Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Latest News from the Tatum ISD Central Office on May 2, 2008 Print
THOUGHT: “Until a person can say deeply and honestly, I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday, that person cannot say, I choose otherwise.” Covey 

DATES:           

May 5              Employee Appreciation Luncheon – THS – 11:30 a.m.                       
May 6              Last Day for Early Voting                       
May 9-10         THS Track @ State Meet                     

UIL State Academics·        

Two THS students, Bailey Parks and Randall Sullivan, will be participating in the UIL State Academic meet this weekend in Austin. Randall is competing in two events, computer science and ready writing. Bailey is competing in prose interpretation on Friday morning, planning on returning to Nacogdoches on Friday evening for the softball game and back to Austin for the finals on Saturday. Good luck to both of these students and congratulations on their success. 

Softball·         The THS Lady Eagles are playing Warren in the area round of the state playoffs. It is a best of three series with two games scheduled for Friday in Nacogdoches, 4:00 and 8:00. If necessary, the third game will be played on Saturday. The winner will play the winner of the Deweyville and Buffalo matchup. 

Phase II 2006 Bond·         The most time sensitive construction projects in Phase II are the press box and field house. The field house, along with the other Phase II projects, is progressing on schedule but the press box is four weeks from the original completion date of September 1. That date was changed to September 17 when the third floor was redesigned bi-level, requiring additional time for engineering and drawing. The steel for the project was scheduled to be on site this week but the supplier has indicated it will be another two weeks until delivery.  

May 10 Election·         Early voting for the May 10 election began on Monday, April 28, and ends on May 6. There have been 51 voters as of the close of the day on Thursday, May 1.  

TAKS Testing·         The 5th & 8th grade math results were reported last week with TISD 5th grade at 91% and 8th grade at 80% passing. The statewide results have been released, 5th grade at 83% and 8th grade at 75%. 

May Board Agenda·         The May Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 with the tentative agenda listed below.CONSENT AGENDA
  1. Minutes from regular meeting on April 8.
  2. Certify superintendent to the Region VII ESC advisory committee for 2008-09.
  3. Selection of auditor as required by CFC(LEGAL), “Each year the Board shall have the District's fiscal accounts audited at District expense by a Texas certified or public accountant holding a permit from the State Board of Public Accountancy.” To complete the audit the Board is to select an auditor and contracts for these professional services shall be made on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications to perform the services and for a fair and reasonable price (CH LEGAL). The administration is recommending Richard P. Loughlin to conduct the audit for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2008.
  4. Purchase of furniture for phase II 2006 bond. The furniture requirements for these projects are in excess of $25,000 and will require board approval. The major requirements are tables and chairs in the community room, press box field house.
ACTION ITEMS
  1. Canvass the May 10, 2008 election results. Board Policy BBB(LEGAL) states that for elections held on the uniform election date in May, the local canvass must occur not later than the 11th day after the election and not earlier than the third day.
  2. Administer oath of office to newly elected members to the Board of Trustees. Board Policy BBB(LEGAL) states, “Newly elected Trustees shall sign and file with the secretary of state the required statement of officer. After the statement has been filed and certificates of election have been issued, but before entering upon the duties of the office, the Trustee shall take the oath or affirmation of office and shall file it with the President of the Board.”
  3. Reorganize the Board of Trustees. Board Policy BDAA(LEGAL) requires that at the first meeting after each election and qualification of Trustees, the members of the Board shall organize by selecting officers. The policy identifies the officers as, “The Board shall elect a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary who shall be members of the Board. The Board may assign a District employee to provide clerical assistance to the Board. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the members present and voting.”
  4. Request to name a facility for Algie Harkless. Jamie Brown, representing the ‘Committee for A. Harkless’ submitted the following written request. “We are requesting to speak before the school board in regard to Coach Algie Harkless on May 13, 2008. We understand that this has been brought to the attention of the board already, but there are some facts that were not presented to the board on this matter that should be and we would like the opportunity to do so.” This topic was discussed at the September, October and November 2007 board meetings after the same request was made by Jerry Hudman. As the Board held conversations the major point wasn’t the particular name being recommended but whether the district wanted to implement a policy of naming facilities. Board Policy CW(LOCAL) guides the naming of facilities and TISD doesn’t have a policy and didn’t implement a policy after the discussions in late 2007.
  5. 2008-09 supply accounts in athletics. Due to the overlapping of the next school year starting during the current fiscal year it sometimes becomes problematic for supplies to be ordered and delivered for next year. The request is for the Board to approve supply accounts (6300) for the 2008-09 budget at 95% of the 2007-08 amount.
  6. 2008-09 compensation plan based on a 6% raise to all employees and the development of the teacher salary schedule to number two in the market. The total estimated cost is $475,000 and will be adjusted as teachers resign and new teachers are hired.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
  1. 2008-09 budget planning models will be presented along with the first draft of estimated expenditures.
  2. UIL soccer was discussed at the April meeting and it is the intention of the TISD administration to begin club play in 2008-09. Adding a program is an administrative decision, thus not needing Board approval. The costs associated with adding soccer has been included in the 2008-09 budget model to be presented at the meeting. If the Board or a Board member would like additional input beyond this discussion item, they can either request the item be placed on the agenda or bring up the topic during budget discussions where adjustments could be made to the budget that could require adjustments to the administrative decision.
INFORMATION ITEMS
  1. Program Evaluation: Special Programs consisting of fine arts, media services, career & technology education, gifted & talented, special education and guidance & counseling.
  2. Team of Rivals book study.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
  1. Personnel and hiring of teachers.
  2. Real property: purchase of real property.
 UIL Football Study·         The UIL has conducted a study of splitting football districts into division 1 & 2 for district play. The results are attached and UIL reminds everyone that this is a draft for study only, applies only to football and is not a propose by the UIL staff, nor has it been approved by the UIL Legislative Council.ATTAHCMENT – Split Football Study.pdf 

 

 Dee W. Hartt, Ed. D.SuperintendentTatum ISD   
 
[ Back ]