STEEL FRAMEWORK AT THE NEW Fairfield intermediate school goes up at the construction site on N. Fairway. Also underway is an addition to the Fairfield high school campus. The FHS addition is scheduled to open in time for fall classes and the intermediate school, housing grades 3-5, will open for the the 2010-2011 term. Voters approved a $22 million bond issue last year for the projects. Fairfield Independent School District trustees last week allocated $3.28 million in federal funds for the 2009-10 school year and prior to the start of budget work.

The board holds its first budget workshop at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Federal funds go to teacher and principal training, technology, the safe and drug-free school program, instructional programs, counseling, and career and technology education.

Two blocks of funds come from federal stimulus money and are ear- marked for Bi-County Coop use, for which FISD serves as fiscal agent.

Stimulus funds total about $1.5 million for instruction, instructional administration, and guidance and counseling services.

Two bids were received for providing grocery services to Fairfield schools, from Sysco and George Williams Company. Both companies provided cafeteria groceries last year.

Fairfield junior high school girls' coaching stipends were changed from $500 for the department head, to $150 each to the head coaches of volleyball, basketball, track and cross country.

A total of 11 students were recognized by the school board for success in the Freestone County Fair livestock show and in Texas High School Rodeo Association competition.

Livestock show participants recognized were: Chelsea Lopez, grand champion breeding swine and grand champion breeding swine; Blake Davis, breeding swine senior showman; Daniel Wood, breeding beef champion heifer; Dustin Duncan, reserve champion American heifer; Jaelan Gilbreath, grand champion market goat; Cory Black, market goat senior showman; Riley Jo Davidson, grand champion market steer; Kayse Kirgan, reserve champion market swine; and Mika Farmer, reserve champion market rabbits.

Fairfield junior student Cooper Vandiver was recognized for winning the allaround cowboy title at the THSRA finals last month and qualifying for the National High School Rodeo Association finals in Farmington, N.M.