The White Deer ISD Board of Trustees met in regular session on Monday, April 17 th 2023. The Board took action to approve the minutes of previous meetings. The board listen to a project which was presented by Darla Forney, high school principal, pertaining to an Eagle Scout project for John Paul Lenz. The project is to remove and replace the flag pole at the high school with a new 30 ft. pole. The board unanimously approved the project with the stipulation John Paul give his presentation to the board in May. John Paul is on the golf team and both the girls and boys team were competing at the regional golf tournament.
Agenda item to discuss graduation was moved up the agenda to allow senior students, Taysen Swires, Colton Fincher, and Eliana Stokes, the opportunity to present to the board their planned senior trip. This year’s senior class will be headed to New Braunfels, TX, and will be staying for three days with different activities planned for each day. They will be leaving May 21 st and returning May 24 th also a discussion was held about the ceremony itself.
After the discussion of the graduation ceremony a presentation from Live Oak Financial was given to the board. This presentation is the first step in organizing a plan for the district
that could provide funding in the coming years for facility improvements. A long term plan for facilities and the needs of the district will be the next step in the coming year to address the needs of the school and the community. The goal is to formulate a 30 year plan to help guide the district in decision making and bring in the community to help develop this long range plan.
Summer Kelly, school nurse, presented the wellness plan. She presented changes to the plan which included added procedures for the use in medical emergencies of Narcan and the epi pens which are available in locked boxes across the district if an emergency were to occur that would require their use. The board approved the changes to the wellness plan unanimously.
The renewal of the District of Innovation plan was present and renewed for another 5 years. This plan allows for the school start window to be earlier than the state mandated fourth Monday in August, it also allows for some other flexibility across the district.
A discussion was then held of the school calendar for the 2023-24 school year. A final vote for the calendar was presented to the board from the staff and the staff voted 22-21 in favor of the 5 day calendar. After more discussion about the pros and cons and the feedback the district received at the community meeting and on the survey, the Superintendent recommended the 5 day calendar. The board approved the recommendation.
Shane Grange read the board training hours for each board member and stated all board members are in good standing with the required yearly requirements the state mandates for Texas School Board members. The board next approved the yearly request for additional state aid for ad valorem tax credit for the Pattern Panhandle wind project. The board also approved a reading academy stipend for all teachers who have completed the reading academy training. The stipend will be for $500.
Superintendent presented to the board that an anonymous donation of $25,000 was made to the district and was stipulated it be used to upgrade weightlifting equipment in the gym at the complex. The board was very appreciative of the donation and wanted to acknowledge the donation and thank the community members who donated the money for this project.
The board heard reports from the principals and directors of the school district, reviewed the Business Manager’s report, and received an update from the Superintendent. The current enrollment of White Deer ISD is 320 with a daily average attendance of 303.
The board went into closed session to discuss extending professional contracts and have a confidential meeting about the 3 year safety audit which was conducted earlier in the semester. After closed session the Superintendent recommended the board extend professional contract as presented in closed session and the board voted unanimously to extend those contracts.
