TC board approves Cass County service plan

By Robin Hall
raaron@casscountynow.com

The Texarkana College Board of Trustees members voted Monday to approve a plan to expand services and benefits to TC’s service area in Cass County pending voter approval at the November 8 general election.
A public hearing has been set for July 21 at the Atlanta Middle School Auditorium for local voters and tax payers to hear first-hand about the proposal and how annexation could benefit the county’s students and workforce.
President James Henry Russell outlined the Cass County service plan to those in attendance, noting that the savings passed on to Cass County students and the benefit to the local economy should be great incentives for local voters to approve the measure.
The plan is mandated by the Texas Education Code and is the first step before calling an election to bring portions of the College’s service area into the College’s district, Russell said.
TC’s service area in Cass County was designated by the state of Texas and includes Atlanta, Bloomberg, Linden-Kildare, McLeod and Queen City.
The College already provides services such as dual credit courses to these areas, but residents currently pay out-of-district tuition and fees for all courses.
By joining TC’s district, Russell explained, property owners would pay a small tax (an estimated $60 to $80 per year for the average household) to generate revenue that would help open a new Cass County workforce training site in the Atlanta area.
Joining the district would also make residents of TC’s service area in Cass County eligible for in-district tuition, a savings of an estimated $795 per student, per semester, and give Cass County residents an opportunity to vote in TC Board of Trustee elections.
“These parts of Cass County have been part of our service area since our beginning—nearly 90 years ago,” Russell said.
“We hear about a success story from a former student from Cass County almost every day.
“There is an identified need for a customized workforce training site in Cass County that offers certification programs that take two years or less to complete,” Russell said. “The entire service area would benefit from training that helps residents secure higher paying jobs that boost the economy.”
Also at that meeting, the board announced that TC will host a public hearing on July 21 at 6 p.m. at Atlanta Middle School to answer any questions the public may have concerning the process of joining TC’s district.