Extra Mile Award
The Board of Trustees presented an Extra Mile Award to Brazoswood
High School volunteer, Sean Artman. In assisting the Board with the
presentation, Becky Rinehart, Coordinator of Assessment, stated that
Mr. Artman is a “true Buccaneer supporter,” who can regularly be
seen at athletic and fine arts events, dances, and many other campus
functions. Mr. Artman was recognized for being especially
supportive of the Student Council and their many fund-raising
efforts.Public Hearing
on Schools FIRST
The Board held a public hearing to report the Schools FIRST
(Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) accountability rating
for 2003. Executive Director of Business Services, Michael Abild,
explained that the Schools FIRST program was developed by the Texas
Education Agency to achieve quality performance in the management of
school districts’ financial resources, and that 2003 is the first
year Texas school districts will be rated under the new system. Mr.
Abild reviewed the 21 individual performance indicators included in
the Schools FIRST accountability system, and announced that the
District’s overall rating was “Superior Achievement,” the State’s
highest rating. Board members thanked Mr. Abild for his
presentation and commended the District for satisfying all 21 of the
Schools FIRST indicators.
Lake Jackson Intermediate
School Teaching Forum
Board members voted to incorporate a “teaching forum” into the new
Lake Jackson Intermediate School project. Van Franks, with PBK
Architects, Inc., explained to Board members that an alternate bid,
totaling $1,006,251, for the 10,619 sq. ft. facility had been
received along with the base bids for the new campus in November,
and that the proposed price of approximately $95 per sq. ft. could
not be matched if the facility were to be constructed separately in
the future. Mr. Keller also reported that the total cost of the new
campus, including the teaching forum, was still nearly $300,000
below the project’s total budget. In addition to approving the
addition, Board members asked Mr. Franks and his staff to seek input
from Lake Jackson Intermediate School’s leadership and staff
regarding possible exterior modifications to the teaching forum to
ensure architectural consistency with the new campus’ overall
design.
Brazosport and Brazoswood
Athletic Improvements
The Board of Trustees voted to approve awarding a contract to
Drymalla Construction Company for the construction of athletic
improvements at Brazosport and Brazoswood High Schools. The
athletic improvement packages, totaling $3,430,000, includes the
following projects:
 | Package A includes the expansion of the
existing field house at Brazoswood High School, along with the
addition of restroom facilities at the existing "blue room". Work
will also include the remodeling of the Slade field house,
including new lockers and interior finishes within the dressing
facilities. |
| Package B includes the replacement of the field
house and press box at Hopper Field. The package also includes
electrical upgrades at Hopper Field to meet code, along with
general site improvements – which include meeting ADA
requirements. There will also be four new tennis courts added at
the Brazosport High School campus. |
2004-2005 Program of Studies
Executive Director of Instruction, Char Burgner, presented Board
members with a recommendation to modify the District’s Program of
Studies for the 2004-2005 school year, as follows:
|
K-4 |
Elementary instructional time frames have been
altered |
|
5-6 |
Middle School Achievers class has been added |
|
7-8 |
IPC Science class has been deleted |
|
9-12 |
New Science/Social Studies TAKS Prep local
elective courses have been added and/or deleted per campus
improvement team requests |
Mrs. Burgner stated that the Program of Studies
was developed to ensure Board approval of courses and to provide a
common direction for both curriculum and staff development, and that
the recommended modifications reflect the increased rigor of the
Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and the “Recommended
Plan” for graduation. Board members sought clarification on
numerous issues associated with the District’s Program of Studies
before voting unanimously to approve the recommended modifications.
Brazoria County Appraisal
District Board Election
The Board adopted a resolution to cast its 1,266
allowable votes for the following candidates seeking election to the
Board of Directors of the Brazoria County Appraisal District:
|
Henry Munson |
113 votes |
|
C.C. (Pete) Reed |
320 votes |
|
Patricia Taylor |
833 votes |
Additional Contribution to
Health Insurance Plan
Board members unanimously approved increasing the District’s
contribution to the Employee Medical Benefits Plan by 5% ($197,039),
in lieu of requesting an employee premium increase for 2004. Board
members had previously approved increasing the District’s
contribution to the Plan by 5% in the 2003-2004 budget approved in
August, but the need for additional funding was identified by the
District’s Insurance Committee as part of its annual review of the
Plan. Insurance Committee members and District leadership
considered the need for an employee premium increase for 2004, and
jointly recommended that, in lieu of an employee premium increase,
the District increase its contribution to the Plan based on the
following considerations:
| The District’s 2003-2004 financial “picture”
has improved considerably since the original recommendation for a
5% increase in the District’s contribution was approved. |
| Based on actions taken by the 78th Session of
the Texas Legislature, the $1,000 TRS Supplement that employees
received during the 2002-2003 school year was reduced to $500 for
most employees for 2003-2004, and eliminated altogether for some. |
| The 2003-2004 official budget included a
suspension of the District’s TAAS performance award program,
pending development of a new academic performance incentive
program in response to TAKS. |
Board President, Jay Luce, “gladly” made the
motion to approve the recommendation, and asked that employees be
made aware of the Board’s action and the significant increase in
current year compensation it represents.
Policy Update
Board members reviewed the Texas Association of School Boards Policy
Service Division’s Localized Policy Manual Update 70. The update
consists entirely of legal (LEGAL) policy changes that took effect
upon becoming law.
BISD Student Attendance
Information
Ron Speir, Executive Director of Student Services, presented Board
members with a District enrollment report as of November 21, 2003,
reporting a 17-student increase since his last report of August 29,
2003, but an 80-student decrease over the same period last year.
Mr. Speir also reported that inter-district transfers are up by 57
students over last year, while intra-district transfers (transfers
between campuses) currently total 631.
Personnel Actions
Board members voted to name James Banks as the District’s new
Director of Technology and Media Services. Mr. Banks is currently
serving Barbers Hill Independent School District in a similar
position.
Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes of the
November 4, 2003, Board meeting and the financial statements for
October 2003, and adopted a recommendation by the Brazoria County
Property Tax Resale Committee to sell delinquent tax property held
in trust by Brazoria County.
