SMITHVILLE I.S.D.
BOARD BRIEFS
OCTOBER 21, 2002

The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, October 21, 2002 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

 A.  Board Recognitions

 1.      Employees of the Month for October – This agenda item was postponed pending arrival of the recipients.

 2.      Recognition of Outstanding Students for the First Six-Weeks - The Board recognized the outstanding students for the first six weeks from the junior high and high school campuses.  Representing the junior high was Kristen Fleming, eighth grade daughter of Jeff and Cathy Fleming.  Freshman Joseph Hancock, son of Jeff and Cynthia Hancock, and senior Marsha Stark, daughter of Ronna Hughes, were chosen from the high school.

 B.  Public Communications

 3.      Communications from the Public – The Board heard from Nolan Muna, a student at the high school, regarding an incident that he was involved in on October 18.

 C.  Consent Agenda

 Consent Agenda - Mike Morgan motioned to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.  The Consent Agenda consisted of the following:

 4.      Minutes of the September 16, 2002 regular board meeting and the September 30, 2002 special board meeting

5.       Disbursements for the month of September 2002

6.       Financial Statements for September 2002

7.       Investment Report

8.       Tax Collection Report

 D.  Information Items

 9.      Construction Status Report – Steve Rogers, of Best Construction, was present at the meeting to advise the Board regarding the progress of construction on the new high school.

 At this time, the Board returned to agenda item #1, the Employees of the Month for October.  Donald Poe, science teacher at the junior high, and Lucy Malina, attendance clerk, also from the junior high, were present at the board meeting to receive recognition from the Board for their accomplishment.

 10.  Superintendent’s Report – Mr. Sage briefed the Board on current happenings within the district.  He also presented the principals from High School and Brown Primary with certificates from the Commissioner of Education at T.E.A. recognizing their exemplary ratings.

 11.  Nurse’s Report for all campuses - Included in the board packet was a monthly report of cases seen through the nurse’s office at all campuses for the month of September.

 12.  TASB Delegate Report - The Texas Association of School Boards Annual Convention was held September 27-29, 2002 in Dallas.  Board member Peggy Walicek served as our voting delegate to the TASB Delegate Assembly.  Ms. Walicek gave a short report to the Board on the assembly.

 13.  Secondary Campuses Student Council Report - A current board goal has been to “Improve the emphasis and involvement of student councils at the secondary campuses.”  This board goal includes an annual board report on the membership and planned activities of the secondary student councils.  Leona Jones, student council sponsor at the high school, and Jimmy Trousdale, junior high principal, gave the Board a report on their student council activities.

 14.  Tentative November Agenda Items – The tentative agenda items for the regular November board meeting are:

a.  A.E.I.S. Report and Public Hearing

b.  Textbook Selection Committee

c.  Change board meeting dates due to holidays

d.  Superintendent’s Report

e.  Employee of the Month

f.  Nurse’s Report

g.  Construction Status Report

h.  Financial Audit for the 2001-2002 Fiscal Year

 E.  Action Items

 15.  Reconsider Substantial Completion of Junior High Field House – The Board toured the new Junior High Field House on September 30, 2002.  Since that time, Best Construction has continued with the punch list item completion and have indicated they are ready for the district to re-consider substantial completion.  After discussion between the Board and Steve Rogers (Best Construction), Linda Rooks motioned to declare the new Junior High Field House substantially complete.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-1 with Mike Wittrock opposing.

 16.  Review and approval of District and Campus Performance Objectives and Improvement Plans - Board Policy BQ [Legal] requires the Board to annually approve district and campus improvement performance objectives and ensure that the district and campus improvement plans are mutually supportive to accomplish identified objectives and at a minimum, support the state goals and objectives.  Peggy Walicek made a motion to approve the district and campus performance objectives for 2002-2003 and to approve the district and campus improvement plans as presented.  Mike Wittrock seconded, and the vote passed 7-0.

 17.  Approval of Local District Update #24-02 – This past summer, the district responded to a “starting points” document regarding updates to employment policies currently adopted by the Board.  The update being presented reflects the district responses to starting points.  Mr. Sage briefed the Board on the proposed changes to current policies.  Craig Williams motioned to approve Local District Update #24-02 as presented.   Linda Rooks seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 18.  Tax Resale Deeds – The district’s delinquent tax attorney has provided the district with two deeds of property that had been struck off to the district.   One property was sold to the adjoining landowner, and the previous owner redeemed the other.  All delinquent taxes have been paid on both properties.  A motion was made by Craig Williams to grant approval of the deeds provided in consideration for the taxes collected.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 19.  Engagement Letter-State Compensatory and Dropout Agreed Procedures – The Texas Education Agency has implemented new guide lines that require all school districts to have performed by an independent audit firm a review of how State Compensatory funds are spent and to verify the drop out rate reported in PEIMS.  Mike Wittrock motion to approve engagement of our audit firm, Gindler, Chappell, Morrison & Co., P.C. to perform the required agreed procedures review of State Compensatory funds and Dropouts reported in PEIMS.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the vote passed 6-1 with Craig Williams opposing.

 20.  Resignations of Certified Personnel – There were no resignations to report.

 21.  Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 8:29 p.m.