LGISD School Board Hears Complaints, Finalizes Calendar
Four individuals spoke at Monday night’s school board meeting.
Two of them spoke against the proposed child and adult care food program to offer free suppers.
Another person spoke on wanting the food program to use local sources instead of federal funds and one spoke out against students wearing masks at school.
Superintendent Bill Wagner stated that the board is still gathering information on the child and adult care food program and will bring more information to the board at a later date.
School Calendar
The calendar for the 2021- 22 school year has been adopted. The students will begin the 2021-22 school year on Aug. 18 and end on May 26. Dates to remember:
• Thanksgiving Break – Nov. 22-26
• Christmas Break – Dec. 20-Jan. 4
• Early Release – Sept. 17, Oct. 29, Dec. 17, Feb. 11, Apr. 1, and May 26. Four of these dates will be used for instructional planning
• Spring Break – March 14- 18
• Easter Break – April 15-18
Missed School Waiver
La Grange ISD was closed from Feb. 16-19, 2021. The district is allowed to request a waiver of up to three days if instructional days are missed due to weather, health, safety, or other issues. The board approved the submission of the waiver request for the dates of Feb. 16-18. There were enough extra minutes in the school calendar to cover the time on Feb. 19, so no bad weather make-up days will need to be used.
Pay During Emergency Closure
The board approved a resolution regarding wage payments during the emergency school closing for all employees for the dates of Feb. 16-19, 2021.
Summer School
La Grange ISD will offer summer school classes for the following students:
1. Children in grades 5 and 8 who do not pass math or reading state assessments or are not going to be promoted to the next grade level from grades 3-8. Successful completion of summer school can help individuals move to the next grade level and summer school helps meet instructional requirements for students not passing the state assessments.
2. High school students who failed a course will have the opportunity to remediate that course through GradPoint.
3. Children who will be eligible for admission to kindergarten and first grade at the beginning of the next school year who qualify as limited English proficient (LEP).
4. A limited number of special education students.
5. Students who have been invited to attend Camp Summit for students in kindergarten through 2nd grade.
6. Students who have registered for Camp Invention.
All summer school programs will take place during the month of June.
Repairs From Winter Storm Damage
The board approved using the TASB Interlocal Agreement to procure construction-related services as presenting the best value to the district to repair and restore damages caused during the recent winter storm. La Grange ISD is a member of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Buy Board. This is a joint cooperative between the Texas Association of School Boards, Texas Municipal League, and the Texas Association of Counties. Using this agreement ensures that the district is receiving the best value for the work that needs to be completed.
The board approved a contract with Calvary Construction and Restoration for the repairs and restorations of the damages to the library and gymnasium during the winter storm. The board also approved the adoption of the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage schedule for the calendar year of 2021. This schedule insures that any worker, laborer, or mechanic is paid not less than the general prevailing rate of per diem wages. The district has a $5,000 deductible and this project is estimated to cost around $300,000.
Principals Reports
The principals from each campus gave a brief report of the activities at each campus. Here are a few of the things that each principal spoke about.
La Grange Elementary Principal Lauren Almanza was excited to report that they are fully moved into the new school and that the students are now able to eat in the cafeteria instead of the classrooms. She was also pleased to report that the new intercom system is working throughout the whole elementary school.
La Grange Middle School Principal Sarah Otto reported that they have monthly class meetings to help address some of the social/emotional issues facing the students. These meetings have helped provide support when the students are dealing with some very tough issues. They also are focusing on reteaching things that the students have not mastered.
La Grange High School Principal John Pineda told the board that the high school students have been very busy. The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), TSI (Texas Success Initiative, and the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) are all being administered. The EOC (End of Course) exams are coming up as well as the Advanced Placement exams. Students have been able to participate in UIL academic meets to prepare them for the district meet happening this week.
State Certification
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Eilers reported to the board that LGISD is in compliance with each of the following state programs: bilingual education, career and technical education, dyslexia, gifted and talented, prekindergarten notification, and state compensatory education.
Update on Possible Renovation to Leopard Stadium
The administration has continued to gather information about the possibility of making renovations to the track and field at Leopard Stadium which would include installing an 8-lane track and a turf field. Tony Nielsen of Claycomb presented up to date information concerning the progress of the possible project. He also shared information concerning drainage for the project. A new drainage system would need to be installed to adequately compensate for water to leave the site during torrential rains.
If this is a project that the board wishes to move forward on, the estimated budget for the project is to be $2-2.5 million dollars. $1,044,000 is available in the Capital Projects Fund with the additional funds needing to come from fund balance to complete the project. The board will hold a special meeting next Monday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss.
Personnel
Arcenia Auguste was hired as an educational aide at the elementary school and Melissa Walla was hired as a receptionist at the high school.
Resignations were received from Christian Clark – assistant band director, effective at the end of the current school year. Virginia Weishuhn – cafeteria worker, and Jamela Brown – educational aide also turned in resignations.
Nora Otto has announced that she plans to retire this year. Her last official day will be June 30. She will have been with the district for 35 years.
She worked for the district from 1982-1998 before leaving to work at Lutherhill. She came back to the school from 2002- 2021. For the past 15 years she has worked in the Superintendent’s Office.
Administrative Reports
Superintendent Bill Wagner gave an enrollment update and a COVID update. He reported that the current enrollment was 1,846 which is 73 less than this time last year. He said there was an uptick in COVID cases just before spring break, with 24 students and 6 staff members testing positive. He also reported the total number of online students had dropped to 52 – 35 at the elementary campus, 9 at the middle school and 8 at the high school.
Assistant Superintendent Stacy Eilers gave an update on the UIL academic competitions taking place this week.
Director of Operations Sharon Muzny said the district has applied to use the water from the Colorado River to irrigate the fields at the school. The amount of water needed is dependent on the decision of whether to install a turf field. The restoration of the damaged areas of the library and gym is planned to take place after the Easter break.