April 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Announcement by the Board President whether a quorum is present and that notice of the meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551 as required by law.

Description:  "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Description:   "Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible." 

Description:  Girls Powerlifting - These four ladies qualified for the Regional Powerlifting Meet - Dixie French, Samantha Kleinmeyer, Brylee Stanfield, Kimber Bliton. Samantha qualified for the State Powerlifting meet.
Dixie Bradford won 1st place in the 6th grade History Essay Competition for the Daughters of the American Revolution. 
FFA:
Blanco Invitational
High Individual Land CDE Contest - $3000 Scholarship Winner - Logan Maldonado
High Individual Wildlife CDE Contest - $3000 Scholarship Winner - Tanner Herring
Tarleton State University Invitational
Wildlife Team - 1st Place Team - $1500 Scholarship Winners - Luke Nichols, Tanner Herring, Kaylie Hamm, Aiden Champlin, Sydney Bertleson, Mason Barnes

Teacher of the Month - Dennis Bratton - Ag Science Teacher at Florence High School
Mr. Bratton pushes students to excel and believe they can be successful. Additionally, he takes on so many different roles to ensure all students have the opportunity to learn and be successful in any area they desire. His efforts over the past month have been instrumental in so many students excelling during CDE competitions and earning numerous scholarships.
Mr. Bratton's work ethic is next to none. He continually strives for student success, pushing students out of their comfort zone. He has an unbelievable ability to encourage students to embrace new opportunities. Mr. Bratton challenges them to succeed by setting the bar high and the students achieve it... His tough love persona is easily seen through by the students who adore him because he is loyal and truly cares about each one of them, and they know it. He is the perfect example of a teacher who gives EVERYTHING to his students, and it shows by the admiration and respect that they have for him. 

Description:  The Board encourages comments about the district from members of the public.  Anyone who has signed up to speak in advance of the meeting in accordance with the Board procedures may do so at this time.  The Board asks that each participant's comments pertain to district business and be no longer than 5 minutes.  For any member of the public who is accompanied by a translator, your time will be doubled as required by law.  Remember that the Board may not discuss or act upon any issues that are not posted on our agenda.  In addition, the Board has adopted policies to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and concerns for employees, students or their parents, and the general public.  Copies of our district policies and procedures on public comments and filing complaints are available on the district website. 

Description:  As required prior to a board election, the board president will read the training hours for each board member for the past year.

Description:  TASB adopts their Advocacy Resolutions every two years. Mr. Navarette and Mr. Earp participated in the Grassroots Advocacy meeting with TASB in Austin on January 10, 2024. Now the Board of Trustees can submit resolutions or priorities to be considered at the TASB Delegate Assembly in September. Proposals for Resolutions are due by June 15. Attached are the resolutions adopted in 2022 for review.

Description:  This month, Rachael Hull, Director of Special Education and Federal Programs, will provide an overview of the Special Education department. 

Description:  As the district identifies areas for improvement, we are considering possible updates or changes to current practice. This will be a general discussion of academic improvement efforts the district is considering for next school year.

Description:  An update on current and upcoming construction projects will be provided.

Description:  The policies below are recommended for addition, revision or deletion from the Local Policy Manual following our Local Policy Review with our TASB Policy Consultant.
Local Policy Updates:
AE (LOCAL) - Educational Philosphy
AF (LOCAL) - Innovation Districts
BBB (LOCAL) - Board Member Elections
BDAA (LOCAL) - Officers and Officials
BE (LOCAL) - Board Meetings
BQA (LOCAL) - Planning and Decision-Making Process/District-Level
BQB (LOCAL) - Planning and Decision-Making Process/Campus-Level
CDA (LOCAL) - Other Revenues/Investments
CDC (LOCAL) - Other Revenues/Gifts and Solicitations
CH (LOCAL) - Purchasing and Acquisition
CKEC (LOCAL) - Security Personnel
CO (LOCAL) - Food and Nutrition Management
COB (LOCAL) - Food and Nutrition Management/Free and Reduced-Price Meals
CV (LOCAL) - Facilities Construction
DBA (LOCAL) - Employment Requirements and Restrictions
DC (LOCAL) - Employment Practices
DCE (LOCAL) - Employment Practices/Other Types of Contracts
DEC (LOCAL) - Compensation and Benefits
DGBA (LOCAL) - Personnel-Management Relations
DK (LOCAL) - Assignment and Schedules
EB (LOCAL) - School Year
EEB (LOCAL) - Instructional Arrangements
EHAD (LOCAL) - Basic Instructional Program
EI (LOCAL) - Academic Achievement
EIC (LOCAL) - Academic Achievement/Class Ranking
EIE (LOCAL) - Academic Achievement/Retention and Promotion
EIF (LOCAL) - Academic Achievement/Graduation
FD (LOCAL) - Admissions
FDA (LOCAL) - Admissions/Interdistrict Transfers
FEC (LOCAL) - Attendance
FEF (LOCAL) - Attendance/Release Time
FFA (LOCAL) - Student Welfare
FFAC (LOCAL) - Wellness and Health Services
FL (LOCAL) - Student Records
FM (LOCAL) - Student Activities
FMH (LOCAL) - Student Activities/Commencement
FNAA (LOCAL) - Student Expression/Distribution of Nonschool Literature
FNAB (LOCAL) - Student Expression/Use of School Facilities for Nonschool Purposes
FNG (LOCAL) - Student Rights and Responsibilities
GBBA (LOCAL) - School Communications Program
GF (LOCAL) - Public Complaints
GKD (LOCAL) - Community Relations
GKDA (LOCAL) - Nonschool Use of School Facilities



 

Description:  The Municipal Services Agreement spells out the Municipal Services that the City of Florence will provide to the new elementary effective the date of annexation. Further services, including Sanitary Sewer, will be included once the annexation request is approved by the Florence City Council.

Description:  Using funds from the Safety and Facilities Enhancement Grant, FISD will replace all interior door knobs with storefront levers which require a key to open. In addition, this proposal will replace all cores and provide a dedicated, patented key system that will ensure copies of our keys cannot be made. The storefront levers will also ensure our door hardware is ADA compliant. Fairway is a BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Member, Vendor #657-21. The total cost includes the materials and labor to install.

Description:  In accordance with Texas Education Code 31.1011, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to certify annually to the State Board of Education (SBOE) and the commissioner that students have access to instructional materials covering all Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for all required subjects, except physical education.  

Additionally, LEAs are required to certify that they protect against access to obscene or harmful content in compliance with the requirements for certification under (i) the Children's Internet Protection Act (Pub. L. No. 106-554); (ii) Section 28.0022; (iii) Section 43.22, Penal Code; and (iv) any other law or regulation that protects students from obscene or harmful content. The TEKS Certification 2024-25 Survey includes a section to allow LEAs to certify they meet this requirement.

Description:  The Staff Development Minutes Waiver allows districts to train staff on various educational strategies designed to improve student performance in lieu of student instruction during the school year. The waiver provides for a maximum of 2,100 total waiver minutes to use for "high-quality" professional development that will "impact student outcomes". The waiver is applicable to staff development provided instead of student instruction. 

FISD adopted a calendar for the 2023-2024 school year that included two full days of professional development on October 9, 2023 and February 19, 2024 for which students are not in attendance. FISD is eligible to apply for the Staff Development Minutes Waiver for those two days.

Description: 

The Staff Development Minutes Waiver allows districts to train staff on various educational strategies designed to improve student performance in lieu of student instruction during the school year. The waiver provides for a maximum of 2,100 total waiver minutes to use for "high-quality" professional development that will "impact student outcomes". The waiver is applicable to staff development provided instead of student instruction. 

FISD adopted a 2024-2025 School Calendar that includes professional development days for which students are not in attendance. FISD is eligible to apply for a Staff Development Minutes Waiver for the following days:

• August 30, 2024

• September 27, 2024

• November 8, 2024

• February 18, 2025

• March 7, 2025

Description:  Raba Kistner performs testing and observation services for construction projects to ensure the work is being done to the required specifications per the project manual. The services and tests they perform cannot be done in-house and the estimated budget is $182,546.65. FISD has used Raba Kistner in the past and has been pleased with their work.

Description:  The recommended list includes all employees who are on a Chapter 21 contract.

Description:  The list of recommended new hires for the 2024-2025 school year.

Description:  These positions do not require certification and will be on a non-Chapter 21 contract.

Description:  Addresses District Goal 1, 2, 3