BURTON SCHOOL BOARD SWEARS IN MEMBERS, APPROVES LOCAL LEAVE DAY ACCUMULATION

  

Two returning Burton ISD trustees received the oath of office for new terms on Monday.

Jeff Harmel and Demetrius Colvin Sr. ran unopposed in the May 3^rd election.  Harmel has served on the board since 2017, while Colvin joined in 2001. 

The board then voted to keep the existing officer structure, meaning Harmel will remain board president, Misty Lucherk will continue to serve as vice president, and Donna Putnam will stay as secretary. 

Also on Monday, trustees agreed to allow district employees to accumulate five local leave days each school year, up to a maximum of 15 days.  Prior to this, employees’ local leave days expired at the end of the year.  Superintendent Vikki Curry said this change should make it to where employees do not feel forced to take their leave days.

Curry said the district will put any unused yearly allotment for substitute teachers toward the amount that can be paid out to employees who accumulate over 15 days, but noted that it will take several years before employees reach the 15-day maximum.

The policy was approved with the stated clarifications that employees must use local leave before any other type of leave, and that unused leave must accumulate until the 15-day threshold. 

In other business, the board:

• Approved a depository contract with Citizens State Bank for a two-year renewable term effective September 1^st. 
• Approved a private tax resale offer on account number 14095, pursuant to Texas Property Tax Code Section 34.05.  Leslie Schkade of Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott said the property has been in the tax trust since 2017 and consists of roughly 4.56 landlocked acres adjoining U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land at Lake Somerville.  The full bid on the property was $4,384.92, but after court costs of $1,001 and post judgment of $2,104.92, the net to distribute comes out to $1,279.  Of that, Burton ISD is receiving $997.62, Washington County is getting $243.01, and Blinn College is obtaining $38.37.  With this, the property will go back onto the tax roll.   
• Approved localized board policy manual updates in accordance with state legal changes. 
• Went into executive session to discuss personnel and the implementation of security personnel, as well as to consult with an attorney regarding the district’s lawsuit against DSA, Inc., Circle H Dirt Work and Excavation, and Round Top HVAC in 21^st District Court (Cause No. 38478).