Extra Mile Award
The Board of Trustees presented Extra Mile Awards to the following individuals for January:

Stephen F. Austin Elementary School • Celeste Kingrea was recognized as a past PTO president, a current substitute teacher, and as the artist who has painted numerous murals on the walls at Austin Elementary School. Ms. Kingrea is now seeking a teaching degree because of her love for students and the wonderful experiences she has enjoyed at Austin Elementary. • Jimmy Smith was recognized as a husband, father and father-in-law of educators. Mr. Smith has spent countless hours at his granddaughter’s school doing everything from “normal” volunteer work to sweeping worms from the covered walkway during caterpillar season. Mr. Smith was instrumental in finding volunteers for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. • Rene Medaris was recognized as a veteran volunteer in the computer lab and the library. Ms. Medaris has logged many volunteer hours organizing and dismantling Book Fairs at Austin Elementary and can be found quietly going about doing the things that need to be done, even before being asked.

A. P. Beutel Elementary School • Shirley Bartlett was recognized for earning grant money for Beutel Elementary from her company, State Farm Insurance, and for her hundreds of hours of volunteer service to the school. • Sandy Seely was recognized as a former Beutel Elementary parent and PTO member and the founder of the school store and boxed school supplies. Though her children have long since left Beutel, she is back every summer to help prepare school supplies for the new year.

Community Business Volunteer
Calvin and Joanne Markwardt, owners of Calvin’s Marine, were recognized for organizing their employees and local fishermen to sponsor a “Fishing for Kids” event each December for needy children. Throughout the year, local fishermen gather new and used fishing gear for 100 students who are nominated by the nurses at each participating campus. Following a day of fishing, the children and their families are treated to a huge fish fry. The Markwardts and their fishing friends have provided this wonderful, life-long gift for the past 7 years.

Campus Recognitions
Gladys Polk Elementary School and Freeport Intermediate School were recognized by the Board of Trustees as two of only a handful of schools in the State to be named to the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) Just for the Kids Honor Roll twice. The TBEC Just for the Kids Honor Roll is a unique and prestigious award, recognizing campuses that have achieved 3 years of sustained academic excellence and that display the energy, innovation, determination, and teamwork required for the success of all students. Of the 175 Texas campuses that have received this award over the last 4 years, only 46 have been 2-year recipients.

Creative Education Institute (CEI) Lab Recognitions
Ms. Connee Stine, an Educational Consultant for Creative Education Institute (CEI), recognized the following campuses for their exemplary labs:

	A. P. Beutel Elementary School
	Bess Brannen Elementary School
	Clute Intermediate School
	Elisabet Ney Elementary School
	Gladys Polk Elementary School
	Jane Long Elementary School
	Lake Jackson Intermediate School
	O. A. Fleming Elementary School
	O. M. Roberts Elementary School
	O’Hara Lanier Middle School
	S.F. Austin Elementary School
	T.W. Ogg Elementary School
	Velasco Elementary School

Ms. Stine explained to Board members and the audience that each year CEI opens an exemplary lab application for essential learning systems and mathematical learning systems programs. These programs are designed to help ESL, bilingual, and special education students, or any student struggling in reading or math. To achieve exemplary status, the CEI labs must meet the recommended criteria and show an average reading/math gain of one year. Board members and Mr. Okruhlik joined Ms. Stine in recognizing the exemplary campus labs.

School Board Recognition
Board members were recognized for their generous contributions of time and talent in conjunction with the Governor’s declaration of January as “School Board Recognition Month” in Texas. Superintendent Okruhlik led the audience in recognizing members of the Board for their extraordinary commitment to the students and staff of the Brazosport Independent School District. Board members were also honored with posters and “thank you” notes from students across the District and a video created by students at Clute Intermediate School. Board members were also serenaded by an orchestra of recorder virtuosos from Madge Griffith Elementary School and their conductor, Margaret Gaspard.

2004-2005 District Calendar
After holding a public hearing to discuss a proposed school calendar for the 2004-2005 school year, Board members voted to approve the 2004-05 calendar, pending approval of an early start date by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and to approve a modified class schedule for classes on TAKS testing days. In opening the public hearing, Charlene Burgner, Executive Director of Instruction, explained that current law requires school districts to seek a waiver from the TEA and to hold a public hearing if the first day of instruction begins earlier than the week of August 21. The approved calendar establishes August 12, 2004, as the first day of instruction. In addition to the early start date, the approved calendar includes 7 staff development days, 4 early dismissal days, a full-week Thanksgiving recess, 3 weekends for winter break, and a spring break coordinated with Brazosport College. The last instructional day is established as May 26, 2005.
Mrs. Burgner explained that the calendar had been developed in cooperation with the District Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) and closely resembles the 2003-2004 calendar. Several parents and staff members spoke in support of the proposed calendar during the public hearing and prior to its passage, with no one in attendance voicing opposition to the August 12 start date. A copy of the approved 2004-2005 calendar is attached to this issue of the Highlights.

Construction Manager for Brazosport/Clute Projects
The Board of Trustees voted to approve awarding a contract to Drymalla Construction Company, LTD, to serve as Construction Manager-At-Risk in connection with upcoming additions and renovations to Brazosport High School and the construction of a new Clute Middle/Intermediate School.

2002-2003 Audit Report
The Board of Trustees accepted the 2002-2003 annual audit report, as prepared by the certified public accounting firm of Kennemer & Masters, LLC. Tom Masters, CPA, discussed the results of the annual examination with the Board, and commended the District for its overall financial operations and sound financial position.

Resolution in Support of School Finance Lawsuit
Board members voted to approve a resolution authorizing the District to join other plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the current system of funding public education in the State. The action was in response to the Texas Supreme Court’s recent ruling to remand the West Orange-Cove Consolidated Independent School District v. Alanis case to District Court for trial. The resolution will allow the District to work cooperatively with the current plaintiffs and other districts in the case to present a unified challenge to the current school funding system, and will authorize the law firms of Haynes and Boone, LLP, and Bracewell & Patterson, LLP to file and prosecute the lawsuit on the District’s behalf.

Design Development Updates/Approval
Board members approved the design development for a new Clute Middle/Intermediate School, additions to Jane Long Elementary School, and modifications to the Lake Jackson Intermediate School teaching forum. In presenting the designs, representatives from the District’s architects, PBK Architects, Inc. (PBK), stated that the Clute and Jane Long designs are substantially the same as those presented to the Board at the November meeting, with any modifications reflecting additional input received from each campus. Ron Keller, with PBK, stated that the Lake Jackson teaching forum design had been modified at the Board’s request to add architectural elements that better “mimic” the overall design of the new school. Substantial completion for the Jane Long Elementary School addition is May 2005. The new Clute Middle/Intermediate School will be constructed in two phases, with substantial completion scheduled for April 2007.

2004-2005 Budget Development Calendar
Michael Abild Executive Director of Business Support Services, reviewed a tentative 2004-2005 budget and tax rate adoption schedule with Board members. Mr. Abild pointed out that the tentative calendar includes Board workshop dates in March, June, and July, with adoption of the 2004-2005 budget scheduled for August and adoption of the 2004 tax rate scheduled for September. Mr. Abild stated that the schedule is similar to the one used for last year’s budget cycle and is subject to change.

BISD Performance Accountability Award Program
Becky Rinehart, Coordinator of Assessment, presented Board members with a draft report of the new 2003-2004 performance accountability award program. Mrs. Rinehart reviewed the background of the new program’s development, and the goals of the task force assigned to its development. Mrs. Rinehart reported that the task force has held several meetings and has studied other districts’ accountability award programs as part of the plan’s development, and that the draft plan has been reviewed on several occasions by the District’s Management Team. Mrs. Rinehart stated that the new program has five award levels, as follows:

	District Platinum I Award and District Platinum II Award - Awards all employees of the District if student academic performance and participation levels are achieved
	Department Gold Award  - Awards departmental personnel if department-specific goals are realized
	Individual Silver Award  - Awards individual employees for perfect or near-perfect attendance (existing attendance incentive award program)
	Campus Bronze Award - Awards campuses for improvements in student attendance

Campus professionals could earn as much as $950 under the program, with departmental professionals potentially earning $400 and campus and non-campus paraprofessionals earning as much as $300 and $250, respectively. Mrs. Rinehart concluded her presentation by discussing the rationale for the various award levels and the overall guidelines for the program. Board members asked numerous questions concerning the draft plan before thanking Mrs. Rinehart and the Task Force for the many hours that have gone into the new program’s development.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the financial statements for November 2003, awarded a contract to ARC Abatement, Inc., of Houston, for asbestos abatement services, adopted a recommendation by the Brazoria County Property Tax Resale Committee to sell delinquent tax property held in trust by Brazoria County, and approved personnel actions discussed in Executive Session, including naming Cynthia Eckols as Assistant Principal at Rasco Middle School.