The students qualified
for the national competition by defeating more than 140 teams from
five high schools within Brazoria County. The Board also recognized
Junior Achievement representatives, Nancy Chamberlain and Tonya
Hawkins, and extended a special recognition to Brazoswood High School
economics teacher, Bill Davies.
HIPAA Exemption
The Board renewed its election to be exempt from the requirements of
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
for the upcoming plan year. The action exempts the District from many
of the requirements of HIPAA, but still requires the District to
provide departing employees with certification of prior health
insurance coverage.
Designation of
Delegate/Alternate to TASB Assembly
The Board of Trustees designated Board members, Jay Grable and Drew
Holt, as Brazosport Independent School District’s Delegate and
Alternate Delegate, respectively, to the 2006 Texas Association of
School Boards (TASB) Delegate Assembly. Each local school board
holding an active membership in TASB is entitled to vote as a
delegate. The Delegate Assembly will meet this year in October in
conjunction with the annual TASA/TASB Convention in Houston.
Landscape Design for
Brazosport High School
The Board of Trustees approved a landscaping plan for Brazosport High
School. Mr. Okruhlik explained that the landscaping budget for
Brazosport High School had been eliminated in an effort to keep the
project within its budget and that action on a landscaping proposal
presented by the District’s architects, PBK Architects, Inc. (PBK), at
the June meeting was postponed by the Board due to budgetary and other
considerations. Mr. Okruhlik stated that he had met with officials
from the City of Freeport to develop a new plan that would provide for
irrigation at the back of the school, in front of the gym and the
auditorium/library, and in front of the school. Mr. Okruhlik reported
that the City of Freeport has agreed to pick-up some of the
irrigations costs, resulting in a net cost to the District of
approximately $34,080. Mr. Okruhlik also reported that he had located
live oak and crepe myrtle trees at substantially discounted prices
from what had previously been quoted by PBK. The District’s
Maintenance Department will oversee the planting and care of the new
trees.
Clute/Lake Jackson
Practice Fields
Ron Bailey, with BK Architects, Inc. (PBK), presented Board members
with options for locating football practice fields at Clute and Lake
Jackson Intermediate Schools. Mr. Bailey explained that the Clute
site is along Railroad Drive and is impacted by a ditch providing
drainage for the area. The Lake Jackson site is located east of the
new school on land formerly occupied by the old campus. Mr. Bailey
stated that the estimated costs of earthwork, irrigation, and hydro
mulching for the Clute and Lake Jackson sites are $256,800 and
$218,700, respectively. Following Mr. Bailey’s presentation, Board
members expressed general agreement with the proposed sites but
postponed action on the proposals pending further study and in
response to budgetary concerns. Board members requested Mr. Okruhlik
to obtain contractor proposals for leveling and grading the
recommended sites.
2006-2007
Compensation Plan
The Board of Trustees adopted a compensation plan for 2006-2007, as
developed in cooperation with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
Cindy Clegg, Director of Human Resources for TASB, reported that the
2006-2007 compensation plan includes a salary increase of $2,500, plus
a local step, for all full-time teachers, librarians, counselors, and
nurses, as required by recently passed legislation, and an increased
beginning teacher salary of $39,500 (was $37,000). Ms. Clegg reported
that athletic, fine arts, and other stipends have also been adjusted
to reflect current market conditions. The approved compensation plan
also includes an average general wage increase of 5.75% for
administrative, clerical and paraprofessional, and manual trades
personnel. Board members had identified granting a pay increase as a
budget priority for 2006-2007. Executive Director of Business Support
Services, Michael Abild, stated that the new compensation plan is
reflected in the 2006-2007 proposed budget that Board members will
consider in August.
Endorsement of
Candidates for TASB Board
The Board voted to endorse Renard Thomas, from Angleton Independent
School District, and Sarah B. Winkler, from Alief Independent School
District, to represent District 4, Positions A and C, respectively, as
candidates to fill vacant positions on the Texas Association of School
Boards (TASB) Board of Trustees.
2006-2007 Budget
Update
Michael Abild, Executive Director of Business Support Services,
presented an update on the 2006-2007 budget. Mr. Abild reported that
there had only been minor changes to the expenditure budget since it
was last presented to the Board in June, with no changes in budgeted
revenue estimates. Revisions to the 2006-2007 proposed budget
include:
