The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, April 8, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President Michael Cloy. BISD Trustee Codie Smith gave the invocation. Brownwood Middle School (BMS) students Jordyn Salazar, Willow Camp, and Gabriela Castaneda led the Pledge of Allegiance.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
BMS Treble Choir students performed the songs “I’ve Been in the Storm So Long” and “J’entends Le Moulin” led by Choir Director Kristi Wied.
INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS & RECOGNITIONS
BISD Deputy Superintendent Liesa Land introduced recognitions of the Superintendent Student Advisory Cabinet and teachers who each student selected as having the most significant and lasting impact on their lives. Every year, campuses provide two names of students from grades six through twelve to serve on the cabinet. These fourteen students, Dr. Young, Mr. Moore and Ms. Land meet once a month over lunch and discuss a variety of topics to gather valuable firsthand input from a student’s perspective. The students were asked to provide the name of a favorite teacher who had the most impact on them during their education at BISD. Dr. Young congratulated the students and their chosen teacher and presented each of them with a certificate recognizing their contributions.
SUPERINTENDENT STUDENT ADVISORY
CABINET & RECOGNIZED TEACHERS
Superintendent Student Advisory Cabinet members are pictured above along with their favorite teacher. Advisory Cabinet members include: Emma Soto, Leland Hamilton, Jaycee Morton, Barrett Tindol, Kimber McLean, Gus Stegemoller, Gisele Rodriguez, Nathan Stearns, Yeyny Reyes-Guevara, Trine Baugh, Talia Craff, Robert Goodrich, Olivia Gonzales, and Hayden Proffitt. Teachers recognized for having an exceptional impact on a student included: Heather Hohertz, Kelsie Eldred, Justin Moore, Lisa Biasioll, Tim Thomas, Angie Bertrand, Amber Evans, Serena Miller, Jessie Paris, Stacy Hagood, Brittany Estess, and Elizabeth Clevenger.
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 2023 honorees were Woodland Heights Elementary fourth-grade math teacher Tracy Morelock and Northwest Elementary registrar Miranda Windham. Spotlight honorees are pictured with BISD Trustee Amary Doremus, and (top) Woodland Heights Elementary Principal Jeanette Lancaster, and (bottom) Northwest Elementary Principal Dee Dee Wright and Assistant Principal Amy Morris.
BMS CHOIR
BMS Choir students were recognized for earning Sweepstakes at the UIL Concert & SightReading Contest. Honorees are pictured above with BMS Principal Mykia Anderson, BMS Choir Director Kristi Wied and BISD Trustee Justin Posey.
BHS PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS
BHS Photography students were recognized for earning Honorable Mention awards for their Self Portrait entries from the 2023-2024 Association of Texas Photography Instructors. Honorees are pictured above with BISD Trustee Diane Thompson and BHS Principal Lindsay Smith.
LADY LIONS BASKETBALL
The BHS Lady Lions Basketball team was recognized for their season accomplishments and individual awards including Academic All District and All State accolades. Honorees are pictured above with BISD Trustee Diane Thompson and BHS Head Girls Basketball Coach Heather Hohertz.
BHS GIRLS POWERLIFTING
BHS Lady Lion Powerlifting competitors were recognized for their accomplishments at the regional level. Honorees are pictured above with BISD Trustee Diane Thompson and Coach Cheyanne Lovelady.
BHS BOYS POWERLIFTING
BHS Lion Powerlifting competitors were recognized for their accomplishments at the regional level. Honorees are pictured above with BISD Trustee Diane Thompson and Coach Dex Dennard.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young provided the following information and updates:
• An update for next year’s Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) plan to include all teachers Pre-K through 12th Grade has been submitted for state approval.
• 2023 Bond Projects Update (Bond Program Manager, Tammy Gray)
o Safety and Security improvements are ongoing.
o Coggin auditorium and elementary gym floor projects are complete.
o Bleacher construction is nearly finished at the BHS Tennis courts. Additional beautification and landscaping is planned before the project is completed.
o Ground has been broken for the indoor Multi-Purpose Activity Center. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete.
o The renovated weight rooms at the Snodgrass facility should be ready by fall of this year.
o Installation of new turf and lighting at Gordon Wood Stadium is expected to be completed over the summer to be ready for the 2024-25 football season. Gordon Wood Stadium will be closed later next year for work on the remaining larger improvements and construction.
o Softball and Baseball field projects including turf, lighting, bleachers, and a new parking lot are expected to be done by December 2024.
o Schematics and designs are being finalized for the BHS and BMS gym locker room renovations. An RFP has been published and the next step will be for the Bond subcommittee to select the contractor.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
A Quarterly Financial Report and the 2024-24 BISD TIA Manual were provided for the Board to review.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.
1. Approval of Instructional Materials Annual Certification
2. Minutes from March 18, 2024 meeting
BISD Trustee Codie Smith moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with BISD Trustee Jones seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The following announcements were made for upcoming events:
• School Holiday – 04/29/24 (Bad Weather Make-up Day)
• Next Board Meeting – 05/13/24
• Summer Leadership Institute – Fort Worth – 06/19-22/24
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The board moved into executive session at 7:05 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. They returned to open session at 7:35 p.m.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF TEACHER TERM AND PROBATIONARY CONTRACTS FOR 2024-2025
Trustee Posey made a motion to approve the Term and Probationary Contracts for teachers to be employed during the 2024-2025 school year, as presented. Trustee Thompson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.