Board Briefs: Hays CISD Meeting Highlights & Announcements

Read this newsletter in Google Chrome for the best viewing experience.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 above. Student enrollment in Hays CISD at the time of publication is 17,978.

 

 

 

 

The Board decided in April that a new, special purpose citizens committee should be empanelled later this year to begin the discussion about a possible third high school in Hays CISD. Recognizing the importance of meaningful community discussion around a project as significant as a third high school, the plan is for school board members to recommend three citizens each to serve on the High School #3 Committee.

 

The committee would not just be recommending a location for a third high school. It would also recommend the type of high school the district should consider. There are smaller options to a comprehensive four-year high school that could include specialized facilities such as a career and technology high school or a 9th grade center. At today’s prices, a comprehensive four-year high school would cost about $100 million dollars. Demographic projections show Hays CISD high school student population could reach more than 5,900 students for the 2019-2020 school year and about 6,700 in 2022-2023.

 

A tentative schedule includes the high school committee working this fall toward a final recommendation to the Board in December. The Board could adopt a recommendation as early as January. Many opportunities for public input and discussion will be included in the process. The district’s long-range plan includes asking voters in 2017 to consider a bond for the third high school. In order for the school to open for the 2019-2020 school year, the district will need to select a location prior to asking voters to approve a bond.

 

 

The Board adopted a new policy regarding creating attendance zones and assigning students to campuses. No version of the policy previously existed in Hays CISD, but does exist in the policy manuals of other school districts. The policy clarifies the Board’s role in ultimately approving attendance zones. It also creates a process by which a citizen committee would be created to make recommendations to the Board regarding attendance zones. The committee is expected to be empanelled later this year to suggest new attendance zones for the district middle schools that would be effective when Middle School #6 opens in the fall of 2016. Read the new policy – FC (Local)

 

nterested in serving on the high school or attendance zone committees? Contact your school board members and let them know you’d like to get involved. Contact information for each member is online at: www.hayscisd.net/board.

 

 

The Board proudly recognized Dr. Michael Grady in April  for his distinguished service to the district and its students. D

r. Grady has generously volunteered his time – every week – for nearly 15 years. He serves as the supervising physician and medical director

 of the Hays CISD WELL Clinic, serving some of the district’s most medically and financially disadvantaged children. The district could not operate this clinic without Dr. Grady’s guidance, direction, and leadership.

 

Trustee Teresa Tobias presented the recognition on behalf of the Board of Trustees, honoring Dr. Grady’s years of service as a pediatric medical professional, his passion for providing quality

 pediatric health care to all Texas children, and his dedication to lifelong learning and education.

 

 

The Board recognized two state-advancing Destination Imagination Teams from Hays CISD at its April business meeting, including the “Out of the Blocks” Team from Carpenter Hill Elementary and the “Sparkle Fairies” Team from Elm Grove Elementary. These two teams continued the rich tradition of Destination Imagination excellence in Hays CISD. In total, Hays CISD had 12 teams compete this year. After a strong showing at state competition, the “Out of the Blocks” Team advanced to global competition! Destination Imagination is a volunteer-led competition designed to inspire and equip students to become the next generation of innovators and leaders. Student teams solve open-ended STEM, arts, and service learning challenges, and present their solutions to trained appraisers.

 

The students recognized from the “Out of the Blocks” Carpenter Hill Elementary Team were: Travis Pierce, Ivan Silva, Bethany Mueller, Riley Mueller, Bryson Severance, and Aidan Kroeger. Students from the “Sparkle Fairies” Elm Grove Elementary Team were: Callie Church, Sydney Hodges, Parker Bergeron, Lindsay Faulks, Lydia Marion, Marissa Taylor, and Ana Jakubauskas. Board Secretary Sandra Bryant presented the recognition on behalf of the Board.

 

The Board recognized the Lehman High School Criminal Justice students who recently competed at state in the Skills USA competition.  This state championship is the showcase for the best career and technical students in Texas. The Criminal Justice contest uses both written examination and practical exercises to evaluate the contestants’ abilities and knowledge of the field. The contestants are scored on their knowledge and application of U.S. Constitutional Law, written and verbal communications skills, and their ability to handle an entry-level law enforcement position.

 

The students recognized were: Keaton Miles, Arith Enriquez, Vinisha Monroy, Carlos Garcia, and David Villarreal. Board President Robert Limon presented the recognition on behalf of the Board.

 

Lehman High School had a number of students excel in health occupations competition this year. These students either advanced to state or were named alternate state competitors because of their performance at area competition. They won in competitions including: extemporaneous writing, medical terminology, medical photography, medical math, research prepared speaking, home health aide services, and outstanding chapter scrapbook. These competitions allow students to showcase their skills as future healthcare professionals. This is the largest HOSA state competition contingency to ever represent Lehman High School.

 

The students recognized were: Neriah Sosa, Violet Martinez, Adrian Castro, Andrea Alegria, Skyler McMakin, Nariko Nakachi, Denise Silva, Nick Tello, and Daniel Arenas.  Board Trustee Marty Kanetzky presented the recognition on behalf of the Board.

 

nt weight classes in the Texas High School Women’s Powerlifting Association state competition. The roots of powerlifting are in traditions of strength training stre

tching back as far as Greek and Roman times. The sport instills the ideals and virtues of athleticism in individual competitors and teams.

Competitors from Lehman High School who were recognized include: Chloe Arana, Tina Perez, Kali Palomarez, Ruby Perez, Alexis Ysla, Anamarie Fajardo, Evelyn Ramirez, Melysa Alvarez, Chloe Borst, and Mery Vargas. Competitors from Hays High School who were recognized include: Erica Munoz, Claudia Norman, and Madison Spears. Board Vice President Holly Raymond presented the recognition on behalf of the Board.

 

 

The Board continued discussions and development of the 2015-2016 school district budget. Much of the discussion involved new models for counseling services and instructional support. Specifically, the goal is to reduce student-to-counselor ratios at the high schools and improve intervention and instructional coaching at the elementary levels.

 

As part of the budget process, the Board approved new positions for next school year so that the district is able to post and hire for these positions during the peak hiring time for school districts, which is now through the end of the school year. The new positions approved in April are: 48 teachers across the district to accommodate student growth; 2 assistant principals (one each for Chapa and Simon Middle Schools); 2 SIM coaches (one each for Dahlstrom and Chapa Middle Schools);  2 counselors (one each for Simon and Chapa Middle Schools); a principal for middle school #6; and moving the director of student services from a part-time to a full-time position. The Board did not yet approve 2 content coordinator positions that had been recommended (one each for math and English/Language Arts).

 

Follow the development of next year’s budget and participate in the conversation at: www.hayscisd.net/budget. The Board will vote on the final budget for the 2015-2016 school year in August.

 

 

Lunch prices for students who pay the regular price at all Hays CISD campus will increase slightly in 2015-2016 to comply with the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The pricing formula in the act requires Hays CISD to raise its lunch prices by ten cents again this year. The Board approved the action in April.

 

 

Hays CISD is considering developing and deploying a district led School-Age Care (After School Care) and Summer Program for elementary students beginning with the 2016-2017 school year. If approved, this program would provide students with safe, secure, and supportive environments to accommodate the schedules of working parents.

 

This program represents an expanded, third generation view of after school care to include experiences prior to the beginning of the school day, as well as after the school day has ended. The program creates conditions for children to engage in activities that enhance classroom learning and practice skills in real-life situations. See the after school care presentation online.

 

 

The Board approved an agreement with CommuniCare to expand the health care services at the district’s WELL Clinic. This process began in 2014 when the board conducted a public hearing on the matter and required approval from the federal government – the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). Since CommuniCare will pay the district the cost of the WELL Clinic staff and assume the revenue generated, the district will realize a net savings of $130,000 in the 2015-16 budget.

 

 

Recommended changes to Policy DGBA (Local) were not adopted by the Board. These changes were part of a regular, general policy update recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB/Policy Update 101). School Boards have discretion when adopting, or choosing not to adopt, local policies. The Board voted 5-2 against the TASB recommended policy changes noted in red on the proposed new policy. Policy DGBA (Local) addresses the employee grievance process.

 

 

During the April meetings, the Board also heard presentations on: the district’s professional development plans, an update on the academic program management audit, and summer school plans. They also approved a number of right-of-ways with the county and an electrical easement for Middle School #6. Procurements included: the College Board, the food service management contract, professional development, calculators, and other instructional materials.