August 28, 2023 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. Pledge of Allegiance
Description:
The group will recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
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D. Public Hearing
Description:
The school is required by state laws and board policies CCG [Legal] and CE[Legal] to conduct a public hearing on the proposed budget. Any taxpayer of the District may be present and participate in the meeting.
Under board operating procedures the Board will decide at the beginning of the meeting whether or not the hearing will be to (1) gather input only or (2) dialog with the public. Unless the Board takes action to declare the meeting a dialog with the public, all hearings will be gather input only meetings. According to law, the public notice of the hearing must be published at least 10 days but no longer than 30 days before the date of the public meeting. The public notice of this hearing was published in the Smithville Times on August 17, 2023, which is 11 days before the hearing. Notice of this hearing has also been posted on the District website. Mrs. Burns and Mrs. McCarthy will make a short presentation of the 2023-2024 proposed budget. The public will be invited to participate in the presentation and the Board will hear all comments provided by the public.
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E. Public Communications
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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F. 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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F.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.
Attached are the minutes from the July 17, 2023 regular meeting and the August 7, 2023 special meeting.
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F.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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F.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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F.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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F.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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F.6. Tax Collection Report
Description:
Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.
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F.7. 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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F.8. Approve a Resolution regarding Extra-Curricular Status of the 4-H Organization and County Extension Agents
Description:
In order to allow Smithville ISD students to show their projects under 4-H during instructional days and receive state funding under the extra-curricular activity provision of attendance accounting action must be taken by the Board of Trustees to establish an adjunct faculty agreement between the District and the Bastrop County Extension department and adopt a resolution recognizing the Bastrop County Texas 4-H Organization as an approved extra-curricular organization.
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G. Information Items
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G.1. Financial Report
Description:
The Chief Financial Officer, Jean Ann McCarthy, will review the financial disbursements for the previous month with the Board of Trustees. No action is required.
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G.2. Superintendent's Report
Description:
The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District including:
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G.3. SISD Curriculum Corner - Accountability
Description:
Dr. Logan, Director of Curriculum, will present the Board with curriculum and program area highlights on a regular basis. The purpose of each presentation is to keep the Board informed of the academic progress within the district and on campuses.
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G.4. Discussion with City of Smithville and Bastrop County regarding a grant that would provide additional improved drainage on secondary campuses
Description:
?Robert Tamble and Clara Becket will present 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.
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G.5. Senate Bill 1267
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G.6. COVID-19 Update
Description:
School nurse Erin Seale will present a health update for the district.
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G.7. Tentative September Agenda Items
Description:
a. Financial Report
b. Superintendent’s Report c. Review and Approve District and Campus Improvement Plans and Performance Objectives d. Personnel |
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H. Action Items
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H.1. Consider Adoption of the 2023-2024 District Budget
Description:
The Board is required to adopt an operational budget before the beginning of the fiscal year, which begins September 1st. Draft 1 and Draft 2 of the budget have been presented to the Board at previous meetings.
The Board is also required to conduct a public hearing on the budget before adopting the budget. The hearing was conducted at the beginning of this meeting.
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H.2. Consider Adoption of the 2023-2024 District Tax Rate
Description:
The Board is required to set a tax rate within 60 days of receiving the certified tax roll but no later than September 30th. The Board is also required to conduct a public hearing on the budget and tax rate before setting the tax rate.
The tax rate necessary to fund the proposed 2023-2024 budget is $0.9676 per hundred. That includes an M&O rate of $0.7876 and an I&S rate of $0.18 representing a combined decreased rate of $0.1353 for M&O and I&S from the 2023-2024 budget year. The M&O rate is the maximum rate approved by voters in the tax ratification election held May 14, 2011. The I&S rate is the necessary rate to pay for bonded indebtedness. The tax rate must be set by passing a resolution from the Board.
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H.3. Approval of Expenditure in Excess of $50,000
Description:
The purpose of this agenda item is to authorize the purchase of 2 school buses after September 1, 2023.
The 2023-2024 budget currently has $238,000 budgeted for the purchase of two new school buses. The District would like to proceed with this purchase as budgeted and approved, after September 1st. |
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H.4. Consider Approval of Regulation Approving Self-Certification of Increased Micro-Purchase Threshold for FY 2023-2024
Description:
The Federal Office of Management and Budget issued revised Uniform Grant Guidance updates that allow school districts to increase their micro-purchase threshold, for federal expenditures, from $10,000 to $49,999 if the LEA is a low-risk auditee for its most recent federal audit. This item must be reviewed and approved on an annual basis. This increase will allow Smithville ISD to make annual purchases up to $49,999 without soliciting competitive price or rate quotations if the District considers the price to be reasonably based.
By increasing the micro-purchase threshold, Smithville ISD will be able to continue to work in a more efficient environment when reasonably priced items are obtained.
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H.5. TGC §551.071 Consider Support of Potential Litigation Regarding TEA Accountability Rating System, in Conjunction with Other Area Texas Districts
Description:
A Texas Public School District coalition to freeze A-F (Refresh) Accountability Rating system and assignment of ratings has been formed and is suing TEA to freeze the release of all District accountability ratings in Texas.
Founded by Kingsville ISD, the Coalition’s legal counsel (Nick Maddox of O’Hanlon Law Firm) is filing suit based on a Texas law that requires TEA to provide the accountability rating system and grading rubric to Texas school districts BEFORE the start of the year of which they are to be graded. The coalition is asking the court to freeze the new system for a minimum until next year, and to maintain district’s current rating this year. All school districts and any that have experienced a drop in their preliminary accountability scores are strongly encouraged to join! |
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H.6. Consider Approval of Required Trainings for School District Staff in Accordance with Senate Bill 1267
Description:
In accordance with the requirements of Senate Bill 1267, the Superintendent shall recommend the District’s professional development plan for all District employees. The Board shall annually review the professional development clearinghouse published by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and annually approve the District’s professional development plan. The District’s professional development plan must:
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H.7. Personnel
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H.7.a. Resignations of Certified Personnel
Description:
The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignation of Ashley Gartman, ACE Coordinator.
No action is required. |
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H.7.b. 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 following professional staff have signed contracts with SISD in the past month:
Desiree Sorber - Teacher Degree - BA from Texas State University Certification - Sec. Government 6-12 Years of Experience - 0 years Campus - Smithville Elementary To replace Raylynne Fillman Jennifer Holmes - Teacher Degree - BA from Texas State University Certification - Alternative Certification pending Years of Experience - 0 years Campus - Smithville Elementary To replace Sara Parks Willie Henderson - Teacher Degree - pending Certification - pending Years of Experience - 0 years Campus - Smithville Junior High To replace Kieran Gibson Scott Stephens - Teacher/Coach Degree - BS from Stephen F. Austin University Certification - Special Education EC-12, All-Level PE PK-12, Health EC--12 Years of Experience - 23 years Campus - Smithville Junior High To replace Joseph Nix Brenda Hughes - Teacher Degree - BA from Sam Houston State University Certification - Elem. Self-Contained 1-8, Elem. Reading 1-8 Years of Experience - unknown Campus - Smithville Junior High To replace Richard King (who moved to math) Michael Trost - Instructional Coach Degree - MS from Sam Houston State University Certification - ESL Supplemental PK-12, All-Level PE PK-12, Sec. Life-Earth Science 6-12, Sec. PE 6-12 Years of Experience - 21 years Campus - Smithville High School To replace Lauren Copeland Bethany Collins - Teacher Degree - BA from Sam Houston State University Certification - Alternative Certification pending for English 8-12 Years of Experience - 2 years Campus - Smithville High School To replace Megan Hancock Amanda Tyler - Teacher Degree - BS from Southern New Hampshire University Certification - pending Years of Experience - 0 years Campus - Smithville High School To replace Justin Benvegnu |
