In honor of Texas School Board Recognition Month, Superintendent Rick Berry led district staff in recognizing the Board of Trustees for their dedication, leadership and continued service to the children of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD. A small reception was held in the Board’s honor.
In his comments to the Board, Superintendent Rick Berry announced that the district’s annual livestock show and sale earned a total of $188,200 for student scholarships and future projects. The figure represents an increase of nearly $25,000 over the previous year’s auction.
Mr. Berry encouraged all patrons to vote in the March 12 primary election, and announced that early voting will be scheduled for Saturday, February 23 through Friday, March 8, 2002.
The Board of Trustees’ annual Goal-Setting Workshop is scheduled for Friday, February 22 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, February 23 at 8:30 a.m. in the Board Room of the Instructional Support Center. Berry reminded everyone that the workshop is open to the public. In preparation for this event, the Board has received input from district staff, parents and community members as well as from two public forums. This feedback will be considered in the generation of the Board’s annual action plan for the district.
Providing trustees an update on the status of the district’s investigation of House Bill 3383, Mr. Berry said that the law continues to attract attention and controversy. HB 3383 relates to a tax-exempt status for owners of apartment complexes required only to provide a small percent of their total housing for low- to moderate-income families. Administrators first reported concerns about the impact this law would have on the tax rate during the January Board meeting.
Mr. Berry reported that State Representative Peggy Hamric has met twice with state officials in Austin regarding the issuance of bonds to tax-exempt companies who plan to build or upgrade apartment complexes. Hamric’s research has revealed that there are currently 226 tax-exempt apartment facilities across the state with an additional 20 applicants waiting approval for exemption from the federal government. As reported during the January Board meeting, there are five apartment complex owners within CFISD boundaries seeking bonds and tax-exempt status.
A moratorium is being sought through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) to prevent any new or additional apartment complex owners from applying for tax-exempt status. Berry indicated that Rep. Hamric has convinced TDHCA to seek the Texas Attorney General’s opinion for clarification on several aspects regarding how HB 3383 relates to federal laws.
Additionally, Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole has requested assistance to develop a financial model that would be applicable in all future requests for tax-exempt status that should come before Commissioners Court. Mr. Berry reported that the district plans to work with county administrators to explore options in this model that will eliminate a financial impact on the district when apartment owners file for exemption through Harris County. However, he added that the district would not have any sanctions if an owner’s exemption requests were submitted to Houston City Council.
The Board approved an agreement with the North Harris Montgomery Community College District (NHMCCD) to hold a joint election Saturday, May 4, 2002, for trustee positions 3 and 4 on the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees— currently held by Lou Bertoli and Lida Woodul respectively— and positions 3, 4, 6 and 9 on the NHMCCD Board of Trustees. Additionally, the Board authorized the hiring of an election consultant to manage the joint election. As a benefit of being part of the college district, CFISD can share the cost of hosting trustee elections and save the district at least $7,500 in expenses. While this agreement has been utilized by other school districts in NHMCCD, this occasion marks the first time that CFISD has been able to partner with the college district in an election.
After receiving authorization from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to begin school earlier than the date established by state law (SB 108), the Board approved the calendar for the 2002-03 school year. School will begin August 14, 2002, with the first semester finishing before the winter break. The second semester will begin January 7, 2003, and the last day of school for students will be May 29, 2003. Full-week holidays will be taken for Thanksgiving and Spring Break. More details on the calendar are available on the district’s web site at www.cfisd.net.
The Board approved the award of two contracts to Purcell Construction for the construction of Barbara Warren Birkes Elementary School (no. 36) and the unnamed elementary school #38. The contract for Birkes Elementary, which is being built with interest and savings funds from the 1998 bond election, was awarded in the amount of $8,827,500. Among the projects approved in the 2001 bond election, elementary #38 will be built for $8,771,000, which is $729,000 under budget.
Trustees were presented with a report detailing the administration’s efforts in maintaining affordable health care insurance plans for employees despite tremendous increases in health care costs. The district has projected that the cost of health care benefits for CFISD employees will increase by more than $12 million next year, which represents a 40-percent gain over this year’s figures. Administrators are reviewing current offerings and examining all available options before making a recommendation to the Board concerning health care plans.
In addition, a new state law regarding health care benefits offered by Texas school districts (House Bill 3343) will take effect September 1, 2002, and requires the district to provide a minimum of $1,800 per year per employee in addition to the state’s $900 per year per employee. For eligible employees who enroll in September, the state will provide an additional $1,000 a year that may be applied toward the reduction of health care costs.
The new law in addition to other uncontrollable factors associated with the current state of the health care industry has made changes to the district’s insurance plans inevitable.
Missy Kilday was named as the new principal for Post Elementary, and Debbie Emery named as the new associate superintendent for school administration and human resources effective July 1, 2002. Leaving her position as assistant principal at Owens Elementary, Kilday fills the position vacated by Cindy O’Brien, who was named the new principal to open Sampson Elementary. Dr. Emery, currently the assistant to the superintendent, will assume the position currently held by Peggy Duryea upon the latter’s retirement in June.
In other action, the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Board of Trustees:
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