COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKSHOP MEETING

Administrative Conference Room

August 21, 2007

5:30 p.m.

 

               

A.     CALL TO ORDER

President Tim Jones called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m. with six members present.

 

B.  DECLARATION OF QUORUM

President Tim Jones, Vice President Mary Broussard, Secretary Randall Pitcock, Trustees Charlotte Slack, Garland Watson, and Steve Aldrich were present.  Trustee Marc Chaloupka arrived at 5:39 p.m.

 

C.  WORKSHOP SESSION

C-1.  Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding the proposed budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Mike Ball who led the discussion regarding the proposed budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.  The bottom line of the budget is favorable and, “that is without using the 4 cent enrichment tax that is available”, reported Mr. Ball.

 

C-2.  Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding the Sale of the 2007 Bonds

Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball discussed the Sale of the 2007 Bonds.  CSISD’s rating was upgraded during the process of the bond sale which allowed for a better rate for CSISD.

 

Mr. Ball reported that Pete Tart, CSISD’s Bond Counsel of McCall, Parkhurst and Horton, and Victor Quiroga, Representative from CSISD’s Financial Advisors, Southwest Securities, will be in attendance at the evening board meeting for the signing of legal documents as they pertain to the Sale of the 2007 Bonds. 

 

C-3.  Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding Policy Update 80

Deputy Superintendent Greg McIntyre reported to the trustees, that in the Regular Meeting, Policy Update 80 will be pulled from the Consent Agenda for clarification and a complete list of Codes and Action to be Taken.

 

C-4.  Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding Policy FNA (LOCAL) – STUDENTS RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, STUDENT EXPRESSION

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Greg McIntyre, Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction and Personnel, who reviewed new requirements on adopting local policy on student expression, as it pertains to House Bill 3678 out of the recent 80th Texas Legislature.  HB 3678, also called the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act (RVAA), addresses four general areas:

(1)   freedom of religious expression

(2)   student speakers

(3)   class assignments

(4)   freedom of association

 

RVAA requires all districts to adopt and implement a local policy regarding a limited public forum and voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints effective prior to the start of the 2007-2008 school year.  The law states that if a school district voluntarily adopts and follows the model policy, then the district is in compliance with the provisions covered by the model policy contained within the RVAA.

 

CSISD recommends the safest decision as it pertains to adoption of this model policy in order to meet the deadlines of the mandate.  Over the semester, administration plans to study, research, wordsmith and customize the policy for CSISD.  

 

C-5.  Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding the Board Operating Procedures and the Board Calendar

President Tim Jones led trustees through discussion of wordsmithing and updating the Board Calendar.  The Board Operating Procedures have been updated.  Future updating is expected as the Superintendent Evaluation process is currently being developed.

 

The Board Workshop was recessed at 6:45 p.m.

 

The Board Workshop resumed at 8:30 p.m.

 

D.  ADJOURNMENT

Without objection, Tim Jones adjourned the workshop meeting at 9:17 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

TIM JONES                                                                RANDALL PITCOCK                  

PRESIDENT                                                              SECRETARY