MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE SMITHVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2003, AT 6:00 P.M. AT THE SMITHVILLE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE, 901 N.E. SIXTH STREET, SMITHVILLE, TEXAS.

 

 

PRESENT: Howard Burns, Craig Williams, Peggy Walicek, Mike Morgan, Kamron Saunders, Mike Wittrock

 

ABSENT: Mike Davis

 

ALSO PRESENT: John Hancock, Jeff Hancock, Jimmy Trousdale, Dana Henning, Nina Brinker, Rebecca Rossman, Kevin Shipley, Sheri Lehnick, Karen Scherrer, Micky Virdell, Heather Wilson, Cheryl Burns, Bobby Hennesey, Ana Murray, Julie Byrom, Kelly Evans, Wayne King, Belinda Waters, Denise Behrens, Gary Sage

 

Recognition of        1.         The Board recognized those students chosen from the Junior High Outstanding Students for and High School as outstanding students.  John Hancock, eighth the First Six Weeks                     grader at the Junior High and son of Jeff and Cynthia Hancock,

was present at the meeting to receive recognition.  The High

School representatives, senior Ashley Kuehler, daughter of Annette Kuehler, and junior Justin Webster, son of Kelly Carpenter, were not present.

 

Employees of the   2.         The employees of the month for September are Dana Henning, Month for September   music teacher at the Elementary, and Belinda Waters, network

technician for the District.  Both were present at the meeting to be recognized by the Board.

 

Communications    3.         There were no public communications.

From the Public

 

Consent Agenda                Kamron Saunders motioned to approve items 4 through 9 on the

Consent Agenda as presented.  Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.  The Consent Agenda consisted of the following:

                                    4.         Minutes

                                    5.         Disbursements

                                    6.         Financial Statements

                                    7.         Investment Report

                                    8.         Tax Collection Report          

                                    9.         Approve Resolution regarding Extra-Curricular Status of

                                                4-H Organization

 

At this time, the Board moved to Agenda Item 22, Appeal of DAEP Assignment.  The Board entered executive session at 6:18 p.m. and returned at 7:42 p.m. with no official action taken.

 

Appeal of DAEP      22.       A parent of a high school student has requested an appeal,

Assignment                         based on circumstantial evidence, of a 45 school day assignment to DAEP for the student being in possession of alcohol in a drug free zone.  The deliberation of this item was conducted in closed session.  After deliberation, Mike Morgan entered a motion to deny the appeal of DAEP assignment.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

     

                                                The Board then returned to Agenda Item 10.

 

Construction                       10.       Mr. Sage updated the Board on the completion phase of

Status Report                      construction and renovations in the District, including repair of “birdbaths” at the new high school parking lot.

 

Superintendent’s   11.       The Superintendent advised the Board of correspondence he

Report                                               received from the Ministerial Alliance requesting that no school-

                                                related activities be scheduled on Wednesday evenings in order to

                                                avoid conflict with church activities.

 

Secondary               12.       A current board goal has been to “Improve the emphasis and

Campuses Student                        involvement of student councils at the secondary campuses.”  This

Council Reports                 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.

 

TASB Delegate       13.       The Texas Association of School Boards Annual Convention was

Report                                               held September 19-22, 2003 in Dallas.  Board member Mike

                                                Morgan served as our voting delegate to the TASB Delegate

                                                Assembly.  Mr. Morgan gave a short report to the Board on

                                                the assembly.

 

Tentative November          14.       The tentative agenda items for the November board meeting are:

Agenda Items                                  a.         Employee of the Month

                                                b.         Superintendent’s Report

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

                                                d.         Textbook Selection Committee

                                                e.         Change board meeting dates due to holidays

                                                f.          District’s First Ratings Report

                                                g.         Oath of Office for new board member

 

Consider Request  15.       The Superintendent has received a

for use of District                request from the Smithville Youth Football Association to allow facilities from the                  the use of school district property, land surrounding the new high Smithville Youth         school, for temporary football fields for their league practice and Football Association             play.  After considerable discussion among the Board, Mike

                                                Morgan made a motion to deny the request by the Smithville

                                                Youth Football Association to use the land at the new high school,

but to express a willingness by the Board to consider utilization of the existing Junior High practice fields.  Craig Williams seconded, and the vote passed 6-0.

 

Review and approve         16.       Board Policy BQ [Legal] requires the Board to annually approve of District and Campus                     district and campus improvement performance objectives and Performance Objectives   ensure that the district and campus improvement plans are

and Improvement Plans   mutually supportive to accomplish identified objectives and at a

                                                minimum, support the state goals and objectives.  Mike Wittrock

                                                made a motion to approve the district and campus performance

                                                objectives for 2003-2004 and to approve the district and campus

                                                improvement plans as presented.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and

                                                the vote passed 6-0.

 

Consider approval 17.       The high school has been experiencing an increase in the number of early graduation               of students who are planning on graduating before the normal 4

for Smithville High                         years, thereby raising questions regarding class rank, senior

School students                 privileges, classification, graduation year, assessment and other

                                                related issues.  After soliciting input from other area high schools,

                                                the high school administrators have put forth a plan to address

                                                three-year graduates.  Howard Burns motioned to accept the policy

                                                for early graduates as presented.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the

                                                motion carried 6-0.

 

Set Board                 18.       The special election for board trustees is Tuesday, November 4,

meeting date to                   2003.  Election law requires us to

canvass special election  canvass the results between three and six days after the election.  results                              Kamron Saunders motioned to call for a special board meeting on

                                                Friday, November 7, 2003 at 7:45 a.m.  With a second from Mike

                                                Wittrock, the motion carried 6-0.

 

Nomination for the 19.       The Bastrop County Central Appraisal District is governed by a Bastrop County Central       five-member board, which is elected by the governing bodies of Appraisal District Board            the taxing entities in Bastrop County.  Board members serve two-of Directors                            year at-large terms that begin on January 1 in even numbered

                                                years.  In order to maintain representation for Smithville on the

                                                Bastrop County Board of Directors, we must nominate a person to

                                                fill that position.  Mike Morgan has served as our representation on

                                                the BCAD Board for the last two years, and agrees to continue his

                                                service.  Peggy Walicek nominated Mike Morgan for the Bastrop

                                                County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors.  Craig

                                                Williams moved that nominations cease.  Mike Wittrock seconded

                                                that motion.  Mr. Morgan was elected by acclamation.

 

Consider approval 20.       In order to make more efficient use of staff, as well as provide a

of air conditioner filter       cost effective method of timely maintenance of HVAC filters service contract            throughout the District, Bobby Hennesey, Director of Maintenance

                                                and Operations, solicited bids for this maintenance service.  Mike

Wittrock motioned to award DeMarco Filter Systems a contract for HVAC filter maintenance for $10,140.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the vote passed 6-0.

 

Bidding for sale      21.       In order to proceed with plans to develop the old vocational

used portable buildings   building on Loop 230 into a maintenance and transportation center,

the back of the building must be cleared of all scrap material, buildings, etc. in order to provide space for parking the buses, trucks, vans, and trailers of the District.  The three portable buildings that are currently located behind the building are no longer needed by the District, so Bobby Hennesey, Director of Maintenance and Operations, is requesting permission of the Board to offer these buildings for sale.  Peggy Walicek motioned to approve the request to sell the buildings by means of sealed bid procedures.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 

Adjournment                       22.       The Board adjourned its meeting at 10:00 p.m.