COLLEGE STATION INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGULAR MEETING

 

CSISD Board Room

October 16, 2007

7:00 p.m.

 

 

A.  CALL TO ORDER

President Tim Jones called the meeting to order at 7:02 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 Forest Ridge Elementary School Principal Terresa Katt who introduced Kindergartener Solomon Marshall, 1st  Grader Faith Marshall, 3rd Grader Mannaser Marshall and 4th Grader Chloe Marshall.  The students led the audience in the pledges of allegiance, the moment of silence, and the Falcon pledge.

 

C-2.  Recognize AMC High School Campus Artwork

Trustees appreciated the artwork adorning the walls of the Board Room provided by Cypress Grove Intermediate School art students, taught by Teacher Christine                       Grafe.

 

C-3.  Students

a.  2008 National Hispanic Recognition Program

Six College Station ISD finalists were named in the 2008 National Hispanic Recognition Program.  Students enter the program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) as high school juniors and by identifying themselves as Hispanic.  This year, more than 196,000 PSAT/NMSQT takers nationwide as National Hispanic Scholars and Honorable Mention Finalists based upon their scores and their academic achievements.  Congratulations to Cindy Cepeda, Adam Garrett, Raniero Lara-Guarduno, Christopher Lewis, Wesley McDougal and Ignacio Olivera.

 

b.  National Merit Semi-Finalists

Seventeen CSISD Semifinalists were named in the 2008 National Merit Scholarship Program.  Semifinalists in the 53rd annual National Merit Scholar Program were announced by officials of National Merit Scholarship Corporation.  To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier qualifying test performance.  The Semifinalist and a school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s self-descriptive essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.  Congratulations to Andrey Belyanin, Wesley Chapkin, Jeffrey Chen, William Chen, Dale Delucia, Sarah Guermond, Alexander Ivanov, Georgia Lagoudes, Christopher Lewis, Alex Liu, Clare Lynch, Wesley McDougal, Ignacio Olivera, Rebecca Phinney, Indrajit Sehbi, Samantha Walker and Rebecca Yasskin.

 

D.  BOARD

 

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

Trustee Randall Pitcock reported that the Finance/Facilities Board Committee met on 9/24/07 to receive audit information.

 

President Tim Jones reported that the Superintendent Evaluation Committee’s work is well underway.  At Dr. Coulson’s request the committee has agreed to conduct the Formative Evaluation at the November 2007 Board Meeting instead of the December meeting.  The Formative Evaluation is an oral communication evaluation.

 

Superintendent Eddie Coulson reported that the design work for the College Hills Elementary construction project is moving forward with the Design Team meeting weekly.  A College Hills Community Meeting is scheduled for 10/18/07 at 6:00 p.m. in the College Hills Cafeteria.

 

Dr. Coulson reported that a Special Board Meeting will be needed prior to the November Board Meeting.  The Board discussed calendars.

 

E.  HEARING OF CITIZENS

None

 

F.  HEARING OF EMPLOYEES

None

 

G.  CONSENT AGENDA

 

Agenda Item H - Approval of Minutes – September 18, 2007 Workshop Minutes, September 18, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes, September 25, 2007 Special Meeting Minutes;  Agenda Item I – Curriculum & Instruction:  Agenda Item I-2:  Consider Approval of a Texas Education Agency Waiver allowing A&M Consolidated High School to have a modified class schedule on TAKS testing days (whereby Districts/Schools may request waivers from TEA allowing for modified schedules on the dates TAKS is administered);  Agenda Item J – Personnel:  Agenda Item J-1:  Consider approval of Resignations; Agenda Item K – Business & Operations: Agenda Item K-7: 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 R.D. Eastmark Ltd. In the amount of $1,238.38, b. Interest payable to CA New Plan Texas LP in the amount of $2,886.05; Agenda Item K-8: Consider approval of Monthly Financial Reports – Reports covering the month ended September 30, 2007;  Agenda Item K-9: Consider approval of Monthly Budget Amendments – Amendments covering the period since last Board Meeting.

 

MOTION 3825:  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 regarding Highly Qualified Requirements

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Greg McIntyre who introduced Donna Adams, Director of Curriculum & Instruction.  Ms. Adams reported that The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires that all teachers of core content areas be Highly Qualified and that districts publicly report the findings.  The Core Content Areas are English, Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Foreign Languages, Civics and Government, Economics, Arts, History, and Geography.  A teacher’s options for achieving “Highly Qualified” status are: 1) Passed ExCET/TExES or 2) Academic major/degree in subject or 3) HOUSSE (High, objective, uniform State standard of evaluation) – one year of experience AND points toward experience teaching the subject, college coursework in the subject, and professional development hours in the subject which equal 24 points.  For the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, 100% of all teachers in College Station ISD are highly qualified.

 

K.  BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS

 

K-1.  Consider authorization of the purchase of the following items utilizing an Interlocal Agreement with Texas A&M University: a. Network Switches and Related Equipment, b. Chief Plenum Enclosures for Data Projector Installations.

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Clark Ealy, Executive Director for Accountability and Planning, who reported that the 2007 Bond Program includes a project to upgrade the District’s network capabilities.  The Technology Department has initiated the first part of that project.  As a part of the project, quotes for the needed Network Switches and Related Equipments have been solicited utilizing an Interlocal Agreement with Texas A&M University.

 

MOTION 3826:  I move to approve the purchase of Network Switches and Related Equipment from Microage utilizing an Interlocal Agreement with Texas A&M University, as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Steve Aldrich and seconded by Trustee Marc Chaloupka.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

K-2.  Consider approval of the purchase of Data Cabling and Supplies using the Department of Information Resources (DIR)

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Executive Director Clark Ealy who reported that the 2007 Bond Program also includes a project to upgrade the District’s network capabilities.  The Technology Department has initiated the first part of that project.  As a part of the project, quotes for the needed Data Cabling and Supplies have been solicited utilizing the Department of Information Resources.

 

MOTION 3827:  I move approval of the purchase of Data Cabling and Supplies using the Department of Information Resources (DIR), as presented.  The motion was made by Secretary Randall Pitcock and seconded by Trustee Steve Aldrich.  The motion passed with seven ayes, and zero nos. 

 

K-3.  Consider approval of purchases utilizing Competitive Sealed Proposals for the following items: a. Labor for Data Cabling for Network Upgrade and Ceiling Mounted Projectors

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball who reported that the 2007 Bond Program includes a project to upgrade the District’s network capabilities.  The Technology Department has initiated the first part of that project.  As a part of the project, quotes for the needed Labor for Data Cabling for Network Upgrades and Ceiling Mounted Projectors have been solicited utilizing Competitive Sealed Proposals.

 

MOTION 3828:  I move approval of purchases utilizing Competitive Sealed Proposals for the Labor for Data Cabling for Network Upgrade and Ceiling Mounted Projectors as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Trustee Garland Watson.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

K-4.  Consider approval of the purchase of a portable classroom building for use at Forest Ridge Elementary School through the Texas Local Government Statewide Purchasing Cooperative (BuyBoard)

Superintendent Eddie Coulson reported that the enrollment at Forest Ridge Elementary School has increased to a point making it very likely that an additional portable building will be required in order to meet the elementary level student to teacher ratio of 22:1.  Superintendent Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent for Business & Operations Mike Ball who reported that due to the amount of time required to obtain a portable building and perform the necessary installations, the process of procuring a building is presently being initiated.

 

MOTION 3829:  I move approval of the purchase of a portable classroom building for use at Forest Ridge Elementary school through the Texas Local Government Statewide Purchasing Cooperative (BuyBoard), as presented.  The motion was made by Trustee Marc Chaloupka and seconded by Trustee Garland Watson.  The motion passed with seven ayes and zero nos.

 

K-5.  Consider approval of the lease of Portable Buildings through the Houston-Galveston Area Cooperative (HGAC) to be used to support the Athletic Complex Renovations that are part of the 2007 Bond Program.

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Deputy Superintendent Mike Ball.  Mr. Ball reminded the trustees that the Athletic Complex Renovations that are part of the 2007 Bond Program include the complete renovation of the fieldhouse at Tiger Field.  The project also includes the demolition and rebuilding of the fieldhouse adjacent to the softball field.  In support of that project, a need exists to provide restroom facilities, offices and storage areas for use by College Station ISD employees and students during the construction process.  Due to the amount of time required to obtain portable buildings and perform the necessary installations, the process of procuring the buildings is presently being initiated.

 

MOTION 3830:  I move approval of the lease of Portable Buildings through the Houston-Galveston Area Cooperative (HGAC) to be used to support the Athletic Complex Renovations that are part of the 2007 Bond Program, 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.

 

K-6.  Consider approval of a contracted services agreement with Harris County Department of Education to conduct school safety audits

Superintendent Eddie Coulson recognized Dr. Clark Ealy, Executive Director for Accountability and Planning, who reported to the Board regarding School Safety Audits.  Senate Bill 11 from the 79th Legislative Session made several changes to school requirements for crisis management plans.  One of the provisions in that legislation calls for each campus in the state to conduct a safety audit once very three years.  CSISD must audit all of its campuses by 8/31/08.  After evaluating several options, the administration feels the district will get the best safety and security information if we contract with security professionals who will give the district an honest evaluation of our overall security plans and procedures.

 

MOTION 3831:  I move approval of a contracted services agreement with Harris County Department of Education to conduct school safety audits, 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.

 

L.  EXECUTIVE SESSION

None

 

M.  OPEN SESSION

None

 

N.  ADJOURNMENT

President Jones commented that CSISD was well represented at the FFA Golf Tournament with a team of Eddie Coulson, Mike Ball, Oliver Hadnot and himself.

 

Without objection, President Jones adjourned the meeting at 8:01 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

TIM JONES                                                                RANDALL PITCOCK

PRESIDENT                                                              SECRETARY