The Brownwood ISD (BISD) Board of Trustees met for a regular session meeting on Monday, February 13, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. The session was called to order by Board President Michael Cloy. Austin Avenue Church of Christ Minister Tom Washburn gave the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Brownwood Middle School (BMS) Student Council members Dev Prabhu and Blake Hutchins.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Under the direction of Choir teacher Kristi Wied, BMS Choir students performed a rendition of the song “Keep Your Lamps” arranged by Victor Johnson.
INSTRUCTIONAL FOCUS
BISD Deputy Superintendent, Liesa Land provided information regarding the new Additional Day School Year (ADSY) program that will be offered this summer to BISD Pre-k through fifth-grade students. The program titled “Camp Adventure: Roar on the Shore” is tentatively scheduled for June 7-August 3 (off the week of July 4). Breakfast, lunch, and transportation are included with no cost. The camp will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday with each day’s time split between Math, English Language Arts, and Reading (ELAR) and Enrichment. Roar on the Shore activities and enrichment will incorporate BISD athletics summer camp activities and includes partnerships with Kohler (robotics), the County Extension Office, Home Depot, Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum, Southwest Dairy, Camp Bowie Family Aquatic Center, Southwest Foodservice Excellence, and Texas Rural Student Transportation. Enrollment is set to open March 6, 2023. To guarantee a spot in the program, students must be registered by March 22.
RECOGNITIONS
The following groups and individuals were recognized by BISD and were presented with certificates highlighting their achievements.
BISD SPOTLIGHT
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. February 2023 honorees were BMS Teen Leadership teacher Stephanie Miller and Woodland Heights Elementary Nurse Sandra Skrhak. Spotlight honorees are pictured below with BISD Trustee Amary Doremus and (top) BMS Principal Sandra Richardson, BMS Assistant Principal Mykia Anderson, and (bottom) Woodland Heights Principal Jeanette Lancaster, BISD Director of Nursing Helen Lacy, and Woodland Heights Assistant Principal Kassie Russell.
2022 UIL ACADEMIC AWARDS – FIFTH GRADE
Fifth-grade students were recognized for their individual achievements placing in the 2022 District UIL Academics Meet. Honorees are pictured below with BISD Trustee Eric Evans.
2022 UIL ACADEMIC AWARDS – SIXTH GRADE
Sixth-grade students were recognized for their individual achievements placing in the 2022 District UIL Academics Meet. Honorees are pictured below with BISD Trustee Justin Posey.
2022 UIL ACADEMIC AWARDS – SEVENTH GRADE
Seventh-grade students were recognized for their individual achievements placing in the 2022 District UIL Academics Meet. Honorees are pictured below with BISD Trustee Justin Posey.
2022 UIL ACADEMIC AWARDS – EIGHTH GRADE
Eighth-grade students were recognized for their individual achievements placing in the 2022 District UIL Academics Meet. Honorees are pictured below with BISD Trustee Justin Posey.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board entered executive session at 7:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters including administrator contracts. The Board exited the executive session at 7:19 p.m. and returned to regular session.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Dr. Young provided the following updates and information: • BISD is reviewing data from recent safety audits and the next Safety & Security meeting is scheduled to take place in April. • The district is finalizing plans for the ADSY program to be offered this summer which will provide an additional 25-30 days of learning and enrichment to pre-k through fifthgrade students in the district. • February 20 and May 29 will be regular school days (bad weather make-up days). The district is applying for a waiver with TEA for the remaining make-up days.
DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
- Public Hearing on Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR): At 7:21 p.m. the Board entered a public hearing for the TAPR report. The TAPR pulls together a wide range of information on the performance of students in each school and district in Texas every year. Performance is shown disaggregated by student groups, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The reports also provided extensive information on school and district staff, programs, discipline, and student demographics. The TAPR report will be available on each campus and on the district’s website. The public hearing ended at 7:23 p.m.
- Budget Calendar: A calendar was provided containing target dates for regular budget activities, meetings, and processes scheduled through 2023 leading into the 2023-2024 school year.
- School Nutrition Report: Southwest Food Service Excellence (SFE) provided a report regarding the status of the School Nutrition Department and ongoing initiatives including district-wide free lunches and various promotions and events. Through the partnership with SFE, increased profits provided opportunities to remodel school kitchens at BMS and Woodland Heights Elementary. Through student feedback and a new QR code system, growth in meal participation is expected to continue. During the 2021-2022 school year, 230,517 breakfasts and 380,416 lunches were served.
- Pre-K, Kindergarten, & Head Start Roundup: Dates and times for the upcoming 2023-2024 pre-k and kindergarten pre-registration events was provided. Pre-registration is open to Pre-K children (ages 3-4) and Kindergarten children (age 5). Pre-registration events will be held at Brownwood ISD Central Support Center on Tuesday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, April 5, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. A flyer with dates, times, and eligibility information has been prepared and will be released to the community.
- Instructional Calendar for 2023-2024 Update: The current local District of Innovation Plan allows for a flexible start date but requires a date after the 3rd Monday of August. In select years, this causes the calendar to run into June. To allow flexibility, the Site-Based Decision Making Committee (SBDM) recommended an amendment to the plan allowing the SBDM group to recommend the start date each year through the normal calendar process.
CONSIDER AMENDMENT TO DOI PLAN BISD
Trustee Eric Evans moved to adopt the amendment to the local District of Innovation Plan as proposed by the district Site-Based Decision Making Committee. BISD Trustee Roderick Jones seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDER CALLING A BOND ELECTION TO BE HELD BY BISD
In 2021, a group of citizens approached the Brownwood ISD Administration and Board with concerns over the age and condition of some of the facilities in the district. In November, 2021, the Brownwood ISD Board of Trustees entered into a contract with Claycomb Associates, Architects, to assist the district with Facility Needs. Through discussions with staff and parents several projects were considered for improvement. In August 2022, surveys were sent to staff to assist in narrowing down projects to be considered. In September of 2022, a Citizens Advisory Committee assembled and met five times from September through December of 2022, to take the work that had been started and determine, what, if anything, should be recommended to the Board for a potential bond. The committee consisted of community members, business owners, parents, and staff. With a recommendation from the district’s Facility Advisory Committee, a $59,950,000 million bond made up of three propositions was presented for consideration. The bond would fund districtwide improvements, including but not limited to, Safety and Security Upgrades, ADA/Code Improvements, and a Multi-Purpose Indoor Student Activity Center. BISD Trustee Codie Smith made a motion that the Board adopt an order calling a bond election to be held by the Brownwood Independent School District. BISD Trustee Jones seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
The following items were listed for consideration on the Consent Agenda.
- 2023-2024 Administrator Contracts
- Minutes from January 9, 2023 Board Meeting
- Minutes from the January 19, 2023 Special Board Training Meeting BISD Trustee Doremus moved that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented, with BISD Trustee Evans seconding the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reminders were announced for the following upcoming events:
• Staff Development Day/Early Release for Students: 02/17/2023
• Bad Weather Make-Up Day (Regular School Day) – 02/20/2023
• Spring Break: 03/13/2023 – 03/17/2023
• Next Board Meeting – 03/20/2023
• Early Release: 03/24
The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m