BOARD OF TRUSTEES WORKSHOP MEETING
AMC High School Library
May 15, 2007
5:30 p.m.
A.
CALL TO ORDER
President Tim Jones called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. with six
members present.
B. DECLARATION OF QUORUM
President Tim Jones, Vice
President Mary Broussard, Secretary Randall Pitcock, Trustees Charlotte Slack,
Marc Chaloupka, and Garland Watson were present. Trustee Steve Aldrich arrived at 5:37 p.m.
C. WORKSHOP SESSION
C-1. Consideration, discussion and possible
action regarding reorganization of the Board
President Tim Jones discussed with trustees that the agenda allows
for discussion of reorganization of the Board Officers even though the election
returns have not yet been canvassed. The
canvassing process will be re-scheduled for May 22nd at noon. The delay is because of a five day waiting
period to allow for the return of overseas military ballots. Should the board desire to take action, then
the motion would need to include an effective date following the canvassing. The board could also wait until June for the
discussion.
Discussion occurred.
Different philosophies were discussed.
C-2.
Consideration, discussion and possible action regarding the
preliminary draft budget and related items for the 2007-2008 fiscal year
Superintendent Eddie Coulson and Deputy Superintendent for
Business and Operations Mike Ball led discussion regarding the preliminary
budget and related items for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. Potential items not yet reflected in the
projections are:
Legislative Changes – The current legislative session concludes at
the end of May. There are several bills
under consideration that could impact the budget, primarily in the area of
salaries.
Federal Program Funding – We have been notified that the 2007-2008
funding level for the Title I grant is expected to be below current levels by
approximately $185,000. We are in the
process of responding to that news.
Compensation Plan. These
projections include a 3% salary increase for all employees. They do not include the impact of the items
discussed during the 5/15/07 board workshop.
The impact of those items could be an increase in costs in the range of
$250,000.
Capital Projects – Some of the capital projects that have been
included in the General Fund budget could conceivably by funded with proceeds
from the bond package or through a capital lease.
General Fund Debt Service – The General Fund debt service includes
continuation of amounts for capital lease payments that have paid off during
the current year. Some of the capital
project items (computer equipment) could be financed through a capital lease.
C-3. Consideration, discussion, and possible
action compensation and benefits plan for the 2007-2008 fiscal year
Superintendent Eddie Coulson and Deputy Superintendent for
Curriculum & Instruction and Personnel Greg McIntyre led discussion
regarding proposals as they pertain to the compensation and benefits plan for
the 2007-2008 fiscal year.
CSISD contracted with TASB to prepare information relating to
employee compensation. The primary focus
of the study was to objectively examine pay structures of district non-exempt
(paraprofessional and classified) jobs.
A secondary focus was to examine stipend structures in the district.
The TASB Study highlighted some of the strengths and challenges in
the CSISD compensation plan:
Strengths are:
·
CSISD
rates of pay for the 23 school benchmark jobs are 102% of the market on
average. Overall, the district pays at
market levels with a slightly stronger average for instructional support jobs
like classroom aides. Large incumbent
jobs in this group, campus secretaries and aides for example, are above market
levels.
·
Contacts
with community establishments show starting pay for CSISD to be very strong in
the market
·
Generally,
the district stipend values exceed the selected market of eleven 5A
districts. Athletic coaching stipends
are 3% above market whereas performing arts and academic stipends are 19% above
market.
Challenges are:
·
Compared
to the market, the stipends appear to have variations and fluctuations
·
Two
employee groups, attendance clerks and us drivers, are paid significantly below
the market average
·
The
pay plan does not reflect the actual pay rate; it is referred to as “white
space”. The actual pay rates are higher
than the advertised pay plans for non-exempt employees.
It is recommended by the administration that CISSD attendance
clerks move from level 2 to level 3 for an increase in compensation of $1,700
plus a 3% pay increase of current salary.
It is recommended by the administration that:
It is recommended by the administration that substitute teacher
and paraprofessional pay increase by $5 per day in all categories.
It is recommended by the administration that Levels I and II of
the pay plan for classified and paraprofessionals be adjusted to more
accurately reflect beginning salaries in these job classifications.
It is recommended by the administration that athletic and UIL
stipends be addressed on an individual, one-to-one basis through the personnel
functions of the district.
Discussion occurred.
C-4. Consideration, discussion and possible
action on the selection of Architects for the projects in the 2007 bond program
Superintendent Eddie Coulson reviewed and discussed the selection
process for Architect(s) for the projects in the 2007 bond program. If the administration’s recommendation of VLK
Architects is approved, the administration will begin meeting with
representatives this week to negotiate fees.
Discussion occurred. Marc
Chaloupka and Randall Pitcock served on the screening and interview
committees. They commented regarding VLK
being a “great fit” for CSISD and the value of “lack of a learning curve” and
the ability to move quicker.
Superintendent Coulson thanked the trustees for taking extra time
from their professional life to be a part of the screening and interviewing
processes. Superintendent Coulson
commented that it was good to have David Norton and Royce Thomas serve on the
interview committee.
D. ADJOURNMENT
Without objection, Tim Jones adjourned the workshop meeting at 6:56
p.m.
TIM
JONES RANDALL PITCOCK
PRESIDENT SECRETARY