September 2001 Board Highlights

Board Highlight Archives

September 4, 2001

TAAS Proficiency Report

Charlene Burgner, Director of Instruction, presented Board members with a TAAS Proficiency Report.  Mrs. Burgner informed the Board and audience that the four basic standards of student achievement are “Passing, Proficiency, Mastery, and Academic Recognition.”  Mrs. Burgner also explained that a score of “85” or above on the Texas Learning Index (TLI) constitutes “Proficiency,” and identified the advantages and disadvantages of applying the higher standard of “Proficiency” versus “Passing” to measure student achievement on TAAS.  After displaying the percentages of Brazosport students achieving “Proficiency” in reading and math for the 2000 and 2001 school years, Mrs. Burgner concluded her presentation by asking, “Where do we go from here?” in the face of the more rigorous academic requirements of TAKS.  Board members applauded the District for emphasizing “Proficiency” as the desired standard of student achievement and for the analysis and presentation of the related data.

BISD Redistricting Plan

The Board of Trustees approved a resolution in support of a plan of redistricting for the Brazosport Independent School District. The District is one of approximately 150 Texas school districts that elects all or some of its trustees from single-member districts.  By law, the District is required to complete the redistricting process after the 2000 Census data has been published.  The Board had previously met with the Redistricting Committee to discuss the process and various redistricting options, and had held a public meeting to allow citizens to comment on the proposed redistricting plan.  The adopted plan must next be submitted to the Department of Justice for preclearance before it may be implemented.  Pending approval by the Justice Department, the newly drawn single-member districts will be used for the Trustee Elections in May 2002.

Update On Master Plan For Facilities

Superintendent, Rudy Okruhlik, updated Board members on the District’s progress toward developing a “Master Plan For Facilities.”  Mr. Okruhlik stated that the District’s Master Facilities Planning Committee met on August 27, with over 100 members in attendance, and that subcommittees created during that meeting are currently meeting and touring facilities across the District in preparation for the next full meeting of the Committee on September 11.

Crisis Management Training “Kudos”

Mr. Okruhlik shared a letter from safety consultants, Griffin & Associates, praising the District for “the quality of knowledge, enthusiasm, and participation” exhibited by team members attending recent training sessions sponsored by the firm.  Mr. Griffin further commended the District for its efforts to make the Brazosport schools as safe and secure as possible.  Board members joined Mr. Okruhlik in congratulating staff members for their efforts, and encouraged the District to continue to make safety a top priority.

Interlocal Agreement With Brazoria County

The Board of Trustees adopted a resolution allowing Brazoria County to reconstruct and overlay the parking area at S. F. Austin Elementary School.

Other Actions

In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes for the August 14, 2001 , Board meeting, financial statements for July 2001, and awarded bid contracts for baseball, softball, and track supplies and equipment.