BISD Press Release – The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, January 9, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. BISD Board President Michael Cloy called the meeting to order, and former city council member and local Chaplain, Dave Fair, gave the invocation. The following Northwest Elementary students led the Pledge of Allegiance: Elin Atchley, Sarah Atchley, Brinlee Northcutt, Hudson Contrucci, and Jackson Contrucci.

RECOGNITIONS 

BISD recognized the following groups and individuals and presented them with certificates highlighting their achievements and/or support.

BHS VARSITY LADY LIONS VOLLEYBALL TEAM The Brownwood High School (BHS) Varsity Lady Lions Volleyball Team was recognized for its 2016 Bi-District Championship. (Overall Record: 22-18, District Record: 6-2, Bi-District Champions for the first time in 7 years.)

Above: (left to right) BISD Board Secretary, Dr. Lisa Fowler; Mikaela Smith (Junior); Kayla McFarden (Senior); Bailey Randle (Senior); Torrey Miller (Sophomore); BHS Volleyball Coach, Julie Preiss 

Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Academic All-State Honors The THSCA Academic All-State Teams recognize high school athletes who excel in the following categories: GPA, class rank and ACT/SAT score. The following BHS Lions football players were named to the 2016-17 teams: McLane Moore (1st Team), Xavier Armenta (Honorable Mention), and Carson Benedict (Honorable Mention).

Above: (left to right) BISD Board Member, Brad Jetton; McLane Moore; Carson Benedict; Xavier Armenta 

SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITIONS 

January is School Board Recognition Month. BISD joined other districts across the state to thank these local leaders for their dedication and willingness to serve as advocates for our children and public schools. Thank-you gifts were presented to board members from each campus, including gift baskets, custom wall hangings, and more. Woodland Heights Elementary presented a thank-you video that featured students and staff performing the mannequin challenge. In addition, flags that once flew over Gordon Wood Stadium were framed and presented to each board member as a token of appreciation from the BISD Administrative team.

Above: Shown left to right are BISD Board of Trustees members Diane Thompson, Brad Jetton, Eric Evans, Tim Jacobs; BISD Board Secretary, Dr. Lisa Fowler; BISD Board President, Michael Cloy (Not pictured: BISD Board Vice President, Roderick Jones, Jr.) 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT 

  •  The monthly Staffing Report and Budget Update were presented to the board along with financial reports for Infant/Toddler Head Start.
  •  Stacey Aguerro has been hired to replace Tim Thomas as a Brownwood Middle School 8th grade science teacher.
  •  Emily Rainey has been hired to replace Mrs. Stacy Hagood as a Brownwood Intermediate School 5th grade social studies teacher.
  •  Board members were given an update regarding the current District of Innovation (DOI) process and timeline. The next DOI meeting is scheduled for January 19.

DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS 

ACTION ITEM: The annual financial audit has been completed, and Jeromy Stephens from Davis Kinnard Accounting Firm presented the BISD 2015-2016 report to the school board. Stephens reported a clean audit with no major findings. Eric Evans made a motion to accept the audit as presented. The motion was seconded by Tim Jacobs and passed unanimously.

PUBLIC HEARING: The board entered a public hearing at 7:16 p.m. to allow public discussion regarding the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR). With no comments or discussion from the public, the board ended the public hearing and returned to regular session at 7:17 p.m.

  •  The Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) pulls together a wide range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. Performance is delineated by student groups, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The reports also provide extensive information on school and district staff, programs, and student demographics.

DISCUSSION: BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land presented the TAPR Report and noted the following:

  •  TAPR data is currently used to identify areas for improvement and are addressed in campus improvement plans. Data used in the TAPR report is the same data used for the following ratings: o BISD received “Met Standard” as a district and for each campus.
  • o Two campuses received every academic distinction possible
  • o Woodland Heights Elementary was named a Reward School.
    •  Improvement is needed in the number of students graduating under the minimum plan. The district is addressing this by: o Brownwood ISD has become a Texas Success Initiative (TSI) testing site and will increase the number of student taking the TSI test
    • o TSI testing available as early as 8th grade
    • o Increasing focus on students taking dual credit, advanced placement, and career and technology education courses

Dr. Young broke down the A-F rating system and explained how it uses the existing TAPR data to calculate the grades. Dr. Young noted that the Commissioner of Education Mike Morath issued the following statement regarding these ratings:

“No inferences about official district or campus performance in the 2015–16 school year should be drawn from these ratings, and these ratings should not be considered predictors of future district or campus performance ratings.” 

After explaining how the ratings are currently calculated and pinpointing how and why the ratings are an inaccurate snapshot of a district’s work, effectiveness, and quality, Dr. Young stated that the rating is more of a reflection of the amount of economically disadvantaged kids within a district.

DISCUSSION: BISD Maintenance Director Vic Singleton presented a Maintenance & Operations report. Singleton provided the board with custodial, maintenance, and project details from 2014 through 2016 and included breakdowns of Help-Desk Requests by type. Improvement projects from the 2015-16 year included various front entry improvements, LED lighting installations, awnings, whiteboards, doors, and fencing throughout the district.

DISCUSSION: BISD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Hector Martinez delivered an Enrollment Report consisting of BISD’s weekly enrollment trends from week 1 through week 15, ending on 12/16/2016. Dr. Martinez reported healthy enrollment numbers, noting that we are up five students from this time last year.

DISCUSSION: BISD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Hector Martinez delivered the Quarterly Financial Report consisting of the Investment Summary and Tax Assessor-Collector’s Report.

ACTION ITEM: The board considered approval of the Superintendent’s contract. Tim Jacobs made a motion to extend an employment contract to Dr. Joe Young as Superintendent of Schools from January 10, 2017 to July 31, 2020. The motion was seconded by Eric Evans and passed unanimously.

CONSENT AGENDA: Items on the Consent Agenda were approved unanimously as presented, with a motion by Tim Jacobs and a second by Dr. Lisa Fowler.

The items on the agenda included the following:

  •  Budget Amendment
  •  December 12, 2016 Board Meeting Minutes

EXECUTIVE SESSION 

No items were scheduled for executive session. ANNOUNCEMENTS 

  •  Youth Fair – January 11-14, 2017
  •  MLK Holiday – January 16, 2017
  •  Public Meeting on District of Innovation – January 19, 2017; 4:00 p.m.
  •  SBDM Committee Meeting – January 19, 2017, immediately following DOI mtg.
  •  Team of 8 Training – February 10, 2017
  •  Next Regular Meeting – February 13, 2017

The meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.