March 28, 2024 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Safety and Security 
Background: On February 14th and March 8, 2024, Texas Education Agency (TEA) conducted Intruder Detection Audits which resulted in requiring corrective actions. The District is required to provide notice to the public at the next regularly scheduled board meeting that Intruder Detection Audits findings will be discussed.

Description:  Strategic Priority 1, Academic Success/Instruction 
Background: Administration is highlighting the Grade 8 Mathematics Collaborative Team Cycle (CTC) at Danville Middle School. Through the team’s continual focus on student progress and meeting student needs, the team continues to build on the gains they made in the previous year's STAAR results in which the campus saw improvement in student performance in meets, masters and growth for all students and students with disabilities. Current data indicates a significant increase in student performance on unit assessments and growth table. Walkthrough feedback indicates that teachers ask purposeful questions and students engage in productive struggle as a result of the positive classroom environment and feedback. 

Description:  Strategic Priority 4: Employee Recruitment / Retention 
Background: The district is continuing to work with UBC (Universal Benefits Consortium) for the 2024-2025 Health Insurance Plan through Cigna to ensure the best rates for our employees. The district also offers dental insurance through Humana as well as other supplemental providers for vision, disability, cancer, etc. 

Description:  Background: Administration presents the Comal Commitment Quarterly Report in alignment with Collaborative Vision goals.

Description:  Background: Financial Statements for the three Board adopted funds - Maintenance & Operations, Debt Service, Food Service - as well as bond funds are provided monthly for review and consideration for approval. Many accounting transactions are posted once a month and are included in the updated year-to-date financial position for the district. The adopted budgets, amended budgets, year-to-date balances, and historical data are provided for revenues and expenses, and the fund balances. 
 
Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the financial statement and expenditures as presented. 

Description:  Background: Specht Elementary PTA is proposing to donate funds in the amount of $21,496.49 to Specht Elementary School for campus, classroom and student activities.  

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the donation from Specht Elementary PTA as presented.  

Description:  Single Purchases Over $50,000.00  
Background: Fine Arts has a multi-year rotation for Marching Band Uniforms and CLHS replacements are scheduled for the 2024-2025 season. These uniforms must be procured in a timely manner to allow for delivery prior to the 24/25 Band Marching Season.

In accordance with Board Policy CH (LOCAL), any single budgeted purchase of goods or services that costs $50,000 or more requires Board approval before a transaction may take place.   

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the proposed Marching Band Uniform purchase for CLHS as presented.

Description:  Single Purchases Over $50,000.00  
Background: Child Nutrition has planned for the purchase of a Service Vehicle for the Child Nutrition Maintenance Department. This vehicle is needed for the Child Nutrition Maintenance team to travel to campuses throughout the district daily.

In accordance with Board Policy CH (LOCAL), any single budgeted purchase of goods or services that costs $50,000 or more requires Board approval before a transaction may take place. This capital purchase using Child Nutrition funds has been approved by the Texas Department of Agriculture.  

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the proposed purchase of a Child Nutrition Utility Vehicle as presented.

Description:  Single Purchases Over $50,000.00
Background: The Child Nutrition Program has identified a need for 4 additional and/or replacement Pass Thru Refrigerators for Canyon High School. The proposed purchase exceeds $50,000.00 and is being brought to the Board for approval as required by Board Policy CH (Local).

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the proposed purchase of (4) Pass Thru Refrigerators for Canyon High School as presented.

Description:  Single Purchases Over $50,000.00  
Background: The Board approved 2 additional portable buildings for JRES in January of 2024. The Purchasing Department has worked with Meteor Education for furniture and supplies to outfit the 4 new classrooms for the 24/25 school year, which will support growth in 4th and 5th grade classrooms. This furniture must be procured in a timely manner to allow for delivery prior to the 24/25 school year. In accordance with Board Policy CH (LOCAL), any single budgeted purchase of goods or services that costs $50,000 or more requires Board approval before a transaction may take place.  

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the proposed FF&E for Portable Classrooms at JRES as presented. 

Description:  Background: Section 11.0581, Education Code, requires that the District be in a joint election with a municipality located in the school district when the general election of District trustees is called. In addition, Chapter 271 of the Texas Election Code encourages elections ordered by two or more political subdivisions to be held jointly on the same day in all or part of the same county. On May 4, 2024, elections have been ordered by the City of New Braunfels, the City of Bulverde, and the City of Garden Ridge, New Braunfels ISD, Lake Dunlap Water Control Improvement District, Comal Conty Water Improvement District No. 3, and Comal County Water Improvement District No. 3A, all which desire to conduct joint elections with Comal ISD, using the Countywide Polling Place Program that has been authorized by Comal County under Section 43.007 of the Election Code.

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the Joint Election Agreement for the May 4, 2024 election between Comal ISD, Comal County and the other governmental entities listed within the agreement as presented.  

Description:  Background information: The Board of Trustees called the general election of trustees in January 2024 for elections in Single Member Districts 1, 2 and 5 in accordance with state law and Board policy. Following the statutory deadlines for a person to be a candidate in the election, it was determined that candidate, Tim Hennessee, was the only person who applied for a place on the ballot from SMD 1. Single Member Districts 2 and 5 both have two candidates. As a result, in accordance with Section 2.052 of the Election Code, Board Secretary Courtney Biasatti delivered to the Board her certification that the Candidate is unopposed. Having received the Secretary’s certification, the Board may now enter the prepared Order, declaring the unopposed candidate elected to office in accordance with Section 2.053 of the Election Code. When the Board makes its declaration, the election for SMD 1 is automatically cancelled by law. A copy of the Board’s Order will be posted on Election Day at each polling place used or that would have been used in the election.

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the Order Declaring Unopposed Candidate Tim Hennessee elected, as presented, which will cause the automatic cancellation of the trustee election in Single Member District 1 as presented.

Description:  Student Support and Safety 
Background: Comal ISD seeks to enter into MOUs which support the mental health and well-being of its students and has entered into such agreements with other county entities such as our Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) - Hill Country Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities and Comal County Juvenile Probation. The purpose of this Agreement is to provide evidenced-based counseling services at Comal ISD schools to youth under the supervision of Juvenile Probation. 

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Bexar County Juvenile Probation and Comal ISD as presented.  

Description:  Single Purchases Over $50,000.00
Background: The Technology Department went out to the public on RFP 24-10 for the network equipment needed for Elementary 22 and 23. Submitting in the current E-Rate funding year allows the district to order the network equipment for these campuses in time to meet construction timelines. Utilizing the federal E-Rate program will allow the district to receive a rebate of up to 60% of the awarded amount once the campuses open.  

The proposed work exceeds $50,000 and is being brought to the Board for approval in accordance with Board Policy CH (Local). 

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve awarding ComSol the contract for their bid as presented.  

Description:  Background:

• Step 1: Approval of the Construction Delivery Method: The Construction Manager at Risk (CM-R) delivery method was approved at the August 24, 2023 meeting of the Board of Trustees.
• Step 2: Selection of Construction Manager: Bartlett Cocke was awarded the construction of Elementary 23 at the October 26, 2023 Board meeting.
• Step 3: Approval of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP): The Board of Trustees is presented with the GMP based on the scope of work and bids gathered by the CMR. Approval of a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP): The contracted CM-R works with the Design and District to define the scope of work that maximizes the value to the District and most effectively meets the project goals. This includes detailed cost and time estimates at each of the following steps: Design Development, 25% & 50% Construction Documents, and finally the GMP at 100% Construction Documents. This GMP is the 1st of 3 to help expedite the schedule on this project: 
  1. GMP 1 - Civil and Foundation,
  2. GMP 2 - Structural Steel & Major Building Systems,
  3. GMP 3 - Architectural

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) #1 for the Civil and Foundation at Elementary School #23 as presented.

Description:  Background: As part of the Middle School 08 (Bulverde Middle School) offsite improvement the District is required to update the traffic signal at Johnson Way and FM1863. This is typical with new construction to manage traffic in this area.

Recommendation:  It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approves the Local On-System Improvement Project Agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) and authorize the Superintendent or designee to negotiate terms complete required documentation as presented.

Description:  Background: Due to high traffic and potential low attendance, Comal ISD will close April 8, 2024 due to the solar eclipse. The decision to close schools involved ensuring students and staff were safe from the number of visitors in our area, and traffic issues that may arise. We also want to ensure all students can get the full experience of the eclipse.
 
Recommendation:  It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve a resolution authorizing the Superintendent, in his discretion, to pay staff who remain home up to their regular rate of pay during the District shutdown as a result of the April 8, 2024 Eclipse as presented.

Description:  Facilities / Growth and Planning 
Background: In alignment with District goals, and for continued support for the exceptional athletic programs at Davenport High School and Canyon Lake High School, the administration has been reviewing opportunities to improve the stadium facilities at each school, respectively.  

• At Davenport, we rented additional bleachers for the 2023 football season to study what the seating capacity needs. As a result, we suggest adding 850 permanent seats by adding a 36ft section on each side of the existing home bleachers.  
• At Canyon Lake, the existing press box windows are leaking and the roof has rotted out, which affects the operation of the stadium. We would recommend replacing the press box with one that is similar to Davenport in size and finish (9’x48’, staying under 500sf). 

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the transfer of funds from fund balance and associated accounts as necessary to meet the spending authorization of $1,050,000.00 and for the Administration to work with Studi Steele and Southern Bleacher ,as well as other vendors approved through state-coordinated purchasing contracts, to complete this project as presented.  

Description:  Facilities/Growth and Planning  
Background: The purchase of the network security software will be made through Omnia purchasing cooperative.   

Recommendation: It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Board of Trustees approve the network security solution as presented.