The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President, Michael Cloy. Keith Platte, Pastor at First Baptist Church Brownwood, gave the invocation. East Elementary Kindergarten students Easton Salazar, Santi Lopez, Abby Lawson, and Jorge Garcia led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) recognizes 20 school leaders each year. Selected by their peers, the Region TEPSAN’s of the Year Award celebrates leaders who go above and beyond. Dee Dee Wright’s colleagues in our region wanted to recognize the outstanding achievement gains that East Elementary has made under her leadership. The nominating committee was most impressed with her campus having moved from an F Accountability Rating in 2019 to a Blue-Ribbon School nominee in 2022. (Wright is shown with Board Member Eric Evans)
BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land provided an update regarding House Bill 3 goals for third grade reading and math which recently completed STAAR tests for benchmarking purposes. Student results are reported in three levels: Approaches (passing, but not grade level), Meets (grade level), and Masters (above grade level). BISD sets goals based on the Meets level or above. Land reported that BISD has increased 6% in reading compared to March 2021 and improved 8%-10% in three different subpopulation areas. In math, BISD is below last year at this time, but administrators, teachers, interventionists, and tutors are working with students on individualized areas to close gaps before the STAAR test which will be given on May 10-11.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young provided the following information and updates:
• Ms. Krista Behler has been selected as the successor to Karen Dempsey as the Executive Assistant for the Superintendent’s office. Ms. Dempsey recently announced her retirement and her last day will be June 16. Ms. Behler is currently serving as the principal’s secretary at East Elementary and has been with the district since 2019.
• Budget update: With around 58% of the fiscal year complete, BISD has expended 53% of the funds. Expenditures are on track with the estimated budget for the year.
• Summer Leadership Institute will be held in Ft. Worth from June 29 to July 2.
• BISD Project Neighborhood is moving forward with the district now accepting Priority I transfer requests until April 15. Approximately 380 transfers have been received.
• Attendance impacts: In November 2019, BISD attendance was around 97%. In November of 2021, attendance was 92%. The 5% decrease will cost the district approximately $896,000. The state has recently announced it will give back an estimated $500,000 to help cover the funding deficit left from the affects COVID had on attendance. It was noted that attendance doesn’t only affect the money the district has to cover salaries and the cost of education. If kids aren’t coming to school, they fall behind and suffer academically as well. With the addition of two attendance workers coming from Head Start, there will be a total of five family service employees within the district next year who will work with families to identify and resolve issues impacting attendance.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Quarterly Investment Report: BISD Assistant Superintendent of Budget and Finance Mitch Moore, provided a Quarterly Financial Report.
Summer Learning Update: BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land provided the Summer Learning Plans for the summer of 2022 including dates and times at Northwest Elementary, Brownwood Middle School, and Brownwood High School.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.
1. Renewal of Interlocal Participation Agreement (IPA) between BISD and TASB Risk Management Fund
2. Instructional Materials Allotment Annual Certification
3. March 15, 2021 Board Meeting Minutes
Trustee Evans moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with Trustee Smith seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The board moved into executive session at 7:24 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. They returned to open session at 8:11 p.m.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF TEACHER TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS FOR 2022-2023
Trustee Doremus made a motion to approve the Term and Probationary Contracts for teachers to be employed during the 2022-2023 school year, as presented. BISD Trustee Roderick Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The following announcements were made for upcoming events:
• Early Release Day – April 14, 2022
• Good Friday Holiday – April 15, 2022
• School Holiday (Bad Weather Day) – April 18, 2022
• Next Board Meeting – May 9, 2022
• Summer Leadership Institute – Ft. Worth – June 29-July 2
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.