TISD board honors basketball teams, prepares for bond election

 The Thorndale ISD School Board held it’s regular monthly meeting on April 17.

The board discussed several items including what to do with the storm-damaged weight room at the stadium and approved a contract with Collier Construction to serve as Construction Manager At Risk for the upcoming bond election.

The board began by recognizing TISD’s boys and girls basketball teams for their excellent seasons.

Coach Dickerson began by recognizing his team for their playoff birth and bi-district championship. He announced the all district honors, which included: Offensive MVP - Kylie Buchanan; Newcomer of the Year - Madison Smith; First Team All District - Elise Biar, Peyton Anastas and Presley Anastas; Honorable Mention - Devin Dickerson and Blair McDaniel; Academic All District - Elise Biar, Kylie Buchanan, Devin Dickerson, Caitlin Garcia and Blair McDaniel.

Coach Kovar talked about the boy’s team and their run to the state tournament. He praised them for a great season and winning five straight games against tough opponents in the playoffs. Individual honors include: All District Co-MVP - Ty Prince; Newcomer of the Year - Sam Reaves; First Team - Logan Fisher and Ashton Albert; Second Team - Mason Fisher; Honorable Mention - Ashton Shaefer and Ruben Briones; Academic All District - Ashton Albert, Mason Fisher, Logan Fisher, Evan Ivy, Lane NIemtschk, Josh Iselt, Ashton Schaefer and Sam Reaves; All Region  Ty Prince and Sam Reaves; All State - Ty Prince; All Cen-Tex First Team - Ty Prince; and Academic All State - Josh Iselt.

The board reviewed administrative reports from each campus and department and then approved the consent agenda with 6-0 vote. Rebecca Peel informed they board that there would most likely be budget amendments to account for the recent insurance claim from the tornado damage. She stated that it would be prudent to wait until the process was closer to complete before processing the amendments.

Superintendent Adam Ivy presented new electricity provider options that would begin at the end of the current contract in June of 2019. He showed that rates have fallen from the current rate of 5.7 cents to around 4.2 cents per KWH. This change could be worth up to $13,000 per year in savings once the new contract takes effect. The board voted 5-0 to allow the superintendent to approve a contract for up to 4.16 cents per KWH for a term of 60 months.

Next on the agenda the board discussed the future use of the old weight room at the stadium. Ivy informed the board about the insurance adjuster’s report that had just arrived. It stated that the entire roof and sub roof needed to be replaced and the claim was going to be worth approximately $37,000. Ivy stated that the number was preliminary and could still change. He stated that he had discussed the possibility of using the building as a weight room with the two athletic directors. It would not be large enough to hold all of our weight equipment and would require a new set of equipment to be used, which could cost upwards of $30,000. Ivy stated that it might not be wise to put the funds into repairing the roof on the building if it would not be useable as a weight room in the future. The board asked Ivy to research the cost of removing the building as an option.

The next item on the agenda was the contract with Collier Construction to serve as Construction Manager At Risk for the upcoming bond election. 

Ivy stated that since the board’s selection of Collier the contract had been negotiated by our attorney and had been agreed upon last week. He stated that he met with Mike Collier on Monday and had delivered the contract. The board voted 5-0 to approve a resolution to approve the contract with Collier Construction.

The School Calendar for 2017-18 was up next. Ivy informed the board about the process that the District Sight Based Committee went through with the District of Innovation process to create the calendar. He stated that the committee had given feedback about priorities that they would like included. The calendar was built using those priorities and then returned to the committee for comment and suggestion. This calendar was only presented to the board for feedback but was not ready for approval until the District of Innovation Plan is final.

Policy Update 107 was presented for a second reading and Ivy stated that it would be presented for approval at the May board meeting. The board approved the annual instructional materials allotment and TEKS certification for 2017-18 by a vote of 6-0.

Ivy made a presentation to honor seven more business partners in education through the TASB recognition program. He stated that the recognized businesses were always ready to assist the district at a moment’s notice. The recognized businesses include - Thorndale Meat Market, A Swat Pest Control, Anastas Plumbing, B5 Tire, Jack Milliard Dozer Services, Melde Electric and Vic’s Heat and Air.

The board discussed summer board training and considered options through Region 13 and through the Texas Association of School Boards. Ivy stated that he had made reservations for the TASB conference in San Antonio but that those could be canceled up until June l if the board decided on a different option. Ivy asked for the board members to check their calendars and discuss again in May.

At 7:20 p.m. the board adjourned to closed session for personnel discussion. When the board reconvened at 8:26 p.m. they voted 6-0 to approve contract recommendations as presented and voted 6-0 to terminate a probationary contract as presented.

The date for a special meeting to consider approval of the district of Innovation plan was called for April 25 at 6:30 p.m. The regular May board meeting was set for May 8 at 6:30 p.m.