SMITHVILLE I.S.D.

BOARD BRIEFS

FEBRUARY 21, 2005

 

 

The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, February 21, 2005 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

 

1.      Recognition of Tiger Band members named to All-State Bands – The Board of Trustees were happy to recognize three members of the Tiger band who were recently named to All-State Bands.   Those members are: Joshua McNutt, Jonathan McNutt and Michelle Brown.  Congratulations to these students, as well as their band director, Wayne King.

 

2.      Employees of the Month for January – The employees of the month for January are Kathy Craig and Amy Archer.  Ms. Craig teaches math at the high school, and Ms. Archer is a paraprofessional at the elementary.  Both were present at the board meeting to be recognized.

 

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

 

Consent Agenda – Mike Morgan moved to approve items 4 through 8 on the Consent Agenda as presented.  Kamron Saunders seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.  The Consent Agenda included the following:

 

4.      Minutes of the January 18, 2005 regular board meeting

5.      Disbursements for the month of January 2005

6.      Financial Statements for January 2005

7.      Investment Report

8.      Tax Collection Report

 

9.      Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent updated the Board on important issues pertaining to the District including recognition of the PALS/PACS program as organization of the year by the Chamber of Commerce, and the upcoming job fair schedule.

 

10. Report on Board Member Continuing Education Hours – Board Policy BBD [Legal]

      requires the Board President to announce the name of each Board member who has

      completed the required continuing education, who has exceeded the required hour of

      continuing education and who is deficient in the required continuing education.  The

      following board members have exceeded the required continuing education hours:  Mike

      Wittrock, Michael Goertz and Peggy Walicek.  The following board members have not

      completed the required continuing education hours: Craig Williams, Kamron Saunders, Mike

      Morgan and Howard Burns.

 

11. Tentative March Agenda Items – Tentative agenda items for the March agenda are:

      a.   Employees of the Month for February

      b.   Superintendent’s Report

      c.   Teacher contract reviews/extensions

      d.   Approve textbook selection

      e.   Consider adoption of 2005-2006 school calendar

      f.    Review and approve staffing pattern for the 2005-2006 school year

      g.   Outstanding students for the fourth six-weeks

      h.   Recognition of band and PALS/PACS students

 

12. Taxpayer Request to Waive Penalty and Interest on Property – Recently, the Board

      received a request from a taxpayer to waive penalty and interest on property that he owns in

      Fayette County, located within the Smithville school district.  He claims to have been

      unaware that taxes were owed to S.I.S.D., and is delinquent from 1996.  Mr. Bill Chess was

      present at the meeting to represent the taxpayer.  Also present at the meeting was the

      district’s delinquent tax attorney, Shelly Veselka, of McCreary, Veselka, Bragg and Allen. 

      After reviewing the circumstances, and upon advice from the district’s delinquent tax

      attorney, Mike Morgan motioned to not waive penalty and interest as requested by the

      taxpayer.  Kamron Saunders seconded, and the vote passed 6-0.

 

13. Consider a State Waiver to begin school prior to the week of August 21st – If HB2 allows

      schools to start school prior to Labor Day, the district would like to request a state waiver to

      begin school prior to the week of August 21st.  Current law states that schools may not start

      prior to the week of August 21st without a state waiver.  August 21st falls on a Sunday this

      year, making the first start date without waiver to be August 22.  Mike Wittrock moved to

      allow the district to pursue a state waiver to begin school before August 21st, if available. 

      Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 

14. Consider revision of existing phone lines and equipment – The district feels that it has

      become necessary to update current phone systems at the elementary, junior high and central

      office locations, to correct the wiring problems that developed as a result of the moving of 5th

      grade to the old junior high building, problems at the nurses office, cafeteria office, and

      persistent issues with the phone lines at junior high.   After considerable research, the

      Director of Business, along with the Technology Administrator, are recommending the

      purchase of a new phone system, which would include a 5-year maintenance agreement,

      wiring and correction of all existing problems, as well as adding a 5-year maintenance

      agreement to Brown.  Howard Burns entered a motion to approve the purchase of a new

      phone system at Junior High, Elementary, Nurses/Cafeteria offices and Central Office,

      including maintenance agreements.  Mike Wittrock seconded the motion, and the vote was 6-0.

 

The Board entered closed session at 7:30 p.m., and returned at 8:05 p.m. with no official action

taken.

 

15a.    Review performance evaluations of administrative personnel – This was done in closed

         session.  No action was required.

 

15b. Consideration of administrative contract extensions – Craig Williams entered a motion

         to approve contracts for administrative personnel as recommended by the Superintendent. 

         Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 

15c.  Resignations of certified personnel – The Superintendent informed the Board of the

         resignation of Rick Elledge, teacher/coach at the high school.

 

16. Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 8:06 p.m.