Holding a regularly scheduled meeting, the DCISD School Board came together on Monday, July 18 at 6:15 PM to discuss their monthly agenda.
One of the first items on the agenda Business Manager Shannon Bressler addressed the district’s expenditures for employee’s health insurance premiums for 2016-2017.
As Bressler had assured the board in the previous meeting, the rates did increase, but there were funds set aside in the budget to continue paying the premiums for school employees.
“Even though the rates increased, the amount came out to $50,000 instead of the $55,000 that we had previously predicted,” Bressler said. She broke down different insurance options for the board and reported to them that the TRS Active Care 2 plan seemed to be the most popular plan chosen by employees at this time.
With board member Connie Lozano making a motion for the school to continue to cover the cost of employee insurance and Johnette Mansur providing a second, the board graciously agreed with a unanimous vote to continue providing coverage at no cost to the employee.
Superintendent Davis said, “I think this is a great thing that you all do for the employees of DCISD. Not all districts do this, and it is a great perk to working here. Thank you all very much.”
The school’s architect, Craig Wallace, was able to attend the meeting and provide the board with some current updates on the progress of various construction projects.
First on his list was an update on the two junior high gyms. A new floor, one which will match the same texture as the floor at the DAG, is still waiting to be installed. The materials are in, but have to be present in the gym environment for a few weeks before the floors can be installed. He said the new lights had been installed, and the painting was complete.
Wallace also noted that the carpeting around the walls would be replaced soon. It was decided to keep the carpet on the walls to help with the noise level in the gyms.
Wallace also had provided the board with pictures of progress at the ag farm as well as completed fencing around the track. Several board members along with Superintendent Gary Davis commented on how nice the black fencing around the perimeter of the track looks. Wallace mentioned to the board that due to the angles around the track, that each pole had to have some individual welding done.
The handicap accessible ramps on each end of the visitor’s stadium have also been completed.
In the previous meeting, board member Connie Lozano said she has had several inquiries about progress of the new high school and when the construction will start. Wallace was also able to provide an additional update on this project. He told the board that the concrete perimeter block is in on the basement and that construction workers were beginning to dig additional holes above ground for some of the support beams.
The board was provided pictures of the sketch for the front of the new high school as well as an aerial type view. “On the back side of the building facing the stadium, we have incorporated arches to match those at the fieldhouse and the DAG,” Wallace said.
He went on to talk about the design of the parking lot and how the current trees were going to be able to be incorporated into this plan.
In the next two items Option 3 Contract was unanimously approved and a public meeting to discuss the budget and tax rate was set. This meeting has been set for Monday, August 15th at 6:15 PM with the regularly scheduled school board meeting to follow.
The proposed tax rate of $1.2533 was voted on an accepted. There was some discussion about the tax rates of other school districts and the fact that many of them are much higher than ours, but it was a unanimous decision to keep it the same. The board also approved the auditors of Terry & King.
Board members agreed to sign and abide by the district’s policy on Agreement for Acceptable Use of the District’s Technology. They also approved the 2016-2017 employee handbook that had a few minimal changes such as some wording
Superintendent Gary Davis presented the board with a list of transfer students for DCISD. He broke the list down by campus with Dodson Primary at 27, Kelley Elementary at 30, BGJH, at 38, and DCHS at 48. This comes to a total of 143 students that will be transferring in to DCISD for 2016-2017. It was a unanimous vote by the board to accept these transfers.
After many meetings and a lot of discussion by several DCISD staff members, a new Vision Statement for the school was agreed upon. This new vision statement is as follows. “Denver City Independent School District will foster a respectful, safe, and challenging environment that provides all students opportunities to discover their full potential and become lifelong learners in a global world.” Board member Connie Lozano said, “That sounds good. I really like that.”
After this, Superintendent Gary Davis presented personnel items that included new hires, resignations, and reassignments.
New hires welcomed to the district included Alma Hernandez at DCHS, Brady Milam at Dodson/Kelley, Juani Gutierrez at YCFL, Laci Aukerman at Kelley Elementary, Stephanie Smith at Dodson/Kelley, Charlene Villarreal at Dodson/Kelley, Clete Knippa at BGJH, John Harris district wide, Joseph Moore at BGJH, Abraham Garcia at DCHS, Brendon Muller at BGJH, Samantha Russo at BGJH, Vicky Wilkins at FCSSA, and Melissa Rios at DCHS.
The resignations that were accepted included Janel Earnest at FCSSA, Cruz Garcia at YCFL, Rob Ogle at DCHS, Terry Murphey at BGJH, Hayden Murphey at BGJH, Judd Cathey at BGJH, LaDonna Ogle at DCHS, Jennifer Beck at BGJH, Bertha Penalver at Kelley Elementary, and Kasey Simmons at FCSSA.
The only reassignment presented was Robin Cochran at DCHS.
In the Superintendent’s Report, Davis updated the board on TASB convention plans that included hotel accommodations. He and Shannon Bressler discussed in detail handouts on the 2016-2017 budget information broken down by the various funds as well as revenue comparisons to the two previous school years and the next two projected school years. Both talked favorably about where the district stands as a whole with the budget.
To wrap up the public meeting, Superintendent Gary Davis reminded the board about the date for the Public Hearing on the 2016-2017 Budget and Tax Rate. This meeting is set for Monday, August 15th at 6:15 PM at the DCISD board room with the regular scheduled meeting to immediately follow. This meeting will also include the adoption of the 2016-2017 budget as well as setting the 16-17 tax rate.
Davis also informed the board that the New Teacher Orientation breakfast would be held at the Kelley Elementary conference room on Wednesday, August 3rd and the Back to School Luncheon would be Thursday, August 18th at Mustang Cafeteria. Teachers return to work on Tuesday, August 9th and school begins for students on Monday, August 22nd.
After this information was given out, the board chose to go into executive session to discuss bond and master plan issues including a construction update and information about a gift surface deed.
The next board meeting will be held on Monday, August 15th.
Board members Connie Lozano, Joey Rodgers, Brian Sutton, Russell Dial, and Johnette Mansur, along with Board President Brad Woosley were all present. Robbie Underhill was not in attendance.
