SMITHVILLE I.S.D.
BOARD BRIEFS
MARCH 26, 2007
The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, March 26, 2007 beginning at 6:00 P.M. Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:
1.
Recognition
of
2. Recognition of Outstanding Students for the Fourth Six-Weeks – The Board recognized the outstanding students chosen from the junior high and high school campuses for the fourth six-weeks. Blakelee Saunders was the junior high selection, and Corey Roberts and Lili McEntire were the high school selections.
3. Employees of the Month for February – Staff members chosen as Employee of the Month for February are Matilda James and Jennifer Vinklarek. Both were present at the meeting to receive recognition.
4. Communications from the Public – Dwight Stockton expressed to the Board his displeasure with the state testing procedures for TAKS, and encouraged the Board to speak out to promote changes.
Consent Agenda – Kamron Saunders moved to approve items 5 through 11 as listed on the
Consent Agenda. Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion carried 6-0. The Consent Agenda included:
5. Minutes of the February 19, 2007 regular meeting
6. Disbursements for the month of February 2007
7. Financial Statements for February 2007
8. Investment Report
9. Tax Collection Report
10. Budget Amendments
11. Approve bid results for demolition of unused metal structure
12. Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent announced to the Board that the One-Act Play had placed first in District competition.
13. Grade 3 and 5 Reading TAKS Testing Results for Spring 2007 – 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.
14. Tentative April Agenda Items – Tentative items to be included on the April agenda are:
a. Employees of the Month
b. Superintendent’s Report
c. Student Transfer Requests
d.
Recognition of
e. Recognition of outstanding students for the fifth six-weeks
f. Consider bids for custodial services
g. Consider bids for the purchase of band uniforms
h.
Recognition of
i. Curriculum Program Review
15. Consider Policy Change (FFAA Local) Relating to Mandatory TB Testing – Prior to
1991, the Texas Department of Health required all school children to be screened for TB. In 1991, the state department dropped the requirement, and allowed local school districts to decide if mandatory screening would continue in their district. Smithville ISD did continue screening. The Superintendent, along with the school nurse, Sophie Weinheimer, is recommending a change in Board Policy that would delete the screening as a requirement for enrollment in the school district. Kamron Saunders moved to support that change in policy, and Mike Wittrock seconded. The motion carried 6-0.
16. Adoption of Textbook Committee Selections – Board policies EFAA [Legal] and
EFAA [Local] address the selection and adoption of textbooks for the district. The district is required to submit a report of textbook adoption by the Board to TEA. Mike Wittrock made a motion to approve the textbooks recommended by the textbook selection committee. Kamron Saunders seconded the motion, and it passed 6-0.
17. Class Rank Review and Course Weighting Policy and Practice – The high school staff
reviewed historical data to compare the impact of any changes to the current system using real scenarios as they relate to band and athletics and the divisor for calculating class rank. The comparison analyzed changes to GPA calculation and effect for students with 4 years of band versus 2 years of band; 4 years of athletics versus 2 years of athletics; versus the current system. Mike Morgan moved to change the current policy so that all students in both band and athletics receive 4 credits towards GPA and class rank allowing for equity and consistency among the programs and ranking system. Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
18. Consider Proposal Options for Surveillance System for SHS – Through the years, there
have been instances involving vandalism and theft on the parking lots of the high school campus. Based on these incidents, discussion about the need of surveillance cameras have occurred. The Superintendent provided the Board with several options for equipping the high school parking lot with surveillance cameras. Howard Burns motioned to approve Option One as presented, and to add internal cameras at all entrances, with the cost not to exceed $24,999. Kamron Saunders seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
Executive Session – The Board entered executive session at 7:35 p.m. and returned at
8:42 p.m. with no official action taken.
19a. Consider Contract Renewal/Non-Renewal of Certified Staff – Mike Morgan
motioned to approve contracts for existing certified employees as recommended by the Superintendent. Kamron Saunders seconded, and the motion carried 6-0 with Howard Burns abstaining, due to nepotism laws.
19b. Resignations of Certified Personnel – The Superintendent advised the Board of the
resignations of Vickie McQueen and Betsy Pharis. No action was required.
19c. Employment of Certified Personnel including High School Principal – The Superintendent recommended employment of Nancy Viktorin as a teacher at Brown Primary, Amy Kennon as a teacher at the elementary, Leona Jean De Leon as a teacher at the high school, and Jason Hewitt as high school principal for the 2007-2008 school year. Kamron Saunders moved to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation of employment as presented. Mike Wittrock seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
20. Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 8:45 p.m.