April 15, 2024 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 representing the House System at Smithville Elementary will lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Those students are:
1st Grade: Olivia Miller, Rebecca Huggins, Edilberto Olalde 2nd Grade: Jada Hall, Bridger Little-Neuhaus, Dalton Gartman 3rd Grade: Keatyn Becker, Tyler Jones, Riley Navarro 4th Grade: Bryce Goodwin, Whitley Ladewig, Almaguer Ledezma 5th Grade: Olivia Larkin, Luke Fowler, Lyzander Luther |
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D. Board Recognitions
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D.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 character trait for April is curiosity.
This month the Board will hear from Cameron Gaither, a fourth grade student in Ms. Rogers class, and Anthony Fajardo, a fifth grade student in Ms. Hall's class. |
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E. 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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F. 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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F.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.
Included in the board packet are the minutes from the March 25, 2024 regular meeting.
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F.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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F.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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F.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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F.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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F.6. Tax Collection Report
Description:
Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.
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G. Information Items
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G.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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G.2. Superintendent's Report
Description:
The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.
April Superintendent Report
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G.3. SISD Instructional/Curriculum Program Highlight - College Career and Military Readiness Update
Description:
The Board will be presented with curriculum and program area highlights on a regular basis. The purpose of each presentation is to keep the Board informed of the academic and/or program progress within the district and on campuses.
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G.4. Review 2024-2025 High School Course Catalog
Description:
Administrators from the high school review and edit the course catalog on an annual basis for the upcoming school year. A report will be given to the Board of Trustees and updates or changes will be noted. Most changes are typically due to legislative mandate and the course catalog provides information for students and parents to select required courses as well as elective courses. The information is also used to determine staff and budget.
The Board of Trustees reviewed the course catalog at its regular meeting in March. Staff made edits and additions, and the final draft is being presented for review.
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G.5. Report Board Member Continuing Education Hours
Description:
Board Policy BBD [Legal] and 19 TAC 61.61 requires the Board President to announce the name of each Board member who has completed the required continuing education, who has exceeded the required hours of continuing education, and who is deficient in the required continuing education. This announcement is required annually. The Board President must announce Board members’ continuing education hours at the last regular meeting prior to the next board election, shall cause the minutes to reflect the information, and shall make this information available to the local media.
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G.6. Tentative May Agenda Items
Description:
Tentative items to be included on the May agenda are:
1. Issue Oath of Office for New Board Members 2. Reorganization of the Board of Trustees 3. Recognition of State Qualifiers 4. Recognition of Outstanding Students for the 4th-9-Weeks 5. Recognition of Tiger Award Winners 6. Financial Report 7. Superintendent's Report 8. Graduation Procedures 9. 2023-2024 Dress Code 10. Consider Amendment of Signatures on Bank Depository 11. Revised 2023-2024 Salary Schedules 12. High School Security Fence RFP 13. Resignations and Employment of Certified Personnel |
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H. Closed Session
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H.1. Consultation with Legal Counsel Regarding OCR Complaint Ref. No. 06-20-1228
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I. Action Items
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I.1. Consideration and Possible Action Regarding OCR Complaint Ref. No. 06-20-1228
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I.2. Consider Request by the Texas Department of Transportation for Potential Sale of State-Owned Property
Description:
Smithville ISD is in receipt of the following communication from the Texas Department of Transportation:
Potential Sale of State-Owned Property +/- 0.8813 acres: D14-011-512 SL 230@Faulkner Road, Smithville, Bastrop Co, TX 78957 The Austin District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has determined that the above-described property is no longer needed for state highway purposes. A copy of the survey of the property is attached. In accordance with Texas Transportation Code 202.01, governmental entities with the authority to condemn the real property have a priority right to purchase TxDOT real property that is sold, and this letter is a notice of your right to purchase this property. The purchase price for this property is FIFTY-ONE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED and No/100 DOLLARS ($51,600.00), plus survey costs, appraisal costs, and any additional incurred closing costs, including the cost of any owner's title insurance policy that may be required. This transaction is subject to change or cancelation by TxDOT. Furthermore, the conveyance will be made subject to any easements for access to a right of way, implied or otherwise, appurtenant to any and all properties abutting the property being sold. To exercise your priority, you must provide TxDOT a written election statement of your entity's intent to purchase the property on these terms, within thirty (30) days of the receipt of this letter. If TxDOT does not receive a written election statement, TxDOT will consider your right to purchase the property waived. If the priority holder is not interested in purchasing the property, please return the attached waiver prior to the automatic 30-day waiver. Mr. Tim Sanders with BEFCO Engineering will be present at the meeting to answer any questions.
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I.3. Approval of Expenditure in Excess of $50,000
Description:
The purpose of this agenda item is to authorize the purchase of a new marquee at the high school.
This request is currently not budgeted and would require the use of fund balance to get the project completed. Mrs. McCarthy and Mr. Harris will be available for discussion on this project.
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I.4. Call for Special Meeting to Canvass Results of May 4, 2024 Regular Election
Description:
The election for board trustees is Saturday, May 4, 2024. Chapter 67, subchapter 67.003 of the election code requires the Board of Trustees to canvass the results no earlier than the third day after the election and no later than the eleventh day after the election. Bastrop County Elections has suggested that we schedule our canvass for Tuesday, May 14th to allow for "cure" of any provisional ballots. We propose to call a special meeting to canvass the May 4, 2024 election results for Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Two board members are considered a quorum for the canvass.
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I.5. Personnel
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I.5.a. Resignations of Certified Personnel
Description:
The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignations of:
Karley Snyder - teacher at Brown Primary, Stephanie Foster - principal at Smithville Elementary, Amaris White - teacher at Smithville Elementary, and Charles Hodge, Jordan Trahan, Sergio Garcia and Michael Shane Savoie - teacher/coaches at Smithville High School. |
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I.5.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.
Cydney Marlow - Teacher/Head Volleyball Coach Education - Criminal Justice at Texas Christian University Certification - pending Years of Experience - 0 years Campus - Smithville High School Shannon Munson -Teacher/Coach Degree - Bachelor of Science from University of North Texas Certification - Special Education EC-12, PE EC-12 Years of Experience - 17 years Campus - Smithville High School Lenard Mayo - Teacher/Coach Degree - Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University Certification - Sec. Biology 6-12, PE EC-12 Years of Experience - 27 years Campus - Smithville High School Paul-Jason Quinters - Teacher/Coach Degree - MS from Southeastern Oklahoma State University Certification - History 7-12, SpEd Supplemental 7-12 Years of Experience - 6 years Campus - Smithville High School Lance Neumann - Teacher/Coach Degree - BS from Texas State University Certification - PE EC-12, Generalist 4-8 Years of Experience - 12 years Campus - Smithville High School Caralisa Mayo - Teacher Degree - BS from Tarleton State University Certification - Mathematics 4-8, Elementary English 1-8, Elementary Self-Contained 1-8, Elementary Reading 1-8 Years of Experience - 26 years Campus - Smithville Junior High School Courtenay Gulley - Teacher Degree - ME from the University of Houston Certification - Elementary Self-Contained 1-8, Elementary Speech Communications 1-8, Generalist - EC-4, ESL Supplemental EC-8, Gifted and Talented Supplemental EC-8 Years of Experience - 14 years Campus - Smithville Elementary School Nicole Cartledge - Teacher Degree - BS from UT Austin Certification - ESL Generalist EC-4, Generalist EC-4 Years of Experience - 16 years Campus - Smithville Elementary School Jacqueline Tucker - Teacher Degree - BBA from Texas State University Certification - Generalist EC-6, Special Education Supplemental EC-6, ESL Supplemental EC-6 Years of Experience - 6 years Campus - Smithville Elementary School |
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I.5.c. Consider and Take Action Regarding Staff Contract Renewals
Description:
The administrators of the district have submitted to the office of the superintendent their recommendations for contract renewal of existing certified staff members. The Board of Trustees is the final hiring authority for certified contract employees for Smithville I.S.D. and will act upon the recommendations for renewal of certified staff as presented by the Superintendent. According to Texas Government Code §573.062, employees affected by the nepotism laws would have to abstain from voting on the contract (or salary) of a spouse or family member if that action applies only to the individual and is not taken regarding a bona fide class or category of employees. Therefore, according to code, we will need one motion for approval of faculty contracts.
The Superintendent recommends renewal of current contracts, including addendums, for the 2024-2025 school year for the following personnel: Arnold Cavazos, Jennifer Holmes, Andrew Lowery, Bethany Collins, Leah Stinson, and Jenny Martinez. |
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J. Closed Session Disclaimer - During the course of the meeting, the Board of Trustees may conduct a closed meeting in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Subchapter D and E. Decisions may be made as a result of executive session.
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