1 Minutes of the Regular Meeting Board
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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF EDUCATION HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT November 11, 2010 MEETING HELD - MEMBERS PRESENT The Board of Education of the Houston Independent School District (HISD) held a Regular Meeting on November 11, 2010, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the Board Services Conference Room of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 West 18 th Street, Houston, Texas. Members Present: Greg Meyers, President Paula M. Harris, 1 st Vice-President Carol Galloway, Secretary Anna Eastman, Assistant Secretary Mike Lunceford Harvin Moore Larry Marshall Manuel Rodriguez Others Present : Dr. Terry Grier, Superintendent of Schools HISD Administrators, citizens and representatives of the news media ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board adjourned at 2 p.m. to closed or executive session under Section D of Chapter 551 of Texas Government Code, Open Meetings Act, Subsections 551.071, 551.072, 551.073, 551.074, 551.076, 551.082, 551.083, and 551.084 for the purposes stated in the notice of this meeting. If any final action, vote or decision on any matter considered in the closed session shall be required, such final action, vote or decision shall be taken at the open meeting covered by this notice upon the reconvening of this public meeting or at a subsequent meeting of the Board upon notice thereof. RECONVENED IN OPEN SESSION IN THE BOARD AUDITORIUM: 5:11 PM 1 HISD Regular Board Meeting –November 11, 2010 - Page 2 MEETING CALLED TO ORDER - PURPOSE President Meyers called to order the Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of the Houston Independent School District and declared the Board convened to consider matters pertaining to the Houston Independent School District as listed on the duly posted meeting notice. PRAYER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG President Meyers invited the audience to stand and join in a moment of silent meditation and to remain standing for the pledge of allegiance, led by Cadet Lieutenant Commander Zerik Kendrick, Commanding Officer of the 3 rd Naval Battalion at Booker T. Washington High School. 2. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: • Recognition of Student Roundtable participants • Recognition of Military Veterans in tribute to Veteran’s Day • Recognition of November as American Heritage Month • Recognition of National Education Support Professionals Day • Recognition of Tisha Sinnette, Outstanding Rookie Science Teacehr of the Year • Recogniton of Elizabeth Martinez and Sara Wolf-Moreno for their recent acknowledgement by the Texas Association of Bilingual Educators • Recognition of Gabriella Gonzalez, Employee of the month for December • Kathleen Ownby, Executive Director of SPARK School Parks, presented board members with the SPARK annual calendar 3. ITEMS DISCUSSED IN CLOSED SESSION: ITEM C-1 – NO ACTION TAKEN – PRIVATE CONSULTATION WITH THE BOARD’S ATTORNEY ON MATTERS POSTED OR AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ** Any supplemental information to Agenda Items may be found in the Meeting Folder of this date located in the Office of Board Services, Houston Independent School District. 2 HISD Regular Board Meeting –November 11, 2010 - Page 3 PERSONNEL ITEM C-2a – NO ACTION TAKEN – DELIBERATE THE DUTIES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, EMPLOYEES, AND BOARD MEMBERS; SUPERINTENDENTS EVALUATION, CONSIDERATION OF COMPENSATION AND CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS ITEM C-2b – APPROVAL OF PROPOSED APPOINTMENTS, REASSIGNMENTS, TERMINATIONS/SUSPENSIONS, CONTRACT LENGTHS, NONRENEWALS, RENEWALS AND RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENTS OF PERSONNEL INCLUDING TEACHERS, ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, PRINCIPALS, ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENTS, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATORS, AND IF NECESSARY, APPROVAL OF WAIVER AND COMPROMISE RELEASE AGREEMENTS On motion by Mr. Marshall, seconded by Ms. Harris, the foregoing recommendation to approve the proposed termination of continuing contracts, term contract, probationary contracts as discussed in closed session, effective November 12, 2010, was approved with a 6-0-2 vote. Ms. Galloway opposed and Ms. Eastman abstained. A second motion by Mr. Marshall, seconded by Ms. Harris, that the Board approve the exercise of the no fault termination provision of an administrator’s performance contract and pay the administrator in accordance with the performance contract, as discussed in closed session, effective November 12, 2010, was approved with a 4-2-2 vote. Mr. Marshall and Ms. Galloway opposed. Ms. Harris and Ms. Eastman abstained. ITEM C-2c – NO ACTION TAKEN – HEAR COMPLAINTS AGAINST AND DELIBERATE THE DUTIES OF PUBLIC OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES AND RESOLUTION OF SAME ** Any supplemental information to Agenda Items may be found in the Meeting Folder of this date located in the Office of Board Services, Houston Independent School District. 3 HISD Regular Board Meeting –November 11, 2010 - Page 4 LEGAL MATTERS ITEM C-3a – NO ACTION TAKEN – MATTERS ON WHICH THE DISTRICT’S ATTORNEY’S DUTY TO THE DISTRICT UNDER THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY CLEARLY CONFLICTS WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS LAW ITEM C-3b – NO ACTION TAKEN – PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION AND STATUS REPORT ITEM C-3c – CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IN THE PERSONNEL MATTER OF HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT V. JACKIE ANDERSON; BEFORE THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY; TEA DOCKET NO. 104-LH-1510 On motion by Mr. Marshall, seconded by Ms. Harris, the board approved the proposed settlement in Houston ISD v. Anderson, TEA Docket No. 104-LH-1510, on the terms discussed in closed session with a 6-1-1 vote. Ms. Galloway opposed and Ms. Eastman abstained. ITEM C-3d – NO ACTION TAKEN - REPORT IN THE MATTER OF ADRIENNE GALLIEN V. HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; IN THE 295 TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT OF HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS; CAUSE NO. 2007-14685 ITEM C-3e –CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL IN THE PERSONNEL MATTER OF HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT V. BRENDA JOHNSON; BEFORE THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY; TEA DOCKET NO. 149-LH-0710 On motion by Mr. Marshall, seconded by Ms. Harris, the foregoing recommendation that the board approve the proposed settlement in Houston ISD v. Johnson, TEA Docket No. 149-LH-0710, on the terms discussed with legal counsel in closed session, effective November 12, 2010, was approved with a 6- 0-2 vote. Ms. Eastman abstained as, effective November 12, 2010, was approved with a 6-1-1 vote. Ms. Eastman abstained. ** Any supplemental information to Agenda Items may be found in the Meeting Folder of this date located in the Office of Board Services, Houston Independent School District. 4 HISD Regular Board Meeting –November 11, 2010 - Page 5 ITEM C-3f – CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF THE RESIGNATION AGREEMENT IN THE PERSONNEL MATTER OF LASHONDA WILLIS On motion by Mr. Marshall, seconded by Ms. Harris, the board approved the proposed settlement agreement in the personnel matter of LaShonda Willis on the terms discussed with legal counsel in closed session, effective November 12, 2010, with an 8-0 vote. ITEM C-3g – CONSIDER LEGAL ADVICE AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO TERMINATE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT AND X-NET On motion by Mr. Marshall, seconded by Ms. Harris, the board approved the proposed termination of the contract with X-Net as discussed in closed session, effective November 12, 2010, with an 8-0 vote. ITEM C-3h – NO ACTION TAKEN - CONSIDER LEGAL ADVICE AND POSSIBLE ACTION TO RATIFY INITIATION OF LITIGATION IN THE MATTER OF HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT V. UNITED STATES FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY REAL ESTATE ITEM C-4a – NO ACTION TAKEN – SALE ITEM C-4b – NO ACTION TAKEN – ACQUISTITION ITEM C-4c – NO ACTION TAKEN – TRADE APPROVAL OF MINUTES On motion by Mr. Moore, seconded by Ms. Harris, approval of minutes for meeting held on October 7, 2010, October 21, 2010 and October 28, 2010 were approved with an 8-0 vote. ** Any supplemental information to Agenda Items may be found in the Meeting Folder of this date located in the Office of Board Services, Houston Independent School District. 5 HISD Regular Board Meeting –November 11, 2010 - Page 6 4. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORTS: ITEM A-1b - MAJOR BUSINESS PROJECTS STATUS REPORTS • Benefits Status Report • Food Services Status Report • PeopleSoft Status Report • SAP Status Report • SIS Status Report Dr. Grier reported that HISD will receive a three year $1.5 million dollar grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support the effective teacher initiative and our partnership with the New Teacher Project and the design of a new teacher appraisal system. Partners and friends at the Target Foundation awarded HISD $200,000 through the HISD Foundation to create classroom libraries in low-performing elementary schools. Dr. Grier mentioned that a principal’s meeting had been held earlier in the week in the auditorium and a good bit of the meeting was spent on what it would take for their school to become an exemplary school and to increase the number of students who are scoring at the commended level or above. Principals’ broke up into small groups to share thoughts and ideas. As part of that meeting, a short video was showcased around Booker T. Washington’s Engineering Program. The video was shown to the board and members of the audience and was met with kudos from board members at the conclusion of the video presentation. 5. B-1 BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS: Mr. Rodriguez recognized all of the hard work that the administration has done involving town hall meetings for magnet, special education and the budget. Mr. Lunceford was proud to announce that Jane Long Middle School was selected as one of 54 Path Finder Schools from nearly 40 countries , by Microsoft Partners and Learning. Ms. Eastman began on a somber note to mention an unfortunate incident involving a staff member at Jeff Davis High School who recently took his life. She asked that everyone respect the community and refrain from the temptation to create rumors surrounding this tragic event. ** Any supplemental information to Agenda Items may be found in the Meeting Folder of this date located in the Office of Board Services, Houston Independent School District.