(CAMERON)  One of two workshops planned for this week by the Cameron School Board was held Monday.  The board met in the O. J. Thomas Band Hall to present information and gain input from the public on the proposed $15 million bond issue to construct a new high school complex.  A slide presentation on the current high school facility was presented to around 20 people who attended.  A second workshop is planned for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Simon George Hall.  During Monday’s workshop, members of the black community questioned whether or not the board would consider putting the O. J. Thomas name on the Cameron Jr. High School.  Board President Gene Vaculin said there is a proposal to construct a Memorial Wall in front of the new High School building which would contain plaques with histories of the educators in Cameron of whom buildings are named after.  They would include Mr. And Mrs. Yoe, O. J. Thomas, Ada Henderson and Ben Milam. 

Also during Monday’s meeting, concern was expressed about the lack of minority teachers and administrators within the district.  Board member Curtis Hoyle, who recently attended a seminar on hiring minorities, reported that only 5 percent of the state’s teachers are black.  Vaculin said Cameron ISD has several minority teachers in the elementary level, but very few in the High School.