Board Highlights

Extra Mile Award
The Board of Trustees presented an Extra Mile Award to Tom Rich, representing ConocoPhillips, for his company’s generous donation to Brazosport High School.  In assisting the Board with the presentation, Director of Public Information/Communications, Stuart Dornburg, stated that the donation occurred through the efforts of Brazosport High School science teacher, Julie Sholl, who communicated the school’s need for science equipment and supplies.  ConocoPhillips recognized the need and donated $7,500 to Brazosport High School’s science department.  Using the money, the science department was able to purchase electronic balances, student hot plates, triple beam balances, and other equipment for their physical science labs. 

Student Recognitions
A complete listing of all students recognized at the April Board meeting is attached to this issue of the Highlights.

NASA – Velasco/Scotland Connection
Linda Neasbitt, former Brazosport educator and current member of the Johnson Space Center Human Health and Performance Education and Outreach Team, presented Board members with an update on Velasco Elementary School students participating in NASA programming.  Ms. Neasbitt stated that the Velasco students were provided with a live communication link from Brazosport College to another classroom in Broughty Ferry, Scotland, with an opportunity to explain and share answers to a “Physical Fitness Challenge,” confide in researchers at the Johnson Space Center, and talk to the show’s music producer at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.  Ms. Neasbitt closed her presentation by introducing Velasco Elementary students in attendance and by screening a short clip of the televised production.

Education Foundation Scholarship Presentation
Elizabeth Comeaux, representing the Brazosport Independent School District Education Foundation Gala Committee, presented the Board of Trustees with a check in the amount of $32,500 in support of the District’s Project Teach scholarship program.  In presenting the check, Ms. Comeaux thanked the Board and all who attended the gala for their support.  Board President, Jay Luce, accepted the check on behalf of the District and thanked the Education Foundation Board members in attendance and the Gala Committee for the hard work and dedication that made the contribution possible.  The Project Teach program is a cooperative effort between the District, Brazosport College, and Sam Houston and S. F. Austin State Universities; targeting teachers in the hard-to-fill areas of bilingual education, special education, and math and science.  The program offers up to a $15,000 scholarship to successful students who graduate from Brazosport or Brazoswood High School in the top half of their graduating class and who are willing to obtain a teacher certification and commit to teach in the Brazosport Independent School District for at least four years after graduation.

Community-Wide Emergency Response Drill
Crisis Management Project Coordinator, Sandy Antill, provided Board members with an overview of the District’s crisis management process and an update on the emergency response drill that was recently held at Lake Jackson Intermediate School.  Ms. Antill stated that the crisis management process has four major objectives; mitigation/prevention, preparedness, re-sponse, and recovery, and reviewed the activities, outputs, and outcomes associated with each objective.  Ms. Antill explained that the drill involved a mock explosion at Lake Jackson Intermediate School during lunch period and shared a short clip of the beginning of the drill.  Ms. Antill described the emergency drill as “like a final exam” for the District’s preparedness and thanked the various emergency responders, students, staff members, and volunteers who participated in the drill.

Jacinto City Fire Chief and Drill Facilitator, Lon Squyres, reported on the District’s response to the drill and stated that he was “very impressed.”  Mr. Squyres also stated that there were many lessons learned from the drill that the District would focus on over the coming weeks.  Board members and Superintendent Okruhlik thanked Ms. Antill and Chief Squyres for their presentations and for Ms. Antill’s development and oversight of the District’s crisis management process.

Cancellation of School Board Trustee Election
The Board approved an Order Declaring Election of Unopposed Candidate for Jay Grable and Joel Welch, unopposed candidates for election as Trustees for Districts 2 and 3, respectively.  Under Texas election law, a school district may cancel a trustee election for a single-member district if a candidate whose name is to appear on the ballot is unopposed.

Teacher Appreciation Day/Week
Board members approved a resolution recognizing the week of May 7 through May 13, 2006, as National Teacher Appreciation Week.  Superintendent Okruhlik explained that the annual event is sponsored by the National PTA and is intended to focus attention on the outstanding work of our public school teachers.  The resolution declares that, “teachers should be accorded high public esteem, reflecting the value the community places on public education,” and recognizes teachers for their, “dedication and commitment to educating their students.”  Board members joined Mr. Okruhlik in thanking teachers for their dedication to the students of the Brazosport Independent School District.

Mechanical Improvements at Ogg and Beutel
The Board of Trustees postponed consideration of bids for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at A. P. Beutel and T. W. Ogg Elementary Schools and requested the District’s architects, PBK Architects, Inc. (PBK), to consider alternative solutions and to obtain revised pricing for the projects.  Ron Keller, with PBK, explained to Board members that the estimated cost of the mechanical upgrades for the two campuses was $1.1 million, but that bids were at least 20% above the budgeted cost.  Mr. Keller also stated that interest in the project was low and that only three bids had been received.  Board members discussed the advantages of a “4-pipe” system over existing “2-pipe” systems and weighed other alternatives that might be considered for the aging campuses.  Board members asked PBK and the District’s engineers to study alternatives and agreed to consider calling a special meeting in April to discuss available options, if necessary.

Technology Program Update
Director of Technology Services, Monty Burger, presented Board members with a status report on technology projects and initiatives included in the $128.5 million “Primary Bond” program.  Mr. Burger reminded Board members that the bond program originally included $8.6 million of technology funding and reported that approximately $6.6 million of that total has been expended.  Highlighted projects which have either been completed or are currently underway include the network telecom upgrade ($1.6 million), work station obsolescence ($2.7 million), and technology associated with new construction and renovations ($1.2 million).  In addition to other projects planned for the future, approximately $1 million of the remaining funds will be used to address workstation obsolescence.  Board members thanked Mr. Burger for his presentation and his oversight of the District’s technology operations.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes of the March 7, 2006, Board meeting, approved the financial statements for February 2006, awarded contracts for band and orchestra instruments and for athletic supplies & equipment (football, volleyball, and cross country), granted a utility easement to CenterPoint Energy in connection with Lanier Middle School renovations and additions, and approved leasing voting machines and equipment from Brazoria County for the May 13, 2006, Trustee Election.