E-EDITION HIGHLIGHTS

Here is a recap of what was featured in the Wednesday, Nov. 15 e-edition of the Taylor Press. The e-edition is emailed to subscribers and available at www.taylorpress.net.

TAYLOR ISD HOLDS DUAL GROUNDBREAKING EVENTS Construction for stage two of Taylor Independent School District’s 2022 bond is officially underway.

The district hosted two ceremonial groundbreaking events Tuesday, Nov. 14 to celebrate the start of the two extensive projects.

One of the projects involves building a new gymnasium as well as some more additional buildings at Main Street Elementary School. The other project relates to expanding the Career and Technical Education space at Taylor High School with a new building.

The two projects of the 2022 bond’s second stage are expected to cost $37.5 million. Both THS and MSE will receive safety improvements as well.

GARCIA-EDWARDSEN HIRED AS SUPERINTENDENT Taylor Independent School District trustees unanimously approved to hire Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen as the district’s next leader Monday, Nov. 13 at the special board meeting. The mandatory 21-day waiting period is finished and Taylor ISD’s hire is official.

“Thank you all so much,” Garcia-Edwardsen said at the meeting. “I got here Friday, and since Friday we have been inundated with a warm welcome. So much kindness and love from this community. We are off to do great things.”

She is leaving New Braunfels Independent School District, where she served as chief of schools.

Prior to her previous role, she served as a deputy academic officer at Hays Consolidated Independent School District, where she directed curriculum, instructional objectives and campus alignment, a press release said.

She has also served as principal and an assistant principal for Del Valle Independent School District.

Garcia-Edwardsen received the Austin Under 40 Award for Youth and Education in 2020 and has several distinctions in the H-E-B Excellence in Education category, a press release said.

Garcia-Edwardsen received a doctorate in school improvement from Texas State University.

When she was named the lone finalist for Taylor ISD superintendent, Garcia-Edwardsen told the Taylor Press that she plans to begin her role by listening and learning the district’s structure.

NAVY CASUALTY REMEMBERED 82 YEARS LATER

Leonard Kaderka is doing what he can to make sure a piece of history is not forgotten.

The former Navy serviceman brought a wooden box that memorializes a soldier that died in World War II to the Veterans Day breakfast at American Legion Graham D. Luhn Post 39 Saturday, Nov. 11.

The fallen soldier is Sidney Pierce, who died Dec. 7, 1941 in the Pearl Harbor attack. Pierce was a third-class radioman for the Navy and a graduate of Taylor High School.

Inside of the box contained the soldier’s flag, a Navy background and newspaper clippings.

Pierce was Taylor’s first casualty of the war. The flag that now rests in the wooden box honoring Pierce was flown on a pole mounted to the U.S.S. Arizona battleship May 25, 2009.

Kaderka built the wooden frame himself.

Kaderka said he was recommended to Pierce’s relatives as someone who could frame the flag about a year after. He built the frame in about a day.

Kaderka said he was recommended to Pierce’s relatives as someone who could frame the flag about a year after. He built the frame in about a day.

Since then, he said the item has belonged in what used to be the Veterans of Foreign Wars building, the Duck Hall of Fame at the old high school and was briefly in the Moody Museum.