Board renews BISD administrators' contracts

Photo by Mac Shadix Architect Paul McCullough briefs the BISD School Board on details of the latest work at the new BHS construction site, as audience members wait their turn to speak to the Board. The BISD School Board (with the exception of absent trustees Dr. Russell Jonas and Willie Gilliam) displayed their satisfaction with the direction that the district is heading by unanimously extending the contracts of the campus principals. Following an executive session at the end of the February 16th meeting on Monday evening, Board President Jim Scott personally commended campus principals Don Elsom, Lacy Freeman and Johnny Veretto and Financial Manager Jeannine Myers for their service to the district, then the board members unanimously voted to extend all four contracts by one year and raised their salaries by a one-step increase. The three principals' increase included a performance incentive.

The Board also renewed the contract of Construction Manager Jim Hanks on a month-to-month basis until the completion of the current construction phase.

Masonry has begun to sprout on the exterior of the new BHS structures. Van'Go'photo The School Board also heard plenty of good news at their February meeting. Trustee Ron Goodwyn had attended a required board member training in Austin last week and reported that the TAKS tests will be eliminated by 2012, to be replaced by End of Course exams.

The Board heard very positive results from the district's UIL competition, including: - Buffalo Junior High took second in District at the academic UIL meet. - Buffalo High's academic UIL team competed very successfully at the Mexia Invitational Meet (first place team in social studies, literary criticism and spelling) and was the First Place School at the Fairfield Invitational Meet with the first place teams in spelling and literary criticism and numerous top individual honors.

Buffalo High School was the focus of the remaining reports. Academic Services Coordinator Dana Morris reported on scholarship and college applications, and Melonie Menefee boasted on the high school's recent suc- cesses in UIL and journalism competitions. BHS Principal Don Elsom gave a State of the Campus report and went over his school's calendar for the rest of the term.

BISD's Academic Coordinator Tracy Gleghorn reported on the highlights of a technology conference attended by Leslie St. Pe', Alice Read, Kyle and Tracy Gleghorn, Roy Longcrier and Don Elsom.

Several trustee positions on the BISD board are up for re-election, including Position 3 (one year left of a three-year term, currently filled by appointee Gene Pruitt, Jr.), Position 6 (threeyear term held by incumbent Jennifer Humphries), and Position 7 (three-year term held by incumbent Willie Gilliam). ANYONE WISHING TO RUN FOR THE OFFICE OF TRUSTEE MAY FILE AT THE BISD ADMINISTRATION OFFICE BEFORE THE FILING DEADLINE OF MARCH 9TH AT 5:00 P.M.

The Board next took the following related actions: - Called for a trustee election on May 9, 2009; - Approved a joint polling place (the Buffalo Civic Center) with the City of Buffalo; - Appointed Melva Waters as Election Judge, and authorized her to select the alternates; - Appointed Lisa Hoepken as the Early Voting Clerk; and - Set March 23rd at 9:00 a.m. at the BISD Administration Building for the ballot position drawing.

In other business: - Construction consultant Jim Hanks and ACI Architect Paul McCullough gave an update on the progress on the new buildings, which includes the beginning of the mason work being done on the outside of the building in a combination of three "earth tone" colors. The red iron is going up in the Ag Shop and the new competition gymnasium which will have a seating capacity of approximately 1100 with seating on both sides of the gym. Following the progress report, the Board made several interior surface selections. - The March board meeting was moved to Monday, March 23rd, to avoid falling during Spring Break. - The consent agenda items (minutes of previous meetings, tax report and financial reports) were approved as presented. - A school calendar was approved for the 2009-10 school year. - Local Polcy CI was revised to give the School Board the final approval in the sale of surplus items. - The Board approved the sale of a 1987 model 1/2-ton pickup in need of repairs, and suggested taking preventive maintenance measures to keep a Dodge Neon in service.

Finally, no action was taken on a request from the City of Buffalo for additional footage for a sanitary control easement. It was suggested that representatives from the city and from KSA be invited to meet with the Board to discuss the request.