BURTON SCHOOL BOARD RECEIVES BOND UPDATE

  

The Burton School Board heard updates on the status of the school bond project at its meeting Tuesday. 

DSA Construction Management Job Superintendent Rob Ogletree said June had several rain/mud days that caused delays.  He said there were some grading problems that Circle H has corrected, and Hellas Construction can continue their scope of work with the track and field after sub-grade issues led to density moisture tests having to be redone.  Installation of storm drainage has begun and is expected to be backfilled and tested by next Friday, July 28^th.

Superintendent Dr. Edna Kennedy said the hope is to have the field be ready by October 27^th to host the homecoming football game. 

Trustee David Warner Sr. asked Ogletree why there were not more dozers or excavators present on the job site, which Ogletree attributed to mechanical problems.  Warner said it is aggravating for community members to not see more active construction equipment.

During administrative reports, Dr. Kennedy said total enrollment between the elementary and secondary campuses currently sits at 550, about 15 more than Burton ISD ended the school year with.  She said there are also several students on a waitlist for prekindergarten.

The board also approved an application for federal grant funding through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  According to Burton ISD’s public notice for applying for ESSA funding, the district is seeking a total of $139,105. 

In addition, the purchase of two school buses, one 77-passenger and one 71-passenger, was approved at an amount not to exceed $260,000.

Trustees then went into executive session to discuss the hiring of a second school resource officer and the district’s 2023-24 budget.  

In other business, the board:

• Designated Washington County Chief Appraiser Dyann White to calculate the school district’s no-new-revenue tax rate and voter-approval rate, along with a contract for assessment and collection services.
• Approved updates to the Gifted and Talented Plan.  The updates pertain to assessments and the nomination process.
• Approved the student code of conduct and reviewed the student handbook.  Dr. Kennedy said there are many new requirements about bullying, with more strict strategies and recognition practices.  Changes to the employee handbook regarding educator ethics were also discussed and approved.
• Approved the improvement plans for the district and elementary and secondary campuses.
• Approved an amendment to the 2023-24 calendar, correcting an error in the calculation of minutes for the third six weeks.
• Approved the teacher appraisal calendar and administrative procedures manual.
• Approved the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) worker’s compensation coverage renewal for $11,104.  Trustees also reviewed the TASB investment policy.
• Approved a board resolution to extend the depository contract with Citizens State Bank for funds.  The contract is extended for two more years.
• Delegated contractual authority to the superintendent for the purpose of purchasing attendance credits, netting Chapter 48 funding.