindale High School, has been with the district for 20 years. "It just keeps getting better and better," she said. She said everyone in the district, from teachers to principals to bus drivers, has a specific job to do. "We're just going to keep on doing what we do: Keep challenging our kids to be the best they can be," she said. Dale Williams, a criminal justice teacher at Lindale High School, will welcome his first class of his teaching experience Monday. He is a retired U.S. Marshal with more than 30 years experience in the criminal justice system. "My class is an elective, but I see the bar is raised pretty high, and I intend to reach those goals," he said. This was the stadium's first event since its makeover. As special speakers addressed the crowd, workers painted railings on the visitors' side and made other tweaks.

A $42 million bond that included $3.2 million for stadium improvements passed in November covered costs for the renovations. The first football game in the new facility is Aug. 27 against Spring Hill. "I'm pumped, pumped, pumped!" Surratt said.