September 3, 2002
The Board of Trustees recognized the following organization and individuals as recipients of "Extra Mile Awards" for September:
Organizations/Individuals |
Recognized Activity |
|
Temple Baptist Church |
Welcome Back Breakfast for CIS faculty |
Van Franks and Todd Spore, with PBK Architects, Inc., reviewed the planned "Interim Bond" roofing projects with Board members. Mr. Franks explained that new roofs are included in the bond program for Bess Brannen, Elisabet Ney, T. W. Ogg, and O.M. Roberts Elementary Schools and for the Brazosport High School "turf room" and Hopper Field rest rooms. Mr. Spore described each roof's construction and current condition and discussed the "pros and cons" of single-ply and multiple-ply roof systems and their respective costs. The architects concluded their presentation by summarizing their recommendations and responding to numerous Board member questions concerning roof conditions and construction.
Charlene Burgner, Executive Director of Instruction, presented a report to Board members outlining the 2002-2003 visitations planned for Brazosport Independent School District. Mrs. Burgner stated that the District has hosted visitors from nineteen states, as well as from Japan and Sweden. For 2002-2003, the District will host four visitation weeks, and has already "booked" visitors from Idaho, Ohio, California, Washington, and four districts in Texas. Mrs. Burgner also previewed a short clip from Teaching to Standards: The 8-Step Instructional Cycle, a video currently being packaged by the Educational Research Service. Mrs. Burgner explained that the District enjoys sharing its effective practices with other districts, "to help other educators benchmark or identify successful strategies that will work at any school - regardless of its unique circumstances - for kids!"
Jolene Renfro, representing the Brazosport Federation of Teachers, presented Board members with the results of the spring 2002 Member Concerns Survey and a "laundry list" of membership requests and proposed items for consideration by the Board for 2002-2003.
Dianne Spoon, a Lake Jackson resident, reminded Board members of problems surrounding the start of school last year, and congratulated the Board and administration for a successful 2002-2003 school start-up.
The Board approved granting
an easement to the City of Lake Jackson for a sidewalk right-of-way along Yaupon
Street on the Elisabet Ney Elementary School campus. The City is in the process
of widening Yaupon to three lanes in that area.
The Board adopted an ordinance setting the 2002 tax rate at $1.4228 per $100 of assessed value, with $1.3626 designated for maintenance and operations and $0.0602 designated for the payment of principal and interest on the District's bonded indebtedness.
Board members approved a resolution and an associated earnest money contract to convey the former Freeport High School to the City of Freeport. The contract offers the property to the City "as is" for nominal consideration of $100, and is conditional upon the satisfaction of specified renovation and restoration obligations. In the event the specified obligations are not satisfied, the contract allows the property to revert back to the District and provides that the District be reimbursed by the City of Freeport for any associated reconveyance and razing costs.
Board members adopted a resolution disapproving a petition from Dr. Frank Grady, of Lake Jackson, for detachment and annexation of territory from Columbia-Brazoria Independent School District to the Brazosport Independent School District. The property being considered consists of approximately 657 acres of undeveloped and uninhabited land situated just outside the western boundary of the District. Superintendent Okruhlik explained that the proposed boundary change would provide no financial benefit to the District, since any property tax revenues gained would be offset by associated increases in State equalization payments. Board members voted unanimously to disapprove the petition.
Board members approved a resolution authorizing the District to secure a line of credit of up to $5 million from Texas Gulf Bank. The short-term loan will assist the District in financing its mid-October obligations. The District's large, industrial taxpayers pay one-half of their taxes on October 15, and the other half on May 20 of the following year ("split tax payments"). Since the District receives little funding from the State or from local sources in advance of the October 15 tax payments, short-term financing is needed to fund operations through mid-October.
Ron Speir, Director of Student
Services, presented a District enrollment update as of August 30, 2002. Mr.
Speir reported that the District experienced a 125 student decrease compared to
the same period last year, but noted that inter-district transfers (students
attending from out-of-district) totaled 111, a gain of 53 students. Mr. Speir
also reported that he and Mr. Okruhlik had recently met with Principals to
"level" classes across the District, and expressed his appreciation
for the Principals' cooperation in leveling all K-4 classes to no more than 22
students for the upcoming semester. Mr. Speir also stated that the District
currently has 78 "no-show" students and assured Board members that his
office is working with Principals to locate them and identify why they are not
attending school.
Bob Daughrity, Director of Technology, updated Board members on technology initiatives underway in the District with a presentation entitled, "What We Did This Summer." Mr. Daughrity stated that his department has been busy managing "Interim Bond" projects, including over 1,000 new workstations and over 350 workstation relocations, graphing calculator procurement and distribution, server and AS400 upgrades, the "electronic boardroom" initiative, and digital security system upgrades. In addition to the various bond projects, Mr. Daughrity stated that the Technology Department ordered and installed a new special education software upgrade over the summer and reorganized the technology support function. Additionally, Mr. Daughrity reported that the District's Technology Committee had met to discuss common technological concerns and to consider possible changes in the District's Technology Plan for the upcoming year.
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes for the August 5 and 26, 2002, Board meetings, financial statements for July 2002, awarded bid contracts for athletic supplies and equipment (track, baseball, and softball), appointed election officials for the September 21, 2002, "Primary Bond" election, scheduled a special meeting for September 23, 2002, to canvass election results, and adopted a recommendation by the Brazoria County Property Tax Resale Committee to sell delinquent tax property held in trust by Brazoria County.