Hays CISD February Board Briefs

 

In May 2014, the voters approved a bond issue to fund various projects including a new middle school. The administration has worked with the architect for the design of middle school number 6 (MS #6) and is ready to send the construction documents out to bid. The construction documents provide detailed floor plans and elevations for the school. The middle school remains on schedule to open in August 2016 for the 2016­2017 school year. The Board plans to name the new middle school and select attendance boundaries later this year. Both processes will involve much community input.

See the full presentation and view the construction documents online. 

The district’s current facility naming policy is just a few sentences long and lacks detail regarding any type of process to follow when the district selects names for schools or facilities.  The Board is  considering  a new,  more comprehensive naming policy. It would require the Board to appoint a citizen committee to review name suggestions. The policy preserves the district’s tradition of naming facilities after people who have made significant contributions to Hays CISD, or after geographical areas. The policy received a first reading in February. A vote is scheduled for March.

Read the draft policy ­ CW (LOCAL). 

Several bond related items were on the agenda for purchase, signaling that these projects are well underway. Voters in the district approved a $59.1 million bond package in May 2014. Bond related purchases that received Board approval in February includes: new school buses, Apple devices, HVAC equipment for Bales Gym and the Hays High School CTE building, and fiber optic cabling for the district’s technology infrastructure.

Follow progress on all of the bond projects at the Bond Oversight Committee webpage. 

Hays County Commissioner Mark Jones (Precinct 2) presented an update to the Board regarding various road projects in the county, particularly those that impact traffic in the school district. In November 2008, Hays County voters approved a proposition to issue $207 million in Hays County road bonds for roadway safety and mobility improvements across the county. About half of the district’s 18,000 students ride school buses daily. Many others commute to school in cars.

View the full update presentation. 

The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) presented an update on the Hays CISD salary study the group conducted last year, which compared Hays CISD salaries to market. The purpose of the update report was to identify categories of district employees that remain below market value for consideration during the upcoming budget cycle.

View the full TASB presentation.  

Hays CISD’s Chief Human Resources Officer Elaine Howard presented an informational item to the Board about recent efforts to improve the recruiting and hiring of new employees. The HR department has established a 2015­16 recruiting schedule in addition to implementing an online application, job posting, and new hire system called Talent Ed. Recruit & Hire. In an effort to improve the districts’ ability to attain a qualified and diverse applicant  pool, the HR department  will actively participate in regional and local recruiting events and implement departmental practices and systems to support an efficient recruiting and hiring process. See the HR presentation.                      

View the upcoming recruitment schedule. 

Board President Robert Limon opened the trustee workshop meeting on February 16, 2015, with a moment of silence in remembrance of Coach Michael Russo who passed away earlier that day. Coach Russo had been a part of the Barton Middle School family since 2008. In addition to coaching all sports in boy’s athletics, he was also a social studies teacher. Coach Russo was a much-loved presence on campus and he will be greatly missed. 

The Board recognized the Buda Lions Club as this month’s community partner. The Lions Club has partnered with the Hays CISD for more than 25 years to operate the concession stands at Barton Middle School and Shelton Stadium during the football season. The Lions give 20% of the gross sales for each game back to the middle school and high school campuses. The remaining funds help the Buda Lions give scholarships to graduating seniors in Hays CISD, among many other community services associated with the organization. 

Special from the Texas Association of School Boards: (Austin) – Willie Tenorio, trustee from Hays CISD joined 34 other school board members from across Texas January 29­31 at the third session of the Leadership TASB class of 2015. Selected by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), the group is participating in a yearlong education leadership study program. Participants who complete all required elements of the study will graduate this year by earning Master Trustee status. This is the highest designation recognized by TASB.

 

At a meeting in Houston, the trustees heard featured speaker Amy Lynch, CEO of Generational Edge, who is a nationally recognized expert on understanding generational differences. In addition, the participants visited several local schools. While in La Porte ISD, the trustees enjoyed the district’s presentation of “The Wiz” featuring more than 250 LPISD students. 

In addition to the items highlighted in this newsletter, the Board also: heard an update report on the implementation of recommendations in the academic program management audit? heard the  first  reading  of  recommendations  to  update  several policies (TASB Policy Update 101)? and received the standing finance, tax collections, and housing growth reports.