SMITHVILLE I.S.D.

BOARD BRIEFS

NOVEMBER 19, 2007

 

The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, November 19, 2007 beginning at 6:00 P.M.  Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:

 

1.         Recognition of Cross Country State Qualifier – The Board congratulated Stacey Ziats for placing 19th out of 104 competitors at the State Cross Country Meet, and seventh place overall at Regionals. 

 

2.         Employees of the Month for October – Staff members chosen as Employees of the Month for October are Laura Fox, a teacher at the junior high, and Becky Hodges, payroll clerk at Central Office.  Both were present at the meeting to receive recognition by the Board.

 

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.  Samella Williams seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.  The Consent Agenda included the following:

 

4.         Minutes of the October 15, 2007 regular board meeting

5.         Disbursements for the month of October 2007

6.         Financial Statements for October 2007

7.         Investment Report

8.         Tax Collection Report

 

9.         Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent advised the Board of the need to set a date in January for Board training.  He also provided them with a map depicting the proposed site on the high school acreage for the planned Ag. Farm.

 

10.       Technology Review – John Harkrider, network administrator for the District, updated the Board on the direction of technology in District, including “wish lists” from each campus.

 

11.       Articulation Grant Award for Tech-Prep Courses – Cheryl Burns, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, informed the Board of the award of $1,319 received by the District from Austin Community College.  The funds are to be used to purchase welding equipment to support articulated courses at Smithville High School.

 

12.       Tentative December Agenda Items – Tentative agenda items for the December meeting are:

            a.  Superintendent’s Report

            b.  Employees of the Month for November

            c.  Superintendent’s Evaluation training

            d.  Superintendent’s Self-Evaluation

            e.  A.E.I.S. Report and Public Hearing

            f.  Approval of school district financial audit

            g.  Outstanding students for the second-weeks

            h.  Consider expenditures for video surveillance on campuses in the District

            i.  State Compliance Report

 

13.       House Bill 621 – New Exemption for Goods in Transit – The Board reviewed the impact of House Bill 621, which would exempt inventory that meets certain criteria from ad valorem tax, effective January 1, 2008.   Mike Morgan moved to “opt-out” of the in-state exemption on goods in transit residing temporarily in warehouses by publishing a notice of public hearing to be held December 17, 2007, and then approve a resolution on December 17, 2007.  Brad Hurta seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0.

 

14.       Voting for Bastrop County Appraisal District Board of Directors – In order to maintain representation for Smithville on the Bastrop County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors, the Board must cast its votes for a candidate.  Craig Williams moved that the District cast all 452 votes for Becky Bunte by approving the voting resolution contained in the board packet.  Howard Burns seconded, and the vote passed 5-0, with Mike Morgan abstaining.

 

15.       Consider Date for Board Training Session in January – The Board set January 14, 2008 as the date for a Board Training.  No action was necessary.

 

16.       Consider approval of Textbook Selection Committee – Board policy EFAA [Legal] and EFAA [Local] outline the process for selecting textbooks for the school district.  The superintendent is required to recommend a textbook adoption committee, consisting of 5 to 15 members, to the Board.  Mr. Sage recommended approval of the following committee members for 2007-2008: Cheryl Burns, Steve Schroeder, Barbara Maresh, Jenny Davis, Cathy Kirby, Gina Sweeny, Jana Patrolia, Jason Peterson, Shelly Naylor, Jennifer Ferrell, Mary Sides, Brande Natal, and Stacy Zimmerman.  Brad Hurta entered a motion to approve the textbook committee members as presented.  Samella Williams seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.

 

17a.     Resignations of Certified Personnel – The Superintendent informed the Board of the resignation of Shannon Baldwin, a teacher at the junior high.

 

17b.     Employment of Certified Personnel – The Superintendent recommended employment of Kelly Rockwell to replace Ms. Baldwin at the junior high.  Howard Burns moved to employ Kelly Rockwell as a teacher for the 2007-2008 school year.  Brad Hurta seconded the motion, and it passed 6-0.

 

18.       Adjournment – The Board ended its meeting at 7:17 p.m.