TEMPLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Regular MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
September 13, 2021
Minutes
The Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, September 13, 2021 in the Board Room of the TISD Administration Offices, 401 Santa Fe Way, Temple, Texas in accordance with Chapter 551 of the Government Code. President Posey called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and declared a quorum present. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mr. Posey.
Members Present Mr. Dan Posey, President; Mr. Ronnie Gaines, Vice President;
Ms. Virginia Suarez, Secretary; Mrs. Linell Davis; Mrs.
Shannon Gowan, arrived at 6:04 p.m.; Mrs. Shannon Myers and Dr. Sandhya Sanghi, Members.
Members Absent None.
Others Present Dr. Bobby Ott, Superintendent; Mrs. Marilyn Krumnow, Secretary to the Superintendent; representative of the news media; and various staff members and citizens.
Public Forum No one addressed the Board of Trustees during the Open Forum section of the meeting.
Superintendent’s Recognitions
Mrs. Christine Parks, Chief of Communication and Community Relations, recognized the September Alumni Spotlight, Mrs.
Susan Hill Kamas. Mrs. Kamas is a proud graduate of the THS Class of 1965. She also attended Reagan Elementary, Scott Elementary and Travis Junior High in Temple ISD. Upon graduating from THS, Susan went on to earn her Associates Degree from Temple Junior College, her BS in Home Economics with Teaching certificate from Southwest Texas State College and graduate degree in Political Science from Angelo State University. Susan is a very familiar face across our region where she has served as the Executive Director of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas for 33 years. Her contributions to the economic development of the areas she serves have been profoundly instrumental in the stability and growth that the region has experienced. Her husband of 51 years, James Kamas, is also a Central Texas native and is a chemical engineer. To the surprise of no one, Susan is known as the “fun Aunt” to her nieces and nephews! Her older sister Sharon lives in Sherman and younger brother Dennis resides in Temple.
Miss Aniyah Smith, THS Sophomore, received the Superintendent Leadership Award for hosting a Back-To-School
Bash that provided food, shoes, clothes and back packs for students so they would be prepared for the school year. Dr. Ott stated this was a selfless effort and did it on her own, and the District is very proud of her.
Mrs. Parks recognized staff for being named a PLTW Distinguished School (Project Lead the Way) for Kennedy- Powell Elementary for the fourth consecutive year.
Congratulations to the Staff and Mrs. Jill Owen, Principal.
The Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Unit and cadets were awarded the AFJROTC Resiliency - COVID-19 Award.
We are proud of this organization for their continued service and hard work during a hard year last year.
The following campuses, Cater, Jefferson, HP Garcia, Kennedy- Powell, and Scott Elementary Schools, were recognized for the designation as a “No Place for Hate” campus. These campuses instill the culture values of learning and to respect the dignity and self-worth of others.
Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recognized the Temple ISD School Nutrition Department for their efforts in the TDA Spring Farm Fresh Challenge. The department builds a wholesome learning environment and teaches children about healthy lifestyles using Texas agriculture. This effort demonstrates commitment to the children of Texas and our community. Congratulations!!
Executive Hires No action required this month.
Board President’s Report There were no future items of discussion.
Dr. Ott reviewed the following Important Dates:
• September 14 – Temple High School Open House, 5:30-6:30pm @ THS
• September 14 – Thornton Elementary Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm
@ Thornton Elem.
• September 15 – Temple High School Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm
@ THS Auditorium
• September 16 – Middle Schools Open House, 6:00-7:00pm @ Bonham, Lamar, and Travis
• September 19 – Back to School Community Prayer Service, 3:00pm @ Temple Bible Church
• September 20 – TISD Update Presentation to Rotary Club of Temple South, 12:00pm @ Country Lane Apts.
• September 20 – HP Garcia Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm @ HP Garcia Elem.
• September 23 – TISD Update Presentation to Rotary Club of Temple, 11:30am @ TISD Admin.
• September 23 – Meridith-Dunbar Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm @ Meridith-Dunbar ECA
• September 24-26 – TASA/TASB Convention, Dallas, TX
• September 27 – Western Hills Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm @ W.
Hills Elem.
• September 28 – Cater Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm @ Cater Elem.
• October 4 – Student Holiday / Staff Campus Professional Development
• October 5 – Jefferson Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm @ Jefferson Elem.
• October 6 – Raye-Allen Neighborhood Presentation, 6:00pm @ Raye- Allen Elem.
• October 9 – TISD Update Presentation at 8th Street Baptist Church, 10:00am – 215 MLK Drive
Consent Agenda A motion was made by Mrs. Gowan and seconded by Mr.
Gaines to approve Consent Agenda Items VII, A – J, 1-4.
Motion carried 7-0. Items approved included the following:
District Enrollment Update; Budget Amendment #2; Three Overnight Trips for Fine Arts Department – THS Theatre to Texas State Thespians Convention/Contest, Grapevine, TX- November 17-20, 2021, THS Jazz Band to Jazz Educators Network National Conference, Dallas, TX-January 5-8, 2022, THS Band, Choir, Orchestra to Universal Studios, Orlando, FL- May 31-June 5, 2022; Interlocal Agreement Between TISD and City of Temple – Provide Medical Services at Varsity Home Football Games for the 2021 Season; MOU Between TISD and Central Counties Services; MOU with Bell County Juvenile Board (JJAEP) and TISD; Purchase Over $50,000 including Flyleaf Publishing, i-Ready / Curriculum Associates, 7 Mindsets SEL Curriculum, Soccer Field Additional Sod, Irrigation and Site Work, Study Island Supplemental Core Content Software, Touch Math - SPED, Verkada Camera System Subscription, Wilson Language Corporation, Education Galaxy (Revised Request), Eduphoria (Revised Request), Imagine Learning Language and Literacy and Imagine Learning Math (Revised Request), NWEA-Map Growth (Revised Request), THS Freshmen Devices 2021-2022 (Revised Request), Viewsonic at Meridith-Dunbar ECA (Revised Request); Notification of Purchases Over $25,000 and up to $50,000 including Freshworks, Frontline Education- eSped, Teacher Created Materials Publishing, IXL Learning (Revised Request), Learning A-Z (Revised Request), Purchase Two Vehicles for Use at the Technology Department (Revised Request); CW(LOCAL) – Naming Facilities Notification; August Board Meeting Minutes including August 4, 9, 11, and 16, 2021.
Human Resource Mrs. Myers made a motion to approve the T-TESS Appraisers for 2021-2022. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Davis and unanimously approved (7-0)
Curriculum and Instruction
No action required this month.
Finance and Facilities Mr. Kent Boyd, Assistant Superintendent of Facilities and Operations presented the request to purchase property at 316 West Avenue F, Temple, TX. The administration has been in recent discussions with the owner of a lot and house
located at 316 West Avenue F. The corner lot is adjacent to property on the east owned by Temple ISD and utilized by the maintenance department. The owner was initially asking
$160,000 for the property, which is appraised by Bell
County Appraisal District at $129,505. The facilities committee
authorized the administration to offer $145,000 to purchase the property. The owner countered with $150,000, as long as the District paid all closing costs. Temple ISD legal counsel has drawing up a contract for that amount which will be presented at the meeting for consideration. Approving the request will allow the District to own the entire south side of the 300 block of West Avenue F. In addition to owning the majority of the block, such an acquisition would enable the District to more effectively master plan that block for future improvements for the auxiliary departments housed in that area. A motion was made by Mr.
Gaines to approve the purchase of 316 West Avenue F, Temple, TX in the amount of $150,000 plus closing costs. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Gowan and unanimously approved 7-0.
Mrs. Kallen Vaden, Chief Financial Officer, requested approval and adoption of the 2021-2022 Tax Rate. Certified property values were received at the end of July and the District must approve a tax rate within 60 days of receiving that information.
The Maintenance & Operation proposed tax rate is $0.9287, and the Debt Service proposed rate is $0.3066. The attached ordinance incorporates the language required or recommended to comply with state law. A public hearing is not required when the adopted rate is less than or equal to the proposed rate when the budget was adopted. Administration is recommending a total tax rate of $1.2353 per $100 valuation, which is .0485 lower than last year’s rate. A copy of the ordinance was included in the board packet. A motion was made by Mrs. Davis and seconded by Dr. Sanghi to approve and adopt the property tax rate of
$0.9287 for Maintenance & Operations and $0.3066 for Debt Service, for a total tax rate of $1.2353 per $100 of valuation. Motion carried by a 7-0 vote. Mr. Posey commended the department and the hard work to get the rate down. He said it is greatly appreciated by the Board and the community. Dr. Ott also thanked the department. He stated that since 2018 the district has had a .165 decrease in the tax rate.
This sends a strong message that Temple ISD is operating at a much lower tax rate than the State allows us to.
Student Services No action required this month.
Board Committee Reports
Facilities Committee Update
Mr. Ronnie Gaines, Chairman of the Facilities Committee, provided an update on the last committee meeting held on Thursday, August 26, 2021 – 4:00 p.m. Items discussed included the following: Summary of Remaining 2015 Bond Projects, Tour THS Gym, Softball Field and Soccer Field Improvements, Construction of potential parking lot on District- owned property across the street from Meridith-Dunbar ECA
Auditorium, Discussion of property by the downtown auxiliary services complex and COVID protocols.
The next meeting will be held Thursday, September 30, 2021 – 4:00 p.m.
Policy Committee Update Mrs. Linell Davis, Chairman of the Policy Committee, stated the last meeting held was Wednesday, August 25, 2021 – 4:00 p.m.
and provided an update of the meeting. Item discussed included: Naming of the Press Box after Jody Donaldson, Board Policy CW(LOCAL) – Naming Facilities, and Board Policy Review on the following:
• FFA(LEGAL) Student Welfare; Wellness and Health Services
• FFA(LOCAL) Student Welfare; Wellness and Health Services
• FFAA(LEGAL) Wellness and Health Services; Physical Examinations
• FFAA(LOCAL) Wellness and Health Services; Physical Examinations
• FFAB(LEGAL) Wellness and Health Services; Immunizations
• GKB(LEGAL) Community Relations; Advertising and Fund Raising
• GKB(LOCAL) Community Relations; Advertising and Fund Raising
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, September 29, 2021 – 4:00 p.m.
Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Dan Posey, President
Virginia Suarez, Secretary
