Board Approves and Authorizes Superintendent to Negotiate Real Estate Contracts

The Board of Trustees approved and authorized Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid to negotiate real estate contracts for properties for new school locations with any such contract contingent upon final approval by the board at a later date.

Board Authorizes and Accepts Donations

The Board of Trustees authorized and approved the acceptance of the following donations totaling $ 42,292:
$ 5,000 from Int'l Assoc. of Drilling Contractors (ARK- LA-TEX Chapter) to St. Louis School for to improve instruction and provide materials and equipment for students at St. Louis School.
$11,673 through the Tyler ISD Foundation from various donors for Convocation T-Shirts.
$25,619 through the Tyler ISD Foundation from various donors for teacher and campus grants.

Board Authorizes and Approves Architectural and Engineering Contracts

The Board of Trustees authorized and awarded Architectural and Engineering contracts to Eubanks-Harris-Roberts-Craig, Architects, and Corgan/Sinclair & Wright Architects.
These two firms and will design the following campuses: Eubanks-Harris-Roberts-Craig to design Clarkston, Griffin, Orr and Woods elementary schools; Corgan/Sinclair & Wright Architects to design Jones Elementary School and the St. Louis School. In preparation for the upcoming 2008 Bond election, a selection committee received RFQ responses from seventeen (17) architectural and engineering firms. At the August 2008 Board Meeting, the board approved entering into contract negotiations with the two (2) top- ranked firms (Eubanks-Harris-Roberts-Craig and Corgan/Sinclair and Wright Architects) with appropriate contracts for recommendation to follow.

Board Authorizes and Approves Purchase of Rapid Communication Service

The Board of Trustees authorized and approved the purchase of the AlertNow Rapid Communication Service in the amount of $36,000. A rapid communication service will enable the District to deliver thousands of voice messages to the home and mobile phones of all student contacts, district employees, and school board members within minutes. Aside from providing fast and effective notification for emergency situations and weather- related school closings, a rapid communication service can be used by campuses to communicate absences, remind of important deadlines, and promote campus events in both English and Spanish.

Board Authorizes and Approves Purchase of ESL Reading Intervention Program for Secondary Schools

The Board of Trustees authorized and approved the purchase of the Journey's Intervention Reading program in the amount of $80,900 to be paid to assist all English as a second language students and their teachers at the secondary level, grades 6 through 12.
The Journey's Intervention Reading program will provide all English as a second language students a consistent reading model at the secondary level. Teachers will have research-based materials, and students will enjoy the same level of support at all secondary schools in the Tyler ISD relative to reading for emerging English readers.

Bond Discussion of Jones and St. Louis Facilities

Tyler ISD Superintendent Randy Reid presented to the board an option to consider building Jones Elementary School and the St. Louis School together. Dr. Reid began conversations early in the summer with groups of staff members, parents, and St. Louis community members to discuss this possibility. Due to the federal laws that require Tyler ISD to meet the needs of St. Louis students in the least restrictive environment, Dr. Reid explained that this proposed arrangement would provide St. Louis students with an opportunity to have increased exposure to non- handicapped students. It was also emphasized that in no way will any services be reduced for the St. Louis students.

For the Jones children, Dr. Reid says the District feels it is an opportunity for growth for the Jones students to have greater interaction with special needs students.

Dr. Reid commented that the District has not received opposition to this proposal. He invited anyone to come forward who has questions about this proposal and contact the school district.

Technology Update

John Orbaugh presented to the Board of Trustees a technology update including the wiring of the remaining campuses for wireless computer networking, as well as the result of the LoJack recovery system for stolen laptops. Currently 5 laptops have been stolen from Tyler ISD. Mr. Orbaugh explained that one of these laptops has already been recovered. He said it was stolen from a portable building at Robert E. Lee High School. He said the laptop was purchased by a member of the Tyler community from a vendor in Canton, TX.
Mr. Orbaugh said the LoJack program is working, as it should, and he is pleased to return this laptop to the District and it will be returned to service in the next week.