Brazosport ISD Board Highlights

Grant Scoggins Honored
The Board of Trustees recognized Grant Scoggins for his positive influence on Lake Jackson Intermediate and Brazosport and Brazoswood High Schools; the lives of students at those campuses; and the entire Brazosport community. In requesting the Board’s action, Sharon Suggs-White recounted that Grant Scoggins came to Lake Jackson Junior High School (now Lake Jackson Intermediate School) as that school’s first band director. Mr. Scoggins brought school spirit to Lake Jackson Junior High and composed the music and lyrics to the Lake Jackson Fight Song in 1947. In 1950, Mr. Scoggins became the band director for the “new” Brazosport High School, where he composed the lyrics for the Brazosport High School Alma Mater. In 1969, Mr. Scoggins also composed the music and lyrics for the Brazoswood High School Alma Mater. Board members thanked Ms. Suggs-White for her presentation and voted unanimously to place commemorative plaques honoring Mr. Scoggins at Lake Jackson Intermediate School and Brazosport and Brazoswood High Schools.

May 12, 2007, Trustee Election
The Board of Trustees ordered an election to be held on Saturday, May 12, 2007, for the purpose of electing trustees to fill the expiring three-year terms of the following Board members:

Applications for a place on the ballot must be received by 5:00 p.m., Monday, March 12. Early voting by personal appearance will be conducted at the Velasco Community Center and the Clute Middle/Intermediate School Annex (across from the Clute Post Office) on weekdays and Saturday, beginning Monday, April 30, and continuing through Tuesday, May 8.

Un-designation of Reserves for Project Teach
The Board of Trustees voted to un-designate General Fund reserves currently designated for support of the Project Teach program and restore such funds to the District’s General Fund unreserved fund balance. In 2002, the Board of Trustees voted to direct $500,000 of Pepsi sponsorship payments in support of the Project Teach program. Subsequent to the Board’s action, the Brazosport Independent School District Education Foundation (the Foundation) was created, in part, to raise funds to support Project Teach. The Foundation’s annual “Diamonds and Denim” gala has been enormously successful since its inception and is currently providing the District with sufficient funding to support the District’s Project Teach commitments. The Board’s action will restore Pepsi sponsorship payments and associated interest earnings currently designated for support of the Project Teach program to “undesignated reserves,” available at the Board’s discretion for any lawful use.

TEA Class-Size Waiver
The Board of Trustees approved requesting a class-size waiver from the Texas Education Agency for Velasco Elementary School for the spring 2007 semester. The waiver request also includes a compliance plan describing steps being taken to bring the school into compliance with the 22:1 class size ratio.

TASB Policy Update 79
The Board of Trustees reviewed legal policy changes and voted to add, revise, or delete local policies, as included in Localized Policy Manual Update 79, and as recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).

Interlocal Agreement with Brazoria County
The Board of Trustees approved interlocal agreements with Brazoria County to re-grade and crown the Clute Little League playing field (Brazoswood High School practice field), spread crushed concrete behind the Lighthouse Learning Center alleyway, and spread crushed concrete for a parking area at Brazosport High School (maintenance facility). The agreements provide that the District will furnish all materials for the projects and that the County will supply the necessary equipment and operators.

Other Actions
In other actions, the Board approved the official minutes of the January 9, 2007, and January 22, 2007, Board meetings; approved the monthly financial statements for December 2006; awarded contracts for library books, audio visual equipment, and the leasing of educational broadband service channels (District as lessor); and approved a recommendation by the Brazoria County Property Tax Resale Committee to sell delinquent tax property held in trust by Brazoria County.