Trustees call for Bond Election

January 23, 2018

Superintendent's Report
Dr. Brian Woods reported to the Board:

TASA Executive Director Interviews. Johnny Veselka, Executive Director of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), is retiring. Veselka will be honored at the upcoming TASA Midwinter Conference and Dr. Woods will serve on the committee to select a new Executive Director.
School Board Appreciation Month. In conjunction with School Board Appreciation Month, a luncheon was held for former trustees and superintendents. Dr. Woods is always reminded that current leaders stand on the shoulders of the leaders who came before. Last week, Jay HS hosted the annual Board Appreciation Dinner. Thanks to Jay HS principal Jay Sumpter, administration, Culinary Arts students and instructors Linda Vaughn-Dalton and Erica Esquivel, and Orchestra students and instructor Heather Gonzalez for an enjoyable evening. Dr. Woods also thanked NISD trustees for being incredible volunteers who serve students, staff, and patrons.
Reddix Center Exit Celebration. Earlier this month the Reddix Center honored 12 students as they exited the school's program and transitioned to their adult lives with jobs and volunteer work. Thank you to La Cantera Resort for hosting the event.
First LEGO League (FLL) competition. It's the middle of robotics competition season for many elementary and middle school teams. Dr. Woods has had the opportunity to watch teams in action. The event teaches students about STEM, but also about a growth mindset.
Region Academic Decathlon. Two NISD Academic Decathlon teams are headed to state competition - Marshall and Warren high schools. The teams placed first and second in the large school division at last week's Region competition held at Warren HS. Thank you to Warren principal Valerie Sisk and staff for hosting.
Video Moment. The Northside Video Moment recognized the contributions of the NISD Board of Trustees.To view the video, go to www.youtube.com/NorthsideISD.

Board Members' Report

Trustee M'Lissa Chumbley recognized Rayburn MS teacher Brittany McInnis for leading a school supply drive for hurricane victims along the Gulf Coast. Chumbley attended a Try-STEM-a-Thon event hosted at Braun Station ES and thanked Principal Jack Funkhouser, math specialist Alicia Thomas, and PTA President Laura Bruha. Chumbley thanked District staff for hosting an annual appreciation luncheon for former NISD Superintendents and Trustees. The event, Chumbley said, was a recognition of the District's great history and leadership. Chumbley enjoyed visiting with Warren HS students and Warren HS librarian Terry Zablocki at the State Board's long-range Steering Committee event. Chumbley acknowledged the Culinary Arts Department and Club and instructors Vaughn-Dalton and Esquivel at Jay HS for their role with the Board Appreciation Dinner.
Trustee Joseph Medina was able to participate in the Watch D.O.G.S. program at Bernal MS and enjoyed visiting many classrooms. He also recognized all the staff and students who helped organize or attended the Magnet School Fair and described the event as tremendously successful. Medina recognized Jay HS Principal Jay Sumpter and Jay HS students for hosting the annual Board Appreciation Dinner.
Trustee Katie Reed enjoyed attending the Reddix Center's Exit Celebration that honored students transitioning to a new stage of their life. Reed also attended a spelling bee at Boone ES and will attend a recognition ceremony at Oak Hills Terrace ES. Reed also recognized the Northside athletes selected to participate in the San Antonio Sports All-Star Football Game.
Trustee Bobby Blount has visited 17 campuses over the last two months as part of the Board's advocacy initiative and has thoroughly enjoyed the many events he has been able to witness.
Trustee Karen Freeman recognized the achievement of 27 student musicians selected to Texas All-State Ensembles. Freeman appreciated hearing from the families of honorees at the Reddix Center Exit Celebration. Freeman indicated how privileged she felt to be a NISD Trustee and to be able to represent the District's staff and students.
Trustee Gerald Lopez enjoyed the Board Appreciation Dinner hosted at Jay HS and recognized the Jay HS orchestra students who performed as well as the Jay HS Culinary Department and Club members for preparing the dinner. Lopez observed that the pride from teachers, administrators, and students at the campus was very evident.
Trustee Carol Harle recognized a program hosted at several District campuses, Girls on the Run, which stresses not only running, but exercise in general. Harle acknowledged Glenoaks ES counselor Ximena Huerta Medina for her work with this group. NISD had great student representation at the long-range Strategic Steering Committee hosted by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Harle shared her appreciation to those students who participated from Warren, Clark, Marshall, and Health Careers high schools. Harle described the Reddix Center Exit Celebration as an emotional event and a reminder of the power of volunteerism. She attended and enjoyed the recent theatrical production of Once Upon A Mattress at Stevens HS.

Trustees approve administrative appointments:

Belinda Flores, formerly vice principal at Kallison ES, was appointed Principal at Elrod ES.
Jill Holmes, formerly principal at Galm ES, was appointed Principal at Mora ES.

Recognitions

Council of PTAs, Northside Education Foundation, and Northside Museum Association honor NISD Trustees

The Northside Council of PTAs, represented by PTA Council President Larry Rowe, the Northside School Museum Association, led by President DuWayne Headrick, and the Northside Education Foundation, led by Secretary Monty Howard, honored NISD's seven Board members. Every year, the Texas governor proclaims January as School Board Recognition Month. NISD is joining other districts across the state to gratefully acknowledge the invaluable contributions that members of the Boards of Trustees make to our various districts and communities. School trustees serve as key advocates for students and work together to provide a better future for each and every student. NEF Secretary Monty Howard also presented NEF's 2017 Annual Report.

Trustees call for $848.91 million bond election to be held May 5

The Northside Board of Trustees voted to call for a $848.91 million bond election to be held May 5. The majority of the monies requested (65 percent) would go to improve existing schools, although there are four new schools in the proposal including the next new high school. More than half of NISD's schools are more than 25 years old. In addition to addressing aging schools, other highlights of the bond include building bullet-resistant security lobbies at 44 elementary schools, adding and improving campus technology, replacing air conditioning and heating infrastructure, providing shade structures on all elementary campus playgrounds, and the addition of a new magnet school program on the Marshall HS campus. A detailed list of projects will be posted at nisd.net.

Board approves audit of District's financial report

The Board approved the audit of Northside's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for fiscal year ending August 31, 2017. The report consists of management's representations concerning the financial condition and operations of the District and the results of an audit performed by the certified public accounting firm of RSM, US, LLP. The audit was performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. The auditors have expressed an unmodified opinion which is the highest level of assurance that the financial statements are free of material misstatement, according to David Rastellini, Deputy Superintendent for Business & Finance.

Board approves facilities items:

Contractor for Mechanical & Lighting Upgrades at Mary Hull ES and Electrical & Lighting Upgrades at Westwood Terrace ES - Central Electric Enterprises & Co.
Contractor for San Antonio Sports School Park - Burke and Colonies North elementary schools - R.L. Rohde General Contracting, Inc.
Schematic Design for Window Upgrades & ADA Work at Helotes and Powell elementary schools as presented by Shawn Kaarlsen and Associates, Inc.
Exterior/Interior Colors for the Auditorium Replacement Project at Holmes HS as developed by Alamo Architects.

NISD seeks class-size waivers for 7 elementary classrooms

Trustees gave approval for the District to seek class-size waivers for seven classrooms across the District in kinder to fourth grade. State law mandates a 22:1 ratio of students to teacher in kindergarten through fourth grades. A waiver is required by law should a K-4 class exceed 22:1.

Readings of policy

First Reading and Adoption of Legal Policies, TASB Localized Update #109
First Reading of Local Policies in TASB Policy Update #109
First Reading of Policy FDA (Local)
First Reading of Policy FDB (Local)

Bids for goods approved

Trustees approved the following bids: Prepared Foods & Services; Security Equipment & Supplies; and Calculators & Accessories. Trustees approved the following requests for proposal (RFPs): HP/Aruba Wireless Equipment E-Rate; HP/Aruba LAN Equipment E-Rate; Cisco LAN Equipment E-Rate; Commscope Patch Cables E-Rate; WiFi Cabling E-Rate; Internet Access Service E-Rate; and Private Fiber Internet Access Service E-Rate. Trustees approved the following purchase orders: Intech Southwest Services LLC for Chromebooks and Bretford charging carts for Jay HS; NetSync Network Solutions for Cisco switches for Brandeis and Brennan high schools computer labs and libraries; Severin Intermediate Holding LLC for annual maintenance fee and miscellaneous maintenance costs for custom reports, applications, and phone support for the eSchoolPlus student information system; and Intech Southwest Services LLC for desktops, monitors, and laptops for technology deployments at Franklin, Allen, and Esparza elementary schools. For more information, contact Purchasing Director George Ayala at 210-397-8700.

You may mail correspondence to:

Trustees

c/o NISD

5900 Evers Road

San Antonio, TX 78238

You may email them at info@nisd.net .

For additional information, call 210-397-8550.

Board of Trustees
M'Lissa M. Chumbley, President, District 3
Carol Harle, Ph.D., Vice President, District 6
Gerald B. Lopez, Secretary, District 2
Joseph H. Medina, Trustee, District 1
Robert Blount, Jr., Trustee, District 4
Katie N. Reed, Trustee, District 5
Karen Freeman, Trustee, District 7

Administration
Superintendent
Brian T. Woods, Ed.D.

Deputy Superintendent for Administration Ray Galindo

Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Janis Jordan, Ed.D.

Deputy Superintendent for Business & Finance
David Rastellini

Executive Director of Communications Barry Perez

Board meeting information

NISD Trustees meet monthly in regular meetings on the fourth Tuesday of the month. They may also meet in called meetings for workshops, retreats, or to handle routine business. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. in the Board Room, 5900 Evers Road, unless otherwise posted. Meetings are open to the public. Agendas are posted on the NISD website, www.nisd.net Citizens who wish to address the Board may sign up to speak just prior to the beginning of the meeting.

Upcoming School Board Meeting(s):

(See posted agendas on website; dates, locations, and/or times may change.)