Board Briefs

Regular Meeting - Oct. 17, 2022

View full board meeting agenda

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Action as Needed from Executive Session

•  Request for Approval of Routine Personnel Items View agenda item 7A│View video item 7A  
  • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to the request for approval of routine personnel items including new administrators/vacancies, new teachers and professional support staff employed, resignations and retirements.
• Request for Approval of the Superintendent Evaluation for 2021-2022 View agenda item 7B│View video item 7B 
  • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine's 2021-2022 annual performance evaluation contract. She was praised by board members for her fiscal management, including stellar financial audit ratings, the careful and thoughtful spending of the one-time ESSER III funds, as well as the efficient execution of 2017 Bond projects, which continue to be on time and on budget. 
• Request for Approval of the Superintendent's Contract View agenda item 7C│View video item 7C  
  • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve and extend the term of Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine's contract in March 2022. Her current five-year term, which started July 1, 2022, is the maximum term allowed by law and runs through June 30, 2027. Therefore, no action was necessary at this time.

Public Hearing 

• Public Hearing on the District's 2021-22 Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) View agenda item 8│View video item 8

  • Trustees discussed Spring Branch ISD’s Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) rating. FIRST aims to improve the management of a school district’s financial resources. The 2021-22 rating is based on an analysis of data for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. Districts were rated Superior, Above Standard, Meets Standard or Substandard. Spring Branch ISD received a 2022 rating of Superior. Trustees informed parents and taxpayers of the rating through a public hearing where the program and results were explained.

Discussion and Possible Adoption of Policy

• Policy EFB (Local) View agenda item 9A│View video item 9A  
  • Trustees discussed the adoption of Policy EFB regarding instructional resources, specifically library materials. Board member Lisa Alpe mentioned that public comment had previously been open for 30 days and a total of 171 comments were received surrounding the policy. The process of having parents opt-in or opt-out of the restrictive access to books was briefly discussed. Dr. Blaine noted that the process would be similar to parents filling out new school year packets and would be included with registration forms. The board came to an understanding that the policy needed minor changes and Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to make two amendments to the policy. Trustees then approved the amended Policy EFB (Local) for Instructional Resources, Library Materials with a vote of 5-0 with two abstentions. There was also a motion to lift the pause on book purchases and book fairs. However, Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine disapproved as she mentioned that she would prefer for staff to receive training and be informed on the policy before allowing access. That motion was withdrawn.

Action Items Approved 

• Request for Approval of 2022-2023 Performance Objectives View agenda item 10A│View video item 10A 
  • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the 2022-23 Performance Objectives that were discussed at the Oct. 3, 2022 board workshop. 
• Request for Approval of 2022-2023 Targeted Improvement Plan for Spring Oaks Middle School View agenda item 10B│View video item 10B
  • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the 2022-23 Targeted Improvement Plan for Spring Oaks Middle School that was discussed at the Oct. 3, 2022 board workshop. 
• Request for Approval of a Resolution for Bullet-Resistant Shields for SBISD Peace Officers Grant for 2022-2023 View agenda item 10C│View video item 10C
  • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve that the Bullet-Resistant Shields for SBISD Peace Officers Grant be implemented in the 2022-23 school year and designated Dr. Blaine as the grantee's authorized official.  
• Consent Agenda Action Items View agenda item 11│View Consent Agenda item
  • Request for Approval of Budget Status Summary Report with Budget Amendment as of September 30, 2022 
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the Budget Status Summary Report with Budget Amendment. 
  • Request for Approval of Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Budget Changes as of September 30, 2022 
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the Facility Improvement Program Monthly Status Report with Project Budget Changes. 
  • Request for Approval of Contract Awards 
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Contact Awards. 
  • Request for Approval of Teacher Appraisers for the 2022-2023 School Year 
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Teacher Appraisers for the 2022-2023 School Year. 
  • Request for Approval of the Addendum to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Spring Branch ISD and Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association 
    • Trustees voted 6-0 with one abstention to approve the Understanding (MOU) between Spring Branch ISD and Spring Branch-Memorial Sports Association. 
  • Request for Approval of Acceptance of Gifts 
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the Acceptance of Gifts. 
  • Request for Approval of Grant Awards and Other Services
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Grant Awards and Other Services. 
  • Request for Approval of Payroll and Operating Expenses - September 2022 
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Payroll and Operating Expenses. 
  • Request for Approval of Tax Overpayment Refunds (Sec. 31.11)
    • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Tax Overpayment Refunds (Sec. 31.11).
  • Request for Approval of Minutes for School Board Meetings 
    • Sept. 09, 2022 - Retreat/Workshop
    • Sept. 19, 2022 - Regular Meeting
      • Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) to approve Minutes for School Board Meetings: Sept. 09, 2022 - Retreat/Workshop and Sept. 19, 2022 - Regular Meeting. 

Reports and Updates

• Discussion of Educational Specifications View agenda item 12│View video item 12
  • Dr. Jennifer Blaine led the discussion on educational specifications and how the design of a facility impacts student learning. Dr. Blaine discussed with the board how Spring Branch ISD strives to provide the best education for Every Child and to be effective, they must provide students with experiences that promote their communication and problem-solving skills. Dr. Blaine mentioned how important it is for students to have access to collaborative spaces throughout the facility from an early age to develop those competencies.

Recognitions and Celebrations

• SBISD News View agenda item 4A│View video item 4
  • The Spring Branch ISD Communications Department shared a video spotlighting news events happening throughout the district over the past month.

October 2022 from SBISD on Vimeo.

• Recognition of National Merit Semifinalists and National Hispanic, African American and Indigenous Recognition Awards View agenda item 4B│View video item 4

  • The 2022-23 National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalists and students represented in the College Board National Recognition Programs, were recognized during the board meeting. Their principals and families were in attendance as they were recognized by Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Blaine and board members.  

View full photo gallery 

2023 National Merit® Scholarship Semifinalists include: 

• Memorial High School: 
  • Daphne Chen 
  • Xinyi Fu 
  • Chase Goodwin 
  • Stephanie Han 
  • Sarah Hwang 
  • Jonathan Ji 
  • Heesoo Kim 
  • Ayush Kothari 
  • Emma Linscomb 
  • Aiden Madaffri
  • Bradley Marrs 
  • Ameya Matele 
  • Camilla Pearson 
  • John Scafide 
  • Alexa Shields 
  • Sarah Son 
  • Meredith Vajdos 
  • Humphrey Xu 
  • Richard Ye 
  • Joshua Yue 
  • Logan Zaozirny 
  • Yundi Zeng 
  • Kaitlyn Zhu 
• Spring Branch Academic Institute: 
  • Katrina Kasyan 
  • Matthew Seiler 
  • William Youngblood 
• Stratford High School: 
  • Susanna Gauderman 
  • Caleb Xu 
• Westchester Academy for International Studies: 
  • Annabel Endicott 

National Hispanic Recognition Recipients

Memorial High School:

• Alexander Buheis
• Alyssa Landa
• Ana Rizo-Patron
• Ava McCord
• Barbara Guajardo
• Carolina Noyola
• Catalina Cortes
• Diana Puerta
• Eduardo Aguado
• Franshesca Arnao Perez
• Garrett Behan
• Jackson Rinehart
• Kassidy Kitchel
• Liliana Trevino
• Luke Mendez
• Madeline Stieglitz
• Marc Del Amo
• Patrick Jamison
• Raquel Olivares
• Sebastian Warren
• Stephen Powers
• Sydney Perlick
• Tiago Sousa 

Northbrook High School:

• Cesar Alvarado-Hernandez
• Angel Campos-Castelan
• Erick Lucero
• Dalia Nambo
• Kimberly Villalta
• Samuel Jimenez
• Sarah Jimenez

YES Prep at Northbrook High School:

• Daniel Guillen
• Emmanuel Zapata
• Jorge Garcia
• Lizabeth Valencia
• Noemi Hernandez

Spring Woods High School:

• Daniel Ramirez
• Denise Sanchez
• Gia Atzin
• Ian Sotuyo
• Isaac Gutierrez-Lopez
• Jesus Silva
• John Hernandez
• Kaylie Dyer
• Kevin Soto
• Luke Zermeno 

 Stratford High School:

• Ana Salmain
• Anna Sanchez
• Cordelia Portales
• Dany Sosa
• Edward Tejada
• Emily Mica
• Gabriela Ocampo
• Gabriela Mirza
• Hannah Moreida
• Isabel Keery
• Juan Pablo Zambrano
• Luis Heredia
• Nicholas Castro
• Sophia Benner
• Victoria Jimenez
• William Jones

Westchester Academy for International Studies:

• Alexander Guzman
• Andrea Mejia
• Ashley Diaz
• Camila Trujillo
• Mohammed Moaz Elsayad
• Philippine Brossard
• Roy Guajardo
• Sarah Pena
• Stayce Mejia Garcia
• Victor Perez

National African American Recognition Recipients

Memorial High School:

• Tiago Sousa 

Spring Woods High School:

• Micah Jenkins 

Stratford High School:

• Asia Mackey
• Brianna George 

Westchester Academy for International Studies:

• Jonathan Barnes 

National Indigenous Recognition Recipient

Stratford High School:

• Zachary Prudhomme