The Board President or his/her designee will call the roll of members.

Students from the House of Courage at Smithville Elementary will lead the group virtually in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Those students are:
Collins Lawrence
Anthony Burton
Jose Vasquez
Christian Brueggerman
Rose Uribe-Vera
Bailey Goertz
Jayla Navarro
Keller Awthrey
Zoey Clanton
Savanna Marz
Kamoni Johnson
Dakota Hammon
Calvin Dunning
Layla Loera
Zoey Kelly

 

Student guest speakers will be present at each board meeting to read a short essay on the Character Trait of the Month. 

Emmanuel Muniz-Torres, a second grader in Ms. Goertz's class, Naomi Helsley, a fifth grader in Ms. Jones' class and Hazel Wells, a fifth grader in Ms. Lowery's class will share their essays on courage.

Citizens wishing to address the Board of Trustees have so indicated by listing their name on the Communications from the Public sign-in sheet located on the table at the entrance to the boardroom if the meeting is done in person, or at the link provided on the published board agenda if conducted remotely. Those signing have given a brief indication of the topics to be addressed.
Comments to the Board of Trustees under this provision will be limited to three minutes.
The members of the Board of Trustees will listen to citizen presentations during this portion of a regularly scheduled meeting, but they will not comment or participate in a discussion of the topic. 

Board members routinely approve items on the consent agenda as a group.  These are routine agenda items.  Board members have the option to ask questions regarding any of the items listed under "consent agenda".

State law requires that a record be kept in the form of official minutes on each meeting held by a governmental body and that these minutes be approved at the next regular meeting.

Monthly reporting of financial position in relation to the budget.  The Board is provided monthly financial statements.

Meet legal reporting requirements for investments.
In order the meet legal reporting requirements for investments, the Board receives quarterly reports on District investments.

The Board has requested a monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget.

The Board has requested a monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget.

Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.

As required by law, the investment policy and the investment strategy shall be reviewed not less than annually.  The Board shall adopt a written instrument stating that it has reviewed the investment policy and investment strategies and that the written instrument so adopted shall record any changes that were made.  CDA [Legal]

In accordance with Section 2256.008(a), Texas Government Code, local governing body must approve sources of training for the treasurer, chief financial officer and investment officer of the District, relating to investment responsibilities.  Officers must have training every two years and not less than 8 hours of training are required by law.

The Chief Financial Officer, Jean Ann McCarthy, will review the financial disbursements for the previous month with the Board of Trustees.  No action is required.

The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.

Chris Allen, from RBC Capital Markets, LLC, will be at the board meeting to give an update on the current bond environment and tax rate impact analysis for Smithville ISD.  This item has been included on the agenda to keep the Board of Trustees updated on bond finances and to seek their input/questions.

Strategic Planing empowers stakeholders - families, community members, staff, and students - to collaboratively shape the future of their school district.  This process forges strong partnerships and builds a collective sense of responsibility among stakeholders as they work to create a 3 to 5-year plan.  The strategic planning process galvanizes the community around a common purpose, expanding the district's capacity to provide resources and overcome obstacles in order to discover new possibilities for students.

Texas Education Code §21.057 and Board Policy DBA [Legal] require the superintendent to notify the parents or guardian of each student in a classroom that is staffed by a teacher who is inappropriately certified or uncertified for their classroom instruction assignment.  Furthermore, the school district is required to make teacher certification information available to the public upon request. No parent notification is required for teachers currently enrolled in alternative certification programs, serving under a one-year certificate, or who are certified under the District of Innovation. 

Three employees have either not met ACP requirements or are teaching outside his/her certification area and will be reported as required by TEA.  There is an additional unfilled position at Smithville Elementary, currently being filled by a substitute or paraprofessional, that will also have to be reported to TEA.

Tentative items to be included on the October agenda are:

a.  F.I.R.S.T. Ratings Public Hearing
b.  Financial Report
c.  Superintendent's Report
d.  Child Nutrition Report
e.  Bilingual Report
f.   Personnel

     
Site-Based committees, campus principals, and central office staff began working on revising our improvement plans and establishing performance objectives for the 2022-2023 school year last spring.  The committees have made final revisions this fall and are ready to present their performance objectives and improvement plans to the Board for approval.  Included with the board packet are the performance objectives and improvement plans established for the district and each campus.
 

Because Smithville Junior High was named a campus targeted for improvement  by the Texas Education Agency, this item requires separate  approval by the Board of Trustees.

Natural hazards in Bastrop County historically have caused significant disasters with losses of life and property and natural resources damage.  The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) require communities to adopt a hazard mitigation action plan to be eligible for the full range of pre-disaster and post-disaster federal funding for mitigation purposes.  FEMA requires that communities update Haard Mitigation Action Plans every five years in order to be eligible for the full range of pre-disaster and post-disaster federal funding for mitigation purposes.  Smithville I.S.D. has assessed the community's potential risks and hazards and is committed to planning for a sustainable community and reducing the long-term consequences of natural and man-caused hazards.  The Bastrop County Hazard Mitigation Plan outline a mitigation vision, goals and objectives; assesses risk from a range of hazards; and identifies risk reduction strategies and actions for hazards that threaten the community.

The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignation of
John Montgomery, fourth grade teacher at Smithville Elementary.
No action is required.

According to Board Policy DC [Local], the Superintendent has the authority to make recommendations to the Board regarding the selection of all personnel.

There are no recommendations at this time.