Teacher Recognition
Director of Public Information/Communications, Stuart Dornburg, assisted the Board in recognizing Scott Jamison, Language Arts Teacher at Brazoswood High School, for being named as a 2006 Nominee for the Texas Exes Award for Outstanding High School Teachers.  The Texas Exes and the University of Texas College of Education annually recognize educators who are outstanding high school teachers.  The award is designed to raise public awareness of contributions teachers make and to raise the esteem of the teaching profession across the state.  The award recognizes teachers who are inspiringly supportive of their students, who bring credit to the teaching profession, and who are held in the highest regard by their current and former students, fellow teachers, administrators, parents, and communities.

Campus Recognition
O. M. Roberts Elementary School, Principal Pam Davis, and staff members in attendance were recognized by the Board of Trustees for being named to the Texas Business and Education Coalition (TBEC) Just for the Kids Honor Roll.  In assisting the Board with the awards, Stuart Dornburg, Director of Public Information/Communications, explained that the prestigious award recognizes schools that are rated as Recognized or Exemplary for three years and have excellent academic performance at each grade level and each subject.

Student Recognitions
A complete listing of all student recognitions may be found here.

2006-2007 District Calendars
After holding a public hearing to discuss a proposed school calendar for the 2006-2007 school year, Board members voted to approve a 2006-07 “traditional” calendar, pending approval of an early start date by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and a “Labor Day” calendar to be utilized in the event a special called session of the Texas Legislature results in legislation requiring the 2006-2007 school year to begin after Labor Day.  In opening the public hearing, Stuart Dornburg, Director of Public Information/Communications, 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.  Mr. Dornburg stated that both calendars had been developed in cooperation with the District Educational Improvement Council (DEIC) and that the traditional calendar closely resembles the current 2005-2006 calendar.

The traditional calendar establishes Thursday, August 10, 2006, as the first day of instruction and includes 9 staff development and teacher preparation days, 3 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 24, 2007.  The “Labor Day” calendar identifies Tuesday, September 5, 2006, as the first day of school, with classes ending on Wednesday, June 6, 2007.  The “Labor Day” calendar also features 9 staff development and teacher preparation days, 4 early dismissal days, a 2-day Thanksgiving recess, 2 weekends for winter break, and a full-week spring break coordinated with Brazosport College.

A large number of audience members spoke in favor of the proposed traditional calendar during the public hearing.  There were no public comments offered in support of the “Labor Day” calendar.  Copies of the approved 2006-2007 calendars are linked here.

BISD Student Attendance Information
Ron Speir, Executive Director of Student Services, presented Board members with a District enrollment report as of January 6, 2006, reporting a 126-student increase from the same period last year.  Mr. Speir also reported that inter-district transfers (transfers from other school districts) are down by 4 students from last year, while intra-district transfers (transfers between campuses) currently total 570.

2006-2007 Budget Development Calendar
Executive Director of Business Services, Michael Abild, reviewed a tentative 2006-2007 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 2006, with adoption of the 2006-2007 budget scheduled for August and adoption of the 2006 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 by the actions of the Texas Legislature.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes of the December 6, 2005, Board meeting, approved the monthly financial statements for November 2005, awarded contracts for library books and audio visual equipment, and accepted the 2004-2005 annual audit report, as prepared by the certified public accounting firm of Kennemer, Masters & Lunsford, LLC.