Unofficial Minutes of Regular Meeting - May 21, 2020
The Board of Trustees - Athens Independent School District
A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Athens Independent School District was held Thursday, May 21, 2020, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Administration Building Board Room, 104 Hawn Street, Athens, Texas.
In order to advance the public health goal by avoiding social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), there will be no public access to the location described above. The public can participate by going to the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86095009977?pwd=bWtHeWJPZ01rYXVSeHZvMDlaaTJRUT09.
|
I. Call to Order/Certify Notice/Establish Quorum
Mrs. Alicea Elliott, President of the Board of Trustees, announced a quorum of Board Members was present and called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Members present: Mrs. Alicea Elliott, Mr. Eugene Buford, Mrs. Margaret Richardson, Mr. Chris House, Freddie Paul; Mr. Robert Risko; Mrs. Gina Hunter (exited meeting at 7:08 p.m.)
Members absent: None
Also present were: Tony Brooks, Technology Director; Randy Jones, Chief Financial Officer; Gail Carnes, Executive Assistant and Dr. Janie Sims, Deputy Superintendent. Present by Zoom: Jami Ivey, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction & Accountability; Ginger Morrison, Director of Federal Programs & Human Resources; Holly Shumate; Claudia Stiles, CAE Principal; Lisa Howell, BAE Principal, Nikki Mason, SAE Principal
|
|
II. Invocation was given by Mr. Eugene Buford.
|
|
III. Pledge of Allegiance was given to the national and state flags.
|
|
IV. Audience Participation - Anyone wishing to make a comment to the Board about an agenda item must email gcarnes@athensisd.net by 5:30 p.m. Comments will be read aloud by the Board President at this time.
Holly Shumate commented to the Board of Trustees “As a parent that was strongly against a drive-through graduation, I’m pleased that the Administration has changed its course to an in-person ceremony. Thank you for listening to the pleas of our seniors and sending them out into the world with a bang. We truly appreciate your efforts and the commitment to our students and the community alike.”
|
|
V, Executive Session Discussion
A. Employment / Resignations of Contract Employees - Texas Gov't Code 551.074
At 6:03 p.m., the Board President announced that trustees would adjourn to executive session as authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code and/or Education Code concerning any and all purposes permitted by the Act. Should any final action, final decision, or final vote be required, then the final action, final decision, or final vote shall take place in open session. The Board returned to open session at 6:43 p.m.
|
|
VI. Executive Session Discussion – Open Session
A. Employment / Resignations of Contract Employees– Texas Gov’t Code 551.074
As stated in Policy DC (LOCAL) under Employment of Contractual Personnel: The Board retains final authority for employment of contractual personnel; however, from April 1 to August 31, the Board delegates to the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent the authority to employ contractual personnel. The Superintendent shall inform the Board of any persons hired under this authority. The following professional personnel contracts have been approved:
|
Olivia Allred
Lisa Ard
Johanna Davis
Brce Lazarine
Taylor Reinke
|
Lyndsy Robinson
Adrion Smith
Rachel Wimberley
Alice Colvin
|
The following resignations have been approved:
|
Courtney Posey
Holly Burns
Angela Davis
Ginger Pierce
|
Kaysi Cox
Jessica Fleming
John Keenan Kitchens
|
|
|
VII. Information Items
A. Administrative Reports - Facilities Projects Timeline Update / COVID-19 Issues / TEA Updates
Dr. Janie Sims, Deputy Superintendent, gave an update to the Board of Trustees of the facilities projects and discussed the costs of the CTE shed/covering and other possibilities.
|
|
VIII. Action Items
A. Consider Amendment to the Daktronics Equipment and Advertising Rights Agreement
Motion was made by Mr. Robert Risko and seconded by Mr. Chris House that trustees approve the amendment to the agreement with Daktronics in regards to the equipment and advertising rights as presented. Motion carried 5:1. Eugene Buford opposed.
B. Consider Expenditures Over $50,000 - Purchase of Chromebooks
Motion was made by Mr. Eugene Buford and seconded by Mrs. Margaret Richardson that trustees approve the purchase of 900 Chromebooks from FireFly Computers in the amount of $184,950.00 as presented. Motion carried 6:0.
C. Consider CPR Waiver
Motion was made by Mr. Eugene Buford and seconded by Mrs. Margaret Richardson that trustees approve the submission of a waiver to TEA for the CPR instruction requirements affected by COVID-19 for the graduating class of 2020 as presented. Motion carried 6:0.
D. Approve Proposed Tax Rates for Publication
Motion was made by Mr. Eugene Buford and seconded by Mr. Freddie Paul that trustees approve the proposed tax rates for publication in the required public notice of hearing for the proposed budget for 2020-2021 as presented. Motion carried 6:0.
E. Set Date and Time for Budget Hearing
Motion was made by Mr. Robert Risko and seconded by Mr. Chris House that trustees approve the date and time for the public hearing for the 2020-2021 proposed budget fiscal year for the required funds on June 22, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. as presented. Motion carried 6:0.
|
|
IX.. Consent Agenda
A. Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting Held on April 27, 2020 25
B. Financial Statements for the Month of April 2020
Motion was made by Mr. Robert Risko and seconded by Mrs. Margaret Richardson that the consent agenda items be approved as presented. Motion carried 6:0.
|
|
X. Adjourn
Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
|