September 27, 2023 at 6:30 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  The State Board of Education passed an amendment to 19 TAC§129.21 0). Requirements for Student Attendance Accounting for State Funding Purposes allows public school students to be considered "in attendance" when participating in
off-campus activities with an adjunct staff member of the school district. Section 3 of the Student Attendance Handbook states:
(1) The student is participating in an activity that is approved by the local board of school trustees and is under the direction of a member of the professional or paraprofessional staff of the school district, or an adjunct staff member.

STRATEGIC GOAL: Every student will share ownership in their learning to achieve success and reach their full potential.

ITEM ADDRESSED: Extracurricular Status of 4-H Organization

BUDGET INFORMATION: There is no financial implication.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: (Consent Agenda) I move that the Board adopt the Resolution for Extension Agents (Agrilife Employees) of Williamson County be recognized as adjunct faculty of Jarrell ISD and that currently enrolled 4-H members under their supervision be eligible for extracurricular participation and subject to all rules and regulations set forth for extracurricular participation.
 

Description:  Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 11, 2023 to be Texas Education Human Resources Day. The Texas Association of School Personnel Administrators (TASPA) encourages each local school district to recognize its district's Human Resources Department for the vital role that human resources professionals play in ensuring that Texas students have excellent teachers, administrators, auxiliary and support staff in our schools.

 

Description: 

Educators equip our next generation of leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. The Texas education system depends upon the leadership of dedicated principals, who guide their schools to excellence. The commitment, discipline, and support that principals provide ensure student success.

Principals must fulfill many needs to make schools effective and to promote student accomplishment. In collaboration with teachers and staff, principals set high academic standards, adopt best practices, and assure compliance with state and federal requirements. Effective principals also function as communicators, policymakers, disciplinarians, and budget analysts. Principals' devotion to their schools make me proud to call them fellow Texans.

Each year, the month of October is set aside to honor principals and to recognize the indispensable role they play in our educational system. The Lone Star State is indebted to principals, who represent the best of Texas values.

At this time, I encourage all Texans to learn more about the many contributions and accomplishments of elementary, middle, and high school principals across our state. Principals' drive for excellence will ensure that Texas' future will be better and brighter for all.

Therefore, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim October 2023 to be Principal Appreciation Month

 

Description: 

The Texas Legislature enacted House Bill 3033, which requires school districts to approve up to ten business days (exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and state holidays) the district is closed during the calendar year for purposes of the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), codified in Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. The TPIA requires government entities to promptly produce public information to the requester within ten business days of the request.

House Bill 3033 provides that the Board of Trustees of a school district may designate up to ten days in each calendar year as non-business days, on which the governmental entity’s administrative offices are closed or operating with minimum staffing, but are not national or state holidays.

Item Addressed:  Request to respond to House Bill 3033 to designate the following dates as non-business days.

2023 November 20, 21, 22 (Thanksgiving Break)

December 22, 26, 27, 28 (Winter Break)

2024 March 11,12,13 (Spring Break)

Budget Information: N/A

Recommended Action:  

Staff recommends the approval of non-business days for this academic year.

Description:  A committee was formed to develop recommendations for naming the New Middle School #2.  The attached presentation summarizes the process the committee used to develop naming options.    

The top 3 name choices offered by the Committee to the Board follows:
 

1. Limestone Ranch Middle School
2. Oak Ranch Middle School
3. Pioneer Ranch Middle School

Board Action is required to designate the name for the New Middle School #2.

Strategic Goal:

Item Addressed:

Budget Information:

None

Recommended Action:

Staff recommends approval of one of the three names proposed by the Committee. 
 

Description:  There were four Board of Trustees positions up for the November 7, 2023 election:  Place 1, Place 2, Place 3, and Place 6.  The deadline to apply has passed and Place 1, Cliff Tschoerner was unopposed; Place 2, Crystal Phalen, was unopposed; Place 6, Jenny Arnold, was unopposed.  Therefore, the Board is requested to accept the Certification of Unopposed Candidate before the election of Place 1, Place 2, and Place 6.  Place 3 did not have any candidates.  The election is able to be canceled. 

Description:  Ballot listings for unopposed candidates declared elected:  Senate Bill 1 requires that unopposed races for cities, schools and other local political subdivisions be declared elected and the elections for those offices be canceled.  Jarrell ISD is required to cancel Place 1, Place 2, Place 3, and Place 6 because it is unopposed and there are no opposed at-large races within the JISD election. 

Description:  Background:  Campuses are rated annually using an A-F letter grade as part of a system that relies heavily on performance measures, methods and procedures rooted in students’ performance on the state’s annual standardized assessment, STAAR. TEA and Commissioner of Education Mike Morath have yet to solidify the rules of methodologies, as required by law, that will be used to evaluate public schools for the 2022-23 or 2023-24 school years. It’s important to note that this score is derived from the preceding year and is also expected to be influenced by recent changes.

Consider and Take Possible Action to Approve the Filing of Litigation Regarding the A-F Accountability System and Join as an Intervenor in the Lawsuit Captioned Kingsville Independent School District, et al. v. Mike Morath, in his Official Capacity as Commissioner of Education, Civil Action No. D-1-GN-23-004675, in the 419th Judicial District Court, Travis County, Texas