SMITHVILLE
I.S.D.
BOARD
BRIEFS
FEBRUARY
18, 2008
The Smithville I.S.D. Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, February 18, 2008 beginning at 6:00 P.M. Items discussed or acted on by members included the following:
1. Employees of the Month for January –Employees of the Month for January are Natalie Fikac and Denise Behrens. Ms. Fikac is the counselor at Smithville Elementary, and Ms. Behrens is the Secretary to the Superintendent. Both employees were present at the meeting to be recognized by the Board.
2. Communications from the Public – The Board heard from several people during the public communications. Rick Patrolia and Maurice Gonzales spoke in opposition to the fee being charged by SISD for use of the tennis courts for private lessons, and Randy Zimmerhanzel addressed the Board regarding No Pass, No Play in relation to his son, who is a senior at the high school
Consent Agenda – Kamron Saunders moved to approve items 3 through 8 on the Consent Agenda. Howard Burns seconded, and the motion carried 6-0. The Consent Agenda included:
3. Minutes of the January 22, 2008 regular board meeting
4. Disbursements fro the month of January 2008
5. Financial Statements for January 2008
6. Investment Report
7. Tax Collection Report
8. Budget Amendment
9. Superintendent’s Report – The Superintendent updated the Board on gifts, donations and bequeaths received by the District as of January 2008. He also informed them of the Tigers basketball bi-district playoff game scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, 2008.
10. Report on Board Member Continuing Education Hours – Board Policy BBD [Legal]
requires the Board President to announce the name of each Board member who has
completed the required continuing education, who has exceeded the required hour of
continuing education and who is deficient in the required continuing education. The
following board members have exceeded the required continuing education hours: Mike
Morgan, Michael Goertz, Kamron Saunders and Craig Williams. The following board members have not completed the required continuing education hours: Samella Williams and Howard Burns.
11. Tentative March Agenda Items – Tentative items to be included on the March agenda are:
a. Employees of the Month
b. Superintendent’s Report
c. Teacher contract reviews/extensions
d. Approve textbook selection
e. Outstanding Students for the Fourth Six-Weeks
f. Benchmark Testing Results
12. Approve a Resolution to Authorize Tax Resale – McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C.,
delinquent tax attorney for the District, has requested authorization by resolution to place
four properties, currently held in trust by S.I.S.D., up for sale for less than taxes, penalty and interest due against the property. These particular parcels had previously been placed for sale with no minimum bid received. Mike Morgan moved to approve the resolution as requested by McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. Kamron Saunders seconded the motion and it carried 6-0.
13. Consider adoption of Board Policy Update 82 – Included in the board packet were vantage points and explanatory notes from Board Policy Update 82, a document recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards to help keep our district policies up to date. A motion was made by Craig Williams to approve Update 82 as presented. Mike Morgan seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0.
14. Review and approve staffing pattern for 2008-2009 – In order to address staffing
needs for the upcoming school year, the Superintendent, along with other administrative
staff, has drafted a projection for staffing requirements that will best meet the educational needs of students for 2008-2009. A motion was made by Kamron Saunders to approve the 2008-2008 staffing pattern as presented. Michael Goertz seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
15. Order of Election for School Board Members, Places 1 and 2 – School Board members serve three-year staggered terms of office. Each year the Board must call an election to elect places whose three-year term is expiring. The next regular election of the Smithville ISD Board of Trustees will be held on May 10, 2008, with Places 1 and 2 up for election. Craig Williams moved to call for election of Places 1 and 2, to hold the election for precincts within the city limits jointly with the City of Smithville, and to approve the list of Judges, Alternates, Early Voting Ballot Board, Early Voting Clerk, and polling locations as provided by the Bastrop County Elections Administrator. Kamron Saunders seconded the motion, and it passed 6-0.
16. Consider adoption of 2008-2009 school calendar – The district site-based committee, along with administrative staff, prepared two draft calendars for the 2008-2009 school year that comply with standard state requirements. The calendars were voted on by SISD staff, and Draft B was chosen by majority vote. This draft calendar is included in the board packet for Board approval. Brad Hurta moved to approve Draft Calendar B, including the necessary state waiver, as presented. Mike Morgan seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
The Board entered executive session at 7:05 p.m. and returned at 8:12 p.m. with no official action taken.
17a. Review performance evaluations of administrative personnel – This was done in closed session. No action was required.
17b. Consideration of administrative contract extensions – Howard Burns moved to approve administrative contract extensions as recommended by the Superintendent. With a second from Kamron Saunders, the motion carried 6-0.
17c. Resignations of Certified Personnel – The Superintendent informed the Board of the resignation of Darron Blake Smith, teacher at the high school. No action was required.
17d. Employment of Certified Personnel including Director of Special Programs – The Superintendent recommended the employment of Jimmy Trousdale as Director of Special Programs for the remainder of the 2007-2008 school year, and Michael Savoie as a teacher/coach at the high school for the 2008-2009 school year. Kamron Saunders moved to approve employment of Jimmy Trousdale and Michael Savoie as presented. Mike Morgan seconded the motion, and it carried 6-0.
Adjournment – The Board adjourned its meeting at 8:14 p.m.