For most people reading this, the day is winding down. For the reporter writing this, it’s only just beginning.

I’m live at DISD headquarters where Interim Superintendent Alan King just presented Budget Version 6.1.

King said he is 90 percent sure this is the budget the district will end up with when the State Legislature ends the special session. He is recommending the board approve this budget tonight, and it’s Item No. 17 on the agenda.

Stay tuned for more updates.

UPDATE 5:34 PM

Before the meeting was even officially called to order, two cell phones went off, someone shouted out “For all!” after the “With liberty and justice for all,” portion of the pledge of allegiance, and board president Lew Blackburn quoted the Bible.

UPDATE 5:57 PM
The public forum has begun. Six cell phones have gone off, and one person is audibly snoring.

UPDATE 6:04 PM
“Most of the high school students I know don’t know how to read.”

Sunset High School student Xochiti Deleon said during the public forum.

UPDATE 6:43 PM
The public forum has been going on for almost an hour with only speaker addressing the budget issue. More popular topics include classroom discipline, and the naming of various auditoriums, libraries, and plazas.

UPDATE 7:19 PM
The librarians are here in force. Seven speakers so far have voiced their displeasure with the cuts in the libraries that would take away 42 positions.

UPDATE 7:32 PM
After 11 speakers including current and former librarians, graduates, parents, and volunteers, the Dallas League of Librarians has conceivably rested its case. There are five speakers remaining on the public forum schedule.

UPDATE 7:42 PM
Just kidding. John Kalan, a father of two PH Elementary students, just went to bat for libraries, making it an even dozen speakers. So far…

UPDATE 7:53 PM
The public forum for agenda items has ended. Now speakers on non-agenda items will begin. There are eight names listed.

UPDATE 8:12 PM
After listening to three hours of public speakers, the board is taking a ten-minute recess. It will return to tackle the consent agenda consisting of 84 items as well as the 22 items pulled for a separate vote. The budget is item 17.

In other news, I’m starving.

UPDATE 8:30 PM
The board is back in session

UPDATE 8:46 PM
The board unanimously approved the consent agenda. Meanwhile, my phone battery is running low so updates won’t be as frequent.

UPDATE 9:20 PM
Board members approved an amendment to the district’s sick leave policy proposed by Nancy Bingham to include days for adopted children and personal reasons.

When Blackburn questioned how the days would be designated, Bingham responded thusly:
“I don’t care what it’s called–you can call it ‘mental health day,’” she said to cheers from the remaining library contingent.

UPDATE 9:55 PM
An amendment proposed by Mike Morath will allow principals to refuse teacher placements. Those teachers who are slated to be moved to another school will have to be approved by the principal. Unaccepted teachers will be placed in a “reassignment pool” that will be used for substitute teachers. Morath insists this is not a rubber room.

UPDATE 10:12 PM
After Mike Morath made a case that many private schools sell naming rights rather than award them, a motion to name a band room in honor of someone failed. Morath is hoping to start a trend to raise revenue.

“We have assets that we can give away, or we have assets we can sell,” Morath said. “I’m not up here to be lousy with tax payer funds.”

UPDATE 11:37 PM
The board approved Budget Version 6.1 with an amendment to revise the budget in August to restore library staff levels.

Goodnight.

Sara Donaldson Photographs

Mr. & Mrs. Darrell David Hurmis of Dallas are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Holly Lauren Hurmis, to Gaylon Chace Langford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gaylon Langford of Lufkin, Texas.

The bride is a graduate of Lake Highlands High School and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing from Texas Christian University. She works for Encircle Marketing in Dallas.

The groom is a graduate of Lufkin High School and received a Bachelor of Science in economics from Texas Christian University. He works for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Southlake.

The couple will exchange vows Oct. 8 at University Park United Methodist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Rhett Anderson Miller III of Dallas are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Anne Rich Miller, to Michael Steven Morris, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Raymond Morris of Tulsa, Okla.

The bride is a graduate of the Hockaday School and received a Bachelor of Science from Vanderbilt University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Southern Methodist University.

The groom is a graduate of Memorial High School in Tulsa, Okla. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. He is an assistant vice president at Southwest Securities F.S.B.

The couple will marry in July at University Park United Methodist Church.

By day, Gail Waxman runs Bubble Catering Company. By night, she opens her Preston Hollow home to customers and shares her cooking secrets. Gail teaches a one-night class from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and leads 12 students through four courses of Italian cuisine. Upon arrival, each guest is greeted with a glass of wine or beer. Gail then instructs the class on how to make the perfect pizza. The students prepare the dough from scratch, mix the sauce, cut the toppings, and cook the dish in the wood-burning pizza oven. Each participant’s pizza is unique to his or her style and taste. The night concludes with desert such as peanut butter chocolate pizza.

Upcoming classes are scheduled for tonight and June 29. For more information, email Gail at gail@bubblego.com.

Hi there friends, his name is Nash, and he’s a fun-loving, playful, 5-year-old Greyhound mix. He has been at the SPCA of Texas since April 23 waiting for his new home. Nash is an active boy who loves toys, and of course with his long legs, running is one of his favorite activities. He is very smart and already crate-trained and house-trained. Sometimes when Nash is by himself for long periods of time, he tends to get bored and think up his own games, so he would really benefit from positive crate training and lots of toys to keep him occupied. He gets along great with other dogs, so if you have a playmate at home, be sure to bring him or her down to the shelter to meet Nash! He would be a great walking or jogging buddy, and he is ready and waiting to jog on out of here and into your home. I hope you come visit Nash soon! He’s also a V.I.P. (Very Important Pet) because he’s been waiting for his new, loving family for more than 30 days, and he has a special adoption price of $50!

Hi, this is Cookie, and she’s a very friendly 3-year-old girl. She is a 10-pound, black and white Domestic Short Hair mix with a long black tail and pretty green eyes. Her beautiful fur coat is so soft, you’ll want to pet her for hours. And that is fine by Cookie because she loves attention! She has been at the SPCA since April 28 when her owners moved and they brought her here with her best friend, Caige. They have lived together their whole lives, are extremely bonded, and would really love to be adopted together. Cookie and Caige get along together great and are often seen snuggling together in their kitty bed. If you have room in your heart and home for a pair of gorgeous, lovable kitties, they are just the pair for you! Cookie is very sweet, playful, and loves to jump on your lap. Caige and Cookie would love for you to see them!

Nash and Cookie are waiting for you at the The SPCA of Texas’ Dealey Animal Care Center in Dallas at 362 S. Riverfront Blvd. (S. Industrial Blvd.) near downtown Dallas. Call 214-742-SPCA (7722) or visit www.spca.org.

A reader emailed me to ask when and where the Preston Hollow Fourth of July parade starts. The only one I’ve received details about is the one that starts at 10 a.m. at Kramer Elementary School. It’s being hosted by the Hillcrest Forest Neighborhood Association and the Kramer PTA. Anyone know of any others?

If you’re a fan of the movie Groundhog Day, then the scenes playing out week after week in the board room at DISD headquarters must be a blast. For the rest of us, it’s getting a little tiresome. But if you’ve got the stamina, join me and a room full of district employees for what maybe, just maybe, could be the final cut of the budget saga. Those wishing to speak need to register by 5 p.m. today with the Office of Board Services 972- 925-3720

DISD BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING

WHEN: 5 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: 3700 Ross Avenue

Free this afternoon? Local historian Jane Guzman is coming to the Preston Royal Branch Library for “Hollywood Beauty,” a star-studded talk about Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rita Hayworth.

“We’ve got us a blonde, a brunette, and a redhead,” quipped librarian Vaughn Burkholder.  “And at the end, we may even do a poll: Who was the fairest of them all?”

Guess that’s your call. The program starts at 2 p.m.

While Dough Pizzeria is still being a tease, two other businesses have signed, sealed, and delivered on their leases at Preston Road and Forest Lane. Run On Dallas and Dr. Tattoff are the latest additions to the intersection. I say make it a double-header shopping experience and get a new pair of kicks and a clean bicep/lower back/ankle in one fell swoop.