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Address
301 W. Brazoswood Dr.
Clute, TX 77531
Mailing Address
P.O. Drawer Z
Freeport, TX
77542-1926
Phone
979-730-7000
Fax
979-266-2486 |
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Board Highlights
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Board Highlight Archives |
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June 3, 2003 |
Extra Mile
Award
The Board of Trustees presented Extra Mile Awards to the following
individuals and organizations for June:
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S.T.A.R.S. Volunteer Program
Board members thanked the
S.T.A.R.S. volunteers for a combined 59 years of service to the
District’s students.
Sharon Vincent, with BASF
Corporation, was recognized for tutoring Velasco students in reading
for 13 years.
The following Dow Chemical Company employees were recognized for
devoting their lunch hours at least once a week to tutor Velasco
children in reading and math: |
| Wanda Buckner - 13 years |
Curtis Swisher - 10 years |
| Calvin Greene - 12 years |
Cindy Wehmeyer - 11 years |
| BASF- School Business
Partnership
Board members recognized the BASF
Corporation for its contribution to the District’s schools and its
students. In assisting the Board with the presentation, Becky
Rinehart, Coordinator of Assessment, noted that for the past three
years BASF has worked in cooperation with Clute and Freeport
Intermediate Schools and Velasco Elementary School to mentor students
and provide them with extra tutoring. Ms. Deborah Chupp, with BASF,
was specifically recognized for her dedicated support and coordination
of the program. |
National Teacher of the Year Award
Brazoswood High School Teacher, Bill Davies, was recognized by The
Board of Trustees and by Connie Williamson, Executive Director of
Junior Achievement of Brazoria County, for being named runner-up for
Junior Achievement’s National Teacher of the Year.
Safety Town
Mr. Ravi Singhania provided Board members with a brief history of the
Safety Town program and the Brazosport Safety Education Foundation,
and introduced the Safety Town Co-Chairman, Barbara Franklin. Ms.
Franklin presented an overview of the program, as well as Safety
Town’s philosophy and objectives. Ms. Franklin explained that the
program is currently held at Beutel and Velasco Elementary Schools,
and enjoys a participation rate of approximately 40%. Mr. Singhania
stated that one of the program’s objectives is to reach at least 65%
of eligible students and solicited the Board’s support in achieving
this objective. Board members thanked Mr. Singhania and Ms. Franklin
for their presentation and for their support of the Safety Town
program.
HIPAA Exemption
The Board renewed its election to be exempt from the requirements of
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
for the upcoming year. The action exempts the District from most of
the requirements of HIPAA, with the exception of the Act’s requirement
to provide departing employees with certification of prior health
insurance coverage.
Addendum to 2003-2004 Program
of Studies
The Board of Trustees approved an addendum to the District’s 2003-2004
Program of Studies, as follows:
| A phased-in intermediate SEARCH curriculum that allows 7th graders
to take IPC for high school credit as 8th graders during the 2004
school year. |
| A gifted curriculum that incorporates pure TEKS for 6th and 7th
graders during the 2004 school year. |
| IPC to be eliminated from the 8th grade curriculum in the 2005
school year and replaced with a differentiated curriculum that
incorporates pure grade level TEKS for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade GT
students. |
| SEARCH intermediate science curriculum to be developed that
incorporates the criteria of the Texas State Plan for the Education of
Gifted/Talented Students and alignment to the TAKS. |
Endorsement of Candidates for
TASB Board
The Board voted to endorse Renard Thomas, of Angleton Independent
School District, and Sarah B. Winkler, from Alief Independent School
District, to represent District 4, Positions A and C, respectively, as
candidates for the Texas Association of School Boards Board of
Trustees. The election will be held later this year in connection with
the TASA/TASB Annual Convention.
Construction Bids
The Board of Trustees voted to award a contract to Southwest
Recreational Industries (SRI), totaling $93,611, for storm sewer and
running track repairs at Slade Field. Board members also voted to
reject all bids and seek new bids in connection with planned additions
and renovations at Ney and Roberts Elementary Schools and Rasco Middle
School. In rejecting the bids, Board members expressed concern that
interested contractors had not been given adequate time to submit
complete and competitive bids, and requested that new bids be obtained
on a job-by-job basis.
Hopper Field Improvements
Board members tabled consideration of a guaranteed maximum price for
the construction of a new press box and other athletic improvements at
Hopper Field. The new press box and improvements will be incorporated
into a larger district-wide athletic package for purposes of obtaining
bids for consideration by the Board at a later meeting.
Attendance Boundary Change
Trustees approved an elementary school attendance boundary change
between T. W. Ogg and Gladys Polk Elementary Schools. The boundary
change will allow elementary school students residing in the new Lake
Bend Subdivision in Clute to attend classes and receive transportation
services to Gladys Polk Elementary. The proposal (“Proposal A”) was
developed and recommended by Cindy Deska, Eddie Damian, and Terry
Moore, the respective Principals of Gladys Polk, Madge Griffith, and
T.W. Ogg Elementary Schools.
District Library Automation
System
Board members approved awarding a contract, totaling $149,558, to The
Library Corporation for a centralized library automation system. In
recommending the action, Bob Daughrity, Director of Technology and
Media Services, reported that the District’s existing system is seven
years old and obsolete. Mr. Daughrity stated that the new system will
provide a web-based application that will enhance productivity and
provide access to resources conducive to an effective learning
environment. The recommendation was developed after eight months of
analysis and review by a task force made up of District librarians and
technology staff members.
Nomination to BCAD Board of
Directors
The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to nominate Pat Taylor to fill
the unexpired term of retiring member, Madalyne Reichenbach, on the
Brazoria County Appraisal District Board of Directors.
Resolution Of Appreciation
Board members enthusiastically approved Resolutions of Appreciation
honoring former Board members, Ronald D. Miles and Louis L. Walker.
Board members joined Mr. Okruhlik in congratulating Mr. Miles and Mr.
Walker for their many years of distinguished service on the Board of
Trustees.
Sick Leave Bank
Board members discussed a draft copy of a policy establishing a
“Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank.” Board members had previously requested
consideration of a sick leave bank at their May meeting. The draft
policy would allow employees to voluntarily join the sick leave bank
each year by contributing one day of sick leave. Contributing
employees who exhaust all of their available leave in connection with
a catastrophic illness would be allowed to request withdrawals from
the bank in units of twenty days. Board members expressed their
interest in the policy and asked the Superintendent and his staff to
provide additional information regarding similar plans in other
districts.
Lanier Middle School
Refurbishing
Kelly Adkins, a parent of a Lanier Middle School student, along with
other Lanier parents and staff members, addressed the Board regarding
indoor air quality concerns at Lanier Middle School. Ms. Adkins
distributed informational material to Board members and pointed to
poor maintenance procedures and a general disregard of the problem as
the underlying causes for the current situation. Mr. Okruhlik reviewed
a recently completed report from the Texas Department of Health (TDH)
assessing the problem, and outlined the District’s plans to address
the TDH’s recommendations. Mr. Okruhlik stated that work will begin
immediately and is scheduled for completion by the beginning of
school. In response to concerns expressed by the parents and staff
members in attendance, President Luce stated that the Board is very
concerned about the situation at Lanier Middle School and has
contacted the TDH and engaged other professionals to make
recommendations and will move quickly to implement the
recommendations.
2003-2004 Budget Workshop
The Board held a workshop to review and discuss the preliminary budget
for the District’s 2003-2004 fiscal year. Michael Abild, Executive
Director of Business Services, reported that property values are
currently expected to increase by approximately $286.5 million for
2003, resulting in an increase in General Fund tax revenues of
approximately $3.8 million. Mr. Abild explained that increased salary
and benefit costs represent the largest increase in the 2004
preliminary budget ($1.6 million), including a $1,200 salary increase
for teachers and other professional personnel and a corresponding
average 2.5% increase in wages for other employee categories. The
preliminary budget also reflects budget reductions, totaling
approximately $2.7 million, including a net reduction of thirteen
personnel positions district-wide and a suspension of TAAS performance
awards pending development of a new incentive program in response to
TAKS. Mr. Abild also reported that the District expects its “Robin
Hood” payment for 2004 to increase by approximately $2.8 million, to
$14.1 million. Additionally, the District’s preliminary tax rate has
been adjusted by $.05 to reflect additional debt service requirements
associated with the “Primary Bond.” Superintendent Okruhlik thanked
Board members for their participation and direction and stated that
the Board would review the 2004 budget again at the July 3 meeting.
Other Actions
In other actions, the Board of Trustees approved the official minutes
for the February 24, May 6, and May 13, 2003, Board meetings, approved
financial statements for April 2003, appointed Insurance Committee
members, Donna Schwertner and Alan Standlee, to serve as Trustees for
the District's Employee Medical Benefits Plan Risk Pool, awarded a
contract to Texas Gulf Bank to serve as the District’s depository for
the upcoming biennium, and received an enrollment report as of June 3,
2003. |
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