SMITHVILLE I.S.D.
BOARD BRIEFS
The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular
session on
1. Employees of the Month for August – The Board recognized Janet Russo and Lucy Malina as employees of the month for August. Ms. Russo is a teacher at the high school, and Ms. Malina is the principal’s secretary at junior high. Both were present at the meeting.
2. Communications from the Public – There were no public communications.
Consent Agenda – Peggy Walicek moved to approve items 3 through 8 on the Consent Agenda as presented. Kamron Saunders seconded, and the motion carried 6-0. The Consent Agenda consisted of the following:
3. Minutes
of the
4. Disbursements for the month of August 2005
5. Financial Statements for August 2005
6. Investment Report
7. Tax Collection Report
8. Designated and Reserved Fund Balance
9. Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent briefed the Board on his recent visit to the
State Comptrollers Office, Smithville High School college testing results, and upcoming
Board training opportunities.
10. Present the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas Ratings for SISD – In compliance with reporting mandates, Heather Wilson, Director of Business, presented the District’s First Rating’s Report to the Board.
11. Adequate Yearly Progress Report – Under the No Child Left Behind Act, public school
districts, campuses, and the state are evaluated annually for Adequate Yearly Progress in
Reading/Language Arts and Mathematics. AYP is the accountability measure in the federal
accountability system. Cheryl Burns, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, gave a short
report to the Board on the district’s AYP.
12. Teacher Certification Status Report – A complete listing of teachers in our district, their teaching assignments, and their certification status was included in the board packet for Board information. Teachers who are currently enrolled in alternative certification programs or on permits were noted on the list.
13. Class Size Report – State law mandates that a 22 to 1 student teacher ratio be maintained at the Kindergarten through 4th grade level. The Superintendent advised the Board that S.I.S.D. is in compliance and within this required limit, and provided a report on current class sizes through 4th grade.
14. Tentative October Agenda Items – Tentative items to be included on the October agenda are:
a. Superintendent’s Report
b. Employees of the Month for September
c. Outstanding Students for the First Six-Weeks
d. TASB Delegate Report
e. Secondary Campuses Student Council Reports
f. Site-Based Committee Membership Reports
g. Annual Technology Report
h. District and Campus Improvement Plans
15. Adoption of the 2005-2006 Tax Rate – The Board is required to set a tax rate within 60 days of receiving the certified tax roll but no later than September 30th. Howard Burns motioned to approve a resolution setting the tax rate at $1.805, which includes a $1.50 M&O tax rate and a $0.285 I&S tax rate. Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0. After comparing numbers, Mr. Morgan realized a discrepancy in adding the M&O and the I&S for a total tax rate. An amendment to the original motion was required, therefore, Mike Morgan moved to approve a resolution setting the tax rate at $1.785, which includes a $1.50 M&O and a $0.285 tax rate. Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
16. Investment Policy Review – Law requires that the investment policy and the investment strategy shall be reviewed on an annual basis. According to Board Policy CDA [Legal], the Board must adopt a written instrument stating that it has reviewed the investment policy and investment strategies and that the written instrument so adopted shall record any changes that were made. Kamron Saunders entered a motion to approve the investment policy without changes and to adopt the resolution as presented. Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
17. Review Approved Providers of Investment Training – In accordance with Section 2256.008(a) of the Texas Government Code, the local governing body must approve sources of training relating to investment responsibilities. Kamron Saunders motioned to approve the recommended independent sources of investment training as presented. Peggy Walicek seconded the motion, and it passed 6-0.
18. Review and adopt Board Policy Update 76 – Included in the board packet were vantage points from Board Policy Update 76, a document recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards to help keep our district policies up to date. A motion was made by Mike Wittrock to approve Update 76 as presented. Kamron Saunders seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0.
19. Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 7:15 p.m.