The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President, Michael Cloy. BISD Trustee, Tim Jacobs gave the invocation and Mr. Cloy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
BISD Superintendent, Dr. Joe Young provided results from recent UIL Academics competitions. Brownwood ISD sent 127 elementary students to Stephenville to compete in UIL Academics and 100 placed (79%). Dr. Young noted that BISD began competing in Elementary UIL Academics just 3 years ago. Brownwood Middle School (BMS) hosted the district UIL Academics meet this year and out of the 60 students that participated, 33 placed. Brownwood High School (BHS) students participated in meets both here and away. A total of 43 BHS students competed and 19 placed. Overall, BISD had 230 UIL students participate in UIL Academics competitions with 152 (66%) having placed. Dr. Young praised the phenomenal job of students and staff preparing and competing in these contests and expressed that the district is blessed to have teachers that can work with the students in these areas.
RECOGNITIONS
BISD Spotlight Teachers and Staff: The Brownwood ISD Spotlight recognizes members of the BISD faculty and staff who go the extra mile to ensure excellence in education for all our students. Spotlight recipients are chosen from peer nominations. April 2021 honorees were BHS Mathematics teacher, Terri Stephens and Coggin Intermediate School (CIS) head custodian, Rosa Villarreal. Spotlight honorees are pictured with (top) Trustee Evans, BHS Principal Lindsay Smith, and (bottom) Trustee Diane Thompson and CIS Principal, Stacy Loftin.
AUDIENCE FOR GUESTS
Five parents of students currently enrolled in Brownwood ISD schools signed up for the Audience for Guests portion of the meeting. KayLee Wolf, Monica Mullins, and Emily Driskill took the podium to speak in favor of making masks optional for students at Brownwood ISD. They provided a petition as well as health department reports on current cases, data from surrounding districts, and vaccine information to further justify their position.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Young noted several upcoming competitions in which BHS students would be participating including, One-Act Play Regionals and Area Track. Additional Brownwood sports are going strong with contests in Baseball, Softball, and Tennis on the schedule. Information regarding the Summer Leadership Institute in Ft. Worth was provided to the Board. The event is currently on a lottery system to reduce the number of attending schools due to COVID-19. BISD has submitted the necessary information and will be notified if chosen to attend.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Quarterly Investment Report: BISD Assistant Superintendent of Budget and Finance, Mitch Moore, provided information including the Quarterly Investment Summary and financial reports.
Teacher Incentive Allotment Update: BISD Director of Human Resources, Doug Bonsal, made a presentation regarding the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). House Bill 3 (HB 3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in June of 2019, established a Teacher Incentive Allotment which provides incentive funds based on qualifying teachers who prioritize teaching in high needs areas and rural district campuses. BISD is tasked with deciding how the funds are used and providing a designation process that needs to be in place before qualifying teachers arrive. BISD has only one campus that is designated as rural, which increases the allotment at that campus. Mr. Bonsal provided a timeline for upcoming meetings with stakeholders and administrative staff to refine the process. Another presentation to the Board with BISD’s final TIA proposal will be made in November 2021.
DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION BASED ON GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER EO-GA-34
The BISD Board of Trustees discussed possible action with regards to the current mask policy. BISD Trustee Codie Smith made the motion to make masks optional no later than April 19, 2021 with the option to readdress the issue based on local need. Trustee Amary Doremus seconded the motion. The motion passed with five trustees for and two opposing.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.
- Instructional Materials Allotment Annual Certification
- Minutes from March 15, 2021 Board Meeting Trustee Smith moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with Trustee Evans seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The board moved into executive session at 7:32 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. They returned to open session at 7:59 p.m.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF TEACHER TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS FOR 2020-2021
Trustee Jones made a motion to approve the Term and Probationary Contracts for teachers to be employed during the 2021-2022 school year, as presented. Trustee Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The following announcements were made for upcoming events:
• Staff Development/Student Holiday – April 19, 2021
• Next Board Meeting – May 10, 2021
• UIL Physical Clinic – May 14, 2021
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President, Michael Cloy. BISD Trustee, Tim Jacobs gave the invocation and Mr. Cloy led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
BISD Superintendent, Dr. Joe Young provided results from recent UIL Academics competitions. Brownwood ISD sent 127 elementary students to Stephenville to compete in UIL Academics and 100 placed (79%). Dr. Young noted that BISD began competing in Elementary UIL Academics just 3 years ago. Brownwood Middle School (BMS) hosted the district UIL Academics meet this year and out of the 60 students that participated, 33 placed. Brownwood High School (BHS) students participated in meets both here and away. A total of 43 BHS students competed and 19 placed. Overall, BISD had 230 UIL students participate in UIL Academics competitions with 152 (66%) having placed. Dr. Young praised the phenomenal job of students and staff preparing and competing in these contests and expressed that the district is blessed to have teachers that can work with the students in these areas.
RECOGNITIONS
BISD Spotlight Teachers and Staff: The Brownwood ISD Spotlight recognizes members of the BISD faculty and staff who go the extra mile to ensure excellence in education for all our students. Spotlight recipients are chosen from peer nominations. April 2021 honorees were BHS Mathematics teacher, Terri Stephens and Coggin Intermediate School (CIS) head custodian, Rosa Villarreal. Spotlight honorees are pictured with (top) Trustee Evans, BHS Principal Lindsay Smith, and (bottom) Trustee Diane Thompson and CIS Principal, Stacy Loftin.
AUDIENCE FOR GUESTS
Five parents of students currently enrolled in Brownwood ISD schools signed up for the Audience for Guests portion of the meeting. KayLee Wolf, Monica Mullins, and Emily Driskill took the podium to speak in favor of making masks optional for students at Brownwood ISD. They provided a petition as well as health department reports on current cases, data from surrounding districts, and vaccine information to further justify their position.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Young noted several upcoming competitions in which BHS students would be participating including, One-Act Play Regionals and Area Track. Additional Brownwood sports are going strong with contests in Baseball, Softball, and Tennis on the schedule. Information regarding the Summer Leadership Institute in Ft. Worth was provided to the Board. The event is currently on a lottery system to reduce the number of attending schools due to COVID-19. BISD has submitted the necessary information and will be notified if chosen to attend.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Quarterly Investment Report: BISD Assistant Superintendent of Budget and Finance, Mitch Moore, provided information including the Quarterly Investment Summary and financial reports.
Teacher Incentive Allotment Update: BISD Director of Human Resources, Doug Bonsal, made a presentation regarding the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). House Bill 3 (HB 3), passed by the 86th Texas Legislature in June of 2019, established a Teacher Incentive Allotment which provides incentive funds based on qualifying teachers who prioritize teaching in high needs areas and rural district campuses. BISD is tasked with deciding how the funds are used and providing a designation process that needs to be in place before qualifying teachers arrive. BISD has only one campus that is designated as rural, which increases the allotment at that campus. Mr. Bonsal provided a timeline for upcoming meetings with stakeholders and administrative staff to refine the process. Another presentation to the Board with BISD’s final TIA proposal will be made in November 2021.
DISCUSSION AND/OR ACTION BASED ON GOVERNOR’S EXECUTIVE ORDER EO-GA-34
The BISD Board of Trustees discussed possible action with regards to the current mask policy. BISD Trustee Codie Smith made the motion to make masks optional no later than April 19, 2021 with the option to readdress the issue based on local need. Trustee Amary Doremus seconded the motion. The motion passed with five trustees for and two opposing.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.
- Instructional Materials Allotment Annual Certification
- Minutes from March 15, 2021 Board Meeting Trustee Smith moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with Trustee Evans seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The board moved into executive session at 7:32 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. They returned to open session at 7:59 p.m.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF TEACHER TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS FOR 2020-2021
Trustee Jones made a motion to approve the Term and Probationary Contracts for teachers to be employed during the 2021-2022 school year, as presented. Trustee Smith seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The following announcements were made for upcoming events:
• Staff Development/Student Holiday – April 19, 2021
• Next Board Meeting – May 10, 2021
• UIL Physical Clinic – May 14, 2021
The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.