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

Students from Smithville Elementary who have received the most Tiger Tokens for the month will lead the group in the pledge. Those students are:

First Grade: Bronson Macks, Makensie Dunlap, Adalynn Coble

Second Grade: Brant Staton, Brodee Morrow, Blayne Lyytinen

Third Grade: Hudson Zimmerhanzel, Blake Hilbig, Kohl Cooper

Fourth Grade: Rosaleigh Saunders, Chloe Cox, Leilani Jimenez

Fifth Grade: Eli Bennett, Leo Hancock, Camree Oertli
 

Each nine-weeks the middle school and high school faculties select an outstanding student from their respective campus.  Students are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 on such criteria as grades, honesty, enthusiasm, cooperation with teachers and their peers, class participation and leadership.

Savanna Marx and Lawson Randall and have been chosen as outstanding students for the second nine-weeks from Smithville Junior High. Savanna is a sixth grader, and the daughter of Kerry Marx and Jesse Marx.  Lawson is an eighth grader, and the son of Nicholas and Lindsey Randall.
Outstanding students chosen from Smithville High School are Emeline Gutierrez and Bodie Goertz.  Emeline is a ninth grader and the daughter of Grant and Krystel Gutierrez.  Bodie is a tenth grader and the son of Chris and Alesha Goertz.
Congratulations to these students for their outstanding achievement!

Smithville Elementary School is excited to celebrate outstanding students by introducing the "Tiger of the Month" recognition.  Elementary staff will nominate students who exhibit characteristics such as kindness, strong character, and helpfulness.  Each month, one exceptional student will be honored by the campus, recognized at the school board meeting, and will receive a special yard sign to proudly display at home.
The Tiger of the Month being recognized this month is Destin Anderson, a fifth grade student in Ms. Polich's class.  Congratulations to Destin!

Tiger Award recipients are nominated by peers.  Each campus and department will nominate a representative.  Final nominations will be voted on by a select committee.  Each campus and department will have an award winner that will be recognized at the board meeting every 9-weeks. 

Tiger Award winners:
Brown Primary - Caleb Murrile (PE Teacher)
Smithville Elementary - Crystal Saffel (Teacher)
Smithville Junior High - Arlene Davenport (Teacher)
Smithville High School - Anne Seidel (Teacher)
Central Office  - Denise Miles (Technology)

The district staff has prepared and published the 2023-2024 Texas Academic Performance Report, and it will be reported in the public hearing.  A copy of the report has been provided to each board member, and copies of the report will be placed in libraries in the district, the city library, the chamber of commerce and the city hall.  The report will also be placed on the district website.

Dr. Bethany Logan will also present the Smithville Elementary School Targeted Improvement Plan at the public hearing, as required.

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.
Attached are the minutes from the December 16, 2024 regular meeting and the January 22, 2025 special 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.

First National Bank and LoneStar Investment Pool, depositories for Smithville ISD, require that the Board pass a resolution each time we wire transfer our bond payment.

Attached is a resolution for the Board’s approval.
 

The business manager, Sean Sanchez, 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.

January Superintendent Report

• January is Board Appreciation Month.  We would like to express our gratitude for the Smithville ISD Board of Trustees for the selfless gift of their time and service to the students and staff of Smithville ISD.

• Enrollment numbers as of Friday, January 24, 2025 is 1849 students, with an average attendance of 89.89%.

• Holocaust Remembrance Week - Activities

• Administrative and campus staff are currently working to present the 2025-2026 school calendar at the regular board meeting in February.

* The calendar survey has been issued

* The campus site-based committees are meeting

* The district site-based committee will meet on February to review and decide on a draft to submit to the Board of Trustees

* Submission to the Board for approval

• Please submit nominations for parent members of the School Health Advisory Committee.

• Reminder - we have a special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 29, 2025 at 6pm to interview search firms for the superintendent search process.  School board members are asked to please submit any questions you may have for the firms who will be attending the meeting to Mrs. Burns by 5pm tomorrow.

• On February 14 we will be  conducting CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events)  training for SISD staff. The Bastrop County Sheriff's Office will be leading the training.

• The last day to file for the Board of Trustees is Friday, February 14th.  Places 5, 6 and 7 are up for election.  At this time, all three incumbents have filed.

• Please refer to the Smithville ISD website for the latest news and resources.

Dr. Logan, Assistant Superintendent, will give a regular progress report/update on the Smithville I.S.D. Strategic Plan.

Tentative items to be included on the February agenda are:

a.  Financial Report
b.  Superintendent’s Report     
c.  Smithville ISD Strategic Plan Update   
d.  School Safety and Security Report
e.  Review and Approve 2025-2026 District Calendar
f.   Personnel
g.  Administrative Contract Review/Renewal

Consider approval of the Smithville Elementary Targeted Improvment Plan as presented at the public hearing.

State statute requires that annually each governing body call for an election to be held in accordance with existing election law.  The Smithville Independent School District Board of Trustees, being a governing body and electing representatives by place, must call for the election.
The Smithville Independent School District Board of Trustees has established the first Saturday in May as its regular election date.  This year, the election falls on Saturday, May 3, 2025.   Three places are up for election.  They are:
                            Place 5 - Candice Parsons
                           Place 6 - Joshua Magden
                           Place 7 - Michael Hancock
The Order of Election is attached.
 

As of January 2006, Smithville ISD has been contracting election services with the County of Bastrop.  Since that time, the Bastrop County Elections Administrator has overseen all elections ordered by the school district for a 10% administrative fee.  The total cost of the May election for Smithville ISD including supplies, polling place personnel, administrative fee, etc. is estimated at $14,410.32.  The district would like to continue to contract elections services from Bastrop County. 

As of January 2006, Smithville ISD has been contracting election services with the County of Bastrop.  Since that time, the Bastrop County Elections Administrator has overseen all elections ordered by the school district and will continue to do so for voters who reside within the county.  However, Bastrop County Elections has taken action to approve a county-wide polling program, which means that any voter of any jurisdiction located in Bastrop County is allowed to cast a vote in any polling place in that county.
Currently, Smithville ISD has 169 voters who reside in Fayette County.  Fayette County Elections has kindly agreed to contract services for SISD constituents who reside in Fayette County for an estimated $825.  The proposed contract is included in the board packet for approval. 

The Superintendent would like to inform the Board of the resignations of Caitlyn Wyatt, teacher at Smithville Elementary, effective January 31, 2025, and Gregory Maxwell, assistant principal at Smithville Junior High, effective June 13, 2025, and the retirement of Arlene Davenport, teacher at Smithville Junior High, effective the end of the school year.

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.

The Superintendent recommends the employment of:

Brandi Bauerle - Teacher
Degree - Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University
Certification - Generic Special Education Grades PK-12, Family and Consumer Sciences Grades 6-12, Agricultural Science and Technology Grades 6-12
Years of Experience - 24 years
Campus - Smithville Elementary School