Board Highlights

Extra Mile Award

The Board of Trustees presented Extra Mile Awards to the following two campus volunteers:

Student Recognitions
A complete listing of all students recognized at the June 6, 2006, Board meeting is included at the end of this issue of the Highlights.

Oath of Office/Election of School Board Officers
After administering the Oath of Office to newly-elected Board members Bobby J. Sharp, Jay Grable, and Joel W. Welch, the Board of Trustees elected the following officers for 2006-2007:

Change Orders for Construction Projects
Board members reviewed recommended change orders for district-wide improvements (Phase II) and additions and improvements at Brazosport High School.  Ron Bailey and Ron Keller, with PBK Architects, Inc., reviewed the various components of the change orders and explained that the requested changes incorporate scope modifications incidental to each project’s completion and close-out.  Mr. Bailey informed Board members that the change order for Phase II represents a return of unused contingency funds to the District of $87,529.63.  Mr. Keller explained that the Brazosport High School change order includes a digital marquee, fire safety devices, carpeting, lockers, graphics, and landscaping/irrigation.  Board members discussed each item in detail, with particular emphasis on the recommended landscaping plan.  Mr. Keller explained that the change order included a total of $57,947 to landscape the front and two sides of the performance gymnasium.  After discussing the recommendation at length, Board members voted unanimously to modify the change order to delete the requested landscaping items, in light of budgetary concerns, and pending the development of a more detailed landscaping plan for the new high school.

Enrollment/Attendance Report
Ron Speir, Executive Director of Administrative Services, presented Board members with a District enrollment report as of May 25, 2006, reporting an 18-student increase over the corresponding date last year.  Mr. Speir also reported that inter-district transfers (transfers from other school districts) were down by 6 students over the same time last year, while intra-district transfers (transfers between campuses) ended the school year totaling 673.

Clute & Lake Jackson Intermediate Practice Fields
Representatives from the District’s architects, PBK Architects, Inc. (PBK), presented Board members with options for locating football practice fields at Clute and Lake Jackson Intermediate Schools.  Ron Bailey, with PBK, explained that both Clute sites are along Railroad Drive and are impacted by a ditch providing drainage for the area.  Mr. Bailey stated that his firm will contact the Velasco Drainage District to see what options might be available to modify drainage in that area.  Two of the Lake Jackson sites (located northwest of the new school) are in low-lying areas and would require the removal of several trees.  The other Lake Jackson site (located east of the new school) has better drainage and would require fewer trees to be sacrificed.  Board members expressed general agreement that the eastern site would be better for Lake Jackson and asked Mr. Bailey to continue studying the options for both schools and to return with cost estimates and a recommendation.

2006-2007 Budget Workshop
The Board held a workshop to review a preliminary budget for the District’s 2006-2007 fiscal year.  Michael Abild, Executive Director of Business Services, reviewed the major provisions of HB 1 relating to school finance that were recently passed by the special session of the Texas Legislature.  Mr. Abild reported that the District expects to have more resources available in 2006-2007 due to a significant increase in state funding ($10.4 million), an increase in taxable property values of approximately $500 million, and a projected reduction in “Robin Hood” payments for the upcoming year of approximately $1.2 million.  Mr. Abild stated that increased salary and benefit costs represent the largest increase in the 2007 operating budget, including a $2,500 salary increase for teachers and other professional personnel, a corresponding average 5.75% increase in wages for other employee categories, and an increase in the beginning teacher salary to $39,500 (currently $37,000).  Mr. Abild also noted that the preliminary budget reflects budget reductions, totaling approximately $1.5 million, primarily the result of lower “Robin Hood” costs.  Mr. Abild noted that the preliminary budget includes “set-asides” for the new “High School Allotment” ($956,187) and for completion of the “Primary Bond” construction program and state funding uncertainties ($2 million).  The District’s preliminary tax rate has been “compressed,” based on the provisions of HB 1, to a preliminary tax rate of $1.4184 (currently $1.5728).  Superintendent Okruhlik closed the workshop by encouraging Board members to contact his office or Mr. Abild with questions or concerns and by stating that the Board would revisit the 2007 budget at the July 11 regular meeting.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes of the May 2, May 18, and May 22, 2006, Board meetings; approved financial statements for April 2006; approved a recommendation from the Brazoria County Property Tax Resale Committee to sell delinquent tax property held in trust by Brazoria County; and appointed Donna Schwertner and Kenneth Kasper to serve as Trustees for the District’s Employee Medical Benefits Plan Risk Pool.