August 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM - Regular

1. Announcement by the Board President calling this meeting of the Taft Independent School District to order. Let the record show that a quorum of Board Members is present, that this meeting has been duly called, and that notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code Chapter 551.

2. Invocation

3. Taft ISD Credo and Taft ISD Goals

4. Public Comments: Comments are limited to five minutes per speaker. The Board Secretary will be the timekeeper and will inform the speaker when they have one (1) remaining minute. Should there be more than five (5) people who wish to speak on a particular issue they need to select one (1) representative to speak for them. The presiding officer or designee shall determine whether a person who wishes to address the Board has attempted to solve the matter administratively. If not, the person shall be directed to the appropriate policy, as noted in BED (local), to seek resolution before bringing the matter to the Board at a subsequent meeting. Pursuant to 551.042 of the Texas Government Code, no Board Member or Administrator may respond to a member of the public, unless such response is a recitation of District policy or a statement of specific factual information.

5. Discuss and/or Approve to Accept the Certified Appraisal Roll for 2012 for Taft ISD

6. Presentation of the Proposed Official Budget and Tax Rate for Fiscal Year 2012-2013

7. PUBLIC HEARING and Discussion on Proposed Budget and Tax Rate in Accordance with Section 44.004, Texas Education Code.  Public Participation in the Discussion is Invited.  The Board will Provide Time for Citizens to Present Their Views, Opinions, Suggestions, etc., Regarding the Proposed 2012-2013 General School District Budget and Tax Rate.

8. Discuss and/or Approve a Resolution Adopting Employee Health-Related Retention Incentive Payment Program to Full time District Employees During the 2012-2013 School Year

9. Discuss and/or Approve the Official Budget for Fiscal Year 2012-2013

10. Discuss and/or Approve an Order Setting the Tax Rate for the 2012-2013 Tax Year.  Proposed Tax Rate: $1.47247 with $1.17 for Maintenance & Operations (M&O) and $0.30247 for Bonded Indebtedness (Interest and Sinking Fund ((I&S)

11. Consent Agenda

11.A. Approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 17, 2012 and the Special Meeting of August 7, 2012

11.B. Approve Investment Report for July 2012

11.C. Total Expenditures by Function Ending July 2012

11.D. Discuss and/or Approve Adjunct Staff Status Agreement for County Extension Faculty

11.E. Discuss and/or Approve a Resolution Regarding Extracurricular status of 4-H Organization

11.F. Approve the 2012-2013 Professional Development Appraisal System (PDAS) Calendar, Certified Appraisers, and Procedures for Second Appraiser Request

11.G. Budget Amendment

12. Information Only

12.A. Discussion of Honor Wall and Pavers

12.B. Report on Annual Yearly Progress (AYP)

12.C. Report on Capturing Kids Hearts (CKH)

12.D. Principal's Report

12.E. Summary of Taxes Paid to Taft ISD

13. Items for Individual Consideration

13.A. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for a Design/Build Firm for the Design and Construction of the School District's New High School Athletic Fields

13.B. Discussion and Possible Action to Approve a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an Architect Firm for the Design and Construction of the School District's New High School Building and Renovations

13.C. Discuss and/or Approve the Graduation Policy

13.D. Discuss and/or Approve the Taft ISD Organizational Charts

13.E. Discuss and/or Approve a Resolution Concerning High Stakes, Standardized Testing of Texas Public School Students

13.F. Discuss and/or Approve Securing a Savings Account with First Victoria Bank for the Financial Operation of the Richard Eleazer Scholarship Fund

13.G. Discuss and/or Approve Prosperity Bank Signature Authority Changes

14. Superintendent Report

14.A. Junior High Construction Project

14.B. Petty Construction

14.C. Review Bond Election Proceedings

15. Closed Session: Board will adjourn into closed session pursuant to the following sections of the Texas Open Meetings Act

15.A. The Board will convene in closed session as authorized by the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551. et. seq. (TGC 551.071, 551.072, and 551.074)

15.A.1. Regular Personnel (TGC 551.074)

15.A.1.a. Information on Resigning Employees

15.A.1.b. Information on New Employees

15.A.1.b.1. Ramon Shick - High School

16. Reconvened from Closed Session: The Board will take appropriate action on items, if necessary, as discussed in Closed Session

17. Future Board Agenda Items from Board Members

18. Adjourn