COLVIN, HARMEL KEEP LEADERSHIP ROLES ON BURTON BOARD
The Burton School Board will stay in its current structure.
After canvassing results from this month’s election at the board’s meeting Monday, the board considered reorganization. By policy, the board must elect a president, vice president and secretary the first meeting after an election.
Ande Bostain, one of the incumbents just re-elected, moved to leave the board the way it is. He said, since the voters kept in current Board President Demetrius Colvin and Board Vice President Jeff Harmel, the board should stay the same.
As such, Colvin and Harmel will retain their board leadership positions, and Bostain will keep the seat formerly held by Linda Hasten, who resigned last December from both the board and her secretary position. Misty Lucherk will continue to act as secretary.
After the motion passed, Colvin said he appreciated the continued support in himself, Harmel and Bostain from the community, taxpayers, and fellow board members. He said the three of them coming back would do the best they possibly can for Burton ISD.
During Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy’s report, she presented preliminary budget projections. Estimates determine revenue at around $6.4 million this year, up from $4.7 million in local revenue last year. She said the tax rolls are the main reason for this increase, as certified values have gone up from $381,000 last year to $580,000 this year.
The district’s expenditures will also see an increase, according to projections presented Monday. Dr. Kennedy said right now, expenses are estimated at $6.2 million, due in large part to a Chapter 41 payment of $766,000, new staff positions, and salary increases for all employees. The past school year’s budget was $5.4 million.
The board is currently looking at holding a budget workshop on June 17th at 5 p.m. to meet with Washington County Chief Appraiser Willy Dilworth, along with the district’s tax attorney.
Dr. Kennedy also read off letters of reasonable assurance, inviting the people who are not contracted employees to come back and work for the district in various roles.
In addition, Dr. Kennedy announced the district met with law enforcement agencies this past week to get a better handle on disciplinary measures and consequences for students who have had issues staying out of trouble. She said school officials met with the Brenham Police Department, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, district clerk and county justices of the peace to help with some of those measures.
Dr. Kennedy also announced the resignation of kindergarten teacher Holly Lewis. She said the district is seeking to fill vacancies for the kindergarten position, along with a 4th grade teacher, high school science, P.E. teacher, English Language Arts (ELA) teacher, and speech therapist.