March 2, 2021 at 5:30 PM - Regular Board Meeting

I. Meeting Called to Order.

II. Moment of Silence.

III. Pledge of Allegiance.

IV. Roll Call:

V. Recommend approving the agenda of the Regular Board Meeting of March 2, 2021 with any corrections/deletions.

VI. Recommend approval of minutes with  any corrections:

VI.A. Special Called Board Meeting held Monday, July 27, 2020

VI.B. Special Called Board Meeting held Thursday, September 10, 2020

VI.C. Special Called Board Meeting held Thursday, September 24, 2020

VII. Superintendent's Report:  * SB1566

VII.A. Conference Presentations:

VII.A.1. The Brownsville Herald - 2020 Readers' Choice Winners.

VII.A.2. Recognition of 2021 BISD Virtual District Spelling Bee Winner and Finalists.

VII.A.3. Brownsville Independent School District Financial Report for the period ended February 28, 2021.

VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT:
Persons wanting to address the Board during Public Comment shall before the beginning of the meeting print their names and the subject matter on the sign-in sheet provided at the entrance of the Board Room. As per Policy BED (Local) all Board Meetings, Public Comment shall be limited to items on the agenda posted with notice of the meeting. The Board allots 30 minutes for Public Comment. Speakers shall limit comments to a maximum of 5 minutes or the allotted time, depending on the number of speakers that have signed up. Complaints or grievances on the following subjects; employee complaints, personnel matters, student complaints, removal of alternative education program, complaints against individual board members, and expulsions, shall be directed to the appropriate policy for attempted resolution before bringing the matter before the Board. The Board President shall determine if the topic shall be redirected to the appropriate policy or redirected to Administration. Comments on issues shall be constructive and courteous.

The Board may deliberate or take action regarding the following agenda items. Board policy BE (Local) and Roberts Rules limits debate to two opportunities.

A Trustee may debate a motion for two minutes on the first speaking opportunity and one minute on the second opportunity.

IX. Recommend approving the Consent Agenda. The Board has agreed to discuss the following items. All of the items below that are not called out will be approved by consent. 

                                              (All presentations limited to five (5) minutes)

X. Board Member Request(s)

X.A. Conference Presentation(s)

X.A.1. Discussion of the duties and responsibilities of the BISD Board Members including the building of trust, collaboration, and communication with all members of the BISD Board Team. (Board Member Request Drue Brown/Board Support Jessica Gonzalez, Eddie Garcia, Minerva Pena)

X.A.2. Discussion on reestablishing the recent commitment made by BISD School Board Trustees to intensely focus on improving student outcomes as per the Texas Education Agency Lone Star Governance Training rather than issues that were not student related.(Board Member Request Drue Brown/Board Support Jessica Gonzalez, Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton, Eddie Garcia, Minerva Pena)

X.B. Action Item(s)

X.B.1. Discussion, consideration and possible action to change the method of maintaining the record of executive session from the present audio recording to the creation and maintenance of a certified agenda. (Board Member Request Denise Garza/Board Support Daniella Lopez Valdez)

XI. Consent Agenda:

XI.A. Recommend approval of the following General Function Item(s):

XI.A.1. Recommend approval to authorize the Administration to accept the Multi-Campus Canopy Upgrades project under CSP #20-116 as substantially complete for Martin and Villa Nueva Elementary Schools, Faulk, and Stell Middle Schools.

XI.A.2. Recommend approval to revise page 38 of the 2020-2021 Employee Compensation Plan, on Classified Supplemental Duty Pay for Summer Employment.

XI.A.3. Recommend approval of Resolution #025/20-21 to extend the current depository contract with Lone Star National Bank for an additional two-year term (1st extension) beginning July 1, 2021 and ending June 30, 2023.

XI.A.4. Discussion and/or possible action on approving the bid(s) received at the Tax Resale on November 3, 2020 for the following property struck off to Cameron County for itself and other taxing jurisdictions.

XI.A.5. Discussion and possible action on the Resolution approving the bid(s) received on the Tax Resale properties on November 3, 2020.

XI.A.6. Recommend approval of the 2021-2022 District Calendar.

XI.B. Recommend approval of the following Payment(s):

XI.B.1. Recommend approval of Payment #2 for $523,592.50, as partial payment to Rio Roofing, Inc. for Construction Services work completed on the Margaret M. Clark Aquatic Center Re-Roof Project to be paid from Maintenance Tax Note 189.

XI.B.2. Recommend approval of Payment #6 for $21,000.00,  as final payment PBK Architects, for Architectural Services work completed on the Del Castillo Elementary School Roof Replacement Project to be paid from Maintenance Tax Note 189.

XI.B.3. Recommend approval of Payment #8 for $46,450.00 as partial payment to Halff Associates, Inc. for Engineering Services work completed on the Mini-Gyms, HVAC and Addition project to be paid from Tax Rate Increase Fund 188.

XI.B.4. Recommend approval of Payment #4 for $81,407.06 as partial payment to Argio Roofing & Construction, LLC Construction Services work completed on the Canales Elementary Roof Repairs project to be paid from Maintenance Tax Note Fund 189.

XI.B.5. Recommend approval of Payment #5 for $46,439.51 as partial payment to Argio Roofing & Construction, LLC. Construction Services work completed on the Canales Elementary Roof Repairs project to be paid from Maintenance Tax Note Fund 189.

XI.C. Recommend approval of the following Contract(s)/Agreement(s):

XI.C.1. Recommend approval to accept the construction contract amendment for the Lopez ECHS Bus-Drive and Staff Parking Lot Improvements from ZIWA Corporation of Brownsville, Texas in the amount of $718,436.56. Funding to be paid from Maintenance Tax Note Fund 189.

XI.C.2. Recommend approval to rescind the contract between Brownsville Independent School District and BlueSprig due to procurement issues.

XI.C.3. Recommend approval to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to pilot five BISD campuses between Feet First Foundation and Brownsville Independent School District for 2020-2021 school year. There is no cost to the District.

XI.C.4. Recommend approval of UTRGV GEARUP Subaward Amendment No. 5 in the amount of $90,000. This provides carryover funding for additional virtual learning devices for Lopez ECHS, Porter ECHS, and Rivera ECHS under the current Memorandum of Understanding that runs through September 25, 2021.

XI.C.5. Recommend approval to contract with the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley for online services regarding the Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) to be implemented during the Summer of 2021, which includes 6 Saturday Sessions at a cost of $350.00 per student.

XI.C.6. Recommend approval to continue into Clinical Affiliation Agreement between Valley Baptist Hospital and Brownsville ISD commencing on January 5, 2021 and ending on January 5, 2024 for students participating in the health science program at no cost to the district.

XI.C.7. Recommend approval to amend Owner/Contractor Agreement with ARGIO Roofing & Construction LLC Rio Hondo, Texas in the amount of $1,098,300.00 to provide Construction Services to repair unforseen damages at Canales Elementary Roof Repair Project.  Maintenance Tax Noe Fund 189.

XII. CLOSED MEETING:  as pursuant to the Texas Government Code Sections: 551.071, 551.072, 551.074, 551.082, and 551.084.

XII.A. Level III Grievance(s)

XII.A.1. Discussion, consieration and possible action regarding Level III Grievance No. 004/20-21 on L.S.

XII.B. PERSONNEL MATTER(S):

XII.B.1. Presentation, acceptance and approval of Retirements. (41)

XII.B.2. Presentation, acceptance and approval of Resignations. (9)

XII.B.3. Recommend approval of probationary contractual personnel for the 2020-2021 school year. Counselor. Subject to receipt of all outstanding documentation. (1) (Replacing an existing FTE).

XII.B.4. Recommend approval of probationary contractual personnel for the 2020-2021 school year Athletic Coordinator - Veterans ECHS. Subject to receipt of all outstanding documentation. (1) (Replacing an existing FTE).

XII.B.5. Recommend approval of non-chapter 21 contractual personnel for the 2020-2021 school year - Speech Language Pathologist. Subject to receipt of all outstanding documentation. (2) (Replacing an existing FTE). (2)

XII.B.6. Recommend approval to accept the rescinding agreement of retirement effective June 11, 2021 from professional employee (A.T.).

XII.B.7. Recommend approval of Campus Professional Employee (H.Z.) for change in contract and salary for the 2020-2021 Fiscal School Year.

XII.C. Board Self-Evaluation.

XII.D. Personnel Update with Superintendent (Dr. René Gutiérrez).

XII.E. ATTORNEY CONSULTATION

XII.E.1. Staff Attorney

XII.E.1.a. Discussion, consideration, and possible action regarding Felisa Van Cise vs. Brownsville Independent School District.

XII.E.2. Board Attorney

XII.E.2.a. Discussion on J.V. et,al., vs BISD, No.1:20-cv-00031, In the United States District Court Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division.

XIII. BOARD RECONVENES - Board action on agenda items discussed in Executive Session.

XIV. Announcement(s):

XIV.A. Next scheduled Board Meeting of the Board of Trustees is on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

XV. Adjournment.