MINUTES REGULAR BOARD MEETING SOCORRO ISD EDUCATION CENTER BOARD ROOM NOVEMBER 15, 2005 6:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT Guillermo Gandara, President; Charles E. Garcia, Vice President; Craig A. Patton, Secretary; Brenda L. Castañeda; Barbara Perez-Peña; Raymundo Rodriguez; and Dr. Robert Durón, Superintendent MEMBERS ABSENT Karen Blaine CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order 6:04 pm by President Guillermo Gandara. All members were present except Karen Blaine. A quorum was present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jan Deragisch. A moment of silence was observed for Ramon Rendon and Dolores Serna-Batres who both recently passed away. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Superintendent, Robert Durón, presented Susan Hill with the Superintendent s Coin of Excellence and commended Ms. Hill for her outstanding service to the District. Carmen Gutierrez Imai was recognized for being the Rising Star Teacher of the Year for Region 19 Gifted and Talented. Vicki Miller, the President of the Club de España, made a special presentation commemorating the 400 th celebration of the publishing of Don Quijote de la Mancha. The Slider Middle School Starlets were recognized for their participation in the city cheerleading competition and took first place in the eight grade division and third in the seventh grade division. This is their seventh straight year to take this title. OPEN FORUM Lizett Shaw, representing the English Department from El Dorado High School, expressed concerns regarding benchmark testing. The administration was asked to look into Ms. Shaw s concerns. Jan Deragisch reported that it is American Education Week. Ms. Deragisch asked the Board to consider lowering the insurance premiums paid by District employees. Glenda Hawthorne, President of SEA, updated the Board regarding Pontiac vs. Spellings. She also reported that in the last two weeks, twelve teams of people from NEA, and TSTA made visits to three school districts in EP. They were able to gather over 6,000 signatures to be forwarded to a congressional delegation. Ms. Hawthorne thanked the Board for their support in this initiative. Ron Thompson addressed the building program of the district and stated his belief that the District doesn t need a new design for every new school the district builds.
Page 2 CONSTRUCTION REPORT Tom Eyeington, Assistant Superintendent of Operational Services, provided the board with an update on the District s construction projects. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION REPORT Dr. Debra Livingston, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, provided the Board with a report regarding benchmark assessments. FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION REPORT Bruce Truesdale, President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, provided the Board with an update on the activities of the Foundation for Excellence in Education. CONSENT AGENDA A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Charles Garcia to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Items approved under the Consent Agenda are: Minutes of the October 18 and 25, 2005 Board of Trustees meetings, budget amendments, the employment of personnel, the payment of bills, the submission of grants and awarding of the following bids: Supplemental Education Services, Americas High School and Montwood Middle School parking lot improvements, Audio visual equipment, Pest control services, Fire extinguishers inspections and maintenance, and Office and teaching supplies. EL PASO CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Craig Patton asked for the Board s endorsement for himself and Vicente Ordoñez to be reappointed to the El Paso Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. A motion was made by Charles Garcia and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to recommend the appointment of Mr. Patton and Mr. Ordoñez to the El Paso Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. The motion carried unanimously. ACCEPTANCE OF RESIGNATION FROM FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS Vicki Icard, Director of Special Projects, presented a request to accept the resignation of Mr. Jake Brisben from the Foundation for Excellence Board of Directors. A motion was made by Craig Patton and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to accept the resignation as presented. The motion carried unanimously. NOMINATION TO FILL VACANCY ON THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION BO0ARD OF DIRECTORS Vicki Icard presented a nomination to fill the vacancy left by Mr. Jake Brisben on the Foundation for Excellence in Education Board of Directors with Mr. George Carrillo. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Craig Patton to approve the nomination of George Carrillo as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Page 3 NEW POSITION GRANT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Barry Edwards, Director of Personnel Services, presented a request to approve a new position, Grant Professional Development Specialist. A motion was made by Charles Garcia and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the new position as presented. The motion carried with Charles Garcia, Barbara Perez-Peña, Brenda Castañeda, Raymundo Rodriguez and Craig Patton voting aye and Guillermo Gandara voting no. ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT Mary Benham presented a request for the acceptance of donations received by the District during the 2004-2005 fiscal year. Donations totaled $75,331. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to accept the donations as presented. The motion carried unanimously. REQUESTS FOR USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES Armando Bustamante, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, presented a request for approval for use of school facilities from the City of El Paso and Jehovah s Witnesses. Mr. Bustamante reported that the request from the Mission Trail Association was withdrawn from the agenda. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the requests for use of school facilities as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Mission trail withdrawn from agenda TASB LOCALIZED POLICY UPDATE 76, EI (LOCAL) AND FMG (LOCAL) Vicki Icard presented a request for approval of TASB Localized Policy Update 76, The administration recommended approval of all of the following local policy revisions: CAA (Local), FD (Local), FDB (Local), FDD (Local), EI (Local), and FMG (Local). A motion was made by Brenda Castañeda and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the policy revisions as presented. The motion carried unanimously. DISTRICT EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CSP NO. 199-0915-0660 Iris Ornelas, Director of Employee Benefits, recommended awarding of CSP No. 199-0915-0660 to ComPsych. Gary Larcenaire, representing Sun City Behavioral Health Care signed up to speak to this agenda item should there be any questions. After the Administration s recommendation and discussion, no motion was made to approve awarding the bid. No action was taken by the Board. ARCHITECT CONTRACTS Tom Eyeington presented recommendations for approval of the following Architect Contracts: SMS/IDEA Architects for new Education Center, Mijares-Mora Architects for New High School, Carl Daniels Architects for additions to Hueco School, and Wright and Dalbin Architects for Alternative School/School of Choice. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the Architect Contracts as presented. The motion carried unanimously (Charles Garcia was not present for the vote).
Page 4 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS Tom Eyeington presented a request for approval of the following construction contracts: CF Jordan for New Education Center, Banes General Contractors for New High School, and Arrow Building Corporation for the Alternative School/School of Choice. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the construction contracts as presented. The motion carried unanimously. RIGHT OF WAY Tom Eyeington presented a request for granting Right-of-Way (ROW) to the County of El Paso for Eastlake Drive and Rojas Drive. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the ROW as presented. The motion carried unanimously. GUARANTEED MAXIMUM PRICE Tom Eyeington presented a request for approval of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of $3,679,500 from FT James Construction for the initial phase or base bid for the Montwood High School Addition and HVAC Upgrades. A motion was made by Craig Patton and seconded by Charles Garcia to approve the GMP as presented. The motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION The meeting was closed at 8:15 pm for consultation with the school district s attorney regarding personnel and a possible claim against a vendor, to hear a recommendation for Director of Personnel Services, and to discus real estate. The meeting reopened at 9:30 pm REAL ESTATE CONTRACT TO ACQUIRE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 12380 PINE SPRINGS Larry Baskind reported that no action was necessary regarding this agenda item. No action was taken by the Board. JOB ORDER CONTRACT (ADDENDUM AGENDA ITEM) Tom Eyeington presented a request for the issuance of a Job Order Contract to Basic Industries through the Texas Cooperative Purchasing Network for installation of a water line to Drugan School. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the Job Order Contract as presented. The motion carried unanimously. RECOMMENDATION FOR DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL SERVICES Dr. Duron recommended Dr. Priscilla Terrazas for the position of Director of Personnel Services. A motion was made by Craig Patton and seconded by Brenda Castañeda to approve the recommendation as presented. The motion carried unanimously.
Page 5 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:35 pm Guillermo Gandara, Board President Craig A. Patton, Board Secretary