7:30 p.m., April 7, 2008 - Regular Meeting of the Board
Worksession
The Board and Administration held a work session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss updated middle school enrollment projections. It appears that two middle schools will be needed in 2010 to relieve Roach and Pioneer Heritage and that an additional middle school will be needed in 2011 to relieve Griffin. Updated projections will be reviewed in the fall, so that construction can begin in January for 2010 openings.
Consent Agenda
These items are considered to be routine by the board and were approved under one motion: tax office reports; payments to vendors, architects and contractors, preferred approved vendor list; purchase of student agenda/planners for the 2008-2009 school year; award of fire sprinkler/life safety systems inspections; extension of contract for fire alarm and suppression systems; proposals for card access systems and digital cameras for campus security; amended contract for professional services for project manager for construction services; award of competitive sealed proposal for Career and Technical Education Center furniture; award of risk management brokerage services; vendor to install projectors; vendor to provide copiers; vendor to install distance learning equipment; vendor to provide moving services; vendor to provide internet services; vendor to supply email migration software; vendor to supply software licenses for email; inter local agreement with Collin County Department of Homeland Security.
District Professional Development Plan in Support of Curriculum/Instruction
Jacqueline Kennedy, Coordinator of Professional Development, presented the plans for Professional Development that will support the curriculum and instruction efforts of the district. The major changes will be a shift from content-focused professional development to a diversified approach including instructional practices; use of a variety of emerging technologies to deliver professional development; addition of one compensation day to allow for two exchange days to all campus staff - November 23 & 24; extension of deadline for completion of requirements to May 1, 2009; and pay reduction if employees do not meet the professional development requirements. The number of additional staff development hours will reflect 42 hours, but 30 of these will be accrued when employees are on contract as has always occurred. See the attached presentation for more information.
Presentation on FISD security audit of district facilities
Texas Education Code 37.108 requires that all districts in the state conduct a security audit at least once every three years and report the results to the district's Board of Trustees. August of this year is the first deadline for this audit. Mr. Paul Lupia, through Region X, served as the lead auditor in conducting the FISD audits in 2007-2008. Doug Zambiasi, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, said he believes the district is on the right track, but there is always work to be done. District officials are continuing dialogue with Dr. John Wilson from Texas Center for Safe Schools and are developing a long-range plan with him at this time to address ongoing training and staff development. See attached presentation for methodology, commendations and recommendations.
Discussion of Preliminary Budget for 2008-2009 School Year
Dr. Rick Bankston, acting Business Manager, gave a brief summary of preliminary budget considerations for the 2008-2009 school year. He showed that 62 percent of the revenue projected for 2008-2009 will come from local taxes and 25 percent will come from the state (before recapture). About 318 new professional staff positions have been approved, along with 124 support positions, at an approximate cost of $18.5 million. The Board was shown scenarios of raises for employees at 3, 4 and 5 percent to gauge impact on the budget. At this time the budget estimates reflect an 18.9 percent increase compared to current year. The plan is to recommend to the Board a percent of mid-point salary increases for all returning employees and the teacher new hire placement schedule at the May meeting. The budget will be approved in June as the district changes its fiscal year.
Construction Issues
The Career and Technical Education Center, Scoggins and Stafford Middle Schools are on schedule. The Transportation Facility West will be complete in time for the start of school, but there is concern for it being complete in time for the delivery of new buses in mid-summer. Core Construction was awarded the bid for the additional parking space at the Transportation Facility West which will be required by city ordinance if we utilize the 5,000 square feet for staff development at this site. A final design of the Early Childhood School (to open in 2009) was presented.
Personnel Recommendations
Trustees approved the hiring of four administrators to the central office ranks.
Rick Burnett, who joined FISD 16 years ago as principal of Frisco High, was named Executive Director of Student Services. This is a new position that will report directly to the Superintendent and will be a part of the Instructional Support Team. A 33-year veteran educator and a 27-year administrator, Burnett was principal and assistant principal at Allen High School for 11 years before coming to FISD. He started his career as a teacher/coach in Kaufman ISD in 1974. His master’s degree is from East Texas State University; his bachelor’s is from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Katie Kordel, currently principal at Pioneer Heritage Middle School, has been named Director of Secondary Instruction to replace Pat Bradley who is retiring at the end of this year. Kordel joined FISD in 2003 as assistant principal at Clark Middle School; she has served as principal at PHMS for three years. She began her career in Allen ISD as a teacher in 1999. Kordel’s bachelor’s degree is from Southern Illinois University and her master’s degree is from Texas A&M - Commerce. She is pursuing her doctorate at the University of North Texas at this time.
Liz Abbott, who has been Coordinator of Information Services in the Technology Department for three years, has been named to a new position of Director of Information Services. She has 18 years of experience, joining FISD in 1997 as a middle school math teacher and becoming a Technology Integration Facilitator in 2000. She taught in Plano ISD for seven years before coming to Frisco. Her bachelor’s degree is from the University of Texas at Tyler; her master’s degree is from the University of North Texas.
Merideth Choate has been named as Coordinator of Bilingual/ESL to replace Denise Brown who passed away earlier this year. Meredith is currently principal of Sem Elementary School which opened last year. Prior to that, she was the assistant principal at Spears Elementary School for three years. Previously, she was an elementary teacher (regular and bilingual) in districts in the Austin area for eight years. Her bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Elementary Education is from the University of Texas at Austin and her master’s degree is from Southwest Texas State University.
Replacements for these hires will be officially approved at the May 19 regular meeting of the Board.
Staff Reports
Curriculum and Instruction – FISD has received results from the first administration of TAKS Reading for Grade 3,
5, and 8. In third grade, we tested 2,450 students in either English or Spanish and 97 percent of the students met standard with 62 percent receiving commended status. In order for students to be commended, they must correctly answer 34 out of 36 questions. In fifth grade, 95 percent of the students met standard and 51 percent were commended out of the 2,157 students tested. In fifth grade, students must correctly answer 39 questions out of 42 to receive commended status. We tested 1,742 students in eighth grade and 98 percent of the students passed on the first administration and 72 percent received the commended status. In order for students to be commended in the eighth grade, they must correctly answer 44 out of 48 questions. All students who did not meet standard have had individual reading plans developed for them and are receiving additional support through Accelerated Reading Instruction (ARI), as required by the state. They will take the reading test again on April 30.
Administrative Services – The district is proposing a wellness program that would involve employees being reimbursed for their monthly membership fee to the Frisco Athletic Center if they workout 10 times a month. Mr. Zambiasi cited studies regarding how good health helps to lower healthcare costs, reduces absenteeism and improves productivity. This proposal will not be final until the Board approves the budget and the cost of the program in June.
Upcoming Dates –
April 14 - Holiday
April 15-18 Kindergarten Registration at all elementary schools
May 15 – Frisco Education Foundation Scholarship Night
May 19 – Regular Meeting of the Board