NACOGDOCHES ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Regular Meeting
Thursday, September 21, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. EXECUTIVE/CLOSED SESSION
Board entered closed session at 5:02 p.m.
Board returned to open session at 6:32 p.m.
3. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
A. Invocation was provided by James Ervin.
B. Pledges of Allegiance led by students from Mike Moses Elementary.
4. CELEBRATIONS/INFORMATION ITEMS
A. Superintendent Announcements – Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo
October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, something school districts around Texas and the country will be emphasizing. Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. It takes individuals with dyslexia longer to process sounds, letters, and words, and the disability directly affects academic growth, self-esteem, and achievement, and students with dyslexia benefit greatly from specialized instruction by highly trained teachers, like the ones we have here in Nacogdoches ISD, multi-sensory learning programs and individualized instruction. I encourage support for those affected by dyslexia in both academic and work settings and to support efforts by school districts to raise awareness of the learning disability. I believe we have some of our dyslexia team members here tonight, including Heather Boyett, Malissa Koonce, Elizabeth Rodriguez and Danette Wofford. I greatly appreciate the work you all do for our students.
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15. This is an opportunity to recognize and honor staff members with NISD of Hispanic heritage. It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge all the wonderful volunteers we have who also come from Hispanic heritage. These staff members and volunteers have a great impact on all of our students.
McMichael Middle School’s cheerleading squad won first place in the Class 5A/6A division at the Forest Festival competition over the weekend. The McMichael squad of 21 cheerleaders learned its routine in about eight hours of practice over a three-day span then worked on it during the summer, on evenings and on weekends. The cheer coach at McMichael is Suzanna Sanchez. Congratulations to the cheerleaders!
I’ve got some more things from McMichael… many of us have been talking about the exciting start to the football season for the Dragons at Nacogdoches High School, but Tuesday night, McMichael swept two games from our rivals south of the Angelina. The 7th-grade A team beat the Panthers 26-16, and the 8th-grade A team won 32-0. Great start to the season!
The Nacogdoches ISD Education Foundation received a contribution of $50,000 from the Massey Rose Foundation. The check was presented to Foundation Executive Director Erin Windham on Saturday during the Old Town Rig Down held in Nacogdoches. The money so generously contributed by the Massey Rose Foundation will go to fund teacher grants that open doors to innovation in the classroom, meet some immediate classroom needs for teachers at Nacogdoches ISD, and recognize academic student achievement and outstanding educators. What a great event that was Saturday and what a generous contribution to our cause!
5. PUBLIC MEETING
A. Public Meeting on the proposed tax rate for the 2023-24 school year.
B. Public input/comments – There were no public comments.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
No one asked to speak to the Board of Trustees.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Unless removed from the Consent Agenda, the Board will take action on items identified under the Consent Agenda at one time.
A. Board Meeting Minutes
1. August 2023 Meeting Minutes
B. Business Office Reports – Lisa Barbarick
1. Budget Amendments
2. Donations under $2,500.00
3. Investment Report
4. Miscellaneous Business Office Reports
C. Purchases Over $25,000.00
1. Region VII ESC: Reading Academy – Dr. Kimberly Welsh/Dr. Daya D. Hill
2. Reliable Chevrolet – Lisa Barbarick
D. Submission of Professional Development Waivers to TEA for the 2023 - 2024 School Year – Maury Tarvin
E. Submission of Class Size Waivers to Texas Education Agency – Maury Tarvin
F. Campus Improvement Plans – Dr. Daya D. Hill/Dr. Kimberly Welsh
G. Federally Funded Vendors – Dr. Daya D. Hill/Dr. Kimberly Welsh
H. Cash Defeasance Resolution – Lisa Barbarick
I. Adoption of Tax Rate for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year – Lisa Barbarick
Leabeth Abt asked that Item G be removed from the Consent Agenda for further discussion.
Motion to approve consent agenda as presented – excluding Item G – was made by Mindy Winslow and seconded by James Ervin. The motion was approved.
Motion to approve the revised list of Federally Funded Vendors (Item G) as presented was made by Leabeth Abt and seconded by James Ervin. The motion was approved.
8. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA
A. Action Resulting From Executive/Closed Session – Farshid Niroumand
There was no action from Executive/Closed Session.
B. Consideration of Purchase of Real Property – Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo
A motion to initiate the purchase of property as discussed in closed meeting and to authorize the Superintendent to negotiate the contract under the terms addressed and return a contract to the Board for consideration consistent with policy CHG (Legal) was made by Mindy Winslow and seconded by Kallie Pitcock. The motion was approved.
C. Consideration of Placement of Memorial Plaque Honoring E.J. Campbell at the E.J. Campbell District Support Center Annex – Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Trujillo
A motion to approve placement of a memorial plaque honoring E.J. Campbell at the E.J. Campbell District Support Center Annex was made by James Ervin and seconded by T.C. Grohman. The motion was approved.
D. Consideration of Nomination of Candidates for the Nacogdoches County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors as Representative for Nacogdoches ISD – Farshid Niroumand
A motion to nominate James Ervin and Mindy Winslow to the Nacogdoches County Central Appraisal District Board of Directors was made by Leabeth Abt and seconded by Kallie Pitcock
9. EXECUTIVE/CLOSED SESSION
Board entered closed session at 6:55 p.m.
Board returned to open session at 8:11 p.m.
A. 551.074 - Deliberate the Appointment, Employment, Evaluation, Reassignment, Duties, Discipline, or Dismissal of a Public Officer or Employee; or to Hear a Complaint or Charge Against an Officer or Employee;
B. Level III Employee Grievance Hearing
1. Zoila Herman
10. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
A. Consideration of and Board Action, if any, on Level III Employee Grievance Determination:
1. Zoila Herman
A motion to deny appeal and uphold Level 2 decision was made by Mindy Winslow and seconded by Kallie Pitcock. The motion was approved.
11. ADJOURN – Meeting adjourned at 8:14 p.m.