Joe Lopez was presented with the first Bus Driver of the Year award by Randy Castillo from Region 20 Education Service Center during the Jourdanton School Board meeting held on Monday, August 13. Lopez was the driver who managed to control his vehicle and protect the students during a fatal accident earlier this year. None of the students were injured. Shown with Mr. Lopez, right, are Superintendent Lana Collavo and Randy Castillo. COURTESY THERESA MCALLISTER The Jourdanton school board held a budget workshop before their regular meeting on August 13. All members were present: Mary Ramirez, Barbara Peeler, Pamela Manning, Jane Andrus, Tricia Taylor, Amador Lugo and President Ramon de Leon.

Joe Lopez was awarded the ESC Bus Driver of the Year. Education Services Center representative Randy Castillo said that when he read about Lopez’s actions during and after the wreck, he was “amazed that it turned out as well as it did. Mr. Lopez exceeded his area of training” in seeing that the children were safe. Another accolade for Lopez is that this is the first bus driver award given by the Education Service Center. Castillo concluded that he was “impressed by his humble attitude.”

Back to district business, they approved the Acceptable Use Policy, which changes the technology policy to add that there will be monitoring of computer use.

The consent agenda includes the minutes of the previous meeting, the Business Office Report and the payment of the non-conflict of interest bills. The total in all accounts for the district is $7,538,174.40. Tax collections for the month was $38,806.82, which brings the total collection rate to 100.32%. All bills totaled $72,698.35. Peeler moved to approve, Ramirez seconded; motion passed unanimously.

The July conflict of interest bills were approved with Peeler abstaining.

Last month, Superintendent Lana Collavo was directed to get bids for equipment and installation for Voice Over IP (VoIP) Telephone service. Three quotes were received. She recommended Infinity Connections for $31,213. Trustees approved the acquisition unanimously.

The November election of District 5, Amador Lugo and District 7, Jane Andrus was ordered. Both have already filed for re-election.

The certified values have been received from ACAD (Atascosa County Appraisal District). The Board unanimously approved the $797,397,926 in taxable values, which is an increase from last year.

The proposed annual budget is $11,850,056.57. The proposed tax rate is $1.1221. This is a five-cent decrease from last year’s rate. A public meeting to adopt the 2012-2013 Budget and Tax Rate is scheduled for Monday, August 27 at 12:00 noon.

Robert Williams has served as the athletic trainer for the past four years. Since his is a contracted service, his contract has to be renewed annually. The board approved it unanimously.

Also, an annual item is to enter into an agreement with the County Extension Agents to serve as adjunct faculty. When the students are off campus at livestock shows, they can be counted as present in school with the adjuncts. Motion passed unanimously.

The appraisers/appraisal calendar was approved as presented.

There was a lengthy discussion on both the Employee Handbook and the Student’s Handbook and Student Code of Conduct. The consequences of moral turpitude, including, but not limited to sex with a student or minor and receiving a DUI are addressed in the Employee Handbook. There is also a teacher dress code.

In the Student’s Handbook, there is now an expanded section on bullying, with a new definition. Also covered are the dual credit classes, the rights of parents to examine the curriculum and teaching materials used for their children and the prohibition of corporal punishment. Dress and grooming are also addressed, as is the use of cell phones. The trustees unanimously approved the Code of Conduct.

With one teacher resigning, Carol Boone was hired as probationary Kindergarten teacher for a contract of 187 days.

The districts AYP stats from the Junior High and High School did not meet the state requirement of 87% passing reading tests and 83% passing math. Collavo said that 66% of the schools in the state did not meet this requirement this year.

Collavo announced that several grades are totally closed to any transfers: first, fourth, fifth and eighth. She added that the District Inservice will be on August 20 and the Board will be introduced at noon.

Meeting adjourned at 9:13 p.m.