The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday, January 22, 2002 beginning at 6:00 P.M. Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

A. Texas Comptroller’s Follow-Up Report

1. Texas Comptroller’s Follow-Up Report – Betty Ressell, representative for the Comptroller’s office, had not arrived at the board meeting at this time. The Board tabled this agenda item to await her arrival.

B. Recognitions

2. Employees of the Month for January - The two employees selected as employees of the month for January are Janet Russo, teacher at the High School, and Jennifer Vinklarek, principal’s secretary at the Elementary. They were present at the board meeting to receive recognition.

3. Outstanding Students for the Third Six Weeks – The Board recognized the outstanding students for the third six weeks from the Junior High and High School campuses. Representing the Junior High was Brooke Paxton, eighth grade daughter of Tommy and Joy Paxton. Two freshmen were selected as outstanding students from the High School. Justin Goertz, son of Michael and Kathy Goertz, and Heather Call, daughter of Sandy and David Call.

4. Recognition of School Board Members – January is School Board Recognition Month, with the goal of building awareness of the vital role an elected board of education plays in our society. Smithville ISD recognizes the important contribution trustees make to our schools and community. The Superintendent presented Board members with a certificate of recognition and appreciation for their service to the students and staff of the Smithville Independent School District.

C. Communications from the Public

5. Communications from the Public – The Board heard from three members of the community during public communications. Walter Winslett spoke encouraging the Board to add soccer to the athletics program. Brenda Abbott addressed the Board regarding her daughter’s placement in A.E.P., requesting that the Board commute her placement to time served, and expunge the offense from her record. Graham Baker spoke in support of Ashley Greer and voiced his concerns regarding placement of students in A.E.P.

D. Consent Agenda

Consent Agenda - Peggy Walicek motioned to approve Items 6 through 13 as listed on the Consent Agenda. Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 7-0. The Consent Agenda consisted of the following:

6. Minutes of the December 17, 2001 regular board meeting
7. Disbursements for the month of December 2001
8. Financial Statements for December 2001
9. Investment Report
10. Tax Collection Report
11. Bond Payments
12. Budget Amendment
13. Education Service Center Inter-Regional Cooperative U.S.D.A. Commodity Processing Interagency Agreement Resolution

E. Reports and Information Items

14. District and Campus Improvement Plan Implementation Status Reports – The Superintendent has designed a format for a mid-year status report, which allows the Board to monitor the implementation of the District and Campus Improvement Plans. District and campus staffs have prepared implementation status reports for the district improvement plan and for each campus improvement plan. These plans were included in the board packet and presented to the Board for review.

15. New High School Construction Report – The Superintendent is preparing monthly new high school construction reports in order to keep the Board and the community informed about our progress. The Superintendent provided the Board with this month’s report.

16. Tentative February Agenda Items – The tentative agenda items for the February meeting are:

a. Call for election of board members
b. Report on Board member continuing education credit hours
c. Administrative contract reviews/extensions

F. Action Items

17. Consideration of the addition of soccer to the athletic program – At the December 17^th, 2001 board meeting, two parents made a request of the school board to add soccer to the athletic program at the high school. In early January the Superintendent directed the athletic director to conduct a feasibility study to determine the student interest and the cost of adding soccer to our athletic program. The Superintendent brought this information to the Board. After reviewing and discussing the information, Peggy Walicek made a motion to add soccer to the athletic program for the 2002-2003 school year. Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion passed 7-0.

18. Consider Approving a Change in the Test Exemption Policy – Board Policy EIAA [Local] permits final exam exemptions based upon criteria established by secondary campuses. The policy calls for the board to annually review and approve campus exemption plans. The policy requires all students to take final exams in math and English classes. In accordance with our policy, the Board reviewed and approved proposed final exam exemption plans from both the Junior High and High School in August of 2001. The Junior High faculty and campus site-based planning team have been reviewing the plan and they would like to make some changes in it for the spring semester. The proposed plan would require that all students take semester exams in English, math, science and history with no exemptions. There will be no semester exams in other subjects. Howard Burns made a motion to approve the Junior High School final exam exemption plan for the spring semester as presented. Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

19. Consider purchasing school buses for next school year – In order to provide adequate vehicles for transportation services for the 2002-2003 school year, the Superintendent is recommending the purchase of two new buses, one 71 passenger and one 25 passenger with air conditioning. Mike Wittrock motioned to approve the purchase of two new buses to be used for student transportation services for next school year. Linda Rooks seconded and the vote carried 7-0.

Executive session – The Board entered into executive session at 8:21 p.m., and returned at 10:55 p.m. with a motion by Mike Wittrock to extend executive session beyond 11:00 p.m. There was a second by Peggy Walicek, and the motion passed 7-0. The Board then returned to executive session. The Board ended its executive session at 11:32 p.m. with no action taken.

20a.Superintendent’s Evaluation – Howard Burns entered a motion to approve the Superintendent’s formal evaluation results delivered to the Superintendent in closed session as required by law. Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

20b.Superintendent’s Contract – There was no action taken on this item.

21. Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 11:34 p.m.

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