ROYAL MINUTES

Board Meeting Review

March 8, 2007


 

 

President Hillsman called the regular March board meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.

 

Students and employees were recognized by their respective principals and congratulated by board members. Students receiving recognition were Katy Arbizu, Ryan Buy, Nathaniel Crawford, Laura de la Garza, Daniel Escalón, Karla Esquival, Alexis Galabeas, Klarissa Ledsinger, Sera Lewis, Makayla McFarland, Emely Medrano, Hillary Neuman, Amani Pang-Johnson, Jordan Patrick, Bruce Ramirez, Martin Ramirez, Natalie Rojas, Annamarie Ruley, Samuel Sanchez, Angelina Tirado, Hugo Torres, Inasiah Venson, Ashanti Woods (ECC); Joel Quintero, Blanca Sanchez, Yomayra Tena, Deena Stone Taylor Hall (RES); Teresa Fay, Wesley Wilson, Trakeshia Miles, Raymundo Rodriguez, Brenda Campos, K.C. Stockman, David Davis, James Herwig (RMS);  Shane Fife, Josh Chavez, Cory Fenn, Rikki Stone and Andrea Alvarez (RHS).Employees recognized were Sandra Haynes (ECC), Sandra Mills (IQS at ECC), Elizabeth Robertson, Monica Brown (RES), Paul Gray (RMS), Theresa Worthy (Central Administration), Charles Ellis (maintenance), and Denise Branch (transportation).

 

Several individuals addressed the board. They are as follows:

§         Karen Maresh RE:  District concerns

§         Rikki Ames RE: Contract

§         Terra Davis RE: Unsatisfactory response to assault

 

Board members recessed from the open session of the meeting and convened into Executive Session at 7:15 p.m. They returned to open session at 7:44 p.m. No action was taken on items discussed in Executive Session.

 

All items listed on the Consent Agenda were approved as presented.

§         Minutes for the February 8, 2007 board workshop, the February 8,2007 regular board meeting, the February 19, 2007 policy review workshop and the February 19, 2007 special meeting ;

§         Monthly financial reports and February bills were presented for review;

§         Class size waiver and compliance plan for Royal Elementary School;

§         Purchase of 2 new 77-passenger buses.

 

In a move to attract and retain quality teachers, the board showed full support of its teachers by approving the 07/08 teacher salary schedule.  Salaries for the 07/08 school year range from $40,100 to $53,835.

 

Board members approved the purchase of additional portable buildings to house students assigned to DAEP.  This will provide multi-teach classrooms to allow for better instruction to the students assigned to the DAEP program.

 

The board considered the request to update lights at the football stadium. The current lights were installed in 1961. Mr. Matthews was unsure about the condition of the wiring and offered to have it evaluated. The towers also need to be moved to the 20 yard line markers. No action was taken at this time, but board members requested that Mr. Matthews research the cost for replacements.

 

Susie Hopkins, ECC principal, presented a request to extend the current ½-day prekindergarten program to a full day for any eligible 4-year-old who lives in the district. Board members tabled the request until the April meeting and asked that the administration provide more information as to the costs involved in extending the program to a full day.

 

Principals reported on handouts containing information on semester grades, benchmark assessments, campus tutorials and other campus activities.

 

Susan Cardiff, (Director of Grants, Special Programs & Testing) provided board members with an update on the status of grants awarded to RISD,  along with monies involved, dates the grants expire and the utilization of funds.

 

Ms. Cardiff also presented the results of the district’s needs assessment survey.  Results were mixed.

 

Items discussed under  Superintendent’s/board members reports are as follows:

§         Summer Leadership Institute – San Antonio in June

§         Committee of the Whole workshop to set district goals – Tuesday, April 3 at 7 p.m.

 

Board members recessed from the open session of the meeting and convened into Executive Session at 9:06 p.m. to discuss contract renewals/nonrenewals for professional personnel.

 

Board members authorized the superintendent to offer professional employment contracts for the 2007-08 school year under the terms and conditions as presented in the administrator recommendations.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11:06 p.m.