SMITHVILLE I.S.D.
The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular
session on
In honor of Board Appreciation Month, the Board was treated to cookies and punch provided by the student council and members of PALS from the high school. Various groups from all campuses presented the Board with gifts, and the Superintendent recognized each member with a certificate of appreciation from the district.
1. Outstanding Students for the Third Six-Weeks – The Board recognized outstanding students chosen from the junior high and the high school for the third six weeks. Chosen from the junior high was eighth grader Dustin Leiferman, son of Mariesa and Lance Leiferman. The high school representatives were Megan Murphy and Derek Smith. Megan is a junior, and the daughter of Mike and Tammy Murphy. Derek is also a junior, and the son of Bobbie and Robert Smith. Dustin and Derek were present at the Board meeting, but Megan was unable to attend due to her participation in a Lady Tiger basketball game.
2. Employees of the Month for December – The employees of the month for December are Kim Hemphill, librarian at the high school, and Terri Harris, accounts payable clerk for the district. Ms. Hemphill was present at the meeting to be recognized. Ms. Harris was unable to attend.
3. Public Hearing – Academic Excellence Indicator System Report – According to Texas Education Code §39.053, every school district is required to publish an annual report describing the district’s educational performance on the AEIS indicators and to hold a hearing for public discussion of the report. Mr. Sage presented the 2003-2004 AEIS Report for Smithville ISD to the public and the Board.
4. Communications from the Public – Mr. Chuck Wilson addressed the Board requesting additional support for the power-lifting program.
Consent Agenda – Mike Wittrock moved to approve items 5 through 10 as listed on the Consent Agenda. Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0. The Consent Agenda included the following:
5. Minutes of the December 13, 2004 regular board meeting
6. Disbursements for the month of December 2004
7. Financial Statements for December 2004
8. Investment Report
9. Tax Collection Report
10. Bond Payments
11. Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent updated the Board on important issues pertaining to the District including pending employment of an Athletic Director for the district.
12. District-Wide Benchmark Testing – Cheryl Burns, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, gave the Board results of the second district-wide benchmark testing, which was completed in November.
13. Campus Improvement Plan Status Report – A format has been designed for a mid-year status report, which allows the Board to monitor the implementation of the Campus Improvement Plans. Those status reports were included in the Board packet for the Board’s information.
14. TELPAS Report – The Texas Education Agency has implemented a new monitoring system of English Language Learners (ELL) in response to No Child Left Behind law. This is a test that will be administered to ELL students on an annual basis. Cheryl Burns presented a report to the Board that explains the changes to the accountability system and how it will fit into the Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, results. She also explained the components of the new system and reported to the Board how SISD ELL students performed on the 2003-2004 TELPAS.
15. Tentative February Agenda Items – Tentative agenda items for the February board meeting are:
a. Employees of the Month
b. Superintendent’s Report
c. Report on Board member continuing education hours
d. Administrative contract reviews/extensions
e. Review and approval of staffing pattern for the 2005-2006 school year
16. Late Arrival for Senior Students During TAKS Testing Days – Kevin Shipley, High School Principal, is requesting permission from the Board to allow 12th grade students to arrive late to school on TAKS testing days for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. This would allow staff members to serve as test administrators and/or hall monitors during the testing period, when they would normally be in class monitoring 12th graders, who are not required to take the test. Mike Morgan motioned to approve the request to allow 12th graders to arrive late on TAKS testing days, and to apply for a waiver from TEA to meet state requirements. Kamron Saunders seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
17. Call for Election of School Board Members, Places 1 and 2 – School Board members serve three-year staggered terms of office. Each year the Board must call an election to elect places whose three-year term is expiring. The next regular election of the Smithville ISD Board of Trustees will be held on May 7, 2005, with Places 1 and 2 up for election. Howard Burns moved to call for election of Places 1 and 2, and approve the list of Judges, Alternates, Early Voting Ballot Board, Early Voting Clerk, and polling locations. Mike Wittrock seconded the motion, and it passed 6-0.
The Board entered executive session at 8:14 p.m. and returned at 10:40 p.m. with no official action taken.
18a. Superintendent’s Evaluation – Mike Wittrock moved to approve the formative evaluation
as presented to the Superintendent in executive session, with a one-year extension to his
previous contract. Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
18b. Superintendent’s Contract – This agenda item was included in the previous motion.
18c. Employment of Athletic Director – After an exhaustive interview process, the
Superintendent is prepared to recommend employment of a very qualified Athletic Director
for the district. Mike Morgan entered a motion to employ Kenneth “Joey” McQueen as
Athletic Director for the remainder of the 2004-2005 school year, and on a probationary
contract for the 2005-2006 school year. With a second by Kamron Saunders, Board
approved the recommendation unanimously with a 6-0 vote.
19. Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 10:45 p.m.