SMITHVILLE I.S.D.
BOARD BRIEFS

JULY 15, 2002

The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, July 15, 2002 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

 A.  Public Communications

 1.      Communications from the Public – There were no public communications.

 B.   Consent Agenda

 Consent Agenda – Mike Wittrock motioned to approve items 2 through 7 on   the Consent Agenda as presented.  Mike Davis seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.  The Consent Agenda consisted of the following:

 2.       Minutes of the June 17, 2002 regular board meeting, and the July 8, 2002 special board meeting
3.      Disbursements for the month of June 2002
4.      Financial Statements for June 2002
5.      Investment Report
6.      Tax Collection Report
7.      Bond Payments

 8.       Construction Status Report - The Superintendent has been preparing monthly construction status reports in order to keep the Board and the community informed about construction progress.  This report was included in the board packet.    Sam Best, construction manager, was present at the meeting to answer questions from the Board.

 9.       Technology Status Report – In order to keep the Board, as well as the public, informed about the status of technology in our District, an annual report is prepared by John Harkrider, network administrator, along with the district technology committee and district technology staff.  This report also serves as a public document that is used to complete technology program evaluations required for technology grants received by the District.   This annual report was included in the board packet, and Mr. Harkrider was present at the meeting to brief the Board on its contents.

 10.  Superintendent’s Report – Mr. Sage advised the Board of requests for endorsement of nominees for the TASB Board that he had received from candidates.   He also updated them on the status of the asbestos abatement at Central Office.

 11.  Review proposed draft #2 of the 2002-2003 budget - Sharon Eaves, Director of Business, presented the Board with the second draft of the budget for next school year.

12.  Tentative August Agenda Items – Tentative items to be included on the next regular board agenda are:

      a.        Public Hearing on Proposed Budget
b.      Adoption of 2002-2003 District Budget
c.        School Bus Status Report
d.      TAAS End-of-Course Summer TAAS Testing Report
e.        Review of District Crisis Management Plan
f.         Construction Status Report
g.        Deleted Equipment Bids

 A motion was made by Peggy Walicek to table agenda item #13 and move to item #16.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 16. Consider revision of Board Policy EIA [Local] regarding unexcused absences – In order to improve student attendance and ultimately student performance, the Superintendent, along with the administrative staff, recommended the revision of Board Policy EIA [Local], which currently makes no distinction between excused and unexcused absences.  This lack of distinction allows no grade penalty for make-up work after an unexcused absence.  The Superintendent recommended that the policy be changed to read “make-up work following an unexcused absence will have a grade adjustment which indicates the maximum grade earned for unexcused makeup work is 70”.  Mike Wittrock motioned to revise policy placing grade penalties on unexcused absence make-up work.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

        The Board then returned to agenda item #13.

 13.       Consideration and approval of the Student Code of Conduct for the 2002-2003 year – The handbook and code of conduct are reviewed and evaluated by administrative staff on an annual basis.  The Board was provided both documents for review.  Mike Morgan moved to approve the Student Handbook and Student Code of Conduct as amended.  Peggy Walicek seconded the motion, and the vote passed 6-0.

 14. County Proposal to Consolidate Tax Collections – The District has been contacted by the county to consider consolidation of tax collections.  It is the understanding of the District that Bastrop ISD and the City of Elgin have decided to allow the county to collect their taxes, which will greatly increase the cost of collection for Smithville ISD if we decide to remain with the Bastrop Central Appraisal District.  After lengthy discussion of options by the Board, Mike Morgan made two motions. The first motion was that the District prepare a resolution pursuant to Section 6.22 Paragraph C of the Tax Code to appoint the Bastrop County Tax Assessor Collector to collect taxes on behalf of Smithville Independent School District beginning on October 1, 2002.  Peggy Walicek seconded the motion and it passed 6-0.  The second motion was that the District enter into an agreement with McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen as our tax attorney with the fee being collection of the standard 15% attorney fee portion of delinquent taxes collected.  Again, Ms. Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 15. Adoption of Teacher Appraisal Calendar and Appraisers – The Board must approve the district appraisal calendar and the list of administrators trained to evaluate teachers.  Teachers must be evaluated annually by trained and board approved appraisers.  For the 2002-2003 school year, the District plans to continue to use the state-adopted appraisal system, the Professional Development and Appraisal System (PDAS).   Mike Wittrock motioned to approve the list of PDAS appraisers, and the 2002-2003 Appraisal Calendar.  With a second by Mike Morgan, the motion carried 6-0.   The list of appraisers are as follows:

            Gary Sage, Superintendent
            Deborah Mayer, Curriculum Director
            Kevin Shipley, High School Principal
            Jimmy Trousdale, Junior High Principal
            Sheri Lehnick, Elementary Principal.
            Karen Scherrer, Brown Primary Principal
            , High School Assistant Principal
            Cheryl Burns, Junior High Assistant Principal
            , Elementary Assistant Principal
            Nina Brinker, Brown Primary Assistant Principal
            Micky Virdell, Director of Special Programs

 17. Call for a Public Hearing on the 2002-2003 Budget – State Truth in Taxation laws require the school district to publish a public notice of public hearing to discuss the proposed budget and proposed tax rate for the new fiscal year.  Legally, the budget must be developed on or before August 20, 2002 and adopted by August 31, 2002.  Peggy Walicek made a motion to call a public hearing on the proposed 2002-2003 district budget and tax rate for Monday, August 19, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.   Mike Davis seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 18a.   Resignations of certified personnel – There were no new resignations to report.

 18b.   Employment of certified personnel – The Superintendent recommended employment of the following personnel:

               Penny Raney – teacher at the High School
      Tawny Ross – teacher at the High School
      Scott Stalder-Skarmoutsos – teacher at the High School

         Craig Williams motioned to employ the above personnel for the 2002-2003 school year.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 18c.   Employment of High School Assistant Principal – The Superintendent recommended employment of Ana Murray as the assistant principal at the High School.  Mike Wittrock motioned to employ Ana Murray as High School Assistant Principal on a one-year probationary contract.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the vote passed 6-0.

 19.       Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 9:06 p.m.