LGISD 2024-25 Calendar Finalized, Dooley to be LMS Assistant Principal
Here are some highlights from last week’s monthly meeting of the la Grange School Board: 2024-25 Calendar Approved The La Grange School Board approved the calendar for the 2024-25 school year at last week’s meeting. Here are the highlights from the calendar:
• The first day of school for the 2024-25 school year will be Thursday, Aug. 15.
• The school holidays include: Monday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day), Friday, Oct. 4 (open football Friday) Monday-Friday), Nov. 25-29 (Thanksgiving week), Dec. 23-Jan. 7 (Christmas break), Monday, Jan. 20 (MLK Day), Monday-Friday, March 10-14 (Spring Break), Friday and Monday, April 18 and 21 (Easter break/ bad weather make-up days), and Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day).
• Professional development and other teacher workdays include: Aug. 5-14, Oct. 14-15, Jan. 8, Feb. 17, and May 23. Note that while these are not school holidays as the teachers will be working, the students will not be in attendance on these days.
New Book List Presented There were a total of 104 books presented for approval to purchase at last week’s meeting – 76 for the elementary library and 28 for the middle school/high school library. The board has 30 days after the presentation to present objections to purchasing any of these books. That date is March 20.
The next school board meeting after that will be Monday, March 25 at which time the board will vote on the purchase of these books.
Budget Amendments
There were three budget amendments presented and approved.
• $2,000 in funds needed to be transferred from Curriculum and Development (Function 13) to School Leadership (Function 23) for the elementary administration team to attend the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association (TEPSA) conference this summer. The money needed to be transferred at this time to take advantage of the early bird registration discount.
• $6,500 needed to be transferred to a different function. It was recently discovered that the semi-annual grease trap maintenance (cost $6,500) must be paid by Facilities Maintenance and Operations (Function 51) and not from the Child Nutrition Program (Fund 240/Function 35.) Therefore these funds will need to come from School Transportation (Function 34.)
• Another recent discovery has been an electric safety hazard at the baseball and softball fields. Maintenance Supervisor, Karl Keilbach, is certified and able to make the repairs, however, the parts and supplies needed will cost approximately $13,000. These funds would be paid from Facilities Maintenance and Operations (Function 51,) but will need to be transferred from School Transportation (Function 34.)
Resolution to Pay Employees During Recent Closing
The board approved a resolution to pay all employees for Jan. 16, 17, and 24 as out of safety for the students and staff, the school was closed on those days and those days will not be made up.
Administrative Reports
Superintendent Andy McHazlett reported that the current enrollment is 1,922 students with 1,013 at the elementary school, 310 at the middle school and 599 at the high school.
He stated that for the two school board positions up for re-election, Place 6 has three candidates, Calvin Mersiovsky (incumbent), Ryan Kleiber, and Verlia Mosley-Rhodes while Place 7 has only one candidate, Karen Roberts. The election will be held on May 4, 2024.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Eilers reported that high school UIL academic meets are well underway.
Director of Operations Sharon Muzny told the board that the high school passed the school safety audit without any difficiencies. Also the La Grange ISD emergency operations plan was audited and approved by the Texas School Safety Center. There was a lockdown drill on Feb. 13. There were five law enforcement departments who participated in this – La Grange Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, the game warden’s office, and Constable Pct. 1. There were 17 officers who came out to assist on the lockdown drill. One of the troopers who has done these drills all across the state told Muzny that he was really impressed with the protocols and procedures that LGISD had in place.
Property Purchased
The Sedalia Washington estate offered the district the opportunity to purchase the property that her house sits on as it is adjacent to the tennis courts and the practice football fields. The district was able to purchase the property for $63,750 which includes the asbestos abatement which must take place as the building will be demolished to allow for use of the land.
Personnel
The board approved contracts for the following personnel for the 2024-25 school year: Blake Dooley-middle school assistant principal; Melody McKee-transfer from middle school art teacher/ coach to middle school physical education teacher/coach; Rhea Wagner-transfer from diagnostician to school psychologist (LSSP.) Also hired was Michael McKee as a bus operator.
Administrative contract renewals and extensions were approved.
Resignations were received from: Dawn Cowen-3rd grade elementary teacher; Rebecca Gerecke-middle school teacher/coach; Charles Griste-high school science teacher (AP physics and AP chemistry); Sherrie Tolbert-5th grade elementary teacher. Resignations were also received from Nita Behrenshigh school education aide; Roy Rogers-maintenance; Virginia Weishuhn-high school/middle school food service.