Board Highlights

Extra Mile Award
The Board of Trustees presented an Extra Mile Award to the First Baptist Church of Lake Jackson and Pastor John Hatch and his staff for allowing the District to use its educational building for staff development sessions on October 13 of this year.  In assisting the Board with the award, Executive Director of Curriculum & Accountability, Becky Rinehart, stated that the district is always challenged with finding facilities to meet staff development needs, and that the Church readily agreed to allow the use of its facility when approached by the District, at no cost.  Mrs. Rinehart also thanked the Church’s staff for being extremely accommodating to the District’s needs.

Campus Recognition
The Board recognized O. M. Roberts Elementary School and Principal, Pam Davis, for being named to the 2006 Texas Business and Education (TBEC) Coalition Honor Roll.  Becky Rinehart, Executive Director of Curriculum & Accountability, stated that TBEC identifies honor roll schools by analyzing three years of performance data for all Texas public schools.  A school must have a high percentage of students meeting state standards on the TAKS test in all subjects for three consecutive years, with an emphasis on the number of students scoring at the state’s highest standard (“Commended”) on all tests.  Selection criteria also include each school’s student demographics, the number of subjects tested, and grades served.  O. M. Roberts Elementary School joins only 268 schools in the state, and only 31 schools in Region 4, in receiving this prestigious recognition.

Board Recognition – Habitat for Humanity
Sharon Rodgers, representing Habitat for Humanity, thanked Board members and the District’s teachers and other staff members for their support of the “Habitat Walk.”  Mrs. Rodgers stated that this year’s “Walk” generated over $78,000 in support of Habitat for Humanity in the Brazosport area.

Project Teach Update
Board President, Jay Bart Luce, reported that plans are underway for this year’s “Diamonds and Denim Gala” in support of the District’s Project Teach scholarship program.  Mr. Luce stated that this will be the fourth year for the gala that has raised over $250,000 (enough for at least 29 scholarships) in support of Project Teach and other educational initiatives in the District.  Mr. Luce thanked Greta Luce and Vicki Heckendorn for agreeing to co-chair the event this year, and reminded Board members and the audience that this year’s gala will be the last Saturday in January at the Lake Jackson Civic Center.(Web addition - More information on Project Teach)

Channel 19
Director of Technology, Monty Burger, introduced Coordinator of Media Services, Karla Christman, and District Communications Coordinator, Tami Sophia, as presenters of an update on the District’s Channel 19.  Mrs. Christman and Mrs. Sophia presented a history of Channel 19 and an overview of its daily operations and programming and reviewed possible changes and expansions for the District’s broadcasting network.  The presenters reviewed what surrounding districts are doing in the areas of staffing, programming, and student involvement, as well as their ability to broadcast school board meetings and extra-curricular activities.  Mrs. Christman discussed changes and expansions to the District’s broadcasting operations that could occur “right now” and “in the future,” with associated staffing and other cost considerations.  Board members were informed that sporting events could be broadcast “voice over” (audio only) on Channel 19 with minimal staffing and equipment requirements and that Board meetings could be taped and later re-broadcast with more sophisticated camera equipment and additional staff time.  Mrs. Christman stated that “live” broadcasts of extra-curricular activities or board meetings would require a substantial investment in equipment, facilities, and staff time.  Mrs. Christman and Mrs. Sophia concluded their presentation by stating that Channel 19 has grown over the years, with many areas left to grow and explore.  Board members thanked the presenters and asked that several options be developed, with associated costs, for future consideration.

Review Grading Policy
Executive Director of Curriculum & Accountability, Becky Rinehart, reviewed proposed grading policy changes that had previously been presented to the Board of Trustees for their review at the October meeting.  The three proposed policy changes are:

Mrs. Rinehart also shared a proposed administrative change with Board members, adopting the use of the State criteria for DAP measures.  Mrs. Rinehart concluded by stating that the draft policies will be sent to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) for a legal review before being formally recommended to the Board for adoption at a later meeting.

Austin/Lanier Grade Alignment
Executive Director of Administrative Services, Ron Speir, presented Board members with an update on the District’s progress on standardizing grade alignments across the District.  Mr. Speir reviewed the existing grade alignments in the District and noted that plans are already in place to move 5th graders from the Clute elementary schools to the new Clute Intermediate School, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year.  Mr. Speir pointed out that S. F. Austin Elementary School is currently the only elementary school in the District to house both 5th and 6th graders.  Mr. Speir also reminded Board members that the new Lanier Middle School was designed and constructed to accommodate all 5th and 6th graders from the Freeport area, including those from S. F. Austin Elementary School.  Mr. Speir reviewed a list of benefits associated with consistent grade alignments, both for students and for the District.  Mr. Speir concluded his presentation by outlining a process to gather input from affected Jones Creek area residents and for sharing that input with the Board.  Mr. Speir stated that formal action on a final transition plan would likely be requested in early 2007.
Board members thanked Mr. Speir for his presentation and agreed to schedule a “town meeting” in Jones Creek later this year to discuss the proposed transition plan and to allow parents and other concerned residents to voice comments regarding the plan.