February 23, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Goal #1: Maximize Academic Performance
Background: Administration is highlighting the English II Collaborative Team Cycle (CTC) at Canyon Lake High School. This team is building collective teacher efficacy through their ongoing collaboration, even beyond the CTC time. As a result, the teachers are continuing to achieve increased student growth scores and students are not only engaged in the classroom but are squiring important skills in reading and writing.

Description:  Goal #4 Recruit, Develop and Coach Talent
Background: Administration is highlighting the work of the 2022-2023 Compensation Task Force. The CTF had four regular meetings to discuss Comal ISD compensation, learn about school finance and provide consideration and feedback. This year’s focus was on employee engagement, incentives, and stipends. Representatives from the Compensation Task are presenting their discoveries, considerations and feedback to the Board of Trustees.
 

Description:  Goal #1: Maximize Academic Performance

Background: TASB Update 120 is presented as a First reading for the Board’s consideration and input. Update 120, provided by TASB Policy Service, has no district-initiated changes but contains many of the LEGAL policies included in this update that were affected by legislative and regulatory changes. Most of the LOCAL policy recommendations in this update are intended to clarify current policy language. LEGAL policies provide the legal framework for key areas of district operations; they are not adopted by the board. The Update 120 LOCAL policies that need careful consideration are: 
CB(LOCAL): STATE AND FEDERAL REVENUE SOURCES
CKC(LOCAL): SAFETY PROGRAM/RISK MANAGEMENT - EMERGENCY PLANS
FNG(LOCAL): STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - STUDENT AND PARENT COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES
FO(LOCAL): STUDENT DISCIPLINE

Description:  Required by state law and Board Policy
Background: The proposed contracts for services for the May 6 elections in SMDs 3 and 4, as well as a district-wide bond election, are similar to past contracts with the County Clerks and will ensure that the District complies with Texas law with respect to these elections. The proposed contracts that will be submitted for approval contain an estimate of costs and cannot be finalized until the election costs have been determined by the Counties. However, only the actual expenses directly attributable to the District under the contract with the County Clerk may be charged to the District. The District’s requirement to pay its fair share of the cost of the joint elections will not begin until the District has actually received the final invoice. Payment will then be in accordance with Section 2251.031 of the Texas Government Code and the District’s payment procedures as set out in Board Policy CHF (Legal).

Recommendation: It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the Joint Election Agreement between Comal ISD, the City of New Braunfels, the City of Bulverde, and the City of Garden Ridge as presented.
 

Description:  Goal #5: Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: Church Hill Middle School PTA is proposing to donate to Church Hill Middle School to support building enhancements to include logoed banners, backdrops, tablecloths, floor mats, and rugs to be used for award ceremonies and other campus events. This is a one-time donation to be used throughout the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year.

Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of Trustees accepts a $7,202.17 donation from Church Hill MS PTA. 
 

Description:  Goal #5: Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: The District engaged Dawson Construction to act as the construction manager at risk for the construction of playgrounds at 14 elementary schools as part of the 2021 Bond. A key component of the CMaR delivery method is the development and presentation of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for each bid package that make up the contract documents for the project. The engineer of record (MTR Engineers, LLC) has provided Bid Package 2 (BP2), the second of seven expected bid packages for this project, and Dawson Construction has responded with GMP2.

Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price for Bid Package 2 as presented. 

Description:  Goal #5: Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: The District engaged Dawson Construction to act as the general contractor for the installation of the generator at Smithson Valley High Schools as part of the 2015 Bond. This project will be complete at the end of January and we expect to bring it for closeout in February. This is the final project in Bond 2015.

Recommendation: It is recommended that Board of Trustees accept the generator at Smithson Valley High School for Construction Closeout and approve the final payment as presented. 
 

Description:  Goal #5: Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: The Transportation Department has a need for a fleet vehicle to aid in their daily operations. 

Recommendation: It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the purchase of a Dodge truck as presented. 
 

Description:  Goal #5: Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: The 2021 Bond calls for the replacement of teacher laptops.  Industry standards for a device refresh is typically every four to five years.  Current teacher laptops are approaching eight years.  

Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the purchase of teacher laptops as presented. 
 

Description:  Goal #5:  Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: The District has planned for the purchase of the furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) needed for the two new elementary schools. This purchase includes many items necessary to complete the interior of the campuses once the construction is substantially complete. 

Recommendation: It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment as presented. 
 

Description:  Goal #5:  Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: The District has planned for the purchase of the furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) needed for the eight new portable buildings that will be operational in August 2023. This includes four classrooms at Johnson Ranch ES, six classrooms at Oak Creek ES, and six classrooms at Pieper Ranch MS. The recommendation for consideration will be from an awarded vendor through a District subscribed purchasing cooperative contract.

Recommendation: It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment as presented. 

Description:  Goal #5:  Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: District administration is recommending a proposal for emergency preparedness/planning and training services.  The proposal includes professional services to provide operational familiarization, capability assessment, emergency management plan review, software implementation and the associated training.  

Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the District-wide emergency planning and training as presented. 
 

Description:  Goal #5:  Allocate resources in the most effective manner to maximize student achievement
Background: District administration is recommending a proposal for comprehensive, risk-based threat and vulnerability assessments for all District facilities and District-wide security measures based on mitigation recommendations for each facility.  The analysis for each location will be from the perspectives of architecture, operation guidelines, technical security, culture and environment, processes, handling procedures, and organizational structure.  

Recommendation:  It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the security risk assessment services as presented.
 

Description:  Description: Goal #2 Prepare Classrooms and Facilities for Learning

Background: In preparation for the opening of Farias-Spitzer Elementary School in Aug. 2023, the administration is presenting to the Board of Trustees the proposed attendance boundary for the campus. An integral part of the process was the gathering of stakeholder input, which was done through in-person meetings in December, as well as through the district’s website. The boundaries being recommended take into account this community feedback, as well as input from administration.

Recommendation: It is recommended that the Board of Trustees approve the attendance boundaries for Farias-Spitzer Elementary School as presented. 

Description: 

Description: Goal #4 Recruit, Develop and Coach Talent 
Background: In preparation for campus staffing allocations for the 2023-2024 school year, the administration is presenting to the Board of Trustees a current staffing analysis and a request for additional staffing.  Administration has been reviewing demographic projections and the district’s budget to formulate the staffing recommendation. This request will be the first of two staffing requests as we know this early timeline will allow campus principals the staffing allocations they need to appropriately recruit and hire qualified teachers.

Recommendation: It is recommended the Board of Trustees approve the staffing allocations as presented. 

Description:  Goal #4: Recruit, Develop and Coach Talent
Background: Due to inclement weather, Comal ISD closed January 31-February 2 and SVHS and SVMS on February 3 along with other school districts in the San Antonio and Austin region.