December 9, 2024 at 5:30 PM - December Board Meeting

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE

• Daelen Edwards - RHS
• Gloria Torres Gutierrez- RJH
• Uriel Rizo-Camarena -  RES

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS/AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

5. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

5.A. Campus Reports

5.A.a. Refugio Elementary School

5.A.b. Refugio Jr. High School 

5.A.c. Refugio High School

5.B. District Reports

5.B.a. Academics

5.B.b. Financials

5.B.b.1. 2024-2025 Budget Status

5.B.b.2. Payment of bills

5.B.b.3. Statement of Account

5.C. Student Enrollment

5.D. Operations

5.D.a. Update on track project - Jason Herring

5.E. School Safety and Security

5.F. Mental Health Specialist Report

5.G. General comments on the state of the district

6. BOARD ADMINISTRATION

6.A. January Board Meeting - Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 5:30PM

7. CONSENT AGENDA 

7.A. Minutes from Regular Board Meeting - November 14, 2024

7.B. Consider and approve the budget amendments for the 2024-2025 budget.

7.C. Update to the Investment Policy and Strategies

8. NEW BUSINESS

8.A. Tax Sale Property

8.B. Consideration and possible action with respect to an ORDER AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF REFUGIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT UNLIMITED TAX REFUNDING BONDS; LEVYING A CONTINUING DIRECT ANNUAL AD VALOREM TAX FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE BONDS; PRESCRIBING THE FORUM, TERMS, CONDITIONS, AND RESOLVING OTHER MATTERS INCIDENT AND RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE, SALE, AND DELIVERY OF THE BONDS, INCLUDING THE APPROVAL AND DISTRIBUTION OF AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT PERTAINING THERETO; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PAYING AGENT/REGISTRAR AGREEMENT AND AN ESCROW AGREEMENT; ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR SELLING AND DELIVERING THE BONDS; AND, AUTHORIZING OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE BONDS.

8.C. Approve the purchase of CRISIS GO - Safety, Wearable Panic, and Visitor Management Platform.

8.D. Discussion on Hiring Legal Counsel
The Board will consider approval of a Contingent Fee Contract for Legal Services with Lubel Voyles LLP and the Townsend Law Firm related to a dispute with one or more insurance carriers.  As required by law, Refugio ISD hereby provides public notice of the following:

1. the reasons for pursuing the matter that is the subject of the legal services for which the attorney or law firm would be retained and the desired outcome of pursuing the matter;
   1. The District may be owed additional monies.  It is in the best interest of the District to ensure that the insurance carriers in question fulfill their obligations so that those monies can be used for District purposes.  The desire outcome is that the insurance carriers fulfill their respective obligations.
2. the competence, qualifications, and experience demonstrated by the attorney or law firm selected under Section 2254.1032;
   1. Lubel Voyles LLP has extensive experience representing school districts throughout Texas, including Alto ISD, Winnsboro ISD, Gustine ISD, and many others. 
   2. Rodney Townsend of the Townsend Law firm is the elected judge of Orange County Court No. 2 and has extensive experience handling large, complex first-party insurance claims.
3. the nature of any relationship, including the beginning of the relationship, between the political subdivision or governing body and the attorney or law firm selected under Section 2254.1032;
   1. There is no prior relationship between the District and either firm.  This will be the beginning of the relationship.
4. the reasons the legal services cannot be adequately performed by the attorneys and supporting personnel of the political subdivision;
   1. The District does not currently have any attorneys on-staff.
5. the reasons the legal services cannot be reasonably obtained from attorneys in private practice under a contract providing for the payment of hourly fees without contingency; and
   1. The District does not have the necessary budget funds to obtain similar services on an hourly basis.
6. the reasons entering into a contingent fee contract for legal services is in the best interest of the residents of the political subdivision; and
   1. The District believes that a contingency relationship is the most economically prudent decision.  Under a contingency arrangement, the District will not be out of pocket for any legal fees and/or case expenses, and can thus focus its resource on continuing to serve its mission.

 

8.E. Cast votes for Victoria County Appraisal District Board of Directors.

9. CLOSED SESSION - In accordance with Texas Government Code Sections 551.074, 551.075

9.A. Deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public office or employee or to hear complaints against an officer or employee.

9.B. To confer with employees of the school district to receive information or to ask questions.

9.C. Employment of probationary contract employee (s) for the 2024-2025 school year.

9.D. Employment of probationary contract employee (s) of the GSEC Special Education Cooperative for the 2024-2025 school year.

10. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

10.A. Take any action necessary resulting from discussions held during closed session.

10.B. Employment of probationary contract employee (s) for the 2024-2025 school year.

10.C. Employment of probationary contract employee (s) of the GSEC Special Education Cooperative for the 2024-2025 school year.

11. ADJOURNMENT