March 31, 2025 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 from Smithville Elementary who have received the most Tiger Tokens for the month will lead the group in the pledge. Those students are:
Renata Andrade-Soto Ian Rodriguez Levi Williamson Samuel Eller Ady Martinez Muniz Penelope Saunders Avery Johnson Bridger Little Nuehaus Joshua Washington Christian Brueggmann Cataleya Martinez Sandoval Rhett Neumann Victoria Flores Tamayo Rylee Paragas Novalie Tharp |
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D. Board Recognitions
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D.1. 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. Poppy Shuler and Easton Moore, both sixth graders, have been chosen as outstanding students for the 3rd nine-weeks from Smithville Junior High. Poppy is the daughter of Thomas and Toby Shuler, and Easton is the son of Brandon and Karry Moore. |
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D.2. Smithville Elementary Tigers of the Month
Description:
Smithville Elementary School is excited to celebrate outstanding students by introducing the "Tiger of the Month" recognition. Elementary staff will nominate students who exhibit characteristics such as kindness, strong character, and helpfulness. Each month, one or more exceptional students will be honored by the campus, recognized at the school board meeting, and will receive a special yard sign to proudly display at home.
The Tigers of the Month for this month are Loretta Warriner, Erin Huggins and Liam Dutil. |
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D.3. Recognition of Science Fair Winners
Description:
Smithville I.S.D. had a terrific showing at the Greater Austin Regional Science Fair on February 22nd.
We would like to recognize the students who placed as follows: 3rd Grade: 2nd place-Nicholas Gil, Kale Waneck, Cody Haney (Soda Explosion) (Kunz) 2nd place-Barrett Barrientos, Kyndall Smith, Keely Garrison, (The Dissolving Bath Bombs) (Kunz) 2nd Place-Collins Lawrence, Cora Williams, Sawyer Robbins (What Frozen Dessert Melts Faster) (Kunz) 2nd Place-Blake Hilbig, Gwen Magden (Favorite Treats) (Kaatz) 2nd Place-Weston Dominy (Rainbow Rubber Eggs) (Kunz) 4th Grade: 1st Place-Case Williams (The Big Bubble) (Rogers) 1st Place-Adyn Pera (Potatoes and Light) (Brockenbush) 2nd Place-Bailey Goertz, Kallie Herschap, Adlee Taylor (Expanding Orbeez) (Brockenbush) 2nd-Braxton Staton (Raising Rye Grass) (Rogers) 5th Grade: 1st Place-Alice Schwanke, Dakota Perez, Addison Wendel (Water Colors) (Armstrong) 2nd Place-Zoey Clanton, Aubree Meadows, Mason Buckner (Apple, Lemon and Potato Circuit) (Armstrong) 2nd Place-Aubrey Harper, Vincent Trevino, Kylie Gonzalez (Clear Liquid Evaporation) (Armstrong) 2nd Place-Lucas Gibson, Camora Coleman, Caree Oertli (Penny Project) (Armstrong) 3rd Place-Lyzander Lucher, Aiden Rogers, Zayver Hibbens-Terrases (How Far do Ballons Go) (Armstrong) |
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D.4. 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: Ashley Ladewig - Brown Primary Paraprofessional Crystal Heimann - Smithville Elementary Teacher Christie Mick - Smithville Junior High Office Paraprofessional Mark Broadway - Smithville High School Teacher Guadalupe Barragan Luna - Child Nutrition |
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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.
Attached are the minutes from the February 24, 2025 regular board meeting.
Attachments:
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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.
Attachments:
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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.
Attachments:
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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 business manager, Stacy Tiner, will review the financial disbursements for the previous month with the Board of Trustees. No action is required.
Attachments:
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G.2. Superintendent's Report
Description:
The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.
March Superintendent Report
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G.3. Smithville ISD Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Update
Description:
Dr. Logan, Assistant Superintendent, will give a regular progress report/update on the Smithville I.S.D. Strategic Plan.
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G.4. Smithville Southside History Project
Description:
Alta Yevett Alexander addressed the Board in public communications at the regular February board meeting regarding the Smithville Southside History Project. This project is being sponsored by the City of Smithville. Ms. Alexander asked to be placed on the March agenda to allow her to speak about the project in more depth.
Attachments:
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G.5. Review of 2025-2026 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.
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G.6. Tentative April Agenda Items
Description:
Tentative items to be included in the April meeting are:
a. Financial Report b. Superintendent’s Report c. Smithville ISD Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Update d. Update from BEFCO Engineering about the SISD drainage project e. Consider Custodial Contract Renewal f. Consider Approval of Certification of Provision of Instructional Materials Survey 2025-2026 g. Resignations and Employment of Certified Personnel |
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H. Action Items
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H.1. Consider Adoption of an Order Authorizing and Providing for the
Defeasance and Redemption of Certain Outstanding Obligations of Smithville Independent School District; Authorizing the Execution of an Escrow Agreement; and Containing Other Provisions Related Thereto
Description:
Consider adoption of an order authorizing and providing for the defeasance and redemption of certain outstanding obligations of Smithville Independent School District; authorizing the execution of an escrow agreement; and containing other provisions related thereto.
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H.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. The Board voted to renew the contract in January 2023, and in January 2024. The recommendation is approval once again for the 2024-2025 school year.
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H.3. Consider Bank Depository Contract Extension
Description:
The District is required to bid for depository services every two years. However, if the district is eligible and elects to extend the current contract, Board action is required. The Board approved First National Bank as its depository in May 2021. The District has received outstanding service from them and it is our recommendation for the Board of Trustees to extend the depository contract with First National Bank of Bastrop for the period September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2025.
The District is eligible for another two-year extension to end August 31, 2027. Administration recommends extension of a contract with First National Bank of Bastrop.
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H.4. Superintendent Search Update
Description:
This will be a recurring agenda item. No action is required at this time.
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H.5. Consider Resolution Urging Support from Our Elected Legislators
Description:
In reference to Education Savings Account.
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H.6. Personnel
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H.6.a. Resignations of Certified Personnel
Description:
The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignation of Valerie Breeden, a teacher at the high school, effective the end of the school year.
No action is required. |
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H.6.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.
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H.6.c. Consider and Take Action Regarding Certified 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.
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I. 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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