COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
April 15, 2003
7:00 p.m.
President Susan Lowy called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
President Susan Lowy, Vice-President Marc Chaloupka, Secretary Dayne Foster, Trustees Steve Aldrich, Mary Broussard, Larry Johnson and Tim Jones were present.
C-1 Students
a. Ernest Hemingway National Writing Competition for Sports Writing
Senior Eric Ransom, a student at A&M Consolidated High School and editor-in-chief of The Roar newspaper, has been named one of five finalists in the Ernest Hemingway National Writing Competition for Sports Writing, sponsored by The Kansas City Star. More than 1,000 students entered the competition, and Eric is the only student in Texas named as a finalist in the four competitions: sports writing, news writing, feature writing and commentary. A $2,500 scholarship will be awarded to the first place winner in each category. The winner and an escort will be flown to Kansas City in April 2003 for an awards banquet.
b. All State Orchestra
Congratulations to the following A&M Consolidated High School Orchestra students who auditioned and were selected for the 2003 Texas Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra. The students are Freshman Violist, Kenaz Kwa, Junior Violist, Matthew Berthold and Junior Cellist, Daniel Furuta. The students spent four days in San Antonio at the TMEA Convention and performed with the All-State Orchestra on the final day of the convention. This is quite an achievement considering the fact that the audition process starts in October with a series of live and taped auditions and this year there were 4,106 Orchestra students from 22 Regions across Texas that participated in the audition process.
Rachel Felderhoff and Sadie Dunn, A&M Consolidated High School students won First Place at the UIL Cross Examination Debate State Meet in Austin, Texas, March 14-15, 2003. They won Second Place at the District meet to qualify for the state tournament. Over 60 teams competed in the event. Rachel and Sadie were undefeated the entire tournament. They also were named the 2nd and 4th best speakers in the tournament.
C-2 Staff
a. National Winner in the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics & Science Teaching
Naveen Cunha, sixth grade teacher at Oakwood Intermediate School was awarded the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in a Washington, D.C., ceremony Friday, March 21st. The presidential awards, administered by the National Science Foundation, recognize teachers whose innovative methods bring science and mathematics to life in the classroom. Each awardee was presented a special citation signed by President Bush, a $7,500 cash award from the National Science Foundation to improve science and mathematics instruction, gifts from donors, and a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend the award ceremony and participate in various educational and celebratory functions.
"Just for the Kids" is a private non-profit organization dedicated to measuring student achievement, identifying best practices and using that information to improve education through training. Each year, "Just for the Kids" identifies the state’s most successful schools based on a statistical analysis of Texas Assessment of Academic Skills test results. Schools on these lists have demonstrated high levels of student achievement over multiple years when compared with other schools that have equal or more challenging student populations.
The "Just for the Kids" organization rated seven College Station ISD schools: all five elementary schools, College Station Middle School, and A&M Consolidated High School. The Center for Alternative Learning was not rated due to its small size and A&M Consolidated Middle School was not in operation during the 1999-2000 school year. The two intermediate schools by virtue of their grade configuration do not qualify for analysis. Six CSISD schools were named High Performing Schools in one or more areas.
Approval of Minutes; Curriculum and Instruction: Consider Approval of Local State Compensatory Education Identification Criteria, Consider Approval of the 2003-2004 District Improvement Plan, Consider Approval of FFAA Local Policy; Personnel: Consider Approval of Resignations/Retirements; Business Affairs: Consider Approval of Bids: (a) Roofing Projects for Southwood Valley Elementary, Venture/Barbara Bush Parent Center and the Administration Building, (b) Energy Management System for Southwood Valley Elementary School; Consider Approval of Tax Refunds: (a) Clark, Donald B and Joanne R Lupton, (b) KTH Investments, Oscar Parulian and Hendry Johanes, (c) Weingarten Realty Investors, C/O Equifax Property Consultant, (d) Weingarten Realty Investors, C/O Equifax Property Consultant, and (e) Cedillo, Julian; Consider Approval of Report on Agreed Upon Procedures Relating to compliance with Leaver Codes; Consider Approval of Monthly Financial Reports, Consider Approval of Monthly Budget Amendments; Elections: Consider Approval of Appointment of Election Officials, Consider Authorization of Administration to negotiate and sign Contract with Texas Voting Systems, Inc.
The administration pulled Agenda Item K-5, Consider Approval of Monthly Budget Amendments, to present additional information and Vice-President Marc Chaloupka pulled Agenda Item H, Approval of Minutes, for a correction.
MOTION 3442: I move approval of the Consent Agenda with the exception of Agenda Item H which was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Vice-President Marc Chaloupka and Agenda Item K-5 which was pulled from the Consent Agenda by the administration. The motion was made by Steve Aldrich and seconded by Marc Chaloupka. The motion carried with seven ayes.
G-1. Committee Reports (DEIC, PAC, Facilities, Foundation, BISD/CSISD Liaison, City Liaison, TIF, Superintendent Evaluation, Legislative Advisory)
Dayne Foster reported that DEIC met for a very short meeting and received a Legislative Update at that meeting.
Mary Broussard and Tim Jones reported that PAC has a meeting scheduled for April 16, 2003.
Marc Chaloupka reported that the Facilities Committee met, discussed, and approved some of the consent agenda items on the agenda this evening.
Dayne Foster reported that the next round of grant applicants have been submitted to the Foundation for review. The Education Foundation’s Grant Reading Committee has met and those grants will be awarded and recognized at a Grant Reception to be held on April 22nd. The Academic Recognition Banquet is coming up on April 29th. Also, additional pass-through scholarships that individuals have sponsored that will be awarded have been announced.
Tim Jones stated no report regarding the CSISD/BISD Liaison Committee.
Steve Aldrich reported that a meeting of the City Liaison Committee is scheduled for April 25th.
Marc Chaloupka reported that a meeting of the TIF Committee is scheduled for April 22nd.
Susan Lowy reported that the work of the Superintendent Evaluation Committee is complete for the 2002-03 school year.
Marc Chaloupka reported that there is constant legislative action taking place in Austin that bears close monitoring.
Vice-President Marc Chaloupka pulled Agenda Item H, Approval of Minutes from the Consent Agenda to correct wording on Motion 3435 of the March 18, 2003 Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes.
Motion 3435 reads: I move approval of the 2003-2004 school calendar with the following changes: Add Labor Day Holiday on September 1, 2003; Change the start date for students from August 19, 2003 to August 18, 2003; Change Staff Development days from August 13, 14, 15, 18, October 3, January 5, 6, February 13, 16 and May 28 to August 12, 13, 14, 15, October 3, January 5, 6, February 13, 16 and May 28. The motion was made by Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Dayne Foster. The motion tied. Tim Jones, Steve Aldrich, and Susan Lowy voted yes, while Marc Chaloupka, Dayne Foster, and Mary Broussard voted no.
Motion 3435 should read: I move approval of the 2003-2004 school calendar with the following changes: Add Labor Day Holiday on September 1, 2003; Change the start date for students from August 19, 2003 to August 18, 2003; Change Staff Development days from August 13, 14, 15, 18, October 3, January 5, 6, February 13, 16 and May 28 to August 12, 13, 14, 15, October 3, January 5, 6, February 13, 16 and May 28. The motion was made by Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Dayne Foster. The motion tied. Tim Jones, Steve Aldrich, and Susan Lowy voted NO, while Marc Chaloupka, Dayne Foster, and Mary Broussard voted YES.
MOTION 3443: I move to make the stated correction in the minutes of March 18, 2003 Regular Board Meeting Minutes, reversing the vote as recorded. The motion was made by Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Steve Aldrich. The motion carried with seven ayes.
MOTION 3444: I move to approve the minutes of March 18, 2003 Regular Board Meeting as corrected. The motion was made by Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Larry Johnson. The motion carried with seven ayes.
I-1. Report on Head Start Monitoring Visit
Eddie Coulson, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction/Personnel, reported that CSISD has had a Federal Monitoring visit for our Head Start program. Mr. Coulson introduced Sharon Jackson, Director of Head Start and Pre-K, who gave a brief report about the findings from that Head Start Monitoring visit. Mrs. Jackson shared that the reason we have a Head Start Monitoring visit is stated in the Head Start Act (as amended 10/27/98)…in order to determine and meet the standards established, with respect to program, administrative, financial management and other requirements, the Secretary shall conduct a full review of each such agency at least once during each three year period. A team of reviewers assessed the program through the use of PRISM, Program Review Instrument of Systems Monitoring, designed to cover all program areas. There were no findings in any area. In fact, the program was referred to as a "model" program. CSISD is waiting for a formal written report from the team leader in the regional office. Mrs. Jackson reported that the next steps for the program are our own self-assessments which will be conducted during the month of April, formalizing goals from all stakeholders into program plans and district goals, integration into program of any recommendations in formal report, and Conclusion of a great year and preparation for another.
I-2. Report on Third Grade Reading TAKS Results
Eddie Coulson, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction/Personnel, introduced Clark Ealy, Director for Program Assessment, Evaluation, and Accountability, who presented to the Board information regarding the Third Grade Reading TAKS test. Third grade students took the Reading section of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test on March 4, 2003. Third grade students must pass the Reading section of the TAKS in order to be promoted to the fourth grade. March 4th was the first opportunity to take the test. Students who did not pass the March 4th test or who were absent will have two more opportunities to take the test: April 30 and June 26, 2003.
President Susan Lowy stated that one of the items being discussed in the current legislative session is to cut back on the monies allocated for this reading initiative and this would not be a good thing. She encouraged everyone to contact their state legislators in regard to this initiative.
K. BUSINESS AFFAIRS
K-5. Consider Approval of Monthly Budget Amendments
Mike Ball, Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations, presented updated information regarding the Budget Amendments covering the period since last Board meeting. This amendment changed the overall total amount of monies from $154,694.00 to $180,972.00. The proposed budget amendments for adoption are routine transfers within the previously approved budget with the following exceptions:
Item 3 Increases budget authority to purchase software required as a result of the change from Apple Computers to PC Computers
Item 5 Increases budget authority to replace energy management system at Southwood Valley Elementary School
Special Revenue Fund Increases budget authority to accept grant monies
Education Foundation from CSISD Education Foundation.
MOTION 3445: I move approval of the monthly budget amendments as presented. The motion was made by Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Mary Broussard. The motion carried with seven ayes
Steve Johnson, Superintendent, gave a brief overview of legislative action in Austin. Dr. Johnson stated that this legislative session has an opportunity to have an impact on public schools more than any other session in quite a while.
A Donor Reception to award and recognize the new grant recipients is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd in the CSISD Board Room, 4-5:00 p.m.
The Academic Recognition Banquet is planned for Tuesday, April 29th at Pebble Creek Country Club at 6:30 p.m. to honor the top 5% of the A&M Consolidated High School graduates. The Banquet is hosted by the CSISD Education Foundation.
The location of the May 20th Board Meeting has been moved to A&M Consolidated High School Auditorium. The Teacher of the Year and Support Person of the Year awards will be announced.
A Retirement Reception is scheduled for Sunday, May 18th, from 2-4:00 p.m., in the reception/foyer area at A&M Consolidated High School.
Employee Service Awards will be presented at the End of Year Celebration Breakfast, scheduled for Friday, May 30th, in the High School cafeteria and auditorium.
Susan Lowy, Board President, reminded everyone about the Board of Trustees Election on Saturday, May 3, 2003.
P. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION 3446: I move to adjourn the meeting. The motion was made by Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Steve Aldrich. The motion carried with seven ayes.
Without objection, President Susan Lowy adjourned the meeting at 8:20 p.m.
SUSAN LOWY DAYNE FOSTER
President Secretary