Story and photos by Judy Griffin, Forney Messenger

The Forney school board held their monthly meeting Monday evening, June 1.

Two trustees took the oath of office, and the board also approved 12 new full-time positions. In addition, they employed 12 professional contract personnel.

The meeting was called to order by board president David Walker with all trustees present except Tony Fitzgerald.

Trustee John L. Taylor gave the invocation. A. J. Hampton, a fifth grader at Criswell Elementary, led the pledges to the U. S. and Texas flags.

The first item of business was for President Walker to issue certificates of election to newly-elected trustee Charles Treadway and re-elected trustee Bruce Benedict. Judy Sacco, secretary to the school superintendent, administered the oath of office to Treadway and Benedict.

Outgoing board member Tony Fitzgerald was unable to attend for the presentation of his appreciation plaque. The plaque will be sent to him.

The next item on the agenda was to organize the Board of Trustees and elect new board officers. Superintendent Dr. Darrell Brown presided during the election of Board President. Trustee Becky Dobbs nominated David Walker for Board President and the nomination was seconded by trustee John L. Taylor. All trustees voted in favor.

Walker then asked for nominations for board vice president. Trustee Keith Bell nominated trustee John L. Taylor, with a second by trustee Bruce Benedict. All trustees voted in favor.

Walker next asked for nominations for Board Secretary. Bruce Benedict nominated Keith Bell. John L. Taylor seconded this nomination and all trustees voted in favor.

There was one consent item—to approve the minutes of the meetings held May 4 and May 14. Taylor moved to approve both sets with no additions or corrections. Trustee Greg Pharris seconded. All trustees voted in favor.

Under the architect’s/construction manager’s report, Jim Hawkins of Gallagher Construction Services reported that North Forney High School’s interior is almost finished. The landscaping is almost completed, as well as the exterior of the building. “Everything is beginning to shape up,” Hawkins said.

The main access to NFHS, Mason Boulevard, is scheduled to open July 15, and the sewer system is already operational, Hawkins related.

During the meeting, trustees approved the following agenda items by unanimous vote:

* Approved 2009-2010 student accident insurance as required by the Interscholastic League (UIL). FISD Chief Financial Officer Dwayne Thompson requested that the district approve the same carrier—Gentry. Motion to approve: Bell; seconding: Treadway.

* Approved the purchase of furniture/equipment for the choir at North Forney High School from Wenger Corporation at a cost of $31,784.00, to be funded through bond money. Motion to approve: Taylor; seconding: Becky Dobbs.

* Approved the purchase of furniture/equipment for two classrooms at NFHS from Sax, a division of School Specialties, at a cost of $25,491.89. This purchase is funded with bond money. Motion to approve: Pharris; seconding: Treadway.

* Approved the purchase of two pianos for NFHS from Family Music at a cost of $22,800.00. The purchase will be funded with bond money. Motion to approve: Taylor; seconding: Benedict.

* Approved the renewal and extension of the district’s Workers Compensation contract for five years beginning September 1, 2009 in the amount of $151,842.00 from Scarbrough, Medlin & Associates. This amount will funded through the district’s Maintenance and Operation (M&O) fund. Motion to approve: Bell; seconding: Treadway.

* Approved bids for baseball fields and football field lighting from BuyBoard at NFHS at a cost of $963,992.00. Motion to approve: Taylor; seconding: Benedict.

* Approved replacing the light poles at Brown Middle School at a cost of $48,228.00. The work will be done by Liteco Electric. The light pole damage to be repaired was caused by wind in a storm that occurred earlier this spring. Motion to approve: Bell; seconding: Taylor.

* Approved the fueling station at NFHS and the FHS bus barn at a cost of $74,256.00 from Eary Holloway. This purchase will be financed through bond funds. Motion to approve: Bell; seconding: Dobbs.

* Approved revisions to the 2009-2010 school calendar affecting two employee days. The request does not affect student instruction. Motion to approve: Pharris; seconding: Treadway.

* Approved an interlocal agreement with the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office for a substation to be located at the bus barn at NFHS as requested by Assistant Superintendent Donna Sweaney. In a memo to the board, Mrs. Sweaney said the substation would be an advantage from a security standpoint throughout the school year and would also serve as a deterrent to vandalism and other crimes at night and during the summer.. Motion to approve: Bell; seconding: Benedict.

* Approved a new program for 2009-2010—campus mentor liaisons, who will be paid a yearly stipend. There will be one liaison per campus and two at the high school. Motion to approve: Dobbs; seconding: Benedict.

* Approved Pitsco software purchases for Forney High School and North Forney High School. Motion to approve: Taylor; seconding: Bell.

* Reviewed, through a Power Point presentation by Assistant Superintendent Linda Jacobs, the projected TAKS scores. Mrs. Jacobs compared the TAKS scores from 2006 through 2009, showing that the district had made gains in all areas and grade levels. It is projected that FISD will be a Recognized district and that five elementary campuses will be Exemplary. Four campuses are projected to be Recognized, and three are projected to be Acceptable. No board action was required following this report.

* Received an update on the NCLB Highly Qualified Report from Assistant Superintendent Donna Sweaney. This report shows that 100 per cent of Forney ISD teachers have received the highest quality professional development. No board action was required following this update.

* Trustees held the first reading of TASB Policy Update #85, affecting local policy. No board action was required. This item will be placed on the June 29 agenda for board approval.

* Trustees received information concerning the proposed 2009-2010 preliminary budget from Chief Financial Officer Dwayne Thompson.

Trustees held an executive session from 8:29 p. m. to 9:26 p. m. to consider employment of professional contract personnel and the Superintendent’s contract. Upon returning to open session, Walker asked for a motion to employ professional contract personnel as recommended. Dr. Taylor moved to employ all of the personnel as presented, with a second by Benedict. The following were employed Monday night: Rebecca Anthony, FHS teacher, Health Science Technology; Amanda Archer, Administration, Instruction Facilitation – Language Arts; Barbara Bredemeier, FHS Assistant Principal – Curriculum and Instruction; Mallory Cowgill, Warren MS teacher, Social Studies; Brandie Davis, Smith ES teacher, math; Lauren Douglas, Claybon ES teacher, fourth grade; Scott Fisher, Claybon Elementary Principal; Juan Garcia, Warren Middle School teacher, Inclusion Math/coach; Theresa Hale, Criswell ES Assistant Principal; Bart Holloway, FHS teacher, Social Studies/head basketball coach; Brandi Maldonado, NFHS teacher, English/journalism; and Jim Stewart, Smith ES teacher, sixth grade science.

The board also approved the following new additional full-time positions: Assistant Principal at Brown MS; Assistant Principal at WMS; Health Science Technology teacher at FHS; Family and Consumer Science teacher at FHS; Special Ed Behavior Unit teacher at BMS; Special Ed Inclusion teacher at WMS; two teachers at Henderson ES; math teacher at DAEP; P. E. aide at Criswell ES (per enrollment numbers); P E. aide at Blackburn ES (per enrollment numbers); Special Ed aide at Criswell ES (per needs); and a bilingual clerk at Administration.

Concerning the Superintendent’s contract, Keith Bell made a motion to extend the Superintendent’s contract for one year and to increase his salary by 2 per cent and add the benefit of dental insurance to the contract. This will give the superintendent a three-year contract until 2012. Trustee Greg Pharris seconded and all Trustees voted in favor.

There was no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 9:31 p. m. The next meeting will be Monday, June 29 with a budget and tax rate hearing at 6:00 p. m. and a special called meeting and regular meeting at 7:00 p. m. At this meeting, the budget will be adopted and the 2009-2010 tax rate will be set.

There will be no regular trustee meeting in July.

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This story and any accompanying photo(s) were originally published in the Forney Messenger and are Copyright © 2009, Forney Messenger, Inc. and have been used by permission. The Forney Messenger is the publisher of Kaufman County’s oldest newspaper and may be found online at www.ForneyMessengerInc.com.

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