Hays CISD Monthly Board Briefs

This newsletter highlights select items from the Hays CISD Board business meetings. For a complete list of agenda items and full meeting minutes, use the hyperlinks below.

January is School Board Recognition Month

January is School Board Recognition Month and Hays CISD is joining other districts across the state to thank these local leaders for their dedication and willingness to serve as advocates for our children and public schools. Hays CISD benefits from the tireless work and countless hours contributed by these local citizens who work without pay. Serving as a crucial link between the community and classroom, the Hays CISD Board is responsible for an annual general operating budget of nearly $131 million, including 2,400 employees at 22 campuses and various other district operations providing education to 18,000 students.

Read the full story online.

Hays CISD Honor Choir Performs for Board

A featured part of School Board Recognition Month was a performance by the Hays CISD Honor Choir. About 60 students performed at the Board’s business meeting. The Hays CISD board is very supportive of fine arts programs in the district. The Honor Choir performance is becoming a favorite tradition of the board and a highlight of the year. The honor choir is comprised of students at all elementary schools and some middle school campuses.

Chef Brandon Cooks Winning Recipe for Board

The Board was treated to a delicious meal of Korean cross-cut ribs and fried rice by Wallace Middle School’s Chef Brandon Scawthorn. The 6th-grader is recognizable as the Season 1 winner of the Rachael vs. Guy Kids Cook-Off on the Food Network. The Korean rib dish is what he made to win the cooking show’s season finale. In addition to working with the district’s chef – Chef Bryant Currie – to prepare the special School Board Recognition Month meal, Brandon has also shared several recipes with Hays CISD. These dishes will soon be served across the district and in as many as 90 other school districts in ten states. These meals will premier in Hays CISD schools in March. 

Hays VIPs Volunteer Program in the Spotlight

As an informational item, the board heard a presentation about the comprehensive implementation plan for the Hays CISD Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPs) program. The plan outlines action items necessary to implement the program and lists dates of completed items, as well as projected dates for pending items. The program is designed to be sustainable and the implementation plan will serve as a living document with regular updates and adaptations. As of the January Board business meeting, Hays CISD had 4,322 registered volunteers.

View the VIPs implementation plan online.

Become a Hays VIP volunteer.

Public Hearing on the TAPR

The Board held a public hearing on the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) for 2013-2014. The Texas Academic Performance Report (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 low income status. The reports also provide extensive information on school and district staff, programs, and student demographics.

See the presentation to the Board.

Read the actual TAPR for Hays CISD.

CTE Certifications on the Increase in Hays CISD

Certifications and licensures are becoming increasingly important as students graduate and enter the workforce either as a career or to help pay for college. Last year the district increased the number of students who earned professional certifications to 965, up from 119 the previous year. As of the Board workshop meeting, 467 student in Hays CISD had already earned certifications in during the 2014-2015 school year.

See the CTE Presentation online.

Learn more about CTE in Hays CISD.

Board Calls for 2015 Election

The Board of Trustees approved a series of items in January that are required prior to the 2015 May trustee election. The election order is the legal document calling for the election. It, along with contracts to host a joint election with the City of Kyle and to hire the Hays County Election Administrator for assistance, were approved. The At-Large position held by Board Vice President Holly Raymond and the Single Member District 3 seat held by Board President Robert Limon are up for election this May. Trustees serve on the school board for three-year terms that are staggered resulting in an election every year.

View detailed information about the 2015 Board of Trustees election.

Board Approves District’s Annual Financial Audit

The Board approved the district’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for 2013-14 as is required by law. The district’s fiscal accounts are audited annually by a Texas certified or public accountant holding a permit from the State Board of Public Accountancy. A copy of the annual audit report is filed with the Texas Education Agency.

Read the full audit online.

Additional Items Roundup

The Board approved additional items and heard presentations including: professional development procurements, hiring a consultant to advise the district on overhauling the business office and payroll system software, the quarterly investment report, class size waivers in two classrooms, and the regular finance and tax collection report.

Student enrollment in Hays CISD at the time of publication is 18,002.

Board Briefs is a publication of the Hays CISD Public Information Office: Tim Savoy, Public Information Officer; Angie Mendez, Director of Community Relations;

Linda Rosebrock, Webmaster; Christina Courson, Communication Specialist (Customer Service); Jim Cullen, District Photographer; Esther Leal, Admin. Assistant

This newsletter does not constitute official minutes of the meetings of the Hays CISD Board of Trustees. Official meeting minutes are published after the Board approves them, which is typically one month following the meeting.