PHOTO BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE The Lometa Independent School District Board of Trustees and Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers Inc. are partnering in an effort to lower crime rates in the area. Recently, Lometa ISD Superintendent David Rice signed an agreement linking the two entities. Pictured are, front row from left, Lometa ISD Board Vice President Ben Leggett, Rice and Board President Tommy Maddox; back row from left, Crime Stoppers representatives Leon Seidl, Janie Prew and Dee Spinks. The Lometa Independent School District Board of Trustees met earlier this month to hear a presentation by Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers, and Superintendent David Rice signed a memorandum of agreement with the organization for its Safe School Program.

Crime Stoppers offers an anonymous source for citizens to provide tips to law enforcement agencies.

The organization covers Lampasas, Burnet, Marble Falls, Llano, Johnson City and Mason.

In other business, trustees held a public hearing on the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas. No public comments were registered.

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance David Fisher gave the monthly investment report, and the board reviewed the current investment policy.

A retention and incentive pay plan also was considered, and no action was taken to nominate a director for the Lampasas Central Appraisal District.

Training hours for trustees were discussed. Reports were given by Principal Kip Bulloch, Assistant Principal Rob Moore, special programs director Jamie Smart and the superintendent.

The resignation of Sara Byrd was accepted. Casey Smart was hired for a one-year probationary contract.