The Board of Trustees recognized a team of 4 students from Brazoswood High School who participated in the Junior Achievement (JA) 2003 Fall Titan Competition.  Team members Kathryn Socha, Anne Childers, Brent Dyer, and Nicole Poulsen competed against 144 other teams within Brazoria County to place second in County competition, and fourth in the National Western Division competition.  They will represent the Division later this year in the national competition.  JA Titan is an online simulation program that teaches students how to run a business.  The Board also recognized their teacher, Bill Davies, and Junior Achievement sponsor, Nancy Chamberlain. 

All-State Academic Football Team
Brazoswood High School

The Board of Trustees recognized Brazoswood High School student athletes named to the All-State Academic Football Team.  In assisting the Board with the recognition, Becky Rinehart, Coordinator of Assessment, explained that to receive this honor, an athlete must have a “92” or better average for their academic career in high school, be a member of the team in good standing, of high moral character, and a standout on the field.  Athletes are nominated by their head coach and selections are made by the Texas High School Coaches Association based on each athlete’s performance on the field and in the classroom.  Team members are as follows:

THIRD TEAM ALL-STATE ACADEMIC:

Matt McDougal, Fullback
Phillip Laney, Guard
J. D. Ricthey, Quarterback

SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE ACADEMIC:

Matt Lankford – Defensive End
Matt Comneck – Line Backer

FIRST TEAM ALL-STATE ACADEMIC:

Cooper Gibson – Free Safety
Matt Williams – Wide Receiver
Aaron Barton – Defensive Tackle

Brazoswood Head Coach, Dean DeAtley, also recognized Trey Davis, David Dorrah, Aaron Fornier, Kyle Giese, Brian Handly, Will Hearn, and Patrick Mobley for maintaining high “A” averages.

TEA Class-Size Waivers
The Board of Trustees approved requesting class-size waivers from the Texas Education Agency for four of the District’s elementary schools for the spring 2004 semester.  The waiver request also includes a compliance plan describing steps being taken to bring the District into compliance with the 22:1 class size ratio for the affected campuses.

TASB Policy Updates 71 and 72
The Board of Trustees reviewed legal policy changes and voted to add, modify, or delete local policies, as included in Localized Policy Manual Updates 71 and 72, and as recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). 

Order of Trustee Election for May 15, 2004
The Board of Trustees ordered an election to be held on Saturday, May 15, 2004, for the purpose of electing trustees to fill the expiring three-year terms of the following Board members:

Applications for a place on the ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 15.  Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the Administration Building on weekdays, beginning Wednesday, April 28, and concluding Tuesday, May 11.

Amendment of Designated Polling Places
Board members approved a recommendation to consolidate the District’s four Freeport polling places into a single polling place at the Municipal Courtroom at the Freeport Police and Court Building.  The recommendation was in response to the City of Freeport’s recent action to consolidate its polling sites, and has no effect on existing single-member trustee district boundaries or existing voter precincts.  The District generally uses the same polling place for each voting precinct as the municipalities situated within the District’s boundaries.  The District will next seek preclearance for the change from the Department of Justice for implementation in the upcoming May 15, 2004, trustee election.

Public Utility Easement Deed
The Board approved granting a public utility easement to the City of Lake Jackson in connection with the construction of the new Lake Jackson Intermediate School.  The 16’ easement along Oak Drive had been requested by the City to allow the construction, maintenance, and use of water and sewer utilities by the new school.

Special Education Advisor Committee
The Board of Trustees approved membership in the Special Education Advisory Committee for the current year.  The Committee provides suggestions, guidance, and recommendations concerning an appropriate education for each student with a disability and assists in reporting and sharing information about the District’s special education programs.  Members are appointed by the Board from nominations received by the Superintendent and consist of representatives from the District’s instruction and support services, at least one parent of a child with a disability, at least one student and patron with a disability, a regular classroom teacher, a special education teacher, and other representatives concerned with the disabled.  Board member, Mazie Mack, will also serve as a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee for the upcoming year.

First Semester Attendance Incentive Results
Mark Broaddus, Executive Director of Human Resources, informed Board members that monetary attendance awards for the fall 2003 semester had been distributed to eligible employees with their January 30 pay checks.  Mr. Broaddus stated that the awards were in connection with the District’s new Employee Attendance Award Program that provides employees having perfect attendance during a semester with a $100 award.  Employees having only one absence during a semester are similarly awarded $80, and employees having no more that two absences are eligible for a $60 award.  Mr. Broaddus announced that a total of $67,100 was awarded to 850 employees for the past semester, as follows:

Board members thanked Mr. Broaddus for his presentation and requested that comparative data be included in future reports as an indicator of the overall success of the incentive program.

More Students With Meaningful Plans
Ruth Ann Few, CATE Counselor at Brazosport High School, Tonja Davis, Computer Literacy Teacher at Freeport Intermediate School, and Rhonda Hearne, Career Skills Teacher at Lake Jackson Intermediate School, presented Board members with a report on the “More Students With Meaningful Plans” career investigation program that is currently being piloted in the District’s three intermediate schools.  Ms. Davis stated that her students have really enjoyed the web-based career investigation software and that her students’ computer skills have been enhanced by its use.  Ms. Hearne described how the software allows students at her campus and at Clute Intermediate School to make better career decisions, and introduced Board members to “Panther Enterprises,” a simulated small business that allows students to “earn a living” by participating in payroll, human resources, production, and marketing activities and to, “investigate the real world while staying in the classroom.”  Ms. Few concluded the presentation by reviewing the pilot program’s outcomes and where the program may go from here.  Charlene Burgner, Executive Director of Curriculum/Instructional Services, stated that Brazosport is one of only seven school districts in the United States invited to participate in the program and expressed her hope that the pilot program will be extended another year.  Board members thanked the presenters for their informational report and for their commitment to and oversight of the new program.

Hopper Field Update
Van Franks, with PBK Architects, Inc., distributed an updated design of the renovation project currently planned for Hopper Field.  Mr. Franks stated that the updated design includes modifications involving drainage, scoreboard relocation, and handicapped parking.  Board members discussed the need for improved drainage and paving on the north side of the home stands and in the vicinity of the concession stand, and suggested additional paving be added to the design to facilitate improved traffic flow for students and fans.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes of the December 2, 2003, January 13, 2004, and January 20, 2004, Board meetings, and financial statements for December 2003.