COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING

CSISD Board Room

November 19, 2007

7:00 p.m.

 

A.  CALL TO ORDER

President Tim Jones called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

 

B.  DECLARATION OF QUORUM

President Tim Jones declared a quorum was present with seven members.  President Jones, Vice-President Mary Broussard, Secretary Randall Pitcock, Trustees Charlotte Slack, Marc Chaloupka, Garland Watson and Steve Aldrich were present.

 

C.  RECOGNITIONS

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

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized AMC Middle School Principal Chris Scott who introduced Teacher Tamika Perry. Ms. Perry introduced students 7th Grader Alex Castillo, 7th Grader Jeremy Castillo, and 8th Grader Cody Young.  The students led the audience in the pledges of allegiance and the moment of silence.

 

C-2.  Recognize AMC High School Campus Artwork

Trustees appreciated the artwork adorning the walls of the Board Room provided by AMC Middle School art students, taught by Teacher Jack MacKenzie.

 

C-3.  Students

a.  All State Orchestra – Teacher Jeffrey Hill

Elizabeth Furuta and June Kang were selected to participate in the 2007-2008 TMEA All-State Orchestra.  The Orchestra will perform at the annual TMEA Convention held in San Antonio in February.

 

b.  AMC High School Cross Country Girls Team – Teacher Rodney Wellmann

A&M Consolidated’s Sally Hays finished 16th in Class 5A for the best individual finish for a Brazos Valley runner.  Other Consol finishers are:  Jennifer Barrick – 89th, Jordan Bettiol – 64th, Kenda Carroll – 90th, Morgan Hartmann – 62nd, Katy Williams – 68th, and Keri Wood – 84th.

 

D.  BOARD

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

Trustee Charlotte Slack reported that she had attended the next TASB Leadership session on November 9-11 in Austin.  Discussion at the session encouraged posting check registers on-line, meeting with legislators, and ways to develop agenda items.

 

Trustee Slack also thanked Becky Burghardt, Coordinator of Assessment, for TAKS TAMER and AMC High School Principal Ron Fox for D.E.A.D.

 

Superintendent Eddie Coulson thanked everyone involved with D.E.A.D. week and discussed the collaborative effort with local community agencies.

 

Superintendent Coulson reported that we are trying to schedule our next Joint Meeting with the City of College Station that CSISD will host for Tuesday, 1/22/08 to discuss partnerships with the City and potential opportunities to partner.

 

D-2.  Discuss scheduling a follow-up meeting related to Visioning and Strategic Planning

Trustees discussed calendars and a following up meeting will be scheduled for Thursday, 12/6/07 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

 

E.  HEARING OF CITIZENS

None

 

F.  HEARING OF EMPLOYEES

None

 

G.  CONSENT AGENDA

 

Agenda Item H - Approval of Minutes – October 16, 2007 Workshop Minutes, October 16, 2007 Public Hearing Minutes, October 16, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes, November 1, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes, and November 6, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes;  Agenda Item I – Curriculum & Instruction:  Agenda Item I-2:  Consider Approval of Update 81 minus FNA (Local).  The update includes A(Legal), AE (Legal), BAA (Legal), BBA (Legal), BBB (*Legal), BBD (Legal), BBFA (Legal), BDAE (Legal), BDAE (Local), BE (Legal), BJA (Legal), BQ (Legal), C (Legal), CFA (Legal), CH (Legal), CHE (Legal), CKD (Legal), CMD (Legal), CAN (Legal), D(Legal), DBA (Legal), FDB (Legal), FDD (Legal), FEA (Legal), FEA (Local), FEB (Legal), FEC (Legal), FEC (Local), FFAB(Legal), FFH (Legal), FFH (Local), FL (Legal), DBAA (Legal), DBD (Legal), DBE (Legal), DC (Legal), DC (Local), DEA (Legal), DF (Legal), DG (Legal), DGBA (Legal), DGBA (Local), DMA (Legal), EB (Legal), EHAB (Legal), EHBK (Legal), EHDD (Legal), EJ (Legal), EK (Legal), EKC (Legal), F(Legal), FD (Legal), FD (Local), FNA (Legal), FNAB (Legal), FOC (Legal), FODA (Legal), FOE (Legal), GBA (Legal), GBAA (Legal), GKC (Legal), GKC (Local), GKG (Legal), GKG (Local) ; Agenda Item I-3: Consider approval of DEE (Local) – Compensation and benefits: expense reimbursement; Agenda Item I-4: Consider approval of UIL Waiver courses – approval of advanced courses for UIL waiver; Agenda Item I-5: Consider approval of K-5 Mathematics Textbook Adoption Committee – committee membership for the K-5 math textbook adoption;  Agenda Item J – Personnel:  Agenda Item J-1:  Consider approval of Safe Schools Project Interlocal Agreement with Region IV; Agenda Item J-2:  Consider approval of Resignations; Agenda Item J-3: Consider approval of Employments; Agenda Item K – Business & Operations: Agenda Item K-6: Report pursuant to House Bill 273 passed during the 80th Legislative Session regarding fees paid to purchasing cooperatives and the purpose of such fees – New statute requires report to Board on District utilization of purchasing cooperatives; Agenda Item K-7: Consider approval of a Grazing Lease on 46.028 acres land situated in the Samuel Davidson League, Abstract No. 13 in Brazos County, Texas and being a portion of a called 102.00 acre tract described by gift deed from Vonnie Ray Vance, Trustees of the VRV Trust, recorded in Volume 1020, Page 325 of the Official Records of the Brazos County, and more commonly known as 46.028 acres located adjacent to Greens Prairie Trail, College Station, Texas – Grazing lease to preserve the agricultural use status of new property purchased by CSISD; Agenda Item K-8: Consider approval of interest payable to taxpayers in accordance with Section 42.43 of the Texas Property Tax Code as a result of cases filed in the District Court of Brazos County, Texas as follows: a.  Interest payable to College Station Brookhaven, LLC, in the amount of $1,002.58 – interest payments due on tax suit settlements as ordered by District Courts; Agenda Item K-9:  Consider approval of Monthly Financial Reports – Reports covering the month ended October 31, 2007;  Agenda Item K-10: Consider approval of Monthly Budget Amendments – Amendments covering the period since last Board Meeting.

 

MOTION 3833:  I move approval of the Consent Agenda, as presented.  The motion was made by Secretary Randall Pitcock and seconded by Trustee Marc Chaloupka.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

I.  CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

I-1.  Receive Report from Lisa Nelson, Health Services Provider

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Greg McIntyre who introduced Lisa Nelson, Head Start Health Services Provider.  Ms. Nelson reported to the Board that two of the leading health issues facing the children of America today are Childhood Obesity and Childhood Caries (Dental Decay). 

 

Obesity has become an epidemic – a health and economic burden America cannot sustain, reports ABC News, and obesity in children has dramatically increased over the past three decades.  Obesity has far reaching consequences such as: psychosocial issues, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), glucose intolerance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease, polycystic ovarian disease, and degenerative joint disease.

 

Childhood dental caries is called the “silent epidemic”.  Experts are saying that dental decay is the most widespread disease of childhood, reports Mrs. Nelson.  Implications of Early Childhood caries are:  early tooth loss, link between poverty and poor dental health, failure to thrive, impaired speech, inability to concentrate in school, reduced self esteem, and lost school hours.  Issues hindering access to oral health services are:  number of children non-insured, lack of dental professionals accepting specific insurance coverage, lack of pediatric dentists willing to treat children ages 105, lack of prevention and education, cultural language differences, and lack of transportation.

 

CSISD is working to start new traditions:  Healthy Hearts for Head Start, learning with each step that exercise can be fun.  Healthy Start for Texas Teeth and the importance of nutrition are focus topics.  Building blocks of tradition include Integrating Programs in the Classroom, Providing Opportunities of Prevention, Collaborating with State and Local partners, Supporting and empowering Families, and Partnering with Staff.

 

K.  BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

K-1.  Public Hearing regarding Texas Property Tax Code Section 11.253 and its applicability to College Station Independent School District as it pertains to a potential property tax exemption for certain goods in transit

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent for Business and Operations Mike Ball who reported that the 80th Texas Legislature adopted House Bill 621 which added Section 11.253 to the Texas Property Tax Code.  This new statute provides the option for local taxing jurisdictions to either levy a tax or provide an exemption from taxation for certain tangible personal property in transit.   

 

A Public Hearing to receive input from the public regarding this issue occurred.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  There were no public comments offered. 

 

The central issue involves a decision to either grant the exemption from ad valorem taxation on certain tangible personal property in transit or to continue to levy an ad valorem tax based on the value of this property.

 

Closed Public Hearing at 7:55 p.m.

 

K-2.  Consider approval of a resolution related to Texas Property Tax Code Section 11.253 and the taxation of tangible personal property in transit

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who reported that the 80th Texas Legislature adopted House Bill 621 which added Section 11.253 to the Texas Property Tax Code.  This new statute provides the option for local taxing jurisdictions to either levy a tax or provide an exemption from taxation for certain tangible personal property in transit.  In order to qualify for the exemption the goods must be stored at a facility that is not owned or controlled by the owner of the goods for no longer than 175 days.  There is currently some debate as to what “controlled” may mean.  Some contend that a lease implies control, while others have used the term public warehouse in relation to this issue.  Goods that are at a location for a manufacturing type activity would fall under this exemption as long as the manufacturer does not take ownership of the goods and they are converted and removed within the 175 day window.  There is uncertainty at this point as to how the exemption, if granted, would be treated for state public school funding purposes.  Therefore, it would appear that granting the exemption would not be in the best interest of the District at this point in time.

 

MOTION 3834:  I move approval of a resolution that would provide for continued taxation of property described in House Bill 621, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Steve Aldrich and seconded by Vice President Mary Broussard.  The motion passed with seven ayes, and zero nos. 

 

K-3.  Consider approval of quotes for lease financing of school buses in the amount of $480,936

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who recommended that the Trustees consider approval of the proposal from Compass Bank/De Lage Landen to provide lease financing in the amount of $480,936.00 with a fixed interest rate of 4.03 percent for a term of three annual payments with the first payment due at closing and authorize Michael Ball to execute any documents necessary to close the transaction.

 

MOTION 3835:  I move approval of quotes for lease financing of school buses in the amount of $480,936 as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Vice President Mary Broussard.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

K-4.  Consider authorization of purchase of six school buses through the Houston Galveston Area Purchasing Cooperative (HGAC) in the amount of $480,396

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who reported that the district has a need to acquire four 71 passenger air conditioned buses and two 53 passenger special needs buses in order to provide for growth and to keep the bus fleet inventory up to date.  Administration recommends that CSISD purchase six buses from Thomas Bus Gulf Coast for a total price of $480,936.00 with financing to be from capital lease proceeds.

 

MOTION 3836:  I move approval of the purchase of six school buses through the Houston Galveston Area Purchasing Cooperative (HGAC) in the amount of $480,936.00, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Charlotte Slack and seconded by Trustee Marc Chaloupka.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

K-5.  Consider renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between College Station ISD and the City of College Station permitting CSISD’s access to the City’s 800 megahertz band radio communications system and the City’s paging system

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who reported to the Trustees regarding access by CSISD to the 800 MHz radio system owned by The City of College Station.  The City has allowed CSISD access to its 800 MHz radio system since 2003.  That access has provided a back-up communications capability for CSISD personnel.  Access to the 800 MHz radio system by College Station ISD personnel has also provided a benefit to the city in that their emergency first responder personnel have had the capability of communicating directly with individuals on a campus with an emergency situation. 

 

MOTION 3837:  I move approval of the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between College Station ISD and the City of College Station providing access by College Station Independent School District to the 800 MHz radio system owned by The City of College Station, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Steve Aldrich and seconded by Secretary Randall Pitcock.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

L.  EXECUTIVE SESSION

L-1.  The Board will meet in executive session to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property.  The executive session deliberations will be held pursuant to the “Deliberation Regarding Real Property” exception to the Texas Open Meetings Act as set forth in Section 551.072 of the Texas Government Code

 

L-2.  Discussion related to the Superintendent Formative Evaluation

 

The Board of Trustees went into Executive Session at 8:14 p.m.

 

M.  OPEN SESSION

No action taken.

 

N.  ADJOURNMENT

Without objection, President Jones adjourned the meeting at 10:49 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

TIM JONES                                                                RANDALL PITCOCK

PRESIDENT                                                              SECRETARY