October 2008 Board of Trustees Meeting

Above and Beyond Awards were presented to Laurie Smith, RN (CDC); Vivian Traylor (Fowler); Mary Ann Villarruel (Wallace); Holly Lewis and Rebecca McFarlin (MPJH); LeAnne Blalock, Randy Nolen and Tammie Rolf (MPHS); Sara Estes and Brandi Denson (SpecEd); and, Jason McCullough (CSS). Superintendent Terry Myers also commended Suzy Wynn, Student Assessment, for her work in creating 154 Benchmark tests for the district.
Mount Pleasant Junior High School: Principal Brian McAdams presented a video about the Junior High that was filmed and produced by students in Charles Hill’s Technology class. The video featured footage of teachers, interviews with students and footage from a recent Junior High pep rally.
Board Comment: Buddy Blue congratulated Superintendent Terry Myers for serving as the President of the Texas Association of Community Schools, an organization representing school districts with one or fewer high schools.
Board Business
•Approved overnight trips for MPJHS History Department to Petit Jean, Arkansas (May 14-15, 2009); MPHS Varsity Boys Basketball team to Garland Tournament (Dec. 4-5).
•Approved the submission to TEA of an expedited waiver to modify the MPHS schedule for TAKS testing. The waiver will allow the school to adjust the schedules of students not taking the TAKS tests.
•Approved the Head Start/Early Head Start Content Area Plans as submitted.
•Approved the Head Start/Early Head Start Policy Council Composition.
•Approved the early release schedule for the day before Christmas Break (December 19, 2008) and the last day of classes on June 4, 2009. (See schedule below.)
•Approved the creation of an Anime Club at MPHS.
•Business Manager Stacie Thompson presented an Overview of the district’s 2006-2007 School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas). The district received 80 out of a possible 85 points and earned a Superior Achievement rating, the highest given.
•Approved the Mount Pleasant ISD Annual Financial Report/Audit as presented by Lanny Walker. The District’s total combined net assets on August 31, 2008 were $22.6 million. Total revenues exceeded expenses by $229 thousand for the year. Total expenses were $54.3 million and total revenues were $54.5 million. Approximately 98.5% of the taxes levied for 2007-08 were collected by the end of the fiscal year. Walker reported that there were no recommendations for the district.
•Awarded the contract for Floor Maintenance to Maxx Shine Commercial Care of Longview at a cost of $3995 per week.
Reports
    Assistant Superintendent Bruce Gearing reported that the district had met the Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives for English Language Learners as required by No Child Left Behind.
    Superintendent Terry Myers reported that the district Maintenance and Operations had been evaluated free of charge through the Texas Association of Community Schools. The district far exceeds the baselines set by the evaluators.
    Myers also gave the Highly Qualified Report to the board. All Core Teachers in the district are Highly Qualified and the all Paraprofessionals in the district required to be Highly Qualified meet the standard.
    Gearing reported on the DATE Award Plan Revisions. As MPHS and Wallace Middle School are participating in TEEG this year, they are not included in DATE. Every teacher in the district now has an equitable opportunity to become eligible for an excellence award this year. Teachers at Fowler voted not to participate in the program.
    Gearing reported that the district as contracted with Connect-ED as the E-Rate consultant for the district. According to Gearing, the Federal E-Rate program is extremely important to MPISD because all district telecommunications services and many of our technology infrastructure projects are discounted up to 90% through this program.
Personnel:
New Professionals: Vickie Burns (Corprew Curriculum Facilitator)
Resignations: Marc Puig (MPHS AP)
Transfers: Jeff Turner (MPHS Teacher to Assistant Principal)
Future Meetings:
Regular Meeting: Monday, November 17, 2008, 5:30 p.m., CSS Board Room

MPISD Early Release Schedule (12/19/08; 6/4/09)
    1:00 pm Child Development Center/Early Head Start
                  Annie Sims Elementary School
                 E.C. Brice Elementary School
                  Vivian Fowler Elementary School
                  Frances Corprew Elementary School

1:15 pm P.E. Wallace Middle School

1:50 pm Mt. Pleasant Junior High School

2:00 pm Community Learning Center
Mt. Pleasant High School