Mike Falick's Blog

Recap of the Board's November 9, 2009, Workshop Meeting

Our Board held its monthly workshop meeting tonight. Here's a recap of the issues discussed and actions taken on tonight's Agenda

We had three discussion items on tonight's agenda.  The first item was a discussion of the 2008-2009 Audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended June 30, 2009. While the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) itself will not be presented until the Board meeting on November 23, 2009, our auditors gave the District a clean bill of health.  I will post the CAFR as part of the November 23, 2009, Board Meeting Recap.

Our second discussion item concerned the 2010-2011 Middle School and High School Program of Studies Guide. As regular readers of this blog know, Spring Branch was involved in lobbying for the changes to the graduation requirements contained in House Bill 3 passed during the 81st Legislative Session last Spring (see this prior post for more information).  In order to add structure to these changes, the District has created suggested career clusters.  While not mandatory, these career clusters will, at the student's choice, provide the opportunity for students to choose courses based on a student's interests or career goals.

Our final discussion item on the Agenda was a presentation of the Schematic Design/Design Development for the New Spring Branch Elementary School. The .pdf of the schematic design can be viewed by clicking here. Even better, click the video below for a 3D animation of the design.

Recap of Tonight's Regular Monthly Board Meeting

Our Board held its regular monthly meeting tonight.  Here's a recap of the issues discussed, and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

Our first agenda item was Citizens Participation.  We had several people from the Binglewood subdivision who spoke about the new Edgewood Elementary school.  Here is the document they provided the Board.

We then had our Board member Liaison Reports (each Board member serves in a liaison capacity).  Click here, here, here, and here for the documents I provided in my Legislative update, click here for the materials provided by Wayne Schaper, Sr., in his Facilities update, and here for the materials provided by Mary Grace Landrum in her Technology update.

In addition to the Liaison reports, the Board received its Quarterly Energy Report and Quarterly Investment Report.

We then adopted the following Board policies: CA (Local) Fiscal Management Goals and Objectives, DCB (Local) Employment Practices: Term Contracts, DEA (Local) Compensation and Benefits: Salaries, and GKDA (Local) Nonschool Use of School Facilities: Distribution of Nonschool Literature.  We also considered on first reading Legal and Local Policies - TASB Policy Update 85.

Our action items on the Agenda included the approval of the following items:

• Budget Status Summary Report with Budget Amendments as of July 31, 2009
• Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Detail Changes as of July 31, 2009
• Contract Awards
• Campus Performance Objectives for 2009-2010 (Click here for the Campus Performance Objectives for our Pre-K Centers and Elementary Schools, and here for the Campus Performance Objectives for our Middle and High Schools)
  
• Resolution of Annual Review of the Investment Policy of Spring Branch ISD
• Contracts for Tax Collection Services provided for the Local Villages
• Board/Superintendent Operating Procedures #12 and #13
• Schedule for Graduation Ceremonies for 2009-2010
• Performance Based Pay Task Force Chartering Document
  

We concluded tonight's meeting by approving our Consent Agenda.

Recap of Tonight's Regular Monthly Board Meeting

Our Board held its regular monthly meeting tonight.  Here's a recap of the issues discussed, and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

We had four special presentations this evening.  Our first special presentation was recognition of Marilyn White, MUNIS Project Manager, as our May 2009 Employee of the Month.  As stated in the Board Agenda item describing the work done by Ms. White:

The exceptional efforts of this month’s Employee of the Month, enabled SBISD to smoothly undertake the year-long planning and implementation of the MUNIS software system that reached a new milestone on May 1st with Payroll going live without a hitch!
This amazing and very dedicated SBISD employee has a “whatever it takes” spirit and embraced the project with zest and an incessant smile and positive attitude, even when others may have been overwhelmed by the scope of the project. She worked through every weekend, Winter Break and Spring Break to get the job done right and planned for and communicated with users across the district about untold numbers of meetings, trainings, and help sessions. She is a trouble-shooter par excellence and has done a fantastic job interfacing as our lead representative with the software vendor.

Our second special presentation recognized Suzie Jones, a volunteer at Landrum Middle School, as our May 2009 Volunteer of the Month.  As stated in the Agenda:

Susie Jones is a member of the Leadership Houston’s Class XXV that planned and conducted a college-preparation program for 30 students and their parents at Landrum Middle School in 2007. Suzie helped read the 50 applications, select participants, speak at the event and raise scholarship monies that are promised to the students when they graduate from SBISD and enroll in college. She has continued as a monthly mentor to the students who are now high school freshmen.

Mrs. Jones was so impressed with the students and their parents that she committed to continue the program for two more years. She has been the driving force behind the program; inviting fellow LH class members to help, and recruiting new members. She has continued to work with Principal Pratts to arrange a college tour of the University of Houston as part of the program, to arrange for speakers on topics such as planning your future, financial aide for college and making good choices.

Our third special presentation recognized Hispanic Heritage Month with a performance by students from Landrum Middle School's Ballet Folklorico.

Our final special presentation recognized Spring Branch's student athletes who advanced to state level competition in UIL athletics.

Our next agenda item was Citizens Participation.  We had two people speak tonight.  The first was a gentleman from Houston Community College who invited Spring Branch to send 100 juniors and seniors to the HCC Chancellors Energy Conference in October.  The second was David Cornell, a Wilchester resident, who spoke about the Wilchester Task Force.

We next held the first of two Public Hearings on the Proposed FY 2010 Spring Branch ISD Budget.  Our second public hearing will be held at 7:00p on June 22, 2009.  Click here to view the PowerPoint presentation shown immediately prior to the public hearing.

We then had our Board member Liaison Reports (each Board member serves in a liaison capacity).  Click here for the documents I provided in my Legislative update, here for the documents I provided in my Technology update, and here for the materials provided by Wayne Schaper, Sr., in his Facilities update.

In addition to the Liaison reports, the Board received its Quarterly Investment Report, Quarterly Energy Report, and Quarterly Report on the Five Year Educational Plan.

We then adopted the following Board policy: DNA (Local) Performance Appraisal: Evaluation of Teachers.

Our action items on the Agenda included the approval of the Budget Status Summary with Budget Amendments as of April 30, 2009 and the Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report as of April 30, 2009.  As we do in every monthly meeting, we also approved the awarding of a number of contracts.

We next approved the Board's Calendar for 2009-2010.

Our final two action items tonight were the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between SBISD and HCC for the Spring Branch Early College Program, and the Elementary and Secondary Student/Parent Handbooks and Student Code of Conduct for 2009-2010.  Click here to review the draft Elementary Student/Parent Handbook and here to review the draft Secondary Student/Parent Handbook.  (These are large files that may take several minutes to download, depending on your connection speed).

We concluded tonight's meeting by approving our Consent Agenda.

Recap of Tonight's Board Workshop Meeting

Our Board held its monthly workshop meeting tonight. Here's a recap of the issues discussed and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

We had four discussion items on tonight's agenda.  The first continued our discussion of the FY 2010 Budget.  Through savings this year, reductions discussed during the budget process, and modest protential additional funding from the State, the anticipated deficit has been reduced to $12m.

Our second discussion item concerned the parameters for the sale of additional bonds authorized by the District's voters for the 2007 Bond.  By December 1, 2009, the District will sell an additional $125m to fund the continued implementation of the 2007 Bond.  Our bond advisors presented information about potential vehicles for the sale of these bonds.  Click here to view the information presented by the bond advisors.

Our third discussion item was an update on the District's Parent Engagement and Parent Education initiative.

Our final discussion item on tonight's Agenda was a Review of the Bond Oversight Committee Charge.  The Bond Oversight Committee was created by the Board following the 2007 Bond election.  More information about the Committee is available here.  The Board held a rather lengthy discussion on this item with the consensus that the Bond Oversight Committee plays a critical advisory role to ensure that the District's implementation of the 2007 Bond is consistent with the bond program approved by the voters.

We concluded the meeting by considering amendments to Board Policy Board Policy DNA (Local) Performance Appraisal: Evaluation of Teachers (there were no amendments proposed).

Recap of Tonight's Regular Monthly Board Meeting

Our Board held its regular monthly meeting tonight.  Here's a recap of the issues discussed, and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

We had three special presentations this evening.  Our first special presentation was recognition of Carolyn Davis, custodial foreman at Bear Boulevard School for Early Learning, as our March 2009 Employee of the Month. 

Our second special presentation recognized Aileen Reilly, a volunteer at Stratford High School, as our March 2009 Volunteer of the Month.

Our final special presentation recognized Youth Art Month by highlighting some of the significant honors received by our District's students.

Our next agenda item was Citizens Participation.  No one spoke tonight.

We then had our Board member Liaison Reports (each Board member serves in a liaison capacity).  Here is the material I provided in my Legislative Update.

We then had the first reading of following Board policy: DNA (Local) Performance Appraisal: Evaluation of Teachers.

Our action items on the Agenda included the approval of the Budget Status Summary Report with Budget Amendments as of March 31, 2009 and the Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Budget Changes as of March 31, 2009.  As we do in every monthly meeting, we also approved the awarding of a number of contracts.

Tonight we also approved the Audit Engagement Letter for Fiscal Year End 2009, and the Appraisal Systems for Counselors, Campus Instructional Specialists, Diagnosticians, School Psychologists, Speech Pathologists, Speech Pathologist Interns, and Speech Pathologist Assistants. 

Our final two action items tonight were the approval of Architectural Schematic Design and Design Development for Bunker Hill Elementary School System Updates and Additions and Architectural Schematic Design and Design Development for Science 4x4 Program Renovations and Additions.  The architectural presentation on Bunker Hill is available here, and the architectural presentation on the Science 4x4 Classrooms is available here.

We next approved our Consent Agenda.

We next had extensive discussion on three additional bond projects.  For each project listed below, you can click on the link for the architectural presentation made to the Board.

• Architectural Schematic Design and Design Development for Hunters Creek Elementary Renovations
• Architectural Schematic Design and Design Development for Spring Woods High School Library Renovations
  
• Architectural Schematic Design and Design Development for Spring Woods High School Soccer Venue and Stratford High School Track Venue Projectsownload Multi Sports Complex
  

Our final agenda item for the evening was consideration of the Spring Branch ISD Board Agenda Planning Calendar.

Recap of Tonight's Board Workshop Meeting

Our Board held its monthly workshop meeting tonight. Here's a recap of the issues discussed and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

We had four discussion items on tonight's agenda.  The first continued our discussion of the FY2010 Budget.

Our second discussion item was a report on revisions to the 2007 Bond Budget and Schedules.

Our third discussion item was an update on the District's Dual Language Program.  For more information on this program, please click here and here.

Our final discussion item was an update on the District's Technology and Crisis Plan. 

We concluded the meeting with a discussion on Consideration and Possible Action on Submitted Potential
Amendments on the Board/Superintendent Operating Procedures 16, 30, 32, and 34.

Recap of Tonight's Budget Advisory Committee Meeting

Our Board held its first Budget Advisory Committee meeting tonight. 

As I have previously blogged, when the Texas Legislature "fixed" the school finance system in the Special Session in 2006, school district revenue was capped at the 2006-2007 revenue.  There was no provision for inflationary cost increases, and the revenue cap remains in place forever.  As a result, the 10% property valuation increases and resulting tax increases many Spring Branch residents have seen over the last several years (and will continue to see) do not remain in Spring Branch, but instead now benefit the State's general fund.  (For more information, please see these prior posts here, here, here and here).

The FY2010 Proposed Budget presents the stark reality of this broken school finance system.

Here are the documents that were provided to each member of the Budget Advisory Committee.  These documents include the District Profile, Financial Overview and Budget Summary, Campus & Department Budgets (to be provided at a later meeting), and an Appendix.

The problems caused by the current school finance system is why our Board has strongly asserted in Austin this Legislative Session for immediate change consistent with the Board's 81st Legislative Priorities.

Recap of Tonight's Regular Monthly Board Meeting

Our Board held its regular monthly meeting tonight.  Here's a recap of the issues discussed, and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

We had three special presentations this evening.  Our first special presentation was recognition of Dr. Flor Cubas, Norma Campos, Jodie Gideon, Alma Serrano, Cindy Rodriguez, and Sonia Barrera, of the Ridgecrest Elementary Even Start Literacy Program, as our February 2009 Employees of the Month. 

Our second special presentation recognized Mary Sweet, a volunteer at Panda Path School, as our February 2009 Volunteer of the Month.

Our third special presentation recognized Spring Branch's Character without Question Award recipients.  You can download the program which lists each recipient's name by clicking here.

Our next agenda item was Citizens Participation.  No one spoke tonight.

We then had our Board member Liaison Reports (each Board member serves in a liaison capacity).  Here is the material I provided in my Legislative Update.

We then adopted the following Board policies: CW (Local) New Facilities, and TASB Policy Update 84.

Our action items on the Agenda included the approval of the Budget Status Summary Report with Budget Amendments as of February 28, 2009 and the Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Budget Changes as of February 28, 2009.  As we do in every monthly meeting, we also approved the awarding of a number of contracts.

Tonight we also approved the schedule for Summer School 2009, the Highly Gifted Program Task Force Chartering Document, the first price increase for school lunches since 1996, the 2009-2010 Bond Project Architectural Assignment Recommendations, and the revised SBISD Five Year Educational Plan.

Our next action item tonight was the approval of the Texas Association of School Boards Resolution to Nominate Dr. Duncan Klussmann for Texas Superintendent of the Year.

We concluded the action items and our Board meeting with the approval of our Consent Agenda.

Recap of Tonight's Board Workshop Meeting

Our Board held its monthly workshop meeting tonight. Here's a recap of the issues discussed and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

We had four discussion items on tonight's agenda.  The first was a presentation by the Bond Oversight Committee which was created by the Board to monitor the implementation of the 2007 Bond. 

Our second discussion item continued our discussion of the FY 2010 Budget.  In addition to the uncertainty surrounding the Legislative Session, there is also substantial uncertainty about how the federal stimulus funds will be provided to school districts and what, if any, restrictions will be placed on the use of those funds.

Our third discussion item was an update on the 81st Legislative Session.  I provided the Board with materials on the current proposed finance and accountability bills.

Our final discussion item was a report on the evaluation of the District's Language Arts Program. 

We continued the meeting with second readings on CW (Local) New Facilities, TASB Policy Update 84, and the Board/Superintendent Operating Procedures #30, 32, and 34.

We concluded the meeting with an executive session to discuss Dr. Klussmann's compensation plan.

Recap of Tonight's Regular Monthly Board Meeting

Our Board held its regular monthly meeting tonight.  Here's a recap of the issues discussed and actions taken on tonight's Agenda.

The Board had four special presentations this evening.  Our first special presentation was recognition of Pam Lowrie, PPCD Assistant at Bendwood Elementary School, as our February 2009 Employee of the Month.

The second special presentation recognized Robert Farlow, who has committed hundreds of hours to coordinating and organizing the Memorial Mustangs Outreach Bunch (MMOB), as our February 2009 Volunteer of the Month.

The third special presentation recognized Black History Month with a speech by Landrum Middle School 7th Grader, John Kuykendahl.

The final special presentation recognized the District's students who have been selected for this year's All-State Band and Choir.

The next agenda item was Citizen's Participation.

Board members then presented their Liaison Reports (each Board member serves in a liaison capacity) followed by our Quarterly Energy Report for October - December 2008 and our Quarterly Investment Report.

The Board then adopted two revised Board policies, EIB (Local) Academic Achievement: Homework and FEF (Local) Attendance: Released Time.  Regular readers of this blog know that I have written a great deal about the issue of homework.

Next were first readings of CW (Local) New Facilities and D(Legal) and (Local) Policies - TASB Policy Update 84.

Tonight's action items on the Agenda included the approval of the Budget Stateus Summary with Budget Amendments as of January 31, 2009, and the Facility Imporvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Budget Changes as of January 31, 2009.  As the Board does in every monthly meeting, a number of contracts were awarded.

Additional action items included the approval of the following items:

• Revised Employment Contract Addendum
• Enrollment Projections for 2009-2010
  
• 2009-2010 Staffing Definitions and Guidelines
  
• Architectural Schematic Design and Design Development (SD & DD) Memorial Middle School Additions and Renovations Project
  
• Recommendation for Termination of Construction Management at Risk Contract to Brookstone Corporation for the SBEC Transition Campus
  
• Establish Money Market Accounts
  
• Sign a Non-Binding EBS Spectrum Royalty Agreement Term Sheet with Harvests Independent Spectrum LLC for Possible Lease and/or Sale of FCC License KRZ68

The action items concluded with the approval of the consent agenda.

The meeting concluded with a discussion about the High School Science 4x4 Project Scope and Direction.