The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, September 13, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President, Michael Cloy. Coggin Avenue Baptist Church Student Pastor Ricky Cavitt gave the invocation. Coggin Intermediate School sixth-grade students, Kaydence Chandler, Paityn Lane, Carmen Paul, Aerin Gardner, and Kenzie Taylor led the Pledge of Allegiance.
INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
Brownwood ISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land provided an update regarding the district’s progress on House Bill 3 goals. Land reported that Brownwood ISD has met or exceeded many of the goals in third-grade Reading and Math as well as College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR). Land attributed the district’s encouraging results to a variety of programs and personnel including quality assessment programs such as Dibbles, the utilization of new instructional coaches and trainings, and retired teachers who have been recruited to tutor students.
AUDIENCE FOR GUESTS
Brown County resident Terry Garrett expressed his support of school district personnel and those who help to provide educational services for the children in the community. Garrett is Brownwood High School Alumni, and as a president or co-founder of various local Christian-based organizations, Garrett expressed his interest in attending school board meetings and encouraged others in the community to attend as well.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
The report included details and reminders for the following items:
• Board training hours will be announced in October
• A School Safety Committee meeting is scheduled following the board meeting. The School Safety Committee meets three times a year.
• Project Neighborhood meeting dates:
o Woodland Heights Elementary – Sept. 21 – 5:30 p.m.
o BISD Central Support Center – Sept. 28 – 6:30 p.m.
o Northwest Elementary – Oct. 6 – 5:30 p.m.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Enrollment/Transfer Report: The active enrollment in Brownwood ISD is 3487 students, up about 80 students from last year. Transfers into the district are down slightly. Dr. Young noted that the reduction is most likely attributed to students that were utilizing Brownwood ISD’s remote learning option last year. More students are likely staying within their own district now that in-person learning has resumed in most areas.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF DISTRICT OF INNOVATION RENEWAL
In February of 2017, the Board approved BISD’s DOI plan covering school start date and CTE teacher certification. This plan expires in February of 2022. Trustee Evans moved to adopt the local District of Innovation Plan as proposed by the District Site-based Decision Making Committee to begin on February 14, 2022 when the current plan expires. Trustee Diane Thompson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REVISED HB 3 GOALS
House Bill 3 requires all school boards to adopt 5-year goals with annual targets in early childhood literacy, math, and college, career, military readiness. Because Brownwood ISD exceeded several of the previous goals, an upward adjustment was needed for subsequent years. Trustee Codie Smith made the motion to update the 5-year early childhood literacy and math goals, along with the college, career, and military readiness goal as presented. Trustee Doremus seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CTE/VOCATIONAL BUILDING RENAMING
Brownwood ISD is continuously looking for ways to honor its history while embracing the future. The process of naming the Career and Technology Education Building (Vocational Building) at Brownwood High School has followed a six-month procedure which included a nomination form open to the public, CTE building renaming process, timeline, and signage donation proposal. Following review of the received nominations, Trustee Evans made the motion to name the Career and Technology Education Building at Brownwood High School the Dusty Moore Vocational Building and to accept the donation of signage to display the name on the building as presented. Trustee Thompson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda:
- Fundraisers & Out-of-State Travel
- Examinations for Credit
- Adoption of TASB-initiated Board Policy Update 117
- Brown Country Appraisal District Members
- Minutes from August 9, 2021 Board Meeting
- Minutes from August 9, 2021 Board Meeting – Budget Workshop
- Minutes from August 26, 2021 Board Meeting – Special Meeting Trustee Smith moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with Trustee Evans seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The following announcements were made for upcoming events:
• Superintendent’s Student Advisory Cabinet Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021
• Project Neighborhood Meeting at Woodland Heights – Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021 – 5:30 p.m.
• TASA/TASB Convention – Dallas – September 24-26, 2021
• Project Neighborhood Meeting at CSC – Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021 – 6:30 p.m.
• Next Board Meeting – October 4, 2021
• Project Neighborhood Meeting at Northwest – Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 – 5:30 p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The board moved into executive session at 7:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. They returned to open session at 8:06 p.m. No additional action was taken on executive session matters. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m