The Pineland Service Club held it’s May meeting on Thursday the 12th. After opening prayer, a nice meal was enjoyed, followed by accepting minutes from prior meeting, and the financial report was read.

The 6 Tigers That Make a Difference banquet is scheduled for May 17th in Lufkin.

Dr. Gilder took the floor and spoke on the remaining topics.

Economic Development Team: 1. Construction is underway on the Family Dollar/Dollar Tree on Hwy 96 across from Brookeshire Brothers Express with anticipating a July opening. 2. Progress is being made for Truck Stop on Hwy 96 at FM1. 3. The giant Bass Fish are being placed in Sabine County (one at the Sabine County Courthouse and another at 6-Mile). The Bass Fish slated for the Pineland area will be coming in next shipment and they are working on determining where exactly these will be displayed for the community.

Pineland Early Learning Center: The Board met to discuss future goals such as renovation of the building, raises for the staff to compete and retain employees, early learning program accreditation/NAEYC, program visit to Katherine Sage Temple Day Care, grant partnership with KST Day Care and NAEYC, walkthroughs with TLL Temple Foundation, safety checks, and leadership staff change.

West Sabine ISD: Softball…team advancing to Regional Quarterfinals, Coach of the Year to Crystal Muncrief, District Champs. Baseball…District Champs, Coach of the Year to Timothy Forse. New career pathways in Culinary Arts, Nursing Science, Applied Agricultural Engineering, and Animal Science. SESI Specialized School is approved and set to be moved into WSISD. This is a first in the state program to work with students who have these special needs.

Keeler Fund: The Pineland Service Club Request for Proposals has gone out and are currently accepting letters of intent for funds. As dates come from the foundation, the Funds Allocation Committee will be alerted to assemble for review and dissemination.

Temple Foundation: The Foundation has worked diligently in attaining partnerships to help sustain and build a much stronger East Texas. One partnership is with Communities Unlimited, who is unwinding generations of inequity and disinvestment. The Foundation has also partnered with BOM Bank and are working on a plan to partner for the best of East Texas. President and CEO Ken Hale is very excited about being in East Texas. The Foundation also partnered with Partners for Rural Impact who leverages $40 M + annually to provide funding for high quality programs and services in an effort to build cradle to career initiatives (Economic Development), and Community Accountability from a region to building a vision to build literacy and numeracy, and to assist individuals in attaining a career, training, certificates, etc.

Broadband: The Broadband/Fiber Internet Process in in its beginning phases and is reported that it should take about a year or more to compete this task. More info will be shared as it becomes available.

Parent Family Engagement: WSISD is providing ways to facilitate the needs of Homeless and Foster Students and has partnered with the State to manage that process. Many local entities will be utilized in assisting with this endeavor. These will include: Burke, Family Crisis Center, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, Jasper-Newton County Public Health District, Southeast Texas Food Bank, Sabine County Hospital etc.