February 8, 2000Board Workshop
The Board of trustees held its annual workshop to review and update the District’s vision and objectives, and to identify major budget parameters and contingencies to assist in the development of the 2000-01 budget. Board members reaffirmed the District’s existing vision statement: "BISD 21st Century: Exemplary…and Beyond," and reviewed the major areas of effort and accompanying objectives necessary for realizing the vision. The major areas of effort identified by the Board, and their accompanying objectives, were as follows:
Educational Excellence
| Focus energy and resources on early learning |
| Maintain/Increase high expectations for students to perform at "Mastery" |
| Achieve "Exemplary" district rating on all AEIS indicators |
| Increase the number of graduates (completion rate) |
| Determine the correlation between TAAS results and the rate of students passing their courses |
| Establish a customer survey process to include students, parents, and the community |
| Implement vertical teaming strategies |
| Address the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Feedback Report recommendations |
| Establish high expectations for all students to master their course work |
| Incorporate 12th Grade Graduation Goals into the curriculum design and delivery process |
| Investigate foreign language course offerings at the pre-secondary level |
Parental and Community Involvement
| Increase parental and community communications |
| Increase awareness and involvement of parents in the success of their children |
| Create a "customer friendly" environment |
Finance
| Become the "best-cost provider" of exemplary public education services |
| Accumulate an appropriate fund balance |
| Utilize temporary funding sources to accomplish long-term objectives |
Employees
| Re-examine the District’s reward and recognition programs and increase activities to recognize employee accomplishments in BISD |
| Improve employee morale |
| Improve/increase staff development |
| Re-examine the District’s total compensation package |
| Clearly define and communicate accountability measures and expectations |
| Reduce employee absenteeism |
Facilities/Transportation
| Develop an ongoing, preventive maintenance program |
| Develop an ongoing, long-term refurbishing program/schedule for all facilities |
| Update the demographic study |
| Understand/maximize the effect of changing laws and regulations on energy savings |
| Develop a plan for old Freeport Intermediate School facilities |
Discipline/Safety
| Improve discipline so as not to distract from the learning environment |
| Develop/implement self-discipline programs |
| Maximize student and employee safety |
| Create an environment that employees feel is safe and a great place to work |
| Create a safe and secure environment conducive to teaching and learning |
| Increase awareness activities to provide safe and drug-free schools |
Technology
| Implement, evaluate, and extend the Long-Range Technology Plan |
The remainder of the day was spent developing major budget parameters and contingencies for 2000-01. Dr. Anderson and staff reviewed the budget process and the major variables that affect the budget with the Board.
The Board identified the following major budget parameters for 2000-01:
| Maintain existing tax rate |
| Grant an employee salary increase |
| Develop the 2000-01 expenditure budget within revenue parameters, less cost of equalization |
| Continue/Expand performance incentives |
| Continue funding the Long-Range Technology Plan |
| Continue funding the Dual/Concurrent Program |
| Continue funding refurbishing efforts |
| Continue to develop a cost-saving incentive program |
| Purchase school buses |
| Fund the Reading Initiative Program |
| Explore a full-day kindergarten program |
| Review existing programs for possible continuation, modification, or elimination |
| Provide appropriate funding for staff development programs |
| Explore cost-saving opportunities to fund salary and other cost increases |
The Board also identified various contingencies that would be employed in the event of a revenue shortfall or excess. Contingencies identified in the event of a revenue shortfall were:
| Allow the Superintendent discretion in specifying contingencies |
| Employ the Management Team to develop a priority list of budget contingencies |
Contingencies identified in the event of revenue excesses were:
| Dedicate excess funds to fund balance to offset future expenditures |
| Accelerate funding for the Long-Range Technology Plan |
| Accelerate refurbishing efforts |
Dr. Anderson reviewed the results of the workshop, and thanked Board members for their attendance and participation and for their support, direction, and wisdom.
Student Management System Update
Lori Pierson, with Unisys, presented the Board with an update on the new student management system. Ms. Pierson told Board members that training has been completed for the student scheduler, the class rank and GPA components are complete, the library interface has been installed, and that numerous other data issues and procedures have been addressed by the installation of a major software upgrade in January. Ms. Pierson told Board members that Unisys is committed to the project, and that improvements will continue to be made to the product.
Educational Diagnosticians’ Week
The Board of Trustees recognized the week of March 6-12, 2000, as Educational Diagnosticians’ Week in Texas. Educational diagnosticians provide the leadership in working with parents, teachers, and other professionals to develop a successful team that can coordinate programs for students with special needs.
2000-2001 Traditional School Calendar
The Board approved the traditional school calendar for the 2000-2001 school year. The calendar was recommended based on deliberations by the District’s Calendar Committee, as well as the results of a poll involving campus and other personnel. The approved calendar is reproduced as an expanded feature of this issue of Highlights.
Texas Public Schools Week
The Board adopted a resolution declaring the week of March 6-10, 2000, as Texas Public Schools Week. The resolution recommits the Board of Trustees to, "public education and to the future of our school district." This year’s theme for Texas Public Schools Week is, "Measuring up to a New Millennium."
Approval of Class Size Waiver
The Board approved maximum class size waiver requests and compliance plans for S. F. Austin, O. A. Fleming, Madge Griffith, Jane Long, T. W. Ogg, and Velasco Elementary Schools for the spring semester of the 2000-2001 school year. Anna Brodie, Director of Elementary Education, presented the requests to Board members, and explained that waiver requests must be submitted to the Commissioner of Education each semester for his review and approval.
Trustee Election - May 6, 2000
The Board ordered a trustee election for Saturday, May 6, 2000, for the purpose of electing three trustees to fill the expiring terms of Board members David Swisher (District 1), Louis Walker (District 2), and Ron Miles (District 3). Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted on weekdays, during normal business hours, at the office of the Director of Business Services, beginning April 19 and ending on May 2.
Sale of Property
The Board approved the sale of delinquent tax properties held in trust by Brazoria County, and authorized the Board President to execute the necessary documents in connection with their sale. In a separate action, the Board also approved the sale of three used school buses to the highest bidders.
Approval to Award Bid Contracts
The Board approved awarding contracts for athletic supplies & equipment (football, volleyball and cross country), printer supplies, and dual purpose paper.
Acceptance of Financial Statement
The Board accepted the financial statements for December 1999, as presented by Michael Abild, Director of Business Services.
Personnel Actions
The Board of Trustees regretfully accepted the retirement of Dr. Gerald E. Anderson, as Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2000.
