SMITHVILLE I.S.D.

BOARD BRIEFS

MARCH 27, 2006

 

 

The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, March 27, 2006 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

 

1.      Recognition of Band Solo & Ensemble, and Skills USA State Qualifiers - The Board took

this opportunity to congratulate members of the Tiger Band who qualified to compete at the State Solo & Ensemble contest.  They also recognized the Skills USA members who qualified to compete at the state level.

 

2.      Outstanding students for the fourth six-weeks – The Board recognized Sarah Solomon, eighth

         grader from the junior high, for being chosen outstanding student for the fourth six-weeks.  Also

recognized were Joshua McNutt and Rebecca Flippo, outstanding students from the high school campus.

 

3.      Employees of the Month for February – Employees of the Month for February were Rachel

         McAdam and Jeannie Tuck, both from the junior high school.  Ms. McAdam and Ms. Tuck

were present at the board meeting to receive certificates of appreciation from the Board of Trustees.

 

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

 

Consent Agenda – Kamron Saunders moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  With a second by Howard Burns, the motion carried 7-0.  The Consent Agenda included:

 

5.         Minutes of the February 20, 2006 regular board meeting

6.         Disbursements for the month of February 2006

7.         Financial Statements for February 2006

8.         Investment Report

9.         Tax Collection Report

 

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

         pertaining to the District including notice of a charter school being established in

         Windcrest Texas and the junior high track meet being held on Barry Field during the board

         meeting.

 

11.    Grades 3 and 5 Reading TAKS Testing Results for Spring 2006 – Cheryl Burns, Director

         of Curriculum and Instruction, provided the Board with results of the first administration of

         the TAKS reading test for 3rd and 5th grade students.

 

12.    Tentative April Agenda Items – Tentative Agenda items for the month of April are:

         a.              Employees of the Month for March

         b.  Superintendent’s Report

         c.  Student transfer requests

         d.  Recognition of DECA State and Cross X Debate State and International Qualifiers

         e.  Recognition of outstanding students for the fifth six-weeks

         f.  Media Honor Roll Resolution

         g.  Renew contract with InterQuest Detection Canines

 

13.    Consider Revisions to the SISD Acceptable Use Policy Agreements for 2006-2007 – It has

been many years since the District adopted its current Acceptable Use Agreement for computer networks and internet access.  During that time, tremendous advances have been made in the area of technology that are not addressed in the current agreement.  John Harkrider, technology administrator for the district, has recommended that the Board approve an amended AUP that addresses those changes.  Mike Wittrock moved to approve the amended Acceptable Use Agreement as presented.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 

14.    Consider approval of Emergency Operations Plan as mandated by Senate Bill 11 – Senate

Bill 11 mandates that every Texas school district adopt a multi-hazard emergency operations plan to supplement any existing emergency operation plan that may be in place.  In order to comply with current law, Micky Virdell, Director of Special Programs, presented the Board with an Emergency Operations plan for approval.  Peggy Walicek entered a motion to approve the plan as presented.  Kamron Saunders seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 

15.    Review Board Policy EIF [Local] – The purpose of this item was to determine the intent of

a local policy adopted by the Board in May 2001 as it relates to math course selections in eighth grade and high school.  The policy currently reads that students who successfully complete Algebra 1 in middle school shall be required to complete three additional math credits in grades 9-12 to qualify for graduation.  As administrators have changed over the last several years, interpretation and implementation of the policy has varied. As administrative changes have been made, students graduating in 2006 were not given the same recommendations for math course selections as students now entering high school.  Mike Morgan moved to allow the District flexibility to interpret Board Policy EIF [Local] as it affects the six seniors referred to in the agenda item and to revisit the policy at a future meeting.  Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 

16.    Consider Adoption of Local Policies FNAA and FNAB – In an effort to keep our Board

policies current and updated, the Superintendent recommended the adoption of these local policies pertaining to student distribution of non-school literature and the student use of school facilities for non-school purposes.  Howard Burns moved to approve the policies as presented.  With a second by Peggy Walicek the vote passed 7-0.

 

17.     Consider adoption of 2006-2007 school calendar – The district site based committee

         prepared two draft calendars based upon information received from the campuses of the

district.  The drafts were voted upon by the staff, and Draft A was the majority winner.  Current law states that school will not begin before August 21st without a state waiver.  As the recommended calendar has a start date of August 15, the District has applied for the required waiver.  Mike Morgan made a motion to approve the adoption of the Draft A calendar as presented, pending approval of the state waiver.  Peggy Walicek seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 

18.    Cancellation of Regular School Board Election – Under Section 2.051-2.053 of the

Texas Election Code, an election may be cancelled if all candidates for election are unopposed.  All candidates for the regular election of the school board in May 2006 were certified unopposed by the Secretary of the Board, therefore it is the recommendation of the superintendent that the election be cancelled.  Peggy Walicek motioned to cancel the regular May election of the Board of Trustees as recommended.  Mike Wittrock seconded the motion, and it carried 7-0

 

 19.   Consider a resolution to change a boundary line of Smithville ISD that adjoins Bastrop ISD – Currently, there are two areas in which boundary line descriptions of the Smithville ISD and Bastrop ISD overlap and conflict with one another.  After considerable research, the Superintendent is recommending a solution that would have the least negative impact on SISD, as well as tax payers and students involved.  The recommendation is to adjust the Smithville ISD boundary, beginning at the point N. 30º E. with the Wm. McCutcheon W. line and ending with the N. 60º W. with the T.M. Whittington S. line to the S.W. corner of a 947 acre tract a part of the T.M. Whittington League, which would now correspond with the current BISD field notes.  Kamron Saunders moved that the District change, by resolution, the field notes on the district boundary line description to match the field notes of Bastrop ISD as proposed.  Peggy Walicek seconded the motion, and it carried 7-0.

 

The Board entered closed session at 8:25 p.m. and returned at 8:41 p.m. with no official action taken.

 

20a. 1&2.  Consider contract Renewal/Non-Renewal of Certified Staff – Peggy Walicek

motioned to approve contracts for existing certified employees as recommended by the  superintendent.  Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion carried 6-0 with Howard Burns abstaining.

 

20b.  The Superintendent advised the Board of the following resignations:

         Gladys Gritzbach – teacher at the junior high

         Patricia Leer – teacher at the junior high

         Adella Smith – teacher at the elementary

 

20c.  Consider administrator reassignments to fill elementary and junior high principal

positions – Peggy Walicek moved to employ David Edwards as junior high principal, and Ana Murray as elementary principal for the 2006-2007 school year as recommended by the Superintendent.  Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 7-0.

 

21.    Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 8:43 p.m.