COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING

CSISD Board Room

July 15, 2008

7:00 p.m.

 

A.  CALL TO ORDER

President Charlotte Slack called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with six members present.

 

B.  DECLARATION OF QUORUM

President Charlotte Slack declared a quorum was present with six members.  President Slack, Secretary Randall Pitcock, Trustees Tim Jones, Garland Watson, Mary Broussard and Valerie Jochen were present.  Vice President Marc Chaloupka was absent.

 

C.  RECOGNITIONS

C-1.  Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and the Texas Flag, and a Moment of Silence

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Director for Public Relations and the Education Foundation Ann Ganter who introduced Kylie Pope, Forest Ridge Elementary School First Grader.  Haley led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag, the Texas Flag, and a Moment of Silence.

 

D.  BOARD

D-1.  Board Directions and Reports/Announcements/Superintendent Reports

Trustee Tim Jones reported that the Finance/Facilities Committee met on 7/14/08 regarding several issues that are on the agenda tonight.

 

Superintendent Eddie Coulson reported that Public Forums regarding Rezoning will be scheduled on 7/29/08 at 5:30 p.m. at AMC High School and 8/12/08 at 5:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Center.

 

The Board will conduct its Team of Eight Training on 8/4/08 and a follow-up Board Workshop on 8/12/08.

 

New Teacher Induction Luncheon is scheduled for 8/13/08 at 11:45 a.m. at Pebble Creek Country Club.

 

E.  HEARING OF CITIZENS (Non-Agenda Items)

Bobbie Books, Forest Ridge Elementary parent, addressed the Trustees regarding the overcrowding at Forest Ridge Elementary School and her concern for administration, staff, students and parents.

 

F.  HEARING OF EMPLOYEES (Non-Agenda Items)

None

 

G.  CONSENT AGENDA

Agenda Item H – APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 17, 2008 Board Workshop Minutes, June 17, 2008 Regular Meeting Minutes;  Agenda Item I - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION: Agenda Item I-2: Consider approval of the 2008-2009 Student Code of Conduct – annual approval;  Agenda Item J - PERSONNEL: Agenda Item J-1:  Consider approval of Resignations; Agenda Item J-2:  Consider approval of Employments; Agenda Item J-3: Consider approval of 2008-2009 Teacher Observation and Appraisal Calendar;  Agenda Item K - BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS: Agenda Item K-6: Consider approval of purchase of group life and disability insurance coverage through the Region IV ESC Cooperative; Agenda Item K-7: Consider approval of Monthly Financial Reports – Reports covering the month ended June 30, 2008;  Agenda Item K-8: Consider approval of Monthly Budget Amendments – Amendments covering the period since last Board Meeting

 

MOTION 4002:  I move approval of the Consent Agenda, as presented.  The motion was made by Secretary Randall Pitcock and seconded by Trustee Garland Watson.  The motion passed with six ayes and zero nos and one absence.

 

I.  CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

I-1.  Consider approval of payment to the Schlechty Center for Leadership and School Reform

Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction and Personnel Greg McIntyre recognized Director of Curriculum and Instruction Donna Adams who reported to the Board regarding the Schlechty Center for Leadership and School Reform.  For the past three years CSISD has participated in the Standard-Bearer School District Network of the Schlechty Center for Leadership in School Reform per written contract.  The purpose of this involvement is to study the necessity of student engagement in daily lessons, to implement strategies for designing engaging lessons, and to utilize standard protocols to analyze lessons and have collegial conversations to gather input for lesson improvement.

 

MOTION 4003:  I move approval of the payment to the Schlechty Center for Leadership and School Reform as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Tim Jones and seconded by Trustee Mary Broussard.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos and one absence.

 

K.  BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

K-1.  Consider establishing meeting dates for Public Hearing on Budget Adoption and Tax Rate for 2007-2008 fiscal year

Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Mike Ball addressed the Board of Trustees regarding dates for a public hearing on budget adoption and tax rate for the 08-09 fiscal year.  State Law requires that the District’s budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year must be prepared on or before August 20, 2008 and adopted by the Board of Trustees on or before August 31, 2008.  The Truth in Taxation Statutes also requires that a Public Hearing be held on the same day as the meeting in which the budget and tax rate are adopted by the Board of Trustees.

 

MOTION 4004:  I recommend setting the date of August 19, 2008 as the Public Hearing setting the tax rate, as presented.  The motion was made by Secretary Randall Pitcock and seconded by Trustee Mary Broussard.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos, and one absence.

 

K-2.  Consider adoption of an Energy Consumption Reduction Plan in accordance with Senate Bill 12 and House Bill 3693

Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball reported regarding the Energy Consumption Reduction Plan.  Provisions of Senate Bill 12 and House Bill 3693, signed by the Governor in June 2007 and effective as of September 1, 2007, require Texas public school districts to establish a goal to reduce annual electric consumption by five percent each state fiscal year for the next six years.

 

Prior to the passage of this legislation, CSISD has made significant investment in energy management control systems that provide the district with the capability of efficient management of HVAC and certain lighting systems.  The district has already retrofitted lighting systems with more efficient fixtures in many locations.  While there are additional steps the district can take to further reduce energy consumption, it should be noted that conservation and efficient utilization of energy resources have been a management priority for a number of years prior to the current legislative mandate.

 

MOTION 4005:  I move approval of adoption of an Energy Consumption Reduction Plan in accordance with Senate Bill 12 and House Bill 3693, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Mary Broussard and seconded by Trustee Valerie Jochen.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos, and one absence. 

 

K-3.  Consider approval of the District’s Wealth Equalization Plan for the 2008-2009 fiscal year under Chapter 41 of the Texas Education Code

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who reported to the Trustees that CSISD has been notified by Texas Education Agency that it is the subject to the wealth equalization provisions of Chapter 41 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.  Current law requires that the District’s wealth equalization plan must be approved by the Commissioner of Education before the tax rate can be set.  Bryan ISD Board of Trustees, via its administrative staff, has indicated its intent to participate in a proposed agreement whereby CSISD would purchase attendance credits in an amount sufficient to equalize the wealth in accordance with Chapter 41 of the TEC for the 2008-2009 budget year.  The proposed agreement is similar to agreements utilized by the two districts in the past.

 

If, for whatever reason, Bryan ISD is unable to execute the agreement in a timely manner, CSISD remains under the obligation to submit an acceptable wealth equalization plan to the Commissioner of Education and so it is recommended that the Trustees consider approval of the proposed agreement with Bryan ISD and an agreement to purchase sufficient attendance credits from the State in order to satisfy the 2008-2009 wealth equalization plan if the Bryan ISD agreement is not executed on a timely basis.

 

MOTION 4006:  I move approval of the District’s Wealth Equalization Plan for the 2008-2009 fiscal year under Chapter 41 of the Texas Education Code, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Tim Jones and seconded by Trustee Mary Broussard.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos, and one absence.

 

K-4.  Consider appointment of Amanda Dotson as Investment Officer and Other Authorities Associated with the Position of Director of Business Services

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who introduced Amanda Dotson, newly hired Director of Business Services.  In order to serve in the position, Mr. Ball reported that she will need authority from the Trustees to serve in capacities associated with that position: Investment Officer, authorized representative for CSISD accounts with Lone Star Investment Pool, authorized representative for CSISD accounts with TEXPOOL, authorized representative for CSISD accounts with Citibank, and as Reporting Official with the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.

 

MOTION 4007:  I move approval of the appointment of Amanda Dotson as Investment Officer and Other Authorities Associated with the Position of Director of Business Services, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Valerie Jochen and seconded by Secretary Randall Pitcock.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos, and one absence.

 

K-5.  Consider approval of Competitive Sealed proposals for:

(a) Property and Casualty Insurance

Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball reported that the Requests for Competitive Sealed Proposals for the District’s property and casualty insurance coverage were distributed to the public and has produced two respondents.  One respondent submitted a proposal for participation in shared risk pools.  ANCO Insurance is the only respondent that met the specifications in the Request for Proposals. 

 

MOTION 4008:  I move approval of ANCO Insurance Company as the District’s Agent for Property and Casualty Insurance for the 2008-2009 fiscal year and that the Superintendent or his designee be authorized to negotiate with ANCO Insurance Company to obtain the combination of quoted coverages that will provide the best value to the district, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Mary Broussard and seconded by Secretary Randall Pitcock.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos, and one absence.

 

(b) Student Accident Insurance

Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball reported to the Trustees that Requests for Competitive Sealed Proposals for the District’s student athletic and extra-curricular insurance coverage has produced four respondents.  The proposal from Brazos Valley Insurance includes a provision for full assignment through a Preferred Provider Organization.  The full assignment through a PPO group provides students and their parents the opportunity to receive treatment from various local health care providers that have contracted to accept the coverage.  The contracted health care providers will not bill the students for more than the benefits provided in the policy.  Other respondents provided proposals with full assignment coverage that would utilize PPO networks with limited provider availability or plans that do not provide the full assignment coverage.

 

MOTION 4009:  I move approval of the Competitive Sealed proposal for Student Accident Insurance, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Tim Jones and seconded by Trustee Mary Broussard.  The motion passed with six ayes, zero nos, and one absence.

 

N.  ADJOURNMENT

Without objection, President Slack adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

CHARLOTTE SLACK                                             RANDALL PITCOCK

PRESIDENT                                                             SECRETARY