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SCHOOL TRUSTEES HOLD MONTHLY MEETING

May 12, 2015
 
The Granbury ISD Board of Trustees met for its regular monthly meeting on May 11, 2015.
 
The board adopted a resolution nominating superintendent Dr. James Largent for Superintendent of the Year in recognition of “his exemplary and visionary leadership toward improving student performance in our schools.” The nomination will be forwarded to the Region 11 Education Service Center for initial consideration in the Texas Association of School Boards program.
 
Regarding the 2013 bond, trustees approved $3.7 million to continue a major investment in technology devices and infrastructure. Elementary and middle school classrooms will receive mobile devices and labs, while the transformed high school campus will receive classroom audio, document cameras, projectors, and classroom teacher stations. Also included in the expenditure are access points, switches, necessary components and accessories, and mobile device management for the high school.
 
Summer projects approved by the board include: adding classrooms at Acton Elementary School; adding a fence and paving rear access at the agricultural science complex; repairing high school tennis courts; repairing and refinishing gym floors at the high school and middle schools; marquee design wraps for the high school and middle schools. Also included are new football helmets that meet nationally-recognized concussion standards. The projects totaling about $300,000 will come from district reserves. Replacing the roof at Mambrino School will be considered at a future meeting, once an engineer has evaluated that proposal.
 
In personnel matters, the board extended contracts for teachers and other instructional employees currently on probationary status, approved three teacher appointments, and received notification of retirements and resignations.
 
Reports made to the board included:
  • Assistant superintendent Carol Howard outlined Senate Bill 149, which took effect immediately after being signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. The legislation allows school districts to create and convene individual graduation committee to decide if high school senior who have not passed all five required STAAR End of Course exams will be allowed to graduate. The bill focuses on students who have not been successful on one or two EOC tests. Each panel must review several factors, including the student's course grades, attendance, past scores on state exams, scores on other tests such as the SAT or ACT and whether the student took advanced or industry certification courses. The committee must agree unanimously for the student to graduate. 
  • Regarding facilities, Dr. Largent reported that heavy rains caused a roof leak at Roberson Elementary School with flooding in the office area and cafeteria. High school construction is proceeding on schedule with the ninth grade addition still expected for August 2016 occupancy.
  • Dr. Largent reviewed a plan to implement a teacher incentive pay initiative. The proposal, which was formulate by a committee of principals and vetted before a group of teachers representing all campuses, would have employee attendance and proficiency in evaluations as baseline requirements. Other factors would include a portfolio encompassing professional development and collaboration, student experience and campus culture, and student achievement and enrichment. The board will consider the initiative at a future meeting.
  • Athletic director Dwight Butler presented an overview of athletics and community education programs. There are approximately 1,730 students involved in athletics in grades 7-12, representing 60% of students in those grade levels. Student athletes have maintained a higher grade point average than other students. Teams were very successful competitively this year, and many advanced to post-season action. Many students also received numerous academic honors, and several rank high in their respective classes. The department also oversees driver’s education, summer camps, drug testing, and other programs.
  • Financial statements for March 2015, cash flow and investment report for March 2015, and a bond expenditure report for April 2015 were reviewed by assistant superintendent Dobie Williams.
Board members approved minutes from the last regular meeting, budget amendments, and a bid for ready-to-serve foot items in the child nutrition program. The board also extended the district’s participation in the Region 10 Education Service Center’s child nutrition purchasing cooperative. Board members also reviewed possible changes to local district policy recommended by the TASB.
 
Donations reported to the board included $2,977 and $2,832 from the Acton Elementary and Oak Woods PTOs to fund student field trips to Austin, $1,667 from the First Christian Church to fund a fifth grade field trip to the Federal Mint and to supplement third grade instructional supplies at Brawner Intermediate School, and $150 for library books at Mambrino in memory of Weldon Clive Sloan. Also reported was $6,322 in revenue received by Crossland Ninth Grade Center pre-Advanced Placement geometry students who constructed and sold porch swings for a project initially funded by a Granbury ISD Education Foundation grant; the proceeds will used for classroom supplies and materials as well as a field trip to Six Flags for physics day.
 
Trustees will next convene for a special meeting on Friday, May 15 to consider a resolution implementing Senate Bill 149. Board meetings are held in the GISD Board Room located next to the Administration Building at 600 W. Pearl Street.
 
 
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