COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR
BOARD MEETING
November
15, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
CSISD
Board Room
A.
CALL TO ORDER
President
Valerie Jochen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and declared a quorum
was present with seven members present.
B.
DECLARATION OF QUORUM/WELCOME
In
attendance were President Valerie Jochen, Vice President Paul Dorsett, Secretary
Jeff Harris and Trustees Garland Watson, Kimberly McAdams, Carol Barrett and Randall
Pitcock.
C.
RECOGNITIONS
C-1.
Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and the Texas Flag, and a
Moment of Silence
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson recognized Student Body President Celina Malave and Sr. Class
President Emily Hall. The students led
the audience in the pledges and the moment of silence.
C-2.
Schools
a. National Center for Educational
Accountability’s Higher-Performing School
Five
CSISD campuses recently earned the National Center for Educational
Accountability’s Higher-Performing School distinction for the 2011 school
year. Congratulations to: Principal Buddy Reed and A&M Consolidated
High School in the areas of Math and Science; Principal Nkrumah Dixon and
A&M Consolidated Middle School in the area of Math; Principal Kelly Kovacs
and Cypress Grove Intermediate School in the area of Math; Principal Annette
Roraback and Pebble Creek Elementary School in the area of Writing; and
Principal Kathryn Ballard and Rock Prairie Elementary School in the areas of
Math and Writing.
C-3.
Recognize artwork provided by students A&M Consolidated High
School taught by Art Teachers Brent Maxwell, Jami Bevans, and Bob Leland
Student
artwork adorned the Board Room walls and was enjoyed by all.
D.
CONSENT AGENDA
Agenda
Item G – APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 18, 2011
Board Workshop Minutes, October 18, 2011 Public Hearing Minutes, October 18,
2011 Regular Board Meeting Minutes; Agenda
Item H – CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION: Agenda
Item H-1: Consideration, discussion
and possible action related to End of Course/STAAR policies – EIA Local, EIC
Local and a Resolution pertaining to EIE Local; Agenda Item J –BUSINESS: Agenda Item J-2: Consider approval of purchase of furniture
for College Station High School from School Specialty, Inc. in the amount of $1,208,885.37;
Agenda Item J-3: Consider approval of
the purchase of computer tables for College Station High School from Spectrum
Industries in the amount of $80,170.46; Agenda Item J-4: Consider approval of purchase of pianos
for College Station High School from Strait Music Company in the amount of
$52,530.00; Agenda Item J-5: Consider
approval of Annual Maintenance and Support Agreements for Hewlett Packards
Hardware Maintenance and Software Support in the amount of $58,709.52; Agenda Item J-6: Consider approval of Annual Maintenance
and Support Agreements for Sungard Public Sector, Inc. Software Support in the
amount of $94,072.66; Agenda Item J-7:
Consider approval of Monthly Budget Amendments; Agenda Item J-8: Consider approval of Monthly Financial
Reports; Agenda Item K –
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES: Agenda Item
K-1: Consider approval of an
Interlocal Agreement between Texas A&M University (“TAMU”), the City of
College Station (“City”), and College Station Independent School District
(“CSISD”) for the shared use of reserved fuel in emergency situations
MOTION
XXXX: I move approval of
the Consent Agenda, as presented. The
motion was made by Trustee Randall Pitcock and seconded by Secretary Paul
Dorsett. The motion passed with seven
ayes and zero nos
E.
BOARD
E-1.
Consideration, discussion and possible action related to Senate Bill
100 and changing CSISD annual elections to November
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson reported that to comply with the federal Military and Overseas
Voter Empowerment Act (MOVE), the Texas Legislature enacted Senate Bill
100. For CSISD, implications of SB 100
will impact the scheduled May 2012 elections and the Board must take action by
December 31, 2011. CSISD has two
options: Move elections to every other
year in May (odd number years) in order to avoid the overlap in election cycles
caused by the primary elections run-off schedule. Moving CSISD elections to every other May
would cause the district to move to four year terms; Move elections to the uniform election day in
November. Moving the elections to
November will cause 3-month extensions of current board members for the next
three years.
MOTION XXXX: I
move approval of changing CSISD annual elections to November beginning with
2012, as presented. The motion was made
by Trustee Garland Watson and seconded by Vice President Paul Dorsett. The motion passed with seven ayes and zero
nos.
E-2.
Consideration, discussion and possible action related to naming two
members to the Brazos County Appraisal District Board of Directors
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson reported that the CSISD Board is responsible for appointing two
individuals to serve on the Brazos County Appraisal District (BCAD) Board of
Directors. John Flynn and Steve Arden
have served as the district’s representatives for a number of years. Both have expressed a willingness to continue
to serve; however, both have also indicated the need for the district to bring
someone new to the board.
Mr.
Tim Jones of First Victoria Bank and a long-time resident in College Station
has expressed an interest in serving on the BCAD Board. Mr. Jones has a significant track record of
community service over the years, and he has a deep understanding of the
College Station-Bryan real estate market.
Mr. Jones has served as a former member of the CSISD Board of Trustees
and a current member of the CSISD Education Foundation Board.
Brief
discussion occurred.
MOTION:
I move approval of John Flynn and Tim Jones as Brazos
County Appraisal District Board of Directors as presented. The motion was made by Trustee Randall
Pitcock and seconded by Trustee Carol Barrett.
The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.
E-3.
Consideration, discussion and possible action related to litigation
involving school finance
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson reported to the Trustees that the finance system for Texas as it
pertains to public school finance is not adequate and it is estimated that 500
school districts across the state will file suit against the state of Texas related
to this issue. The state has charged
school districts with preparing all students for post-secondary education and
the work force, and the state is significantly raising the academic
expectations for districts and students via the implementation of the STAAR
exams. At the same time expectations are
being raised for students and districts, funding levels for College Station ISD
are being reduced by approximately nine percent.
The
system was “dangerously close” to not providing adequate funds for education in
2005. Since then, funding for CSISD has
been reduced by approximately 9%.
Funding for intervention programs has been dramatically reduced or
eliminated (SSI), while state expectations have been raised, i.e. STAAR,
including EOC.
In
2005 the Texas Supreme Court ruled that local school districts did not have
meaningful discretion over their own taxes in order to enrich the state’s
required program. In 2011, even under a
new finance system, districts do not have meaningful discretion to enrich the
states’ required program. Districts are
cutting and reducing programs and people to meet the financial reductions.
The
current system was intended to be “temporary” when adopted by the legislature
in 2006. The finance system is
inexplicable, complicated and arbitrary and not connected to the state’s
requirements for students. The finance
system SHOULD fund the actual costs of meeting the state’s standards. If the system is to be leveled, it must be
leveled up. The state should provide
adequate funding for the education it expects and those expectations are for
students to be college ready and/or workforce ready.
The
law firm of Thompson and Horton will be representing a coalition of school
districts to challenge the constitutionality of the current school funding
system. Ultimately, the coalition of
school districts will be seeking a ruling that will compel the legislature to
adequately fund public education, provide local meaningful discretion to school
districts and tie the funding of the districts to the standards and
requirements as set forth by the state.
Discussion
occurred related to a “Call for Action” for the School Board as well as the
community.
MOTION XXXX: I move approval of the
resolution to participate in school finance litigation and to engage Thompson
and Horton LLP regarding the same, as presented. The motion was made by Trustee Garland Watson
and seconded by Trustee Carol Barrett.
The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.
E-4.
Board Directions and Reports/Announcements/Superintendent Reports and
Announcements
Trustee
Kimberly McAdams reported that DEIC met and is focused on the calendar process.
Secretary
Jeff Harris reported that PAC met and is focused on budget and reductions,
3-tiered busing. He also wanted to make
members of TRS aware of a movement to change the TRS defined retirement system
to a defined contribution system.
Vice
President Paul Dorsett reported that the Education Foundation is planning 50
Men Who Can Cook for 2/4/12.
Trustee
Garland Watson reported that the Intergovernmental Committee met.
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson reminded everyone about Early Release on 11/16/11 for staff to
deal with staff development as it pertains to leading indicators: grades, attendance, and discipline. Dr. Coulson also announced that CSISD will
not implement 3-tiered busing next year.
F.
HEARING OF CITIZENS (Non-Agenda/Agenda Items)
1. Grace Stanford addressed the Trustees,
thanking them for their work and assuring Trustees that the community needs to
be educated related to school finance and CSISD teachers are ready to help.
2. Dennis Macha addressed the Trustees, thanking
them for their service and presenting them with research related to high school
start times and sleep.
3. Jonathan Coopersmith addressed the Trustees,
thanking them for getting involved in the lawsuit. Dr. Coopersmith urged the district to
publicize school finance issues and invite the two candidates running for
Congress to the workshop.
I.
PERSONNEL
I-1.
Receive Report regarding Highly Qualified Requirements
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Glynn Walker who reported that
the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) requires that all teachers of core content
areas be Highly Qualified and that the district publicly report the
findings. This report includes the NCLB
status of teachers throughout CSISD and paraprofessionals at CSISD Title I
campuses. CSISD is 100% Highly
Qualified.
J.
BUSINESS SERVICES
J-1.
Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding an order
authorizing the issuance of College Station Independent School District
Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds; establishing procedures for the sale and
delivery of the bonds; levying an annual advalorem tax for the payment of said
bonds; approving and official statement; and enacting other provisions relating
to the subject
Superintendent
Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Glynn Walker who reported that
the District’s Financial Advisors, Southwest Securities, have monitored the
status of the district’s outstanding bonds for opportunities to lower the total
debt service requirements. The market
conditions are currently favorable and due to projected cost savings for the
constituents of CSISD, the administration recommends that Southwest Securities
be granted authority to pursue this refunding option.
MOTION XXXX: I move approval of an order
authorizing the issuance of CSISD Unlimited Tax Refunding Bond; establishing
procedures for the sale and delivery of the bonds; levying an annual advalorem
tax for the payment of said bonds; approving and official statement; and
enacting other provisions relating to the subject, as presented. The motion was made by Trustee Randall
Pitcock and seconded by Trustee Garland Watson.
The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.
L.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None
N.
ADJOURNMENT
Without
objection, President Valerie Jochen adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
PRESIDENT SECRETARY