Board Highlights

A financial audit report was given on internal control and operations with no citations provided. Items for the District to consider are: a) new accounting standards that go into effect in 2001 and b) changing the financial fiscal year to end June 30.

A report was given on the status of companies applying for freeport exemptions. The deadline for companies to submit their applications to render the value of their inventory is April 30; May 4 is the deadline for payment in lieu of taxes.

The following 2001 summer school dates and locations were approved:

• Elementary Summer School for General and Special Education Classes: June 4-22, 2001, at the following locations:

Farney (for students residing in Adam, Ault, Farney, Hamilton, Lamkin, and Millsap zones); Gleason (for students residing in Bane, Emmott, Frazier, Gleason, and Willbern zones); Hairgrove (for students residing in Hairgrove, Horne, Kirk, and Owens zones); Matzke (for students residing in Francone, Hancock, Matzke, Moore, and Yeager zones); Metcalf (for students residing in Fiest, Holmsley, Lieder, Lowery, and Metcalf zones); Reed (for students residing in Bane, Holbrook, Post, and Reed zones); and Sheridan (for students residing in Copeland, Jowell, Sheridan, Walker, and Wilson zones).

Bilingual & ESL classes for grades 1-5 will be offered June 4-22; Prek-K students’ classes will be held June 4-June 28. (Location of summer school for these students is the same as general and special education sites.)

• High School Summer School will be held at Cypress Falls, Cypress Creek, and Windfern High Schools. Original Credit Courses will be offered June 4-July 16, 200l, and Make-up Credit Courses from June 7-July 11, 2001: (lst Session-June 7-22 and 2nd session-June 25-July 11), with a holiday on July 4. Windfern High School will offer make-up and original credit classes Monday through Thursday, June 4-July 12.
• Middle School Summer School will be held at Campbell, Thornton, Truitt (for make-up credit and ESL classes), and Labay (for original credit classes).
• The Science Resource Center will offer summer school classes in Outdoor Adventures and Nature Arts & Crafts from June 4-June 29.

The Board approved the administration’s request to host an Air Force Junior ROTC unit at Jersey Village and Cypress Springs High School for the 2001-02 school year. Students will learn about aerospace science in addition to objectives in leadership, citizenship, community service, and an appreciation for discipline. The AFJROTC promotes academic excellence and encourages students to continue their education after high school. Cypress Falls High School’s ROTC program was initiated this school year.

Dates for the Board of Trustees’ Committee-of-the-Whole and Regular Board Meetings were approved for school year 2001-02. Committee-of-the -Whole Meetings will be held August 9, 2001; September 6, 2001; October 4, 2001; November 8, 2001; December 6, 2001; January 17, 2002; February 7, 2002; *Monday, March 4, 2002; April 4, 2002; May 9, 2002; and June 6, 2002. Regular Board Meetings are scheduled for July 2, 2001; August 13, 2001; September 10, 2001; *Tuesday, October 9, 200l; November 12, 2001; December 10, 2001; *Tuesday, January 22, 2002; February 11, 2002; March 7, 2002; April 8, 2002; May 13, 2002; and June 10, 2002.

The 2002 Board Goal-Setting Workshop has been scheduled for February 22-23, and the 2002 Board of Trustee Election will be held Saturday, May 4.

The Board approved an Election Order calling for a Board of Trustee Election on Saturday, May 5, 2001, for trustee position numbers 1 and 2. (These positions are currently held by Al Martinez and Terry Newcomer, respectively.)

The Board approved the administration’s recommendation that Mr. Roy Metcalf be hired to serve in the capacity of election consultant for the May trustee election. He will supervise the early and branch voting and arrange for election judges, clerks, equipment, and supplies.

The Board approved a Joint Participation agreement between Harris County and the District to resolve traffic circulation concerns along Huffmeister Road and to shorten the drive between Farney Elementary and Goodson Middle School to approximately 3.5 miles. The scope of the work includes turn lanes, median cuts, and an extension of Barker Cypress Road to align with entrances to Goodson Middle School. A traffic light will be installed--when warranted--at the intersection of Huffmeister and Barker Cypress Roads, and Barker Cypress will be widened to four lanes from Huffmeister to the school’s east boundary. Estimated completion date is approximately 17 months.

The Board approved on second reading policy CW (Local) New Facilities which states:

The responsibility for naming facilities rests with the Board of Trustees; facilities to be named shall be separate structures or new campuses. An existing, identifiable facility shall not be fragmented by renaming portions of that facility. An existing facility or portion thereof which has been officially named by Board of Trustee action is grand-fathered and not bound by the provisions of this policy.

The Board approved a list of financial institutions and broker/dealers to provide investment services to CFISD. This action supports board goal: Finance 4-1 to continue to operate efficiently and to manage all district funds in a manner that maximizes benefits that flow to students.

The Board approved the administration’s recommendation for new premium rates for employee group health benefit plans, A and B effective May 1. New premium (for employees only) are: Plan A-$46.00 per month, an increase from $35.00; Plan B-$68.00 per month, an increase from $45.00. There will be no increase for Plan C.

The new rates are the result of an increase in filled prescriptions, fees for third-party administrators, and other services. The District will pay 50% of the cost of the increase in premiums and 69% of the overall cost of employee health benefits. Open enrollment is March 9 through April 12.

The District is committed to keeping premium rates down without decreasing the level of benefits. A survey of Houston area school districts indicated that the health insurance premiums for CFISD employees are among the lowest. Even though premium rates for Plans A and B will increase, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD’s health benefits program is one of the most competitive and comprehensive in the region.

A district employee, who does not come in daily contact with students, has been diagnosed with a type of bacterial meningitis. The employee’s strain of the disease is not meningococcal meningitis that has recently affected students in several Harris and Montgomery County school districts. Health officials do not consider this case a health risk and are not recommending antibiotics or preventive treatment for fellow employees or the employee’s family members.

The District student enrollment growth is the largest in the history of the school district--approximately 3,300 new students since the beginning of the school year with new students enrolling daily. In order to meet future needs of the District, at the March Board meeting, the Administration will ask the Board to approve a bond study process and a 30-member bond steering committee. The committee will be composed of parents, staff, and community members reflecting the diversity of the District. Subcommittees will be formed to study: Student Growth, Instructional Facilities, Instructional Technology, Support Facilities, and Information Education. The bond election could be held as early as the fall of 2001 or as late as the spring of 2002.