School Board Update

August 8, 2006

Trustees held the following meetings this summer.

• June 6
• June 27
• August 1

June 6 Meeting

Agenda & Official Minutes

Board President Duncan Webb invited MaryDell Donelson, director of Special Education, to introduce a short musical presentation by students from Davis Elementary School in the Deaf Education Program.

Trustees elected officers for 2006-07 - Duncan Webb, president, Melody Timinsky, vice-president, Lloyd Jenkins, secretary.

The board approved other organizational items, including meeting dates and the appointment of Richard Abernathy as the district’s legal advisor and school attorney and Dr. Allan deVilleneuve as the district’s health officer. First Southwest Company will serve as the district’s financial advisor and Fulbright & Jaworski as bond counsel. Deloitte and Touche will provide audit services to the district.

The board also took the following actions or heard the following reports:

• Items on the consent agenda were approved.
• Dr. Otto introduced the following administrative appointments approved as part of the consent agenda:
  • Janice Williams - administrative intern at Vines High School;
  • Jeff Gasaway - associate principal at Plano East Senior High School;
  • Gloria Martinez - assistant principal at Bowman Middle School;
  • Tramy Tran - assistant principal at Forman Elementary School;
  • Maricela Helm - assistant principal at Mendenhall Elementary School;
  • Kris Benson - principal at Jackson Elementary School;
  • Sarika Simpson - assistant principal at Huffman Elementary School;
  • Kathy King - principal at Plano West Senior High School; and
  • Burt Smith - principal at Shepton High School.
• Deputy Superintendent Danny Modisette reviewed the previously approved employee raises and provided information on new recommendations for additional compensation due to the new legislation. Following one speaker, the board approved the 2006-07 employee compensation package and plan document as submitted.
• Associate Superintendent for Business Services Richard Matkin reviewed the process required for the budget and tax rate approval. He also reviewed the main factors in the proposed operating budget which reflects the latest legislative action. The board authorized the administration to advertise a Budget and Tax Rate Hearing for 6:00 p.m., June 27, 2006, at the Plano ISD Administration Building Board Room. This advertisement would indicate a proposed tax rate of $1.33 for Maintenance and Operations and $0.2484 for Interest and Sinking for a total proposed tax rate of $1.5784.

The board took the following actions on policies:

• Approved Policy FNCG (Local) Student Conduct: Weapons on second reading.
• Approve Policy FFA (Local) Student Welfare: Wellness and Health Services on second reading.
• Approve Policy CDA (Local) Other Revenues: Investments on first reading.
• Approve Policy EIA (Local) Academic Achievement: Grading/Progress Reports to Parents on first reading.

June 27 Meeting

Agenda & Official Minutes

Meeting Summary -- The Board took the following actions or heard the following reports:

• Items on the consent agenda were approved.
• Dr. Doug Otto, superintendent of schools, announced the administrative appointments approved as part of the consent agenda:
  • Thurston Lamb, assistant principal at Shepton High School;
  • Carlos Meekins, assistant principal at Frankford Middle School;
  • Anita Nance, assistant principal of curriculum at Jasper High School;
  • Rayetta Johnson-Burrell, administrative intern at Carpenter Middle School;
  • Maureen Yervasi, assistant principal at Armstrong Middle School; and
  • Elly Ried, assistant principal at Weatherford Elementary School.
• President Webb announced that the Board would hold a public hearing to take testimony on the 2006-2007 budget. Richard Matkin, associate superintendent for business services, reported on the many meetings held by the Board regarding the budget before opening the hearing to speakers. With no speakers, the public hearing was adjourned at 6:08 p.m., and the regular meeting reconvened.
• The Board adopted the 2006-07 Operating, Debt Service, Food Service, Practical Parent Education, and Other General (Subsidiary) Fund Budgets as submitted.

August 1 Meeting

Agenda

Meeting Summary -- The Plano ISD Board of Trustees met in regular session on Tuesday night, August 1, 2006, at the Plano ISD administration building.

Vice President Melody Timinsky expressed appreciation to the Food and Nutritional Services Department for serving as greeters and recognized boy scouts from Troops 295 and 999 in the audience.

William Smith, field services representative from the Texas Association of School Boards, addressed the Board expressing thanks to Trustee Mary Beth King for her service on the TASB Board of Directors and to the Board and district for their support of TASB.

The Board took the following actions or heard the following reports:

• Items on the consent agenda were approved.
• Dr. Otto announced the following administrative appointments approved as part of the consent agenda:
  • Chris Dunkle, Sigler Elementary assistant principal;
  • Syrinithnia Jones, Wilson Middle School administrative intern;
  • Lisa De La Cruz, Williams High School administrative intern;
  • Courtney Washington, Armstrong Middle School assistant principal;
  • Julie Hirsh, Plano West Senior High School assistant principal;
  • Dee Sampson, Human Resources secondary coordinator; and
  • Kellie Gray-Smith, Special Education curriculum coordinator.
• The Board upheld the administration's decision at Level III in the matter involving the personnel grievance.
• Mrs. Timinsky announced that the parent grievance had been withdrawn from the agenda.
• Dr. Otto advised that the term of TASB Board member Lynn Sperry will expire at the end of the 2006 TASB Convention. There are five candidates who have been nominated to fill this position. The Board endorsed Karen Ellis from Richardson ISD for this position.
• Associate Superintendent for Business Services Richard Matkin presented a report on the 2006-07 budget, reflecting final appraised values and the change in Chapter 41 payments due to recent legislation. The district is still evaluating the best method of purchasing the required attendance credits and will present a recommendation to the Board at the August 15 work session. Mr. Matkin also advised the district’s administrative cost ratio continues to be one of the lowest in the state.

The Board took the following actions on policies:

• Approved Policy CDA (Local) Investments under second reading.
• Approved Policy EIA (Local) Grading/Progress Reports to Parents under second reading.
• Approved Policy FFC (Local) Student Support Services under first reading.
• Mrs. Timinsky announced that staff was pulling Policy BDF (Local) Citizen Advisory Committees for further review.
• Approved Policy DGBA (Local) Employee Complaints/Grievances under first reading.
• Approved Policy GKD (Local) Nonschool Use of School Facilities under first reading.

In his superintendent’s report, Dr. Otto commented on TEA’s release of accountability ratings and the district’s appeal of the rating based on a clerical error. The appeals process extends through late October.

The next school board meeting will be a work session on August 15, 2006, at 6:00 p.m. at the Sockwell Center.

An edited version of the August board meeting can be viewed on both Plano and Richardson Comcast Cable Channel A-31 at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays and at noon on Saturdays.