May 19, 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:
Jesus Cervantes Jaimes Osvaldo Torres Camree Oertil Sullivan Brantley Ryan Gaither Tessa Barragan Xavier Breckles Savannah Tisdell Barrett Barrientos Brant Staton Jase Fuqua Jaquelyn Gonzales Bryson Bales Anderson Ansley Dawson Wyatt Hall |
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D. Administer Statement of Officer to Elected Trustees
Description:
Article XVI, section 1 of the Texas Constitution requires all elected or appointed state and local officers to take the official oath of office and to subscribe to the anti-bribery statement (Form 2201-Statement of Officer) before entering upon the duties of their office. Local officers must retain the signed statement with the official records of the office.
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E. Oath of Office for Newly Elected or Re-Elected Board Members
Description:
"Before entering upon the duties of the office of Board of Trustee, the Trustee shall take the oath or affirmation of office and shall file it with the President of the Board." Education Code 11.061; Tex. Const. Art. XVI, Sec. 1
At the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees in January the Board called for its regular election to be held on May 3, 2025. The election was canceled due to lack of opposition to current incumbents. However, in accordance with the election code, the new (returning) Board members, Candice Parsons, Place 5, Joshua Magden, Place 6, and Michael Hancock, Place 7, will be sworn in at the next regular meeting following the regular election date, which is May 19, 2025. Denise Behrens, acting in her capacity as a public notary, will administer the oath of office for the newly elected School Board Trustees. |
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F. Reorganization of the Board of Trustees
Description:
Board policies BDAA [Legal] and BDAA [Local] specify that the Board will elect a president, vice-president, and secretary at the first meeting after each election and qualification of Trustees.
Board Operating Procedures adopted by the Board in June of 2024 specify the criteria for Board officers and the process for selecting Board officers. Any member of the Board may nominate a trustee member for an officer position. No Board member can hold an officer position without one-year minimum Board experience. Board officers shall be elected by plurality vote of the members present and voting. Board officers shall serve for a term of one year or until a successor is elected. Officers may succeed themselves in office. For information purposes: Chris Hinnant - elected as President in May 2023, has served two terms. Grant Gutierrez - elected as Vice-President in May 2023, has served two terms. Josh Magden, elected as Secretary in May 2024, has served one term. |
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G. Board Recognitions
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G.1. Recognition of Student Achievements
Description:
Once again, our hats are off to the outstanding achievements of the students at Smithville I.S.D., as well as their instructors.
We would like to recognize the following Smithville ISD State Level Competition Accomplishments: Smithville Junior High We are proud of all of our students and the recognition they have earned for Smithville schools, and are pleased to take this opportunity to recognize them. |
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G.2. Recognition of Outstanding Students for the Fourth 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.
Emma Saunders, a sixth grader, and Manuel Camacho, an eighth grader, have been selected as the outstanding students for the fourth nine-weeks from Smithville Junior High. Emma is the daughter of Tyler and Lindsey Saunders, and Manuel is the son of Felipe and Frances Camacho. Two students have been selected as outstanding students from Smithville High School for the fourth nine-weeks. They are Briyanna Sampson and Tyler Gigout. Briyanna is an eleventh grader and the daughter of Burtis and Bridget Sampson. Tyler is a ninth grader and the son of Brandon and Holly Gigout. Our congratulations to all of these students! |
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G.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.
The following employees received the Tiger Award for the fourth 9-weeks: Deana Zimmerhanzel - paraprofessional at Brown Primary Dakota Hajek - paraprofessional at Smithville Elementary Briley Johnson - paraprofessional at Smithville Junior High Tessa Otten - teacher at Smithville High School Theresa Ritchie - ARD Facilitator for the district Congratulations to our amazing staff! |
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H. Communications from the Public
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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I. 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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I.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 April 21, 2025 regular board meeting, the April 22, 2025 special board meeting and the May 15, 2025 special board meeting.
Attachments:
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I.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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I.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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I.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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I.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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I.6. Tax Collection Report
Description:
Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.
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I.7. Re-designation of Fund Balance Funds
Description:
The strategic object, goal or need addressed by this agenda item is to continue to practice 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 $5,134,589. Our current projected fund balance is $10,662,293, which is 5,527,704 in excess of our optimal fund balance goal. We currently have $2,455,770 (45%) of our excess designated to Capital Projects and $540,000 (10%) of our excess designated to Capital Projects - Tiger Stadium Maintenance.
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I.8. Budget Amendments
Description:
Budget Amendments allow for properly appropriated funds for the necessary expenditures of the District. Budget Amendments on the function level require Board approval.
The business office provides monthly monitoring and reporting to the Board of Trustees of potential areas that require amendment and the reasons they are necessary.
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J. Information Items
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J.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.
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J.2. Superintendent's Report
Description:
The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.
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J.3. Graduation Ceremony Procedures
Description:
High School Graduation will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. at Tiger Stadium in Smithville, Texas. The Board is invited as a group to participate in the ceremony. Mr. Tucker Copeland, high school principal, will be present at the board meeting to go over the events of graduation night.
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J.4. Tentative June Agenda Items
Description:
Tentative items to be included on the June regular agenda:
a. Financial Report b. Superintendent’s Report c. First Draft of the 2025-2026 District Budget d. Technology Report e. SISD Strategic Plan 2023-2027 Update f. Schedule Board Meeting Dates for 2025-2026 g. Consider Approval of Student Dress Code h. Consider Approval of 2025-2026 Salary Schedules i. Board Self-Evaluation j Personnel |
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K. Action Items
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K.1. Discussion and consideration of an interlocal agreement with the City of Smithville and Bastrop County for the Community Development Block-Grant-Mitigation (MOD)
Description:
At the regular board meeting in April, Robert Tamble, with the City of Smithville, Tim Sanders, with BEFCO Engineering, and Clara Becket, with Bastrop County, presented information about a grant received and the potential partnership with Smithville ISD to utilize the funds available. The grant would pay for upgrades and an additional retention pond for possible future growth. The detention pond will help with the continued need for drainage. After discussion, the Board of Trustees decided to place the item on the May agenda for possible action.
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K.2. Consider and Approve Superintendent Resignation Agreement
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K.3. Consider Approval to Amend Signatures on Bank Depository
Description:
As a result of the reorganization of the Board of Trustees there will possibly be a change in officers. The Board President and the Board Secretary must be authorized to sign on the District accounts at First National Bank, the District’s depository.
With the hiring of a new Superintendent, it is necessary to add Dr. Perry as an authorized signer on the District accounts at First National Bank and remove Cheryl Burns, former Superintendent, effective June 3, 2025. |
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K.4. Designate Investment Officers
Description:
With the employment of a new Business Manager, Stacy Tiner, and a new Superintendent, we would like to ensure that Smithville ISD meets Section 2256.005(f) of the Public Funds Investment Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 2256) in regard to designating investment officers for the district. Historically, the Superintendent and Business Manager have been designated as the investment officers. For the 2024-2025 school year, we are designating Stacy Tiner (Business Manager) and the newly hired Superintendent as investment officers for Smithville I.S.D.
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K.5. Remove Superintendent Currently Listed as User for TexPool, Lone Star Investments, First National Bank and all other Financial Accounts Associated with Smithville I.S.D., and Add New Superintendent as of June 3, 2025
Description:
Due to the retirement of Superintendent Cheryl Burns the district representative for TexPool, Lone Star Investments, First National Bank and all other financial accounts associated with Smithville I.S.D. will be Superintendent Molley Perry, as of June 3, 2025.
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K.6. Approval of Expenditure in Excess of $50,000
Description:
The purpose of this agenda item is to authorize expenditure for an upgrade to the speaker system at Tiger Stadium.
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K.7. Consider Appointment of Delegate to Represent Smithville ISD at the 2025 TASA/TASB Convention Delegate Assembly
Description:
The TASB Delegate Assembly is a crucial component of the Association’s governance structure. Each active member (school board) of the Association is entitled to have a delegate and an alternate attend the Assembly and cast our district’s vote on action items coming before the Assembly.
The TASA/TASB Convention this year is September 11-14, 2025 and will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. The 2025 Delegate Assembly will meet on Saturday, September 13th. |
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K.8. Distribution of Board Self-Evaluation Materials
Description:
The Board President will set a date for the completed Board Self-Assessment Instrument to be returned for tabulation. The instrument is included as an attachment in the packet for the Board’s convenience. The Board will address its self-evaluation at the regular June meeting.
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L. Personnel
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L.1. Resignations of Certified Personnel
Description:
The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignations of Alfonso Vasquez, teacher at Smithville Elementary, and Caralisa Mayo, teacher at Smithville Junior High.
No action is required. |
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L.2. 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.
The Superintendent recommends hiring the following individuals: Angie Westerfield - Brown Primary Principal Degree - Doctorate - Ed. D. from Texas Tech University Certification - Elementary 1-8, Principal EC-12, Superintendent EC-12 Years of Experience - 13 years administrative, 21 years teaching Campus - Brown Primary To replace Sarah Vinklarek Johnathan Sample - Teacher Degree - Master of Education from Texas State University Certification - Generalist EC-4, ESL Supplemental EC-4 Years of Experience - 13 years Campus - Smithville Elementary To replace Debbie Blackwell Michele Mathis - Teacher Degree - Bachelor of Science from Texas State University Certification - Generalist 4-8, Generalist EC-4, ESL Supplemental EC-8 Years of Experience - 20 years Campus - Smithville Elementary To replace Jessie Margolis Maddison Stafford - Teacher Degree - Bachelor of Science from the University of Houston Certification - Core Subjects with STR EC-6, ESL Supplemental EC-6 Years of Experience - 4 years Campus - Smithville Elementary To replace Amber Garcia Ruben Garcia - Teacher Degree - Master of Arts from UT Brownsville Certification - Social Studies 4-8, Social Studies 8-12, History 8-12 Years of Experience - 14 years Campus - Smithville Junior High To replace Brian Mack Rolando Riojas - Teacher Degree - Bachelor of Science from Texas State University Certification - Elem. Bilingual/ESL Spanish 1-8, Elem. Self-Contained 1-8, Se. Spanish 6-12 Years of Experience - 20 years Campus - Smithville High School Unfilled position from 2023-2024 Martha DeLeon - Educational Diagnostician Degree - Master of Education from UT Pan Am Certification - Special Education EC-12 Years of Experience - 13 as an Educational Diagnostician, 5 as a teacher Campus - District-wide To replace contracted position Alicia Sexton - Assistant Principal Degree - Bachelor of Science from Oklahoma Wesleyan University Certification - Generalist 4-8 Years of Experience - 13 years (teacher) Campus - Smithville High School To replace Brenda Rickets Dustyn Nelson - Teacher Degree - Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science Certification - Alternative Certification Years of Service - 0 years Campus - Smithville Junior High To replace Mark Wolf The Superintendent recommends renewal of current contracts, including addendums, for the 2025-2026 school year for the following personnel: Cheyenne Peavy - Smithville Elementary School |
