Following the presentations, the
Project Teach Committee presented a check to the District, totaling
$32,500, in support of the Project Teach Program. Board President,
Jay Luce, accepted the check on the District’s behalf and stated
that the donation will provide funding for the program for the next
two years.
2004 Extended Year Program
Charlene Burgner, Executive Director
of Curriculum and Instructional Services, presented Board members
with an overview of the District’s upcoming extended year (summer
school) programs. Mrs. Burgner explained that the District will
again provide extended year opportunities at both the elementary and
secondary levels, despite funding challenges brought about by a 75%
reduction in State funding. Mrs. Burgner also stated that, as a
result of summer construction activities, this year’s extended year
programs have been consolidated to involve fewer campuses, which
will necessitate additional transportation costs. Mrs. Burgner
concluded her presentation by announcing that a task force will soon
be formed to study the District’s extended year programs and make
recommendations for the 2005 summer programs. Board members voted
to approve the proposed extended year programs for 2004. A schedule
of the approved programs has been included with this month’s
Highlights.
Brazoswood High School Design
Update
Ron Bailey, with PBK Architects,
Inc., reviewed preliminary designs for improvements and additions
scheduled for Brazoswood High School. Mr. Bailey stated that there
are three major components to the new design: enhanced staff parking
on the west end of the campus; a new two-story addition featuring
four science labs, eight classrooms, restrooms, and administrative
offices; and a redesigned and remodeled food court area for the main
campus. Mr. Bailey said that final designs for the projects are
scheduled to be approved by the Board next month, with construction
of the new parking area beginning this summer (2004). The remainder
of the project will take approximately twelve months to complete and
will be “phased’ to minimize disruptions at the campus. Mr. Bailey
concluded by stating that his firm is continuing to work with the
staff and leadership at Brazoswood High School, with more design
meetings scheduled for this week. Board members voted unanimously
to approve the preliminary designs.
Waiver of Tuition Fee for
Nonresident Students
Board members approved waiving
tuition fees for non-resident transfer students for the 2004-2005
school year. The action was designed to increase the District’s
enrollment and weighted average daily attendance (WADA); thereby
reducing the District’s calculated wealth per student and associated
wealth equalization payments. Current law allows the District to
only include non-resident students who are not charged tuition in
its calculation of WADA and associated “Robin Hood” payments.
Textbook Adoption
The Board approved the selection of
new state-adopted textbooks, as recommended by the Official Textbook
Selection Committee. The Committee was appointed by the Board to do
an in-depth study of textbooks and materials on the conforming and
nonconforming lists and to recommend textbooks and materials for use
in the District.
2004 Parent/Guardian Survey
Board members voted to approve a
final draft of a Parent/Guardian Survey instrument that will be used
to conduct the District’s community survey this spring. Ron Speir,
Executive Director of Student Services, explained to Board members
that the survey instrument had been developed over the course of
four meetings by a fourteen-member committee consisting of parents,
teachers, and administrators. The survey is designed to assess the
level of satisfaction with the educational programs of the District,
as well as the areas of safety and security, special programs,
extracurricular activities, district communications, and support
services. Mr. Speir announced that the survey, which is conducted
every two years, will be taken during the two-week period of March
22 through April 2, 2004, and will be available in paper and
electronic versions in both English and Spanish.
Brazos Green Shopping Center
Lease
The Board voted to approve leasing
approximately 11,633 sq. ft. of space at the Brazos Green Shopping Center (the
Center) to accommodate a relocation of the District’s Media Center and to provide space for
a “records retention” facility. The action also authorized the
District to enter into a six-month exclusive option to purchase the
remaining, unowned portion of the Center. In explaining the
recommendation, Superintendent Okruhlik noted that the District
currently owns approximately 31,511 sq. ft. of the Center, serving
as the District’s Alternative Placement Center, and that the
additional space would provide a convenient, centrally located site
for the District’s Media Center and suitable space for
storing records that must be legally retained. The remaining,
unowned portion of the Center could provide the District with rental
income to offset the purchase price, or additional space for further
relocations or program expansions, if the District later elects to
utilize its option to acquire the remainder of the Center.
2004-2005 Budget Workshop
The Board of Trustees held a workshop
to discuss the 2004-2005 budget. Michael Abild, Executive Director
of Business and Support Services, reviewed budget parameters used to
develop the current 2003-2004 budget, and presented results of a
survey taken of Board members to identify budget parameters for
2004-2005. Board members identified granting a pay increase,
maintaining the existing tax rate, and developing a balanced budget
as “very important,” with other budget parameters classified as
“important,” “somewhat important,” or “less important.” Mr. Abild
also reviewed a list of variables that must be considered in
developing a budget, as well as a “good” budget scenario for
2004-2005 that results in a balanced budget, and a “likely” budget
scenario that results in a $1.6 million shortfall. Mr. Abild
explained that minor adjustments to property values, State formulas,
and student enrollment estimates can have a dramatic effect on
budget projections. Superintendent Okruhlik also shared the results
of an informal budget survey he had taken at the last District
Educational Improvement Committee (DEIC) meeting that included
salary and benefits increases as a priority, and stated that it is
still uncertain whether the Governor will call a special session of
the Legislature to discuss school finance. Mr. Abild stated that
additional budget workshops will be held with the Board in June and
July, with final approval of the budget scheduled for August.
Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved
the official minutes of the February 3, 2004, Board meeting,
financial statements for January 2004, and adopted a recommendation
by the Brazoria County Property Tax Resale Committee to sell
delinquent tax property held in trust by Brazoria County.
