Our meeting started with Special Presentations to recognize the outstanding work of the following:
- Sonya Ramirez, the Communities in Schools Liaison for Edgewood Elementary, as our February 2010 Employee of the Month. Click here to watch a video honoring Ms. Ramirez.
- Brent Favor, a volunteer at Spring Woods High School, as our February 2010 Volunteer of the Month. Click here to watch a video honoring Mr. Favor.
- Recognition of Dr. Jennifer Blaine who has been selected for the Broad Superintendents Academy. For more information on Dr. Blaine's selection, please click here.
- Energy Rebate SCORE Check Presentation.
- Recognition of National School Counseling Week.
- Recognition of SBISD All-State Orchestra and All-State Choir Students.
- Recognition of SBISD Schools Earning the National Center for Educational Achievement 2009 Just for the Kids Campaign for Higher Performing Schools in Texas Designation.
- Recognition of Black History Month.
Next on our agenda was Citizens Participation. We had four people speak during Citizens Participation. Ms. Schindler gave the District an award as her company's Vendor of the Year. Catherine Barchfield and Chris Hajovsky spoke in favor of the Board's Resolution on Housing Tax Credits. And Chuck Davidson asked the Board to create two task forces, one to look at high school schedules and the other to look at creating a 9th Grade campus.
We then had our Board member Liaison Reports (each Board member serves in a liaison capacity). Click here here for the materials I provided in my legislative liaison 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.
We also received the Quarterly Energy Report for October - December 2009 and the Quarterly Investment Report as of December 31, 2009.
We then had first reading on the following policy:
We also adopted the following policies:- Legal and Local Policies - TASB Policy Update 86.
- EJ (Local) Academic Guidance Program. I am very pleased to see the addition of post-secondary planning, college advising, and the requirement for advisory periods for all secondary campuses as I firmly believe that these items are critical to achieving our District's goal of being the premiere college focused district in Texas.
- CH (Local) Purchasing and Acquisition.
Our action items on the Agenda included the approval of the following items:
- Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Budget Changes as of January 31, 2010.
- Contract Awards.
- 2010-2011 Enrollment Projections.
- 2010-2011 Staffing Definitions and Guidelines for Teaching Positions.
- Schematic Design/Design Development for the Memorial High School Science 4x4 Program.
- Schematic Design/Design Development for the New Wilchester Elementary School.
- Board Resolution Opposing the Application for Housing Tax Credits.
We concluded the meeting with a lengthy discussion regarding the Annual Report to the Board on the Five Year Educational Plan. The Report itself can be viewed by clicking here (this is a very large file). In addition, the PowerPoint presentation given to the Board tonight can be viewed by clicking here for Part 1 and here for Part 2.
Good work on getting the ball rolling on opposing the application for housing tax credits. I hope the TDHCA takes heed. At any rate, it's good to see that the board recognizes how subsidized housing, especially if it facilitates subpar management, can create an atmosphere that is unsafe for students who live there. Why should these complexes be artificially propped up? Let them play by the same rules as everyone else. If they don't have the government crutch, they'll have to improve to compete or sell out to someone who can allocate that land to its highest and best use.
Posted by: Alan Grissett | Friday, February 26, 2010 at 04:08 PM