Monday, April 15, 2024 6:00 PM - Agenda Review Meeting
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1. CALL TO ORDER AND ESTABLISH QUORUM
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2. PLEDGES OF ALLEGIANCE / MOMENT OF SILENCE
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3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
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4. RECOGNITIONS
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4.A. FFA AG Grand Champions
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4.B. Top 10 Graduates
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4.C. College Board National Merit Finalists
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4.D. DSHS State Choir
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4.E. HOSA State Qualifiers
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4.F. DSHS Robotics Team
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4.G. Teacher of the Year Winners
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5. PUBLIC COMMENTS
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5.A. Posted Agenda Items
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6. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSION
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6.A. Learning Spotlight - Sycamore Springs MS - Tiger Leaders
Presenter:
Assistant Superintendent for L&I, Karen Kidd and SSMS Principal, Kelly Miller
Description:
Student leadership plays a pivotal role in shaping the culture and atmosphere on a middle school campus. Through three areas of focus, SSMS student leaders are inspiring their peers to actively engage in school activities, they are fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting a positive learning environment. Through this leadership opportunity, the leaders demonstrate responsibility, teamwork, and initiative, which not only benefit their immediate peers but also leave a lasting impact on the entire school community. The SSMS Tiger Leaders not only enhance school spirit through this work, but the experience and their participation in the group helps these leaders develop crucial skills that prepare them for future endeavors.
Attachments:
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6.B. Leadership Spotlight - Board Highlights & Liaison Reports
Presenter:
DSISD Board of Trustees President, Stefani Reinold
Description:
The Dripping Springs ISD Board of Trustees is actively engaged in the vision and mission of the district. The trustees frequently attend district events to serve more than 8,500 students and approximately 1,100 employees. The trustees also serve as liaisons on committees across the district.
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6.C. Board Discussion - TASB Advocacy Agenda Resolutions
Presenter:
DSISD Board of Trustees President, Stefani Reinold
Description:
he TASB Advocacy Agenda is created by members — and for members — to advocate for public schools at the state Capitol and beyond. The Advocacy Agenda is a two-year action plan focusing the priorities of the more than 1,000 local school boards in Texas. The development of the agenda is a truly grassroots process, starting with Grassroots Meetings, held in every region of the state in even-numbered years. That’s where board members share the issues that matter most to their communities.
TASB is now accepting submissions from Active Member School Boards of resolutions to be included in TASB's 2024-26 Advocacy Agenda. Resolutions must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on June 17, 2024, and the DSISD board must approve any proposed resolutions before they are submitted. All submissions will be reviewed by the TASB Board and ultimately acted upon by the TASB Delegate Assembly during its meeting on Sept. 28, 2024.
Attachments:
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7. CONSENT AGENDA
Description:
No action will be taken on these items until the General Meeting on April 22, 2024.
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7.A. Approval of Minutes for Recent Board Meetings
Attachments:
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7.B. Approval of 2023-2024 Budget Amendments
Presenter:
Chief Financial Officer, Gina Mitschke
Description:
The Board of Trustees adopted the 2023-2024 budget on June 26, 2023. Budgets for the General Fund, Child Nutrition Fund, and Debt Service Fund were included in the official district budget. Budgets are prepared and approved at fund and function levels to comply with the state’s required level of control.
Budget amendments are necessary throughout the year to realign funds. Realignment of funds will increase and/or decrease various function levels within the budget. All necessary budget amendments that change the function level should be formally approved by the Board of Trustees and recorded in the Board minutes. Budget amendments increasing or decreasing revenues and/or expenditures also require formal Board approval. Submitted for approval are the budget revisions/amendments requested by various campuses and departments through April 9, 2024. The attached documents summarize the effect of budget transfers and amendments and the details of the changes being proposed. The General Fund amendments presented this month reflect several transfers among functions with no effect on the total operating deficit/surplus for the General Fund. There are no amendments to the Child Nutrition Service Fund and Debt Service Fund.
Attachments:
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7.C. Approval of Broadband Lease Engagement Agreement with Gray Miller Persh, LLP
Presenter:
Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Elaine Cogburn
Description:
In October 2019, DSISD executed an agreement with Sprint (now T-Mobile) to lease the district’s 2.5 GHz Educational Broadband Service license. As part of this agreement, DSISD must keep the license active. The current license expires in the summer of 2024 license date and the administration desires to re-engage with Gray Miller Persh, a firm specializing in this field and the firm that supported DSISD in the original lease process. T-Mobile will be billed for hours directly connected to the relicensing, but DSISD will need minor services prior to relicensing.
Attachments:
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7.D. Approval of Budget Amendment to 2018 Bond Funds for Portable Buildings
Presenter:
Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Elaine Cogburn
Description:
Approximately $1.4 million remains in the 2018 Bond funds that has not been allocated to a specific purpose. A portion of this surplus is from project savings and a portion is from interest earnings. The 2018 Bond Advisory Committee made its final recommendation to the Board in October 2023 and recommended that any unspent 2018 Bond funds be used towards safety/security, technology, and future portable classroom needs.
Dripping Springs Elementary will need one additional portable for the 2024-2025 school year. The line item for portables in the 2018 Bond fund has $75,802 remaining. The cost of a new portable building (2 classrooms) is $105,535 plus additional costs of about $150,000 to set-up and furnish the building. The Administration is asking to move $180,000 from the Project Savings line to the budget for portables to purchase and equip this additional building for 2024-2025. No other campuses will receive additional portables for 2024-2025.
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8. ACTION
Description:
No action will be taken on these items until the General Meeting on April 22, 2024.
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8.A. Consideration / Approval of Proclamation 2024 Instructional Materials Recommendation
Presenter:
Director of Federal Programs, Assessments & Instructional Materials, Dr. Rhonda Whitman
Description:
The State Board of Education (SBOE) issued Proclamation 2024 to call for the adoption of new instructional materials in the areas of science, grades K-12; technology applications, grades K-8; Personal Financial Literacy and Economics; and several CTE courses. Dripping Springs ISD staff conducted an extensive evaluation of the Proclamation 2024 state-adopted instructional resources between January and March 2024. Parents and community members were also invited to evaluate the resources in person and online. Parents were also able to submit comments through an online evaluation form. The district committee met on Thursday, April 4, 2024 to select the recommendations for Board review/approval.
Attachments:
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8.B. Consideration / Approval of Annual TEKS Certification
Presenter:
Assistant Superintendent for Learning and Innovation, Karen Kidd
Description:
A district shall annually certify to the commissioner that the district’s Instructional Materials Allotment (IMA) has been used only for permitted expenses per TEC 31.0213. Prior to the beginning of each school year, district staff must submit to the State Board of Education and Commissioner a certification for each subject in the required curriculum under Education Code 28.002, other than physical education, and each grade level, the district provides each student with instructional materials that cover all elements of the essential knowledge and skills adopted by the SBOE for that subject and grade level. This certification shall be submitted annually after ratification in a public meeting.
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8.C. Consideration / Approval of Use of Fund Balance for the Purchase of Technology Equipment
Presenter:
Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Elaine Cogburn
Description:
During the development of the May 2023 bond package, the Board was presented with alternative financing solutions for technology devices. In order to reduce the total bond package, eliminate a separate proposition, and maintain a reliable refresh program for district technology, a lease option was presented. Utilizing a lease program allows the district to maintain the ability to refresh technology every four years. However, given the cost of the 2024-2025 refresh and increased interest rates, the administration recommends an outright purchase of the 2024-2025 refresh items at a cost of $380,518 utilizing the General Fund fund balance.
The Technology Department has developed a refresh cycle that refreshes instructional and office computers (campus and central administration) at five years. Student devices are refreshed when they reach the end of support date (minimum five years). Grades Pre-K-2 classrooms are provided class sets of iPads; Grades 2-5 classrooms are provided class sets of Chromebooks. Secondary students are permitted to check out a Chromebook with parent permission. Additionally, some programs maintain stationary or mobile computer labs, as the systems they use require additional resources. The current refresh schedule is as follows:
Please note that student refresh estimates have shifted from last year’s estimate. Google has recently extended the Auto Update Expiration (AUE) for Chromebooks which increases the lifespan of these devices. DSISD is taking advantage of the later date to extend the life of our Chromebooks which extends the refresh date. Bulk refresh is now divided among years to extend the life of devices that can be extended while replacing devices that need to be retired beginning at the original end-of-life date. Additionally, Apple does not provide projection information regarding iPad end-of-life, but instead announces active models the summer prior to a fall new release. This results in adjustments to iPad refresh timing based on those announcements.
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9. REPORTS AND INFORMATION
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9.A. Communications Report
Presenter:
Executive Director of Communications, Jennifer Edwards
Description:
Communications Report highlighting accomplishments, activities, and events of the Communications Team.
Attachments:
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9.B. Learning & Innovation Report
Presenter:
Assistant Superintendent for L&I, Karen Kidd
Description:
Monthly L&I report highlighting events and activities within each department, making up the L&I team.
Attachments:
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9.C. Finance Reports
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9.C.1. Financial Reports for March 2024
Presenter:
Chief Financial Officer, Gina Mitschke
Description:
The monthly financial report consists of several reports which present information on the district’s financial position through the reporting period. The reports show the status of revenue and expenditures to date, tax collections, purchasing activities, and investments to date for the month reported on. This month, the reports reflect activity through the month of March 2024, the ninth month of the 2023-2024 fiscal year. All reports reflect unaudited figures.
The financial reports as of March 31, 2024, include:
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9.C.2. 2023-2024 Budget - Actual Projections for March 2024
Presenter:
Chief Financial Officer, Gina Mitschke
Description:
Projections of actual fiscal performance are critical for monitoring the financial position of the district. Attached is a summary of the projections for the current 2023-2024 fiscal year based on nine months of actual data. The Financial Services Office will project revenues and expenditures on a monthly basis for the remainder of the current fiscal year.
The current projections indicate that operations will result in a deficit of $1,789,632. These are preliminary projections based on what is currently known. While expenditures are projected to come in under budget, revenues are well below original budget due to lower enrollment. Additional expenditure savings are anticipated, and local revenue estimates may increase as it relates to investment earnings and other local revenue generators.
Considering transfers in/out, current projections show the General Fund to end the year with a deficit of $1,495,293. Again, projections will be updated each month for the remainder of the year.
Attachments:
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9.C.3. Quarterly Investment Report for the Quarter Ending March 31, 2024
Presenter:
Chief Financial Officer, Gina Mitschke
Description:
Board Policy CDA states "Not less than quarterly, the investment officer shall prepare and submit to the Board a written report of investment transactions for all funds covered by the Public Funds Investment Act for the preceding reporting period." The administration presents quarterly investment reports in addition to monthly reports. TCG Advisory Services, LLC manages the Dripping Springs ISD investments and has prepared a report on the investment portfolio of the district’s funds.
Attachments:
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9.D. Operations Reports
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9.D.1. 2018 and 2023 Bond Reports for March 2024
Presenter:
Deputy Superintendent of Finance & Operations, Elaine Cogburn & Chief Financial Officer, Gina Mitschke
Description:
The 2018 and 2023 Bond Reports provide updated financial information on the status of the 2018 and 2023 Bond projects, including project budgets, expenditures to date, and remaining project budget.
The 2018 Bond projects are approaching completion. As projects are finalized, the Board will be presented with information on reallocating any project savings to other projects allowable within the confines of the bond orders. The 2023 Bond report provides detailed financial information regarding the status of the 2023 Bond projects and the report reflects the projects included in the May 2023 bond authorization totaling $223.7 million.
Attachments:
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9.E. Human Resources Report
Presenter:
Chief Human Resources Officer, Linda Hall
Description:
The monthly HR Board Report keeps Board Members apprised of new staff, transfers, separations, current vacancies, substitute usage, risk management in the workplace (reports of injury, background checks, etc.), and monthly HR Department activities.
Attachments:
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9.E.1. 2024-2025 Teacher and Support Professionals Contract Report
Presenter:
Chief Human Resources Officer, Linda Hall
Description:
Pursuant to Board Policy DC (LOCAL), the Superintendent of Schools has approved and renewed teacher and professional certified contracts for the following school year.
Contract renewal recommendations were submitted by campus and department administration to the Superintendent earlier this month. The Superintendent reviewed recommendations while HR prepared 2024-2025 contracts for certified professional staff, including teachers, counselors, nurses, Learning & Innovation staff, and Special Services staff. The enclosed report represents the certified personnel who will be offered contracts for the 2024-2025 school year. This list does not include personnel who have opted to resign or retire effective the end of the school year. All contract personnel who separate from employment effective the end of the contract year will be reported in the regular HR Report
Attachments:
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9.F. Superintendent's Report
Presenter:
Superintendent, Holly Morris-Kuentz
Description:
Monthly Superintendent Report detailing our attorney and legal fees, property notifications and out of state student travel.
Attachments:
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9.F.1. Legal Fees
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9.F.2. Subdivision, Annexation and Development Notifications
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9.F.3. Out of State Student Travel
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9.G. Policy Review Session Report (1st Reading)
Presenter:
Superintendent, Holly Morris-Kuentz
Description:
TASB Policy Update recommends revisions to the attached local policies.
Attachments:
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9.H. Annual Report on Continuing Education Requirements for Board Members
Presenter:
DSISD Board of Trustees President, Stefani Reinold
Description:
The State Board of Education requires specific training for all board members per Education Code 11.159, and the board president is required to announce the status of each member’s training requirements at the last regular board meeting prior to an election (April).
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10. CLOSED SESSION
Pursuant to Tex. Gov't Code Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.074, 551.076, 551.082, 551.0821, 551.089 and 551.129, the Board will deliberate in closed session on the following items: |
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10.A. Consideration of Legal, Real Estate, Personnel or Student Matters
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11. OPEN SESSION
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11.A. Possible Action regarding Matters discussed in Closed Session
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12. ADJOURN
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