Board Highlights

New Superintendent
The Board voted unanimously to employ Joe Keith Ripple as Superintendent of Schools of the Brazosport Independent School District.

Public Hearing on Schools FIRST
The Board held a public hearing to report the Schools FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) accountability rating for 2006.  Executive Director of Business Services, Michael Abild, explained that the Schools FIRST program was developed by the Texas Education Agency to achieve quality performance in the management of school districts’ financial resources and that 2006 is the fourth year Texas school districts have been rated under the system.  Mr. Abild reviewed the 21 individual performance indicators included in the Schools FIRST accountability system and announced that the District’s overall rating was “Superior Achievement,” the State’s highest rating.  Board members thanked Mr. Abild for his presentation and commended the District for meeting all of the Schools FIRST indicators.

Proposed Changes to 2007-2008 Curricula Areas

Executive Director of Curriculum/Accountability, Rebecca Rinehart, presented Board members with the following informational reports:

Texas Educators’ Excellence Grant
Rebecca Rinehart, Executive Director of Curriculum/Accountability, presented the Board with an overview of the Texas Educator Excellence Grant.  Mrs. Rinehart stated that the grant is a product of the 79th Session of the Texas Legislature that grants incentives to educators teaching and working on eligible campuses (campuses with high numbers of economically disadvantaged students that have demonstrated academic success).  Mrs. Rinehart announced that Velasco and Jane Long Elementary Schools and Lanier Middle School have been awarded $75,000 each, and that Freeport Intermediate school has been awarded $80,000.  At least 75% of the grant must be awarded to full-time, certified teachers for increasing student performance, with the remaining 25% of the grant awarded to other staff and/or used for staff development.  Mrs. Rinehart reviewed the application/approval process and highlights from all four campuses’ applications.  Board members thanked Mrs. Rinehart for her presentation and congratulated the awarded campuses for their successful applications. 

Campus Fund Raisers
Board President, Jay Luce, stated that he had heard several concerns from community members regarding campus fund raisers and invited Board members and the audience to participate in an open discussion on that subject.  Mr. Luce stated that it “bothers” him that a school-sponsored party, with invitations based on fund raiser sales, might exclude some students.  Mr. Luce also stated that he has heard concerns from businesses that are approached by multiple campuses/student groups each year.  Bess Brannen Elementary School PTO President, Kathy Vanderheider, stated that fund raisers provide students with supplies and equipment that would not otherwise be funded and that all students benefit, even if they don’t sell a single item.  Karen Phillips, Rasco Middle School PTO President, stated that all students involved in the fund raising event get something, with additional prizes awarded to the top-selling students.  Ms. Phillips also reminded Board members that a parent can just say “no” to the assigned sales targets and help their children set more reasonable goals.  Several principals contributed, including Freeport Intermediate School Principal, Clara Sale-Davis, who expressed equity concerns over the ability of some campuses to raise significantly more funds from fund raisers than others, and noted that fund raisers have gained importance as vending machine revenues have fallen off in recent years.  Board members thanked the members of the audience for their participation in the discussion and expressed interest in forming a committee to further discuss and develop guidelines for fund-raising activities.

Class-Size Waiver
The Board of Trustees approved a requested class-size waiver from the Texas Education Agency for Velasco Elementary School for the fall 2006 semester.  The waiver request also includes a compliance plan describing steps being taken to bring the District into compliance with the 22:1 class size ratio for the affected campus.

Textbook Selection Committee
Board members approved the following individuals to serve on the official Textbook Selection Committee for 2006-2007:

Abbie Artley, Jackie Brewer, and Karla Christman were also named to the Committee as ex-officio members.

2006-2007 Budget Amendment
Board members approved a $463,441 amendment to the 2006-2007 expenditure budget to incorporate 2005-2006 purchase orders remaining unpaid as of the District’s fiscal year-end of August 31, 2006.

Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the City Of Freeport for a School Resource Officer
The Board of Trustees approved an agreement with the City of Freeport to cooperatively fund a School Resource Officer for Freeport Intermediate and Lanier Middle Schools.  The agreement will facilitate services related to attendance/truancy, safety and security issues, criminal activity, and support for the District’s Safe and Drug-Free Schools program.