Board Highlights

BISD Holiday Card
The Board of Trustees recognized Matthew Land, a third-grade student from Bess Brannen Elementary School, as this year’s Holiday Card Contest winner and presented him with a framed copy of the card he designed.  Director of Public Information/Communications, Stuart Dornburg, explained that each year Brazosport Independent School District sponsors a holiday card contest involving all elementary school students, with the intent of using the winner’s design as the District’s official holiday card.  Each elementary school campus submitted 5 entries.  From approximately 45 entries, Matthew’s card was selected as the overall winner by a committee of judges.

Gold Performance Acknowledgments
Campuses were recognized by the Board for Gold Performance Acknowledgements.  The Gold Performance Acknowledgement system recognizes campuses for high performance on indicators other than those used to determine accountability ratings and are earned by campuses whose students have reached the prestigious Commended Performance level on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS).  The following campuses earned Gold Performance Acknowledgement in one or more academic areas for Commended Performance or Comparable Improvement and/or Attendance:

2005-2006 AEIS Report
The Board held a public hearing to review the 2005-2006 Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS) report.  Rebecca Rinehart, Director of Curriculum/Accountability, focused her presentation on the new reports included in this year’s AEIS, District demographics and statistics, and student performance data not previously reported.  Mrs. Rinehart also reviewed the 2005-2006 accountability rating for each campus and the District; noting that 8 campuses were rated as either Exemplary or Recognized, with the District earning an overall rating of Academically Acceptable.  Mrs. Rinehart noted that the District and all campuses met the 2005-2006 Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) targets specified by No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and recognized campuses qualifying for 2005-2006 Gold Performance Acknowledgements.  New student performance data included:

Mrs. Rinehart concluded her presentation by reviewing the results of the Texas Success Initiative and by announcing that the District achieved a 91% TAKS exit-level cumulative passing rate for all students in the District.  Following the public hearing, Board members voted to approve the 2005-2006 AEIS report and thanked Mrs. Rinehart for her presentation. 

2007-2010 Technology Plan
Director of Technology, Monty Burger, and Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Diane White, presented the Board with the proposed 2007-2010 Long-Range Technology Plan.  Mrs. White explained that the plan provides direction and sets priorities for the District’s technology initiatives and is a prerequisite for the District to participate in Federal technology funding.  Mrs. White identified the process used to develop the plan and reviewed the Plan’s five goals, as follows:

Board members questioned Mr. Burger and Mrs. White regarding e-rate funding, wireless connectivity, staffing levels, staff development/training, and facilities, and thanked the presenters and the Technology Committee for their work in developing the Plan.

2007-2008 Program of Studies
Executive Director of Curriculum/Accountability, Rebecca Rinehart, presented Board members with a recommendation to modify the District’s Program of Studies for the 2007-2008 school year, as follows:

Mrs. Rinehart informed Board members that the Program of Studies was developed to ensure that all courses are formally approved by the Board of Trustees and to provide a common direction for curriculum and staff development.  Funding needs for the new courses will be reviewed as part of the 2007-2008 budget process.  Mrs. Rinehart concluded her presentation by reviewing the more rigorous graduation requirements for the graduates of 2008 (expected to graduate under the State’s Recommended High School Program or the Distinguished Achievement Program) and the graduates of 2012 (required to graduate under the State’s new Recommended High School Program.  Following Mrs. Rinehart’s presentation, Board members voted unanimously to approve the recommended modifications.

2007-2008 District Calendars
Board members voted to approve an official school calendar for the 2007-2008 school year.  Stuart Dornburg, Director of Public Information/Communications, explained that the proposed 2007-2008 calendar was developed in cooperation with the District Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) and reflects the later school starting date required by recent legislation.  The 2007-2008 calendar establishes Monday, August 27, 2007, as the first day of instruction and includes 9 staff development and teacher preparation days, 3 early dismissal days, a 3-day Thanksgiving recess, and a week-long spring break coordinated with Brazosport College.  Classes dismiss on Friday, December 21, 2007, for winter recess and resume on Monday, January 7, 2008.  The last instructional day is May 29, 2008.  A copy of the approved 2007-2008 calendar is attached to this issue of the Highlights (click here).

Health Plan Amendments

The Board of Trustees approved the following changes to the District’s medical and dental benefits plans:

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