Minutes of Regular Meeting The Board of Trustees South Texas ISD A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of South Texas ISD was held Tuesday, September 24, 2013, beginning at 7:00 PM in the La Quinta Inn & Suites' Conference Room, 128 N. Expressway 77, Raymondville, Texas. 1. Welcome. Mr. Homero Garcia, board president, welcomed the guests, staff and fellow board members. 2. Board Meeting called to order. The meeting was called to order by Mr. Homero Garcia at 7:00 p.m. at which time he was assured by Superintendent, Dr. Marla M. Guerra that notices of this meeting were posted properly according to the laws of Texas and that a quorum of the board was present. The following board members were present: Douglas E. Buchanan Raymondville Graciela Camargo Weslaco Yolanda Cuellar Progreso Lakes Homero Garcia Weslaco Sylvia Sanchez Garza Edinburg Hector Gonzales Lyford Octaviano Gonzalez San Juan Maria G. Leal Palmhurst Filomena Leo, Ed.D. La Joya Robert J. Lerma Henry LeVrier Joe L. Joey Lopez Ramon Montalvo, III Weslaco Eliceo Muñoz, III Israel G. Quintanilla Raymondville Berta Palacios San Juan Julio S. Saldaña Raymondville The following board members were absent: Eduardo L. Larry Cantu Los Fresnos Richard Fleming, M.D. Mission Adrian Garcia Eduardo Ed Gonzalez Edinburg Irma Perez-Treviño Harlingen Rick Villarreal
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 2 The following staff members were present: Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D. Jeff Hembree J.P. Villarreal Marla Knaub Sonia E. Rodriguez Amanda Odom Ana Castro Michael Aranda Barbara Heater, Ph.D. Harry Goette Magdalena Gutierrez Albert K. Limas Alex Medrano Gilberto Arreola The following guests were present: Mike Saldaña, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C. Chris Jenkins, Magic Valley Wind Farm E.On Climate & Renewables 3. Pledges of Allegiance. The pledges were led by Mrs. Berta Palacios. 4. Moment of Silence. The Board held a moment of silence. Board President asked to keep former board members Cain Caceres and Romeo Villarreal in their thoughts and prayers and asked to remember the people affected by the recent floods in Mexico and in the state of Colorado. 5. Approval of Consent Agenda. In order to promote efficient meetings, the Board may act upon more than one item by a single vote through the use of consent agenda. Consent items shall be items placed on the Agenda marked with an asterisk (*) for which no Board discussion is anticipated and for which the Superintendent recommends approval. Prior to the meeting, at the request of any member of the Board of Directors, any item on the consent agenda shall be removed and given individual consideration. Requests for individual consideration are made at least a half-hour prior to Board meetings and requests must be directed to either the Board President or the Superintendent. The administration recommended to pull agenda item 11.H from consent agenda. This item was marked consent accidentally. A motion was made by Mr. Lopez, seconded by Mr. H. Gonzales approving the consent agenda items as presented except for agenda item 11.H as pulled from the consent agenda by the administration. The motion passed unanimously. 6. Public participation at South Texas ISD Board Meetings: Allotted time to hear persons who desire to make comments to the Board (BED Local) (S 1). Mrs. Graciela Camargo addressed the board to inform them that STISD Education Foundation s annual fund raiser tickets had been disseminated to each of them. Mrs. Camargo expressed their financial support and attendance at this event is very much appreciated. Board Members also have the opportunity to donate silent auction items
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 3 and provide potential contacts for sponsorships. All proceeds go towards student scholarships and summer enrichment grants. A. Presentation on the wind farm industry in Willacy County. Mr. Chris Jenkins a representative of Magic Valley Wind Farm E.On Climate & Renewables presented a powerpoint presentation sharing the wind farm industry s impact on the Willacy County community. A motion was made by Mr. Lopez, seconded by Mr. H. Gonzales, changing the order of the day to go into Executive Session, Agenda Item #13. The motion passed unanimously. After Executive Session, the board came back into Open Session and proceeded with the order of the board agenda. 7. *Action: Review and act on the August 27, 2013 Board Meeting Minutes. 8. Policy & Curriculum - Yolanda Cuellar & Filomena Leo, Ed.D., Co-Chairs Mrs. Yolanda Cuellar reported that all items under Policy & Curriculum were under consent and were approved with the consent agenda. A. *Report on professional vacancies. B. *Report on staff ethnicity, gender and degree status. C. *Report on student graduation plans. D. *Action: Review and act on announcement of vacancies for Peer Tutor Project. 9. Buildings & Grounds - Henry LeVrier & Joe Lopez, Co-Chairs Mr. Henry LeVrier stated there was no report from the Buildings & Grounds Committee.
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 4 10. Finance - Ed Gonzalez & Tony Gonzalez, Co-Chairs Mr. O. Gonzalez reported on the following committee items: A. *Action: Review and act on Comparison of Revenues/Expenditures Report. 1. South Texas Independent School District B. *Action: Review and act on school district investment reports. C. *Action: Review and act on checks written since last report. D. *Report on Child Nutrition Program statement of revenues & expenditures (S 1). E. *Action: Review and act on proposed calendar for South Texas ISD Audit including the scheduling of a special called board meeting on December 11, 2013. F. *Action: Review and act on Resolution authorizing stipends for extra curricular activities. G. *Action: Review and act on Ed Payne Motors donation of $250 to Med High's Art Club. H. *Action: Review and act on the following budget amendment(s): 1. Budget Amendment #1 for the National Library of Medicine Grant (S 2). I. *Action: Review and act on renewing the approved vendors list for the following categories: 1. Pizza products 2. Fuel
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 5 3. Mats & linens 4. Employee uniforms 5. Awards, incentives and printed materials 6. Bus and auto parts 7. Building materials 8. Document retention services 9. General merchandise J. *Action: Review and act on two Resolutions authorizing campus personnel to sign checks for student activity accounts. K. Action: Review and act on the following requisitions (S 1): 1. #025795 to Trane for Biblioteca Las Americas chiller replacement 2. #025761 to Longhorn Bus Sales for the purchase of four new buses 3. #025788 to Caldwell County Chevrolet for the purchase of two district vehicles for Support Services 4. #026066 to Infinite Campus for the annual renewal of student information system online services 5. #026068 to Blackboard for annual renewal of online instruction services 6. #026069 to Middlebury Interactive Languages for renewal of Power Speak 7. #025840 to Dell Marketing for purchase of computers for STPA 8. #025939 to Caldwell County Chevrolet for the purchase of a vehicle for the Superintendent A motion was made by Mr. O. Gonzalez, seconded by Mrs. Leal approving requisition #025795 to Trane for Biblioteca Las Americas chiller replacement; #025761 to Longhorn Bus Sales for the purchase of four new buses; #025788 to Caldwell County Chevrolet for the purchase of two district vehicles for Support Services; #026066 to Infinite Campus for the annual renewal of student information system online services; #026068 to Blackboard for annual renewal of online instruction services; #026069 to Middlebury Interactive Languages for renewal of Power Speak; #025840 to Dell Marketing for purchase of computers for STPA; and #025939 to Caldwell County Chevrolet for the purchase of a vehicle for the Superintendent. The motion passed unanimously. 11. Superintendent's Report - M. Guerra, Ed.D. A. *Campus Reports.
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 6 1. STPA - A. Castro 2. Medical Academy - H. Goette 3. BETA - M. Gutierrez 4. Med High - B. Heater, Ph.D. 5. Science Academy - M. Aranda 6. Attendance Reports - J. Hembree B. *Action: Review and act on retirement Resolutions for the following: 1. Amadita Figueroa 2. Lilia Perdue 3. Maria Maciel C. *Action: Review and act on request from the Texas Association of Sports Officials for use of Med High school facilities. D. *Action: Review and act on the following out of district student/staff travel (S 5): 1. Washington D.C. Educational Field Trip, November 2-6, 2013, Washington, DC 2. Leadership Education & Development Conference (LEAD), November 8-11, 2013, Denver, CO 3. Texas A & M University High School Mathematics Tournament, November 16, 2013, College Station, TX 4. Project Lead the Way Conference, October 8-13, 2013, Indianapolis, IN 5. GAPP Texas Culture Awareness, October 18-19, 2013, Austin & San Antonio, TX 6. Texas Renaissance Festival, October 25-26, 2013, Houston, TX 7. MOAS National Competition, December 3-7, 2013, Washington, DC 8. TMEA All State Orchestra Audition, February 12-15, 2014, San Antonio, TX E. *Action: Review and act on board members to attend the following: 1. Court Hearing, September 15-17 2013, Austin, TX 2. Council of Urban Boards of Education, October 3-5, 2013, San Antonio, TX 3. TASB's Fall Legal Seminar Series, November 16, 2013, South Padre Island, TX
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 7 4. 74th NSBA Annual Conference, April 5-7, 2014, New Orleans, LA F. *Action: Review and act on authorizing special called board meetings. G. *Action: Review and act on creating an Ad Hoc Committee to develop board operating procedures. H. Action: Review and act on naming board member(s) to represent the district at the 2014 Federal Relations Network, January 27-29, 2014 in Washington, DC This item was placed on the agenda for board consideration as per a board member s request to allow the board as a whole to name and approve the district s representatives at the 2014 Federal Relations Network. The current practice is to have two board representatives attend the FRN Conference on a yearly basis. Funds are budgeted for this trip. After some discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Lerma, seconded by Mr. Lopez not to take action on the administration s recommendation to name representatives to attend the 2014 FRN Conference but instead to approve adding this conference to the eligible national conferences for board participation. The motion passed unanimously. I. Action: Review and act on 2013-2014 Superintendent's Goals. Dr. Marla M. Guerra reported on her three goals for the 2013-2014 school year. Dr. Guerra will provide a goal attainment report to the board in June, 2014. A motion was made by Mrs. Leal, seconded by Mrs. Camargo approving the 2013-2014 Superintendent Goals as presented. The motion passed unanimously. J. Action: Review and act on submitting nominees by Resolution for the following Appraisal District's Board of Directors: 1. Cameron County A motion was made by Mr. Lopez, seconded by Mr. Lerma, approving a Resolution nominating Mr. Jose Noe Diaz to the Cameron County Appraisal District Board of Directors. The motion passed unanimously. 2. Hidalgo County A motion was made by Mr. Montalvo, seconded by Mrs. Leal, approving a Resolution nominating, Mr. Richard Garza, Mr. Arturo E. Guerra, Jr., Mr. David Hernandez, Mr. Amador Requeñez and Mr. Pete Garcia to the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors. The motion passed unanimously.
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 8 3. Willacy County A motion was made by Mr. Buchanan, seconded by Mr. Quintanilla, approving a Resolution nominating Mr. John Solis, Mr. Gilbert Tristan, Ms. Elizabeth Barnhart, Wilburn Malm and Henry De La Paz to the Willacy County Appraisal District Board of Directors. The motion passed unanimously. 12. *Correspondence. A. Thank you card from Mr. Eliceo Muñoz, III & Family. 13. EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board met on September 24, 2013 at 7:48 p.m. in a closed or executive session in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. The Presiding Officer appointed Mr. D. Buchanan to record the minutes of the closed session. A. 551.074, 551.071 Personnel Matters and possible consultation with school attorney regarding Personnel Matters: Closed Meeting 1. Recommendation of professional staff for 2013-2014 school year. a. Teacher(s) b. Teacher Tutor(s) B. 551.071 Consultation with Attorney 1. Discussion and consideration of Cause No. C-0352-13-H; Texas Descon, L.P. vs. South Texas Independent School District; In the 389th District Court, Hidalgo County, Texas and South Texas Academy for Medical Professions, Cameron County and Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001966; South Texas Independent School District Public Facilities Corporation and South Texas Independent School District v Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General v Texas Descon, L.P.; In the 201st District Court, Travis County, Texas. Mike Saldaña from Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C. was present to provide a report/consultation to the board. The Board of Directors ended the executive session at 8:15 p.m. 14. OPEN SESSION: A. Personnel Matters: 1. Action: Review and act on recommendation of professional staff for 2013-2014 school year (S 1). a. Teacher(s) b. Teacher Tutors
Board Minutes September 24, 2013 Page 9 The Superintendent recommended the employment of Gloria M. Guillen (10 month contract) retroactive to the start date and the teacher tutors listed on agenda pages 162 & 163 for the 2013-2014 school year. A motion was made by Mr. LeVrier, seconded by Mrs. Leal approving the hiring of professional staff as recommended by the Superintendent. The motion passed unanimously. B. 551.071 Consultation with Attorney 1. Possible action on Cause No. C-0352-13-H; Texas Descon, L.P. vs. South Texas Independent School District; In the 389th District Court, Hidalgo County, Texas and South Texas Academy for Medical Professions, Cameron County and Cause No. D-1-GN-13-001966; South Texas Independent School District Public Facilities Corporation and South Texas Independent School District v Greg Abbott, Texas Attorney General v Texas Descon, L.P.; In the 201st District Court, Travis County, Texas No action was taken. 15. Adjournment. A motion was made by Mrs. Leal, seconded by Dr. Leo adjourning the board meeting at 8:45 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.