The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President, Michael Cloy. BISD Trustee Eric Evans led the invocation. East Elementary student council members Pheonix Hodges (5th Grade President), Isla Davis (4th Grade President), Ryleigh Murdock (5th Grade Vice President), and Alexzandria Mendoza (4th Grade Vice President) led The Pledge of Allegiance.

STUDENT PERFORMANCES

Pictured above: East Elementary Student Council members led by Jay Adams (top) performed their East Anthem and Woodland Heights Elementary Music students led by Douglas Brown (bottom) performed The Star-Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful.

RECOGNITIONS

The following groups and individuals were recognized by BISD and were presented with certificates highlighting their achievements.

BISD SPOTLIGHT TEACHERS AND STAFF

The BISD Spotlight recognizes members of the faculty and staff who go the extra mile to ensure excellence in education for all our students. Spotlight recipients are chosen from peer nominations and awards are provided through a sponsorship by Jacobs Family Pharmacy and Brownwood Education Foundation. January 2024 honorees Brownwood Middle School Math teacher Amber Evans, and Coggin Elementary Life Academics teaching assistant Karie Smith. BISD Trustee Codie Smith is pictured with honorees along with (top) BMS Principal Mykia Anderson, and (bottom) Coggin Elementary Principal Kali McLaughlin, Special Education Instructional Facilitator Kyra Mills, and Coggin Elementary Assistant Principal Monica Verner.

BISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES – SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH

January is School Board Recognition Month, and Brownwood ISD joins the Texas Association of School Boards and other districts across the state to honor the countless contributions of these locally elected advocates for Texas schoolchildren and public schools. Students and staff throughout the district put together customized gifts to show their appreciation to each Board member

ACADEMIC UIL AWARDS

Pictured below are elementary and middle school students that were recognized for placing in Academic UIL contests.

Coggin Elementary School

Academic UIL award winners from Coggin Elementary are pictured below with BISD Trustee Diane Thompson, Coggin Elementary Assistant Principal Monica Verner, School Counselor Rachel Griffin, and Coggin Elementary Principal Kali McLaughlin.

East Elementary School

Academic UIL award winners from East Elementary are pictured below with BISD Trustee Diane Thompson and East Elementary Principal Christi Burks.

Northwest Elementary School

Academic UIL award winners from Northwest Elementary are pictured below with Northwest Music Teacher Lauren Mays, BISD Trustee Amary Doremus, Northwest Assistant Principal Amy Morris, and Northwest Principal Dee Dee Wright.

Woodland Heights Elementary School

Academic UIL award winners from Woodland Heights Elementary are pictured below with Woodland Assistant Principal Amy Kassie Russell and BISD Trustee Amary Doremus.

Coggin 6th Grade and Brownwood Middle School

Academic UIL award winners from sixth grade through eighth grade are pictured below with Coggin 6th Grade Principal Veronica Ballenger, BISD Trustee Codie Smith, BMS Principal Mykia Anderson, and BMS Science Teacher Tim Thomas.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Young provided the following updates and information:

• A three-hour early release has been added to the calendar for February 16

• Early release on March 28

• Bad weather make-up day is February 19

• Team of Eight Training – February 23 at noon

• 2023 Bond Updates:

o BHS Tennis courts are finished and bleachers are under construction

o Pre-construction meetings have been held for the Multi-Purpose Student Activities Center with ground-breaking expected soon.

o Gordon Wood Stadium renovations are in the design phase.

o Project meetings for the BMS & BHS locker room remodeling project are ongoing.

o New elementary gym floors have been installed at Coggin, East, Northwest, and Woodland.

o New seats have been installed in Coggin Elementary Auditorium.

INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS

BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land provided information regarding the different forms of testing and assessments that are given to students throughout the year. In grades K-5, students are given DIBELS Reading and I-Ready Math tests to assess progress, identify those who may need intervention, and pinpoint any areas that need reteaching. In all grades CBAs (Curriculum Based Assessments) are given. CBAs are teacher-made tests which function as chapter or unit tests. CBAs for each grading period are cumulative. State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests are state-required exams. BISD students are given benchmarks in STAAR tested areas which are previously released STAAR tests. This year BISD weas chosen by the state to give field tests in certain grades and certain subjects in February. Official STAAR testing begins April 9. The district has two-week windows for completing STAAR testing for various grades and subjects with the last window closing on May 3.

DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS

DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS

Enrollment/Transfer Report: The report included a total enrollment of 3394 for the district along with a detailed breakdown of enrollment data by campus. A total of 257 Out-of-District Transfers (into BISD from other districts) were reported.

Quarterly Investment Report: A Quarterly Investment Summary covering September November 2023 and Tax Assessor-Collector Report for November 2023 was provided to the Board for review.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF 2022-23 FINANCIAL AUDIT

The annual financial audit has been completed. Cameron Aaron from Pattillo, Brown, and Hill Accounting Firm presented the BISD 2022-2023 audit to the school board. BISD received a clean opinion from the firm, the highest level of assurance offered. No issues were found. BISD Trustee Codie Smith moved that the audit be approved as presented. BISD Trustee Justin Posey seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF 2024-25 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The district’s Site-Based Decision Making Committee (SBDMC) met, as well as solicited input from their campuses in order to develop two calendars. The staff was polled for their preference and Calendar A was favored in the results. Based on the SBDMC’s recommendation and the results of the poll, BISD Trustee Eric Evans made a motion to approve Calendar A. BISD Trustee Amary Doremus seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Board entered executive session at 7:42 p.m. to discuss personnel matters including the superintendent contract. The Board exited the executive session at 9:30 p.m. and returned to regular session.

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT’S CONTRACT

Trustee Doremus made a motion to extend an employment contract to Dr. Joe Young as Superintendent of Schools from January 22, 2024 to January 22, 2029. Trustee Thompson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

CONSENT AGENDA

The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.

1. Consider Approval of 2023-2024 TIPS Plans for Coggin, East, and BMS.

2. Consider Approval of Night Depository Agreement with Texas Bank including Authorized Personnel

3. Consider Approval of Additional Signatures of BISD accounts at Texas Bank

4. Consider Approval of New Bank Account including Authorized Signature at Texas Bank

5. Minutes from December 11, 2023 Meeting Trustee Evans moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented. Trustee Posey seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Reminders were announced for the following upcoming events:

• Next Board Meeting – 02/12/24

• Calendar Update – Early Release 02/16/24; 03/28/24

• Bad Weather Make-Up Day – 02/19/24

The meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m.