Resource Team Interviews:

• Agriculture
• City & County Government
• Youth
• Senior Citizens
• Civic Clubs
• Business & Retail
• Education
• Banking & Finance
• Health Care
• Utilities

This information was furnished by the De Leon Information Center. Stop by there at 100 S Texas to pick up a copy.

WHAT WAS SAID AT THE INTERVIEWS

The seven (7)-member Resource Team spent two days interviewing the local residents to hear what they had to say. Those being interviewed were directed to answer four questions:

• What are the major problems/challenges in the community?
• What are the major strengths/assets of the community?
• What projects would you like to see implemented in the short term (12 months or less)?
• What projects would you like to see implemented in the long term (the next two or three years)?

We have listed below, without comment, what we heard from those who volunteered to be interviewed.

EDUCATION

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS/CHALLENGES IN THE COMMUNITY?

• Ag economy depressed - two years of poor crops - other aspects of town, including schools dependent on ag economy
• Facility upgrades - concern that tax dollars will not be available to school system
• Peanut program leaving county - future looks depressing because of this loss
• Lack of industry in area
• Lack of employment in area
• School facilities require financing from peanut industry
• School population not grown in De Leon
• Overall tax base in school district - changed taxing base date to different time last year which reduced tax revenue to school - had enough evaluation growth to take care of some
• of this but difficult every year
• Cash crop alternatives slim
• Involvement with parents in school is lacking
• Lack of computer labs reduces skills training available to students
• Economy is major concern
• Need more facilities
• Need more parental involvement
• Better financial plan for school needed
• More parental involvement
• Drug involvement in schools
• Poor living conditions in children's homes (lack of parental support) (neglect from parents)
• Lack of opportunities for graduates to return to town for employment
• No skilled labor force
• Limited blue collar jobs available
• Economy poor in community
• Parental involvement needed
• Gang involvement by students, both high school and middle school
• Streets need improvement
• Depressed economy
• Lack of vocational courses
• Need for employment to keep young people in community
• Need for future for younger generation (employment in area)
• Need more parental involvement
• Broken home situations (30-45% of class)
• Grandparents rearing about 20% of class
• Need opportunities for younger generation
• Need more vocational education
• Need to start vocational classes in middle school
• Need more after-school programs for children who have no supervision at home
• Need recreational center for community
• Parental training in dealing with single-parent situations

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR STRENGTHS/ASSETS OF THE COMMUNITY?

• Spirit of community (Bonding)
• Strong, Fire Department
• Community Spirit
• People involved in community and church activities
• Sports activities for children
• Small town advantages
• Few problems such as large schools have
• P & M Festival
• People
• Attitudes (Survival)
• Social organizations to put things back into community
• P&M Festival
• Good community involvement among people
• Beautiful place
• Small town atmosphere
• Family oriented
• Small crime rate
• Hospital
• Schools
• Rated on TAAS tests - students scored 100% in writing and reading and 97% in math
• Business of knowing each other well
• Closeness of community
• Relatives (everyone related) - closeness of community
• Water supply
• Access to rail
• Retailers that support school and organizations
• School and Hospital Facilities
• Volunteer force
• Family atmosphere
• Hospital
• Good parents that support after-school activities
• Friendly spirit
• School system
• Hospital facilities
• Fire Department

WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE SHORT TERM (12 MONTHS OR LESS)?

• Set goals and work toward them
• Education to parents regarding responsibilities to children
• Emphasis on family
• Beautification
• Street repair
• More basketball areas for outside use
• After-school programs
• Beautification - Make a Difference Day/Earth Day Projects
• Youth program for high school students
• Facilities for youth activities for summer
• More renovation of buildings in town
• Youth activities for middle-school students
• Youth programs - various activities
• Youth involvement
• Invite industry to survey area hoping they will come to area
• Social skills need to be approached before they will achieve academically
• Youth activities needed to keep them busy
• Need additional gymnasium space
• More funds needed for expansion of school system
• More diversification of school courses available
• Need to implement arts in school

WHAT PROJECTS WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN THE LONG TERM (THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS)?

• Manufacturing and industry invited in to replace loss of peanut industry
• More employment in community
• More industry in area
• More job opportunities
• Getting business, industry, involved in school activities beginning in middle school
• More funding for school
• More parental involvement
• Observe and Innovate history
• Preserve depot
• Tap into aging population (Planned Community Development - Assisted Living)
• Public transportation available to citizens
• Major clean-up
• Use youth to beautify area
• Training provided by local businesses to youth
• Masonic Lodge working on Adult Literacy Class
• Provide jobs for youth to return to community for employment
• Leadership and organization to volunteers for community involvement
• Education to farmers toward diversification
• Apartments and/or other rental properties

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