January 24, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting
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A. Call to Order
Description:
The Board President or his/her designee will call the meeting to order.
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B. Roll Call
Description:
The Board President or his/her designee will call the roll of members.
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C. Student Led Pledge of Allegiance
Description:
Students who are currently top point earners from the House of Loyalty at Smithville Elementary will lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. They are:
Ben Metcalf - 3rd |
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D. Public Hearing - Texas Academic Performance Report
Description:
Texas Education Code 39 requires every school district’s Board of Trustees to: (a) publish an annual report describing the district’s educational performance on the TAPR or Texas Academic Performance Report indicators (and include the campus performance objectives); (b) hold a hearing for public discussion of the report; and (c) widely disseminate the report within the district.
The district staff has prepared and published the 2020-2021 Texas Academic Performance Report. Dr. Michael Caudill will present the report to the Board of Trustees. A copy of the report has been provided to each board member, and copies of the report will be placed in libraries in the district, the city library, the chamber of commerce and the city hall. The report will also be placed on the district web site.
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E. Board Recognitions
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E.1. Character Education Speakers
Description:
Student guest speakers will be present at each board meeting to read a short essay on the Character Trait of the Month. The guest speakers for this month are Camora Coleman, a second-grade student in Ms. Garbe's class, .Marissa Winegarner, a third-grader in Mrs. Saffel's class, Dawsyn Behrens, a third-grader in Mrs. Peacock's class, and Grace Silvey, a fifth-grader in Ms. Curtis' class. These students will read their essays about Confidence.
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E.2. Recognition of Outstanding Students for the Nine-Weeks
Description:
Each nine-weeks the middle school and high school faculties select an outstanding student from their respective campus. Students are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 on such criteria as grades, honesty, enthusiasm, cooperation with teachers and their peers, class participation and leadership. Jessica Dixon and Tyler Gigout have been chosen as outstanding students for the second nine-weeks from Smithville Junior High. Jessica is in 7th grade and is the daughter of Tim Dixon and Heidi Erwin. Tyler is a 6th grader and is the son of Brandon and Holly Gigout. |
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E.3. Tiger Award Recipient Recognition
Description:
Tiger Award recipients are nominated by peers. Each campus and department will nominate a representative. Final nominations will be voted on by a select committee. Each campus and department will have an award winner that will be recognized at the board meeting every 9-weeks.
Tiger Award winners: Brown Primary - Bridget Sampson (Paraprofessional) Smithville Elementary - Cory Williams (Counselor) Smithville Junior High - Kim Hendrix (Nurse Assistant) Smithville High School - Kevin Mahoney (Special Education) ISD - Isaac Martinez (Transportation) |
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F. Public Communications
Description:
Citizens wishing to address the Board of Trustees have so indicated by listing their name on the Communications from the Public sign-in sheet located on the table at the entrance to the boardroom if the meeting is done in person, or at the link provided on the published board agenda if conducted remotely. Those signing have given a brief indication of the topics to be addressed.
Comments to the Board of Trustees under this provision will be limited to three minutes. The members of the Board of Trustees will listen to citizen presentations during this portion of a regularly scheduled meeting, but they will not comment or participate in a discussion of the topic. |
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G. Consent Agenda
Description:
Board members routinely approve items on the consent agenda as a group. These are routine agenda items. Board members have the option to ask questions regarding any of the items listed under "consent agenda".
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G.1. Minutes
Description:
State law requires that a record be kept in the form of official minutes on each meeting held by a governmental body and that these minutes be approved at the next regular meeting.
Attached are the minutes from the December 13, 2021 regular meeting.
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G.2. Financial Statements
Description:
Monthly reporting of financial position in relation to the budget. The Board is provided monthly financial statements.
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G.3. Investment Report
Description:
Meet legal reporting requirements for investments.
In order the meet legal reporting requirements for investments, the Board receives quarterly reports on District investments.
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G.4. State Aid Comparison - Budgeted vs. Earned
Description:
The Board has requested a monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget.
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G.5. Earned vs. TEA Payments
Description:
The Board has requested a monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget.
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G.6. Tax Collection Report
Description:
Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.
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G.7. Bond Payments Resolution
Description:
First National Bank and LoneStar Investment Pool, depositories for Smithville ISD, require that the Board pass a resolution each time we wire transfer our bond payment.
Attached is a resolution for the Board’s approval.
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G.8. Re-designation of Fund Balance Funds
Description:
The strategic object, goal or need addressed by this agenda item is to continue to proactice designating 85% of the surplus (unassigned) fund balance to future Smithville ISD Capital Projects.
Per our approved Fund Balance Policy, Smithville ISD has a 3-month Optimal Fund Balance goal of $4,952,177. Our current projected fund balance is $8,945,251, which is 3,993,074 in excess of our optimal fund balance goal. We currently have $1,941,488 (49%) of our excess designated to Capital Projects and $255,000 (6%) of our excess designated to Capital Projects - Tiger Stadium Maintenance.
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H. Information Items
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H.1. Financial Report
Description:
The Chief Financial Officer, Jean Ann McCarthy, will review the financial disbursements for the previous month with the Board of Trustees. No action is required.
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H.2. Superintendent's Report
Description:
The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.
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H.3. COVID-19 Update
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H.4. Tentative February Agenda Items
Description:
Tentative items to be included on the February agenda are:
a. Financial Report b. Superintendent’s Report c. Covid-19 Report d. ESSER III/Continuity of Services Update e. Review and Approve 2022-2023 District Calendar f. Personnel g. Administrative Contract Review/Renewal |
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I. Action Items
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I.1. Consideration and Possible Action on Resolution to Approve/Disapprove Proposed Renovation of Bastrop Central Appraisal District Office of Facilities
Description:
The Bastrop CAD Board of Directors are seeking approval from the SISD Board of Trustees for a proposed renovation/remodel of the appraisal office facilities. In order for the appraisal district to proceed forward they will need approval of 8 of the 10 voting entities within 30 days of receipt of proposal. The official Notice of Proposal for Bastrop CAD Facilities is included in this board packet. The Notice of Proposal contains the history of the facility and why renovation is needed. It also contains the estimated cost of the project, the district's proposal to use committed reserves and the estimated funds sought for the 2023 budget.
Chief Appraiser, Faun Cullens will be in attendance to answer questions from the Board of Trustees.
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I.2. Consider Approval of Audit Engagement Letter
Description:
In accordance with Texas Education Agency requirements and law the district is required to have an annual financial audit performed. In 2021, the Board of Trustees voted to approve the firm of Armstrong, Vaughan & Associates, PC.
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I.3. Possible Action on High School HVAC
Description:
E&C Engineers & Consultants were hired by Smithville ISD to inspect the existing mechanical infrastructure and design at the high school to resolve the air conditioning issue. The life expectancy of an ERU is approximately 7 - 12 years. Our current ERU's are approaching 20 years. Mr. Harris presented at the December 6, 2021 Board Workshop that the estimated costs for the options would be between $500,000 - $1,000,000.
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I.4. Order of Board of Trustees Election for May 7, 2022
Description:
State statute requires that annually each governing body call for an election to be held in accordance with existing election law. The Smithville Independent School District Board of Trustees, being a governing body and electing representatives by place, must call for the election.
The Smithville Independent School District Board of Trustees has established the first Saturday in May as its regular election date. This year, the election falls on Saturday, May 7, 2022. Three places are up for election. They are: Place 5 - Candice Parsons Place 6 - Mike Davis, Jr. Place 7 - Howard Burns, Jr. An election calendar is attached for member information, as well the actual Order of Election.
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I.5. Consider Approval of Election Services Contract with Bastrop County and Joint Election Agreement with the City of Smithville
Description:
As of January 2006, Smithville ISD has been contracting election services with the County of Bastrop. Since that time, the Bastrop County Elections Administrator has overseen all elections ordered by the school district for a 10% administrative fee. The total cost of the May election for Smithville ISD including supplies, polling place personnel, administrative fee, etc. is estimated at $8,924.72 The district would like to continue to contract elections services from Bastrop County.
According to Chapter 271 of the Election Code, school districts are required to hold their elections jointly with the municipality located within the district. Smithville I.S.D. would like to continue its practice of holding a joint election with the City of Smithville in compliance with election code. A copy of the contract for services including the joint election agreement is attached to the packet for the Board’s review.
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I.6. Consider Approval of Election Services Contract with Fayette County
Description:
As of January 2006, Smithville ISD has been contracting election services with the County of Bastrop. Since that time, the Bastrop County Elections Administrator has overseen all elections ordered by the school district and will continue to do so for voters who reside within the county. However, Bastrop County Elections has taken action to approve a county-wide polling program, which means that any voter of any jurisdiction located in Bastrop County is allowed to cast a vote in any polling place in that county.
Currently, Smithville ISD has 169 voters who reside in Fayette County. The elections administrator for Bastrop County has notified us that they will no longer be able to provide services for our Fayette County voters as of the May 2022 election, due to implementation of the county-wide polling program. The concern is that it would be difficult to monitor voter residence for multiple counties at such a large number of polling places. Fayette County Elections has kindly agreed to contract services for SISD constituents who reside in Fayette County for an estimated $360. The proposed contract is included in the board packet for approval.
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I.7. Personnel
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I.7.a. Resignations of Certified Personnel
Description:
The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignation of Shawna Randall, teacher/coach at the high school, effective the end of the current teaching contract.
No action is required. |
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I.7.b. Employment of Certified Personnel
Description:
According to Board Policy DC [Local], the Superintendent has the authority to make recommendations to the Board regarding the selection of all personnel.
Andrew Lowery - Science Teacher Degree - Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from UT Austin Certification - pending Years of Experience - 0 years Campus - Smithville High School Mr. Lowery will be hired under the District of Innovation |
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I.8. Superintendent's Annual Evaluation
Description:
Board Policy BJCD [Local] requires an annual evaluation of the superintendent. The Board received a self-evaluation of the superintendent at the December meeting. Board operating procedures call for the Board to complete the evaluation document and deliver the evaluation to the superintendent in closed session.
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I.9. Superintendent's Employment Contract Renewal
Description:
The superintendent is currently in the first year of a three-year contract continuing through August 1, 2024. According to state law, the Board employs a superintendent by contract to serve the school district for a term not to exceed five years. The superintendent’s current annual salary is $141,360. Board members will discuss the contract in closed session but official action may only take place in open session of the board meeting
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