December 12, 2022 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  It has been found and determined that in accordance with the policies and orders of the Board, the notice of this meeting was posted publicly at the Administration Building in accordance with the terms and provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Section 551.001 et. seq., and that all of the terms of said article have been fully complied with and that the 72-hour notice required has been properly and correctly given.

Description:  At this time, the Board will listen to comments from the public and others regarding both agenda action items and items that are not on the agenda. No action may be taken on non-agenda items. Public participation is limited to the designated open forum portion of a regular meeting. Any person wishing to address the Board concerning an item on the agenda for an open meeting must register with the Board secretary by email at egilpin@hfhorns.net no later than 10:00 a.m. the day of the Board meeting.  Any person wishing to address the Board concerning an item not on the Agenda can register with the Board Secretary at any time prior to the Board meeting.  Speakers will not be permitted to criticize HFISD employees, whether addressing the Board on an Agenda item or a subject not on the posted Agenda.

Description:  Reminder of January Meeting Dates
Moving of Regular February Board Meeting

Description:  As a result of the ongoing bond projects, the board will continue to receive monthly updates and information throughout the life of the projects to their completion.
The administration, architects, and/or the CMaR will discuss general items and answer questions for the board.  In addition, specific items will be discussed relating, but not limited to, the construction progress to date, and approving potential change orders.  
 

Description:  The district has not increased its substitute pay in over 10 years.  In addition, the number of unfilled substitute vacancies are not at the level school officials would prefer. At its November board meeting, the board reviewed pay data for substitutes from 13 districts within the Region 5 boundaries.
To decide on possible action(s) regarding substitute pay. 

Description:  Board Policy CH (LOCAL) requires budgeted purchases of goods or services costing $25,000 or more, regardless of whether the goods are services are competitively purchased, require Board approval before a transaction may take place.
RevTrak is an on-line payment service that will setup the ability for
parents/students/staff to pay school fees online through the district’s website and by the use of card readers at each campus and administration
.Because the district uses Skyward, there is no yearly or monthly fee and no setup charges. The only fee is 3.49% of all transactions.
The district can choose to consume the cost, charge the cost to the public or split the cost between the district and the public.

Description:  The US Congress passed laws pertaining to emergency funds and the use of those funds, stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief funds, or ESSER, were given to states in 3 parts. School districts are mandated to analyze and update ESSER use of funds every 6 months. We will be addressing ESSER 2 with
this discussion.

ESSER funds may be used for hiring and retaining qualified and effective educators and other
staff. To address this concern, the US Secretary of Education describes four evidence-based
and promising short and long term strategies for addressing teacher and staff shortages along
with staff well-being.
1. Increase educator and staff compensation
2. Build and maintain a cadre of high-quality substitute teachers
3. Support educator and staff well-being, including improved working conditions (including systems to support educator and staff well-being, increasing the availability of qualified adults and personnel to support educators, students, and staff, and implementing flexible and creative scheduling to support students for full-week in-person learning while
providing planning and collaboration time for teachers.)
4. Make investments in the educator pipeline

Discussion and any public feedback about using ESSER 2 money for any of these reasons will
be discussed.

Description:  Student enrollment and average daily attendance (ADA) are related funding factors in public education.  District administrators will discuss the district’s current enrollment and ADA.
The board, given the current and future enrollment/ADA information, may want to make financial adjustments to budgetary items such as compensation.  Enrollment has increased, which causes ADA to increase as long as the attendance rate remains high enough.  The district does anticipate some increased funding due to the combination of enrollment increase and a high enough level of attendance rate.
 

Description:  Each year the state reviews and considers changes to the travel and mileage rates.  Periodically, the state of Texas increases its rates. 
Discussion of the district’s travel and mileage rates.

2019 State Rates           Adopted and Prior HFISD Rates in 2019
Travel: $51/Day             $40/Day ($30 Prior in 2019 before adoption)
Mileage: $0.54.5/Mile      $0.52/Mile ($0.50/Mile Prior in 2019 before adoption)
Current State Rates
Travel:        $72/Day
Mileage:    $62.5/Mile    

Description:  19 Texas Administrative Code Section 109.1001(q) requires that a local education agency (LEA) must hold a public meeting to distribute a financial management report that explains the LEA’s s rating and its performance under each indicator for the current and previous year’s ratings along with additional financial information described in 19
Texas Administrative Code Section 109.1001(q)(3).
The Public Hearing for the 2021-2022 School FIRST Rating has been set for Friday,December 16th, 2022 at 11:30 am.
The information for the Public Hearing was published in the Beaumont Enterprise within the minimum required deadline of no fewer than 10 days before the public hearing.

Description:  The Board of Trustees have been supplied detailed background information regarding each item of business on the "Consent Agenda" if one is so indicated or it has been discussed at a previous meeting of the Board. All items will be acted upon by one vote without being discussed separately.  If requested by a Board member, individual items may be removed from the"Consent Agenda" to be discussed and voted upon separately.  All items are as recommended by the Superintendent.

Description:  In conjunction with Hamshire-Fannett ISD Board policy, it is a requirement that the minutes of the previous Board meeting(s) be approved by the Board at a subsequent Board Meeting.

A copy of the minutes is included in each Board member’s agenda packet for perusal and awaits Board action.
 

Description:   It is a customary and accepted Board procedure as a standard order of business at regular Board meetings for the Board to take action in relation to the approval of expenditures for the elapsed period since the last Board meeting.
Pertinent information relating to the financial condition of the District and the resolution of district indebtedness is provided for Board perusal and utilization.

Description:  It is a requirement of TEA accounting procedures that the annual budget be amended as necessary throughout the budget year.
The Board has been provided with the necessary documents for the budget amendment for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Description:  For a day when school was held but attendance was at least 10 percentage points below the overall average attendance rate for each campus for the prior year because of health or safety concerns, our district may apply for a waiver to have the day excluded from ADA(Average Daily Attendance) and FSP (Foundation School Program) funding calculations.
The flu bug hit the district during the week of October 24-28. On October 26, 2022 the attendance rate for the High School campus was at least 10 percentage points below the overall average attendance rate for that campus from the previous year.
On October 27, 28, the attendance rate for the Middle School campus was at least 10 percentage points below the overall average attendance rate for that campus from the previous year. We are applying for this waiver so we can have the low attendance dates excluded from ADA and FSP funding calculations for those campuses.

Description:  A student who receives, at the end of any grading period (after the
first six weeks of the school year), a grade below 70 in any class
(other than an identified class eligible for exemption) may not
participate in extracurricular activities for three school weeks.

Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, Hamshire-Fannett ISD will
recognize ALL dual credit and AP courses as courses that may be
waived for UIL eligibility purposes, as long as students meet the local
criteria for exemption
Hamshire-Fannett ISD’s exemption eligibility criteria includes
consideration of the following: grade not lower than 60, all work
completed (no zeros), student seeking additional help, and teacher
recommendation for exemption.

Description:  The board has piloted past meetings to start at 6:00 instead of the 6:30 time currently adopted by BE LOCAL.
he board decided at its November 28, 2022 meeting to bring BE LOCAL before the body for consideration to formally adopt 6:00 P.M. as the boards new start time for meetings.

Description:  The district currently has one or more vacant positons.  Interviews are currently being conducted, and the Superintendent will bring recommendations for the position(s) to this Board meeting, if feasible.

Any action, decision or final vote with regard to any matter considered in such closed session, shall be made in open session.

Description:  The District currently has one or more vacant positions.

Interviews are currently being conducted, and the Superintendent will bring recommendations for the position(s) to this Board meeting, if feasible.
 

Description:  It is possible that one or more resignations could be in the process of being submitted to the Superintendent.
If received, the Superintendent will present letters of resignation for board information.