MINUTES REGULAR BOARD MEETING EDUCATION CENTER BOARD ROOM AUGUST 19, 2003 6:00 PM MEMBERS PRESENT Guillermo Gandara, President; Martha Contreras, Vice-President; Brenda L. Castañeda, Secretary; Barbara Perez-Peña; Craig A. Patton; Raymundo Rodriguez; Barbara Perez; and Dr. Robert Duron, Superintendent MEMBERS ABSENT Barbara Perez-Peña arrived at 6:21 p.m. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:02 p.m. by Board President, Guillermo Gandara. All members were present. A quorum was present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ron Thompson. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Dr. Ed Gabaldon, Director of Secondary Education, recognized teachers who participated in the Aspiring Administrators Academy. John Elder of Pension Planners presented $500 scholarship awards to six teachers who have recently completed their first year of teaching. Mr. Elder offered to make this a yearly event and asked that the annual scholarship be named in honor of Dr. Sue Shook in recognition of her years of dedicated service to Socorro ISD. Superintendent, Dr. Robert Duron, presented Esther McCarthy, Director of Elementary Education, with a plaque in recognition of her efforts in preparing students for the first administration of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills Test. OPEN FORUM Jose Rodriguez wrote a letter to the Board of Trustees in March of 2003 in which he expressed concerns about two football officials who have been convicted of driving while intoxicated. Mr. Rodriguez expressed concerns about having these officials officiate football games in Socorro ISD. Ricardo Juarez also expressed concerns about these two individuals being able to officiate football games for Socorro ISD. Herb De La Rosa urged the District to hire an urban planner to assist with the District s growth issues. Mr. De La Rosa also suggested having teacher input whenever new schools are built. Glenda Hawthorne, representing TSTA, SEA and NEA, extended an invitation to Board members to attend an event on September 8, 2003. REPORT FROM THE CITY OF EL PASO Pat Adauto, representing the City of El Paso Planning Division, provided the Board with a comprehensive plan for the District s growth issues. Ms. Adauto outlined strategies to address growth issues at regional, state and local levels. She stated that the city is seeking the District s support and involvement. Discussion took place regarding efforts to control land development in the area.
REPORT FROM THE COUNTY OF EL PASO Jesse Acosta, representing the County of El Paso Planning Department, reported that the department was developed three years ago. Mr. Acosta reported on the coordinated efforts between the city and county. Discussion took place regarding new land development and subdivision activities. PROPERTY TAX REPORT Mary Benham, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services, presented the property tax collection report for the month of June 2003. The collections in June for the current year totaled $305,718.21 with year to date totaling $44,913,211.35. The prior year taxes collected in the month were $141,038.03 and year to date prior year was $1,253,438.39. Tax collection in June was at 97.13 percent. The tax collection at the same time last year was 97.99 percent. ANNUAL INVESTMENT REPORT Mary Benham presented the annual investment report. Mrs. Benham reported that during the year, the District continued using Tex Pool and Lone Star investment pools along with overnight repos at Wells Fargo. The pools have received the highest rating from nationally recognized rating agencies. CONSTRUCTION REPORT Richard Garza, Director of Operational Services, presented Board members with an overview of the current construction projects in the District. Mr. Garza reported on Phase II of El Dorado High School. Mrs. Contreras commended Operational Services for opening El Dorado High School on time. MAINTENANCE REPORT Richard Garza provided Board members with an overview of the current projects in the various areas of the maintenance department. Mr. Garza reported that this had been one of the most successful intersessions ever. Discussion took place regarding how Operational Services is taking care of spraying for mosquitoes at District facilities. CONSENT AGENDA Barbara Perez-Peña had a question about the employment of personnel under the consent agenda and requested that the Board adjourn into executive session. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the consent agenda except for Item B Employment of Personnel. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was closed from 7:36 6:58 p.m. to discuss Item B under the consent agenda. A motion was made by Brenda Castañeda and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the employment of personnel as presented. The motion carried with one opposing vote by Barbara Perez-Peña. Items approved under the consent agenda are: minutes, employment of personnel, budget amendments, payment of bills, and awarding of bids (irrigation supplies and bilingual instructional materials), and a contract renewal for financial advisory services. ENDORSEMENT OF LETTER FROM SAN ELIZARIO ISD Dr. Duron presented a request for the Board to endorse a letter from Dr. Mike Quatrini, Superintendent of San Elizario ISD to the Texas Association of School Boards. Dr. Quatrini requested that in all TASB publications where references are made to funding and the education of Texas students, the word equitable be replaced with the word adequate. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Martha Contreras to endorse the letter as REQUEST FOR USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES Antonio Baca, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services, presented a request from Iglesia Unidos Para Cristo for use of the cafeteria at Robert R. Rojas Elementary School.
A motion was made by Brenda Castañeda and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the request as RESOLUTION Carmen Perez, representing Delgado, Acosta, Spencer, Linebarger, Heard & Perez presented a resolution (attached) authorizing resale of property foreclosed upon for nonpayment of taxes to Guillermo Gandara. A motion was made by Martha Contreras and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the resolution as presented. Mr. Gandara explained why he made the offer for the property and abstained from the vote. The motion carried with six voting aye and Guillermo Gandara abstaining. REQUEST FOR RECLASSIFICATION Armando Bustamante, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services, presented a request to reclassify the position of Athletic and Activities Coordinator to Director of Athletics. A motion was made by Raymundo Rodriguez and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the reclassification as Discussion took place regarding salary and certification issues. POLICY REVISIONS Hilda Lopez, Director of Guidance & Counseling, presented revisions to policies EJ, EHAC, EIAB, EIC and EIF for Board consideration. The revisions reflect current Socorro ISD practices and are in alignment with administrative regulations. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Craig Patton to approve the policy revisions as POLICY GBBA (LOCAL) Minerva Baumann, Director of Communications, presented local policy GBBA for Board consideration. The District does not currently have a news media relations policy. Discussion took place regarding the proposed policy. A motion was made Craig Patton and seconded by Barbara Perez to approve the policy as presented. The motion carried unanimously. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF POLICY CDA INVESTMENTS Mrs. Benham presented the Board with Policy CDA for the District s investments. Each year the Board is required to review and consider approval of this policy. A motion was made by Martha Contreras and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the policy as COURSE CREDIT CHANGE Allen Long, Director of Career & Technology Education, presented a request to change the Ventilation & Air Conditioning course from a two-thirds credit course to a one credit course. A motion was made by Barbara Perez and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the request as CONTINUATION OF PARTNERSHIP WITH EL PASO COMMUNITY COLLEGE Allen Long presented a request to continue the partnership between Socorro ISD and El Paso Community College involving the use by Socorro ISD of EPCC s indoor firing range. A motion was made by Martha Contreras and seconded by Barbara Perez to approve continuation of the partnership as
CONTRACT FOR SCORING TABLE Nora Paugh, Principal of El Dorado High School, presented a contract to provide a scoring table at El Dorado High School for Board consideration. Coaches from El Dorado High School provided the Board with an explanation of the contract. Discussion took place regarding the various aspects of the contract. A motion was made by Barbara Perez and seconded by Craig Patton to postpone consideration of the contract until the next Board meeting. The motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION The meeting was closed at 8:36 p.m. to discuss personnel issues and to hear recommendations for personnel vacancies. The meeting was reopened at 9:35 p.m. PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATIONS Dr. Duron recommended Belinda Lujan for Principal of Jane A. Hambric School. A motion was made by Craig Patton and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the recommendation as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Duron recommended Joe San Miguel for Internal Auditor. A motion was made by Brenda Castañeda and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the recommendation as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Duron recommended Jennifer Bittner for Instructional Technology Coordinator. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the recommendation as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Duron recommended Elena Acosta for Assistant Principal of Americas High School. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the recommendation as Dr. Duron recommended Patricia Ayala for Assistant Principal of Americas High School. A motion was made by Martha Contreras and seconded by Barbara Perez to approve the recommendation as presented. The motion carried unanimously. Dr. Duron recommended Rosa Jimenez for Assistant Principal of Sun Ridge Middle School. A motion was made by Martha Contreras and seconded by Barbara Perez-Peña to approve the recommendation as Dr. Duron recommended Bruce Mooy for Assistant Principal of Col. John O. Ensor Middle School. A motion was made by Martha Contreras and seconded by Barbara Perez to approve the recommendation as Dr. Duron recommended Frank Del Torro for Assistant Principal of Salvador Sanchez Middle School. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the recommendation as Dr. Duron recommended Cindy Alarcon for Assistant Principal of Socorro Middle School. A motion was made by Barbara Perez and seconded by Raymundo Rodriguez to approve the recommendation as The Board adjourned into Executive Session to hear a recommendation for Assistant Principal of Elfida P. Chavez Elementary School at 9:45 p.m. The meeting was reopened at 9:47 p.m.
Dr. Duron recommended Jennifer Parker for Assistant Principal of Elfida P. Chavez Elementary School. A motion was made by Barbara Perez-Peña and seconded by Martha Contreras to approve the recommendation as ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:48 p.m. These minutes were approved by the Board of Trustees on September 16, 2003.