Denver City School Board Meets June 13

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School Board Meets June 13

Meeting a week early of their usual third Monday of the month scheduled meeting day, the DCISD School Board met in regular session on Monday, June 13 where they addressed their monthly agenda.

After not being able to attend the last two meetings school architect Craig Wallace was in attendance and updates the board on current 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, was being installed. Along with this will be new basketball goals and new spectator stands. Wallace said everything would be ready when school starts except possibly the new bleachers, which will be the same as those in the auxiliary gyms in the DAG. He said the company they use in Oklahoma City was backed up with orders and it would probably be two to three weeks after school started before they would be installed.

Wallace also noted the new goals would be adjustable to fit the needs of regular basketball games as well as the shorter goals used in Little Dribbler games.

Wallace also had an update on the renovations at the school ag farm. Three new animal barns are currently being built that will house student owned pigs, sheep/lambs, and steers. In addition to the area to house the pigs and sheep there will also be four wash areas. The pig stalls are expected to be finished in mid to late August while the other two areas are projected to be finished by the first of the year.

There will be just over 50 stalls for the pig and sheep/lamb barns and 17 stalls for the steer barn. Each facility will be a covered area. Bids will be submitted this week and will be due in three weeks. Bidders will be selected after that with the construction to begin around the first of July.

Board member Connie Lozano said she has had several inquiries about progress of the new high school when the construction will start. Wallace assured Lozano that construction had indeed started, but it was starting on the west side and would finish up on the east side with the band hall and Performing Arts Center.

“We have our footings in place on the west side and have actually started building the walls inside the basement in the center of the building,” Wallace said.

He went on to note that the work currently going in is not visible to the public eye traveling down Mustang Avenue simply because it’s underground as opposed to the public view of the construction when the DAG was being built.

Lozano also wanted to know if the projected completion date of the high school was still the same.

“We are still looking at 18 to 24 months,” Wallace said. “It will be slow at first but I can assure you once we get the basics over with and things start going up it will go much faster and everyone will be able to see the progress we are making every day.”

Next on the agenda Business Manager Shannon Bressler addressed the district’s expenditures for employee’s health insurance premiums for 2016-2017.

Bressler assured the board rates would increase, but there were funds set aside in the budget to continue paying the premiums for school employees.

“Even though we know for sure the rates will be going up we aren’t sure right now exactly what those figures will be,” Bressler said. “I’m estimating $55,000 total, but I’ve put $75,000 in the budget. We should have something in place by the first of July.”

After more discussions considering this item it was recommended by Board President Brad Woosley to table the item until the July meeting.

In the next two items Superintendent Gary Davis presented bids for two vehicles for the Four County Shared Services Arrangements (FCSSA). The first bid was for a 2016 Chevrolet Impala with 20,600 miles. The total price was $17,900 which included the remainder of bumper to bumper warranty to 36,000 miles and the remainder of a five year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. The second bid was on a 2015 Chevrolet Suburban with 46,000 miles. The total price on this vehicle was $39,850. It also included the five year 100,000 mile powertrain warranty.

The board unanimously approved both bids.

The next three items were also presented by Bressler which included a budget amendment. One of the amendments was in the auto technology department were funds were basically transferred from one line item to Business Education, Metal Shop, Wood Shop, Ag Classroom, and Auto Mechanics Instructional Supplies as well as Family and Consumer Science.

Bressler also discussed a handout concerning 2016 U.S. Department Of Labor Final Overtime Regulations.

In Personnel Items Davis went over the 2017-2017 teacher salary schedule. Each teacher received their normal step raise based on the years’ experience plus if they had a Bachelor or Masters’ Degree.

Last year a teacher with a Bachelors’ Degree and 32 plus years’ experience could make $58,354. This is $13,734 above the State. A teacher with a Masters’ Degree and 32 plus years’ experience was paid $59,354, which is $14,734 above State.

Those figures increased for 2016-2017 for those with a Bachelor’s Degree to $59,244 and $60,244 for those teachers with a Masters. The State has no step raises after 20 years of teaching experience with either a Bachelors or Masters.

All building principals and assistant principals plus Kristi Kostelich and Kellie Adams each received a $2,000 raise. Davis and Athletic Director Steve Taylor did not receive any raise at this time.

In addition, the board approved a 3% across the board raise for all auxiliary personnel. This raise amounted from a low of $.37 up $1.16 per hour depending on what position they held.

The board also approved hiring one more technology person that would increase that number to four. This would allow each campus to each have one technology person assigned to their campus.

New hires included Jennifer Streun at Kelley Elementary, Mary Jiminez at Dodson Primary, Haley Comer at the Seagraves FCSSA, Jack Garcia at Denver City High School, Thelma Dominquez at Denver City High School, Beau Rains will be the new assistant Principal at the High School, and James Garrett in the Maintenance department.

The following resignations and retirements were also approved by the board: Jane Flores with YCFL, Vee Ann Carter at Dodson Primary/Kelley Elementary, Craig Cooke at the junior high, Austin Snow at the junior high, and Kayla Snow at the junior high.

These reassignments were also approved by the board: Chad Dennis will now by the new swimming pool director and Mary Ann Mahler was moved to the junior high to teach art.

In the superintendent’s report Davis told the board the annual summer recreation program was having a good attendance. He went on to say 400 Denver City youth had registered for the program and they were having a daily attendance of 270 to 320 students each day. The last day will be July 1.

And in his last item Davis said because of an irregularity with computer glitches, lost tests and numerous other problems with the STAAR test, Education Commissioner Mike Morath was tossing out the results for fifth- and eighth-graders.

Basically what this means for Denver City is that summer school at the high school will be cancelled for those students who did not master an area of the STAAR test. The STAAR test was part of the requirements for advancement to the next grade level.

However, Kelley Elementary Principal Lori Alexander said summer school would continue on her campus the remainder of this week up until Wednesday of next week for those students who need some intervention on mastering parts of the STAAR test.

“Even though we don’t have to test, we do need to have intervention for these kids. It’s required by the state,” Alexander said.

Davis concluded the meeting by telling the board TASA/TASB Convention will be held in Houston this year. The next board meeting will be held on Monday, July 18.

Board members Connie Lozano, Joey Rodgers, Brian Sutton, Robbie Underhill, along with Board President Brad Woosley were all present. Russell Dial and Johnette Mansur were not in attendance.

 

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