School board president Marilyn Elbert discusses some minor changes on the floor plans for the 90,210 square foot elementary building with architect Steve Hulsey as board members Tyler Banister and Richard Carr wait their turn to offer suggestions for the building. A ground breaking ceremony has been scheduled for Friday, July 3 at 10 a.m. to begin the project.

SWEPCO’s Welsh Power Plant staff will be hosts for a workshop for teachers who instruct in environmental science. The workshop is set from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 14.See the June 25 edition of the Optic-Herald for more information.

J. D.  and Iris Baumgardner recently traveled to Michigan to attend the high school graduation of their granddaughter, Camma Morgan, from the Interlochen Arts Academy.

The Mount Vernon Independent School District released the preliminary results of the 2009 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills tests (TAKS) this week.