Spurger ISD Board hears reports

By Mollie LaSalle
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SPURGER – The board of trustees held their monthly meeting last Thursday in the John Mooney Hicks Administration Building, and after a quorum was established, quickly began addressing agenda items.

On the consent agenda, the minutes, list of T-TESS appraisers, ARD administrative designees, review committees, and instructional materials committees for the 2022-23 school year for the elementary and junior high/high school were all approved in short order.

Moving on to the regular agenda, the first item was the approval of the final budget amendment(s) for 2021-2022. The next item was the approval of stipends and staffing. The third item was the approval of the 2022-2023 budget, and next the board approved an ordinance adopting the tax rate for 2022-23. The next two items were not discussed; number five was the tax appraisal district representative report to the board (appraiser was not in attendance), number six was the approval of purchases over $25K (this was tabled). The SHAC wellness plan (student health and activities) was approved; this centers mainly around the nutrition requirements that the district must adhere to per USDA guidelines. Nutrition, physical activity and other plans are in place throughout the school year to keep the students engaged and healthy and ready to learn. The board also approved the shared service agreement with SETX Regional Day School program for the deaf and approved the innovative and college course transition program. 

The board set a time for goal setting for the district for Sept. 15, at the next regular board meeting; the first goal is student performance. 

Elementary principal Jason Drake presented his report to the board and reported that the week of August 15 showed and enrollment of 189 students, the week of August 22 showed an increase of seven students, up to 196. The Back to School Bash was a big hit with students, parents and staff; everyone is excited to have a successful year. 

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Jr High/High School principal Michael Hatton was equally enthusiastic about the new school year; enrollment at both campuses was at 156, and the total as of August 25 was up to 354. “We are getting the kids involved as much as we can and have already started volleyball and cross-country” Hatton added. 

Security (police) are present campus wide at all times throughout the day, and all staff are looking forward to building good community relations. All doors are shut and locked and visitors must go through a visitor check-in to enter the building(s). All staff are required to wear ID badges. 

Hatton was excited to announce new staff for the junior high and high school campuses. Cindy Alaniz is a HS Science teacher; John Carlisle is a junior high/HS coach; John Cooley will teach HS science and coach; Donna Martin is the new ag teacher; Corey Maxwell is on board as the new welding instructor and Jennifer Wyse will be the new art/web design instructor. 

Superintendent Morgan Wright gave an enthusiastic first (new school year) report to the board next. He was pleased with the district’s academic performance report(s). The new gutters have been installed around the campuses, (and are being put to good use with the recent rains). The security fencing is almost complete, and the new Special Ed bus arrived early (last week), “it wasn’t supposed to arrive until October” Wright said. Overall, Wright is pleased with the progress being made district wide already and looks forward to another successful year for Spurger ISD. 

The next regular meeting of the board of trustees of Spurger ISD is set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 15.