WTAW - Interviews

This podcast contains comments from the May 29, 2024 special meeting of the College Station ISD school board.

The week after College Station ISD school board members interrupted public speakers who identified a teacher they were criticizing, a special meeting is held to discuss board policy and operational procedures.

The CSISD board decided to require pre-registration of public speakers by 10 a.m. the day before a board meeting.

Two board members brought up not being able to respond to some public comments. State law prevents elected officials from responding to items that are not on the meeting agenda.

Superintendent Tim Harkrider added that the pre-registration gives an opportunity for administrators to explain in advance of meetings the district's policies and procedures to public speakers.

Board members and administrators also reviewed public comments during the May 21st regular meeting that were critical of the teacher and the district's current policies and procedures for complaints and grievances. 

Additional information about submitting grievances and complaints to College Station ISD as of May 31st, 2024 from the College Station ISD website:

The College Station ISD Board of Trustees encourages employees, students, parents, and patrons to discuss their concerns and complaints through informal conferences with the appropriate administrator. Concerns should be expressed as soon as possible to allow early resolution at the lowest possible administrative level.If an informal conference regarding a complaint fails to reach a satisfactory outcome, the concerned employee, student, parent, or patron may initiate the formal grievance process described in the policies below by timely filing a written grievance form within the timeline as outlined in Board policy as linked below.

Even after initiating the formal grievance process, complainants are encouraged to seek informal resolution of their concerns. The formal complaint may be withdrawn at any time.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Complaints/Grievances should be completed with the appropriate information and file by either email, hand delivery, or mail to College Station ISD at 1812 Welsh Avenue, College Station, TX 77840 or the appropriate email address listed below.

Complaint forms are available upon request from the individuals below:

Employee Complaints/Grievances contact: Bridget Cooper at [email protected] or (979) 764-5411

• DGBA(LEGAL)
• DGBA(LOCAL)

Student and Parent Complaints/Grievances contact: Chrissy Hester at [email protected] or (979) 764-5415

• FNG(LEGAL)
• FNG(LOCAL)

Public Complaints/Grievances contact: Austin Dunson at [email protected] or (979) 764-5455

• GF(LEGAL)
• GF(LOCAL)

This podcast is a visit with the city of College Station's tourism manager Jeremiah Cook and WTAW's Scott DeLucia on the May 31, 2024 edition of  The Infomaniacs.

Topics include needing volunteers for the upcoming junior track and field championships, hotel occupancy, leisure and hospitality jobs, attracting different types of travelers, using Texas A&M facilities, and the upcoming soccer match and George Strait concert at Kyle Field.

Click HERE to read and download presentation materials during Jeremiah Cook's tourism report during the May 23, 2024 College Station city council meeting.

Derika Bailey, Branch Manager of the Bryan + College Station Public Library System, visits with WTAW’s Scott DeLucia about a book tasting event, adult and kids programs, their summer kickoff event, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.

This podcast is a recording of a news conference May 29, 2024 with Texas A&M system chancellor John Sharp and Dr. Sean McDeavitt, who is a system associate vice chancellor who directs the National Laboratories Office.

Nuclear power plants are coming to the Texas A&M system's RELLIS campus in west Bryan. 

System chancellor John Sharp told reporters Wednesday (May 29) that they have targeted locations to build four or five reactors from different manufacturers that would take care of rising electrical demand on a permanent basis.

Sharp says they have been working on this project for more than six months. He says his interest came after looking at power projections for companies involved in artificial intelligence.

Joining the chancellor at Wednesday's news conference was Dr. Sean McDeavitt, a system associate vice chancellor who heads the National Laboratories Office. McDeavitt and Sharp both brought up the student involvement in this project. McDeavitt said the student education component is a key element in the request for information (RFI) process that has started.

Sharp said companies can respond to the system's RFI announcement for three weeks. That will be followed by a 30 day period for requests for proposals (RFP). After the RFP's are reviewed by a committee, Sharp says recommendations will go to the board of regents for final action.

Wednesday's announcement comes the week after Sharp said the system was taking proposals to build power plants on system properties around the state to provide electricity on a short term basis.

News release from the Texas A&M system:

Leaders at The Texas A&M University System announced plans Wednesday to bring the latest nuclear reactors to the Texas A&M-RELLIS. 
 
John Sharp, chancellor of the Texas A&M System, said the System seeks to provide a platform for companies to test the latest reactors and technologies. It also will address the pressing need for increased power supply.
 
“As Texas continues to grow, it is critical that we add more reliable, dispatchable power for all Texans,” said Governor Greg Abbott. “Texas A&M’s announcement to bring advanced nuclear technologies to its RELLIS campus is essential for Texas to expand our nuclear power capabilities that will help bolster our electric grid. Nuclear energy will continue to play an integral role in Texas so we can continue to meet the energy needs of our great state for generations to come.”

The next generation of nuclear reactors, with a potential power capacity ranging from 10 MW to 1 GW, have the potential to revolutionize power generation and meet the vast energy requirements of Texas. The new generation of reactors also could provide vital power sources for artificial intelligence companies, Sharp said. 
 
“We at the Texas A&M University System understand the global need for more power,” Sharp said. “And we are positioned to bolster our grid and to provide the power for the latest technologies. We believe that nuclear power is the only solution to provide quick, clean, carbon-free and reliable energy to prevent blackouts and to foster innovation.”
 
To kickstart the latest nuclear initiative, the Texas A&M System will be seeking information – and later proposals – from manufacturers of nuclear reactors. Ultimately, the site could host multiple electrical power-generating facilities, and it could host first-of-a-kind reactors with a net increase of up to 1 GW of capacity that will have a direct connection to the grid operated by Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc., or as it is more commonly called, ERCOT.
 
Sharp said the Texas A&M System is committed to developing power generation capabilities to ensure reliable electrical power provision to the RELLIS campus. 
 
“This effort at Texas A&M-RELLIS will usher in a new era of sustainable and reliable power generation,” Sharp said. 
 
Representatives from the System and from the companies hope to stand up operational reactors within the next five to seven years. 

This podcast contains comments from the May 28, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting.

The Brazos County commission is asked to tell the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission that it opposes a liquor license application.

Four homeowners who made the request during public comments at Tuesday's (May 28) meeting live near the site of a proposed music and events venue on Jones Road west of Highway 47 and north of FM 60.

At the end of the commission meeting when commissioners can propose future agenda items, the only reference to the TABC request was when commissioner Steve Aldrich asked legal staff to research if the county can create its own alcoholic beverage permit.

The chairman-elect of the Brazos County Republican Party, Russ Ford, visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver May 28, 2024.

The Republican nominee for Brazos County precinct one commissioner, Bentley Nettles, visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver May 28, 2024.

Republican nominee for Texas house district 12 Trey Wharton visits with WTAW's Bill Oliver on May 28, 2024.

College Station Mayor John Nichols visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about tourism, charging for parking during upcoming events at Kyle Field, certificates of obligation, the start enforcement of the no-more-than-four ordinance on June 1st, and more during his appearance on The Infomaniacs.

Dr. Susan Ballabina, Chief of Staff for Texas A&M's President, visits with WTAW's Scott DeLucia about the upcoming events at Kyle Field, filling leadership positions at the university, creating a research identity, the Veterinary Emergency Team, and more during her appearance on The Infomaniacs.