Board Highlights

2004-2005 “Robin Hood” Agreement
The Board of Trustees approved a “Robin Hood” agreement with Rosebud-Lott Independent School District and Brazoria County for the 2004-2005 school year.  Under the terms of the agreement, the District will send approximately $2.26 million to Rosebud-Lott during the upcoming school year to partially equalize its wealth per student.  Executive Director of Business Services, Michael Abild, explained that the agreement will provide only 599 of the approximately 3,998 “attendance credits” the District will be required to purchase for the current year, and that the District is actively seeking other districts to partner with for 2004-2005.  Mr. Abild explained that the District will benefit from the agreement directly by qualifying for a 5% “efficiency credit” from the State, and indirectly from Rosebud-Lott’s obligation under the agreement to pay $30,000 to the Brazoria County Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program in support of the County’s “Boot Camp” operations.

2003-2004 (Replacement) “Robin Hood” Agreement
The Board approved a “Robin Hood” agreement between Brazosport Independent School District and Anthony and Cleveland Independent School Districts for the 2003-2004 school year.  Michael Abild, Executive Director of Business Services, reminded Board members that the District had previously approved an agreement with Eagle Pass Independent School District for 2003-2004, but had recently been notified by Eagle Pass that the agreement would leave them with an overall loss in funding and that another partner district would have to be found.  Mr. Abild reported that the District had worked with the Texas Education Agency to identify Cleveland and Anthony Independent School Districts as suitable Chapter 41 (replacement) partners for 2003-2004.  Brazosport will benefit from the agreements by retaining the resulting “efficiency credit,” while Cleveland and Anthony will enjoy increased overall levels of funding by accepting Brazosport’s equalization payments in lieu of State funding.  Brazosport will also benefit indirectly from Anthony Independent School District’s obligation under the contract to pay $200,000 to the Brazoria County “Boot Camp” program.

Joint-Use Facilities Agreement With City of Freeport
The Board Adopted a Contract For Joint Athletic Facilities and an associated Supplement To Contract For Athletic Facilities with the City of Freeport.  The Agreement allows the City’s use of Lion’s Field, the former Freeport Intermediate School football field, and property located behind O. A. Fleming Elementary School for community youth soccer fields and adult softball and baseball fields.  In exchange, the District will be allowed to use property adjacent to Brazosport High School to construct girls’ softball and boys’ baseball facilities.  The agreement, which runs for fifty years, allows either the City or the School District to access each other’s facilities when not being used by the other party.  The associated Supplement requires the City of Freeport to pay $45,000 in exchange for the District’s agreement to leave the existing lighting system in place at Lion’s Field.

The Lighthouse Learning Center
The Board of Trustees agreed to forego a third reading and voted unanimously to approve a recommendation to rename the Alternative Placement Center (APC) as:

The Lighthouse Learning Center
Brazosport Independent School District
Alternative Education Center

APC Principal, Tim Vern, had previously explained to Board members that the proposed name change promotes the philosophy and belief that the two educational arrangements offered by the APC (the alternative education and disciplinary alternative education programs) are settings where students most at risk can find success.  Mr. Vern stated that while alternative education programs demand different instructional settings from a typical campus, the final purpose is the same – to produce graduates who are self-sufficient, productive citizens.

Lanier Middle School Renovation Update
Van Franks, with PBK Architects, Inc., presented Board members with a project status report on Lanier Middle School renovations.  Mr. Franks reminded Board members that the renovations had been undertaken in response to recommendations made by Assured Indoor Air Quality (Assured), the District’s mechanical engineers, and PBK and included extensive mechanical and interior renovations made to both the fifth grade and sixth grade wings.  Mr. Franks also reported that Assured had taken forty-five test samples following the renovation activities and that none was found to contain microbial growth.  Mr. Franks concluded his presentation by reporting that the renovations had been completed within the guaranteed maximum price submitted by Drymalla Construction Company and that the District could expect a “refund” on the project of approximately $33,000.

Transition Plan for Velasco Elementary School
Ron Keller, with PBK Architects, Inc., presented Board members with a schedule of events and a timeline for the upcoming move to the new Velasco Elementary School.  Mr. Keller reported that substantial completion of the new school is expected the first week of November, with moving activities commencing as early as November 8.  Mr. Keller stated that the north wing of the existing campus must be demolished first to facilitate the construction of a new parking lot on the east side of the new school, and that eight classrooms will be relocated within the existing campus to accommodate the demolition.  Moving activities will continue and the new campus will be furnished during the partial demolition of the old campus and construction of the new bus loop/parking lot, with all moving activities being completed by the end of the winter recess.  Classes will begin in the new Velasco Elementary School on January 3, 2005.

Facility Usage Fee Study
Michael Abild, Executive Director of Business Services, presented Board members with a revised facility rental fee schedule for their review.  Mr. Abild reported that the District’s existing rental fees have not been updated for many years and that the existing fee schedule needs refreshing in light of the many new facilities and facility improvements completed or underway across the District.  Mr. Abild presented a comparative survey of rental fees charged by surrounding districts, but stated that the survey was of limited value given the wide range of fees charged and the differing methods of calculating fees by the districts included in the survey.  Mr. Abild concluded his presentation by requesting input from Board members and by expressing his hope that a formal recommendation to approve a revised facility rental fee schedule could be brought to the Board for consideration at the December meeting.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board of Trustees approved the official minutes for the October 5, 2004, Board meeting, approved financial statements for September 2004, awarded contracts for asbestos abatement services and employee uniforms, approved granting overhead and underground utility easements to CenterPoint Energy for the new Lake Jackson Intermediate School, named additional teacher appraisers for the 2004-2005 school year (Charles Hawkins and Jackie Johnston), and approved deeding delinquent tax property to Brazoria County.