SMITHVILLE
I.S.D.
BOARD
BRIEFS
DECEMBER
17, 2007
The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, December 17, 2007 beginning at 6:00 P.M. Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:
1. Outstanding Students for the Second Six-Weeks – The Board recognized Megan Seidel, a
seventh grader at the junior high, and Kira McEntire, a junior at the high school, for being
chosen as outstanding students for the second six-weeks. Clayton Nieto, a senior who was
also selected, was not present at the meeting.
2. Employees of the Month for November - Staff members chosen as Employees of the Month
for November are J.D. Zimmerhanzel, a teacher/coach at the high school, and Yolanda Coy,
an employee with food service. Both were present at the meeting to receive recognition by
the Board.
3. Gold Performance Acknowledgements for Smithville High School – Justin Wiley, J.D. Zimmerhanzel, and Jason Hewitt, representing the high school, were present at the meeting to receive awards recognizing their campus’s accomplishment in achieving Gold Performance in mathematics. This recognition is awarded annually by the Texas Education Agency, and is based on accountability data.
4. Communications from the Public – The Board heard from Dwight Stockton in regards to House Bill 621. He encouraged the Board to pass a resolution to tax goods in transit.
5. Public Hearing on House Bill 621 – New Exemption for Goods-in-Transit – The District is required to hold a hearing to gather public input before taking action on H.B. 621. This hearing was conducted as required.
6. Public Hearing – Academic Excellence Indicator System Report – According to Texas Education Code §39.053, every school district is required to publish an annual report describing the district’s educational performance on the AEIS indicators and to hold a hearing for public discussion of the report. Mr. Sage presented the 2006-2007 AEIS Report for Smithville ISD to the public and the Board.
Consent Agenda – Kamron Saunders moved to approve items 7 through 12 on the Consent Agenda as presented. Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 7-0. The Consent Agenda included:
7. Minutes of the November 19, 2007 regular board meeting
8. Disbursements for the month of November 2007
9. Financial Statements for November 2007
10. Investment Report
11. Tax Collection Report
12. Budget Amendment
13. Superintendent’s
Report – The Superintendent presented a proclamation from the City of
14. Report on Board Member Continuing Education Hours – Under House Bill 2563, at the last regular meeting of the calendar year, each school board must reflect in the official minutes of the meeting whether each board member has fulfilled training required to be completed as of that meeting date. The Board President noted that Brad Hurta, Kamron Saunders, Mike Morgan and Craig Williams have exceeded the required continuing education hours, and Howard Burns, Michael Goertz and Samella Williams have not yet completed the requirements.
15. Tentative January Agenda Items – Tentative items to be included on the January Agenda are:
a. Superintendent’s Report
b. Employees of the Month for December
c. Superintendent’s Evaluation/Contract Renewal
d. Consider Purchasing School buses for next school year
e. Outstanding Students for the Third Six-Weeks
f. State Compliance Monitoring
g. District and Campus Improvement Plans Status Reports
16. Approval
of Annual
17. Consider Proposal Options for Surveillance System for the District Campuses – In the June 2007 board meeting, discussion was held concerning adding additional video and electronic surveillance to the elementary, junior high, and Brown Primary campuses, and the specials building. After discussion among the Board, Kamron Saunders moved to provide video surveillance and not install electronic surveillance at Elementary, Brown, Junior High and Specials campuses. Mike Morgan seconded and the motion passed 7-0.
18. Review and approve changes in the 2008-2009 High School Course Catalog – In order to
establish course offerings, policies and procedures for enrollment of students for the 2008-2009 school year, high school staff has been working to update the current course catalog. The catalog was presented to the Board for approval. Kamron Saunders moved to approve the High School Course Catalog as presented. Brad Hurta seconded the motion, and it passed 7-0.
19. House Bill 621 – New Exemption for Goods-in-Transit – H.B. 621 was enacted by the 80th Legislative Session. This new exemption provision will become effective on January 1, 2008 and it involves personal property accounts with goods-in-transit. Inventory that meets certain criteria will become exempt from ad valorem taxation on January 1 if taxing entities do not take action by resolution to tax the goods. Brad Hurta moved to approve a resolution to “opt-out” of the in-state exemption on goods in transit residing temporarily in warehouses. With a second by Mike Morgan, the motion carried 7-0.
20a.Resignations of Certified Personnel – The Superintendent advised the Board of the resignation of Dana Henning, a teacher at the elementary and Micky Virdell, Director of Special Programs. No action was necessary.
The Board entered closed session at 7:40 p.m. and returned at 7:48 p.m. with no official action taken.
20b.Employment of Certified Personnel – No employment was recommended.
20c.Superintendent’s Self-Evaluation and distribution of materials – This was done is closed session and required no action.
21. Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 7:49 p.m.