S-T ISD Board Recognizes Outstanding Students, Appoints New Trustee

Top Junior High cheerleader Carisa Whitehurst shakes hands with S-T ISD Trustee Alice Gonzales.

S-T ISD Trustees recognized the accomplishments of current and former students at their Tuesday, July 26th meeting. Allen Berthold was recognized for making the 2005 All-South Texas baseball team. Cindi Gonzales was named to the "High School Sports America Jennie Finch Softball All-American Student Athlete of the Year team. Becky Ramos was named Academic All-State in Basketball. Carisa Whitehurst received top honors at this summer's Junior High Cheerleading camp. Minor League All-Stars Lucas Glew and Brandon East accepted board recognition on behalf of the Bobcat Little League All-Star teams.

Cindi Gonzales accepts her certificate of recognition at Tuesday's board meeting.

S-T ISD Superintendent Dr. Brett Belmarez presented a verbal "walking tour" of recent improvements to the school campus including the campus-wide addition of new vinyl flooring and doors. Concrete pads have been laid beneath the softball and baseball field bleachers to allow mud-free viewing of games, and a layer of fresh paint is being applied to the Elementary, High School, and Junior High buildings.

Agenda items acted upon during Tuesday's meeting:

• Consideration and Possible Acceptance of Board Member's Resignation
The resignation of board member David Torres was accepted by unanimous vote.

• Consideration and Possible Action to Fill the Current Board Vacancy or to Select the Process for Filling the Board Vacancy
A motion was made to appoint Mr. Zeke Ortiz to the board position left by David Torres' resignation. The motion passed unanimously.

• Consideration and Possible Acceptance of the 2005 Certified Appraisal Roll with Taxable Value
This item was tabled.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Date of Public Meeting for the Proposed Budget and Tax Rate
The meeting was scheduled for Monday, August 29, 2005.

• Consideration and Vote of Record for the Proposed Tax Rate to be placed on the Public Notice for the Proposed Budget and Tax Rate.
This item passed.

• Consideration and Possible Action to Amend the S-T ISD Board of Trustees Operating Procedures. (Item requested by Mr. Rick Olivares)
There was considerable discussion among trustees as to the exact purpose of this agenda item and, as near as we can tell, it remains a mystery. The item was tabled.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Personnel Recommendations
After briefly adjourning to executive session, the board approved the hiring of Ramond Cheney, Jr. and Jennifer Gonzales.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Second Reading and Adoption of Policy Update (Local) 75
This item was approved with exception.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of an Agreement with Bee County for the Collection of Taxes
This item was approved.

• Consideration and Possible Action to Direct the Superintendent of Schools to Contact School District Legal Counsel to Review Action taken at the June 2005 Regular Board Meeting Regarding the Limited Distribution of Board Agenda Packets (Item requested by Mr. Rick Olivares).
After much discussion, Dr. Belmarez was instructed to contact the District's attorney as to the legality of last month's board decision to restrict the distribution of Board Meeting information packets. The question at hand was whether the board acted in violation of the Public Information Act.

• Consideration and Possible Approval of Agreement with Texas Correctional Industries for the Replacement of Wooden Athletic Bleachers.
This item passed.

• Consideration and Possible Action to Appoint an Individual to the Bee County Coliseum Board.
A motion to appoint Trustee Daniel Gonzales to the Bee County Coliseum Board was made and approved.

The next meeting of the S-T ISD Board is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 29, 2005.