Smithville ISD Board Meeting June 20, 2022
Designee president: Chris Hinnant. Absent: C. Parsons, G. Gutierrez
Josh started the meeting with a prayer for the victims of the Uvalde elementary school shootings.
Board recognized 4 people selected as Teacher of the Year and 4 people selected as Paraprofessional of the Year for their campuses.
CFO Jean Ann McCarthy presented status of various financial items, as requested monthly by the Board. All can be found as attachments in the online posted Agenda:
-Expenditures Compared to Budget for General Fund
-Summary of Capital Projects Revenue & Expenditures as of 5/31/22
-Special Revenue Fund Report
-Investment Reports
-State Aid-Budgeted vs Earned
-May 2022 tax Collection Report
SHAC Progress Report/Human Sexuality and Wellness Program moved to be earlier on the agenda
Speaker explained SHAC meetings and the Human sexuality program “Aim for Success” and explain and described low parental involvement in the parent presentation meeting, except for 16 parents attending, and also Fewer High school students participation due to the new process of “opting in” in the Aim for Success program.
Chris Hinnant,
questioned what process is used for notifications of the meetings? Post on-line, post on campuses. Discussed possibility of campus newsletters or utilizing Chamber of Commerce.
For Health Education classes Dr. Caudill and SHAC talked about having guest speakers during the next school year.
The SHAC report is included in the on-line agenda.
Discussion among board members followed, but people could not hear because there is not a good sound system in the room meeting.
School Safety & Security
Lengthy discussion of status of upgraded security, having more controlled access to each school, addition of security alarms, adding more cameras, retrofitting required for card access, keeping gates locked at all times. The main point is to create as many barriers as possible to impede potential breaches. Discussed the expense and logistics of transitioning from open concept in our schools to closed, fenced and locked concept, as well as the difficulty of trying to monitor all social media platforms to identify and react to potential “red flag” behaviors. To use law enforcement would require at least one officer in every school, very expensive. A security upgrade Timeline is attached in the agenda on-line.
Working to establish a Safety and Security Committee to address and create Plans and Procedures for Emergency situations. Committee should have 2 community representatives, 2 parents, 1 teacher, 1 county emergency person. Meetings would be open to the public.
2021-2022 Budget Amendments
CFO Jean Ann McCarthy reviewed the Budget Amendment summary and a 5-page General Fund Check Register report. Slides were shown with more detail and much discussion of this item. With the fast presentation of this information and the speakers not working, it was impossible to write down or keep up with this portion of the meeting.
Superintendent’s Report:
Training Requirements for School Board Members
Training is separated by New Members vs. Experienced Members.
Should be noted in the Training Requirements, Child Abuse Prevention is required only one hour every two years of training for a school board member,
Cybersecurity is required one hour each year,
Team Building, 3 hours each year,
Does this sends us a message?
Our School Board Members don’t have a clue on what students are undergoing.
After-School (ACE) Program Report
Ashley Gartman, administrator for the After-School Program presented activities from the 2021-2022 school year.
First Draft of 2022-2023 Budget
CFO presented the following and lengthy discussions followed:
Smithville ISD may be eligible for the 1st time for the 313 agreement and payment due to big Solar. Used Moak Casey figures. Potential $306,000 in Revenue which is outside of school finance, so will in reduce. Looking at being a Recapture School District, with property taxes over 40%, but have not been notified yet by TEA.
<did NOT understand or hear much of this lengthy discussion.
-Draft comparison of insurance rates for the last 2 years to the rates for next year, effective
9-1-22. Explained we are basically prevented from providing insurance other than TRS Active Care because if we stop the TRS Active Care, cannot rejoin for 5 years. Copy of report included with agenda.
-Historical Enrollment/Revenue/Expenditure Comparisons. Copy of report included with agenda. This was the discussion including FTE’s I couldn’t hear.
-Draft Budget Revenue Summary
-Draft Budget Expenditure Summary
-Variance Explanations
-Payroll Justification
Tentative July Agenda Items
List of proposed agenda items for July meeting is attached in on-line agenda.
Approval of 2022-23 Salary Schedules 7-18-22
-3% for professionals
-5% for all others
-Discussed 2 stipends for all, one in Fall and one at end of year
CFO cautioned about unexpected expenses — the State may mandate costs to incur for safety upgrades, aging buildings may require additional maintenance expenses, and technical upgrades may be required for computers. Also, if property taxes fall, salary increase commitments still have to be kept.
-unanimously approved Board Operating Procedures
Schedule Board Meeting Dates for 2022-2023
Resignation of Certified Personnel
Employment of Certified Personnel
https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1738?meeting=512919
To stay informed on SISD future board meetings and other governmental affairs in Bastrop County visit:
Margo reporting.
