SMITHVILLE I.S.D.

BOARD BRIEFS

JULY 18, 2005

 

 

The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, July 18, 2005 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

 

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

 

Consent Agenda – Kamron Saunders moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.  The Consent Agenda included the following:

 

2.      Minutes of the June 20, 2005 regular board meeting and the July 11, 2005 special board meeting

3.      Disbursements for the month of June 2005

4.      Financial Statements for June 2005

5.      Investment Report

6.      Tax Collection Report

7.      Student Accident Insurance Bids

8.      Athletic Bids

9.      Bond Payment

 

10.    Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent updated the Board on important issues 

         pertaining to the District including upcoming Board training opportunities.

 

11.    Second Draft of the 2005-2006 District Budget – Heather Wilson, Director of Finance,

         presented the Board with the second draft of the 2005-2006 school district budget.

 

12.    Final District Exit Interview Summary for Summer 2005 – This was an information

         item included to make the Board aware of the results of exit interviews conducted on

         employees who resigned from the District at the end of the 2004-2005 school year.

 

         At this time, Mr. Saunders was called for work and had to leave the meeting.

 

13.    District Climate Survey Report – Central Office staff conducted a climate survey of

         teachers and staff at every campus in May 2005.  Results of the survey were tabulated, and

         the Superintendent gave a short review of the report at the board meeting.

 

14.    Tentative August Agenda Items – Tentative items to be included on the August agenda are:

         a.  Superintendent’s Report

         b.  Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget

         c.              Adoption of the 2005-2006 District Budget

         d.  Adoption of the 2005-2006 Tax Rate

         e.  Recognition of winners of Food Services menu coloring contest

         f.  Set student transfer tuition limit

 

15.    Parent request for student transfer relating to board policy FDA [Local] – The Board

heard from Clara Beckett, a resident of Bastrop ISD, who was requesting that her two children be allowed to transfer from a private parochial school in Winchester to Smithville ISD.  After hearing Ms. Beckett’s case, and discussion among the Board, Mike Morgan moved to approve the request for transfer as requested.  With a second by Peggy Walicek, the motion passed 6-0.

 

16.    Call for a Public Hearing on the 2005-2006 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 20th, 2005 and adopted by August 31, 2005.  Mike Wittrock motioned to call a public hearing on the proposed 2005-2006 district budget and tax rate for Monday, August 15, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Mike Morgan, and the vote was 6-0 in favor.

 

17.    Consideration of employment of audit firm to conduct 2004-2005 school district audit –

The firm of West, Davis and Company was selected last year to perform the 2003-2004 fiscal year school audit.  The District was very satisfied with their services, and as it is a good practice to stay with an audit firm for three to five years, the Director of Finance is recommending that the District employ West, Davis and Company to conduct the 2004-2005 school audit.  Peggy Walicek moved to continue the audit services provided by the firm of West, Davis and Company.  Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 

18.    Establish date for special board meeting to address grounds maintenance and possible

         employment – The contract with the District’s current grounds maintenance service will expire

         at the end of August.  Bids have been solicited and received, and due to time restraints, the

   Superintendent feels that it is necessary to call a special meeting to make a decision whether

the District will bring grounds maintenance in-house, or award the bid to an independent service.  The Board set its special meeting date for August 1, 2005 at 6:00 p.m.

 

19.       Approval 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 2005-2006 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, including future name changes to the list, and the 2005-2006 appraisal calendar as presented.  Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.  The list of appraisers are as follows:

            Gary Sage, Superintendent

            Cheryl Burns, Director of Curriculum

            Jim Manning, High School Principal

            Mary Liz Singleton, Junior High Principal

            David Edwards, Elementary Principal

            Karen Scherrer, Brown Primary Principal

            Walter McLoughlin, High School Assistant Principal

            Ana Murray, Elementary Assistant Principal

                              , Junior High Assistant Principal   

            Nina Brinker, Brown Primary Assistant Principal

            Micky Virdell, Director of Special Programs

 

20.    Consider endorsement of candidate for Region 13 TASB Board of Directors, Position

         C – The Board took no action on this item.

 

The Board entered executive session at 7:00 p.m. and returned at 8:12 p.m. with no official action taken.

 

21a. Resignations of Certified Personnel – The Superintendent informed the Board of the

         resignation of Andra Sparks, assistant principal at the Junior High.

 

21b. Employment of Certified Personnel including High School Principal – The

Superintendent recommended employment of Catherine Skye, teacher at the high school, Lori Williams, teacher/coach at the junior high, Sara Swearingen, teacher at the elementary, and Jim Manning, high school principal.  Peggy Walicek moved to approve employment of personnel for the 2005-2006 school year as presented.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 

22.    Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 8:14 p.m.