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State says Rice has excess $$
Betty Schiurring-Gold is recognized by Rice CISD Superintendent Michael Lanier for her 10 years of service, 1999-2009, as a member of the school board of trustees during their regular meeting Oct. 19. Citizen photo by Jacob Truchard
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By Jacob Truchard, News Writer
Rice Consolidated Board of Trustees honored a former board member and heard reports from principals of Eagle Lake Schools during their regular meeting Oct. 19.
Prior to the regular meeting, Assistant Superintendant Bill Hefner spoke to the school board regarding the state’s financial accountability rating during a special meeting.
Hefner said that Rice CISD was classified as “above standard achievement.”
He said that points were deducted due to the school district having an exceeding amount of money in its fund balance. This prevented Rice CISD from receiving the “superior achievement” rating this year.
“We lost points because in the state of Texas’ eyes we have too large of a cash surplus,” Hefner said. “I’ll take that problem any day.”
Hefner informed trustees the reason for the excessive amount of money in the fund balance is because the district has built up surplus to spend on construction projects, including the current construction taking place at Eagle Lake Intermediate School, within the district.
“This way we do not have to go to the taxpayer’s for money for construction,” Hefner said.
During the regular meeting, Rice CISD Superintendent Michael Lanier presented former Rice CISD trustee Betty Schiurring-Gold with a plaque for her 10 years of service on the school board.
Also during the regular meeting, Hefner gave an Eagle Lake Construction Update and said that Bass Construction of Rosenberg has proceeded with pouring the cement for the parking lot at the new Eagle Lake Intermediate School during the week and has also began erecting the framework of the structure of the building.
“Bass Construction has been doing a great job and we are continuing to meet every two weeks as the construction continues,” Hefner said.
Also, Bass Construction will work on building canopies at the Rice High School campus in the upcoming weeks.
“One canopy will be built between Rice High School and Rice Junior High and there will also be a bus canopy constructed on campus,” Hefner said. “They will also construct a bus washing station on campus.”
Eagle Lake Primary School Principal Sue Weller spoke to trustees during principal reports and said Meet the Teacher Night was a success earlier in the school year and that they were looking forward to Grandparents Week, Oct. 26-30.
She added that Colorado County Sheriff Department Officer Jeff Argo recently spoke to the students about bus/bike safety and the problems with bullying students in schools.
Weller also informed the school board that the library is currently running on a new operating system.
“The computers are up and running,” Weller said.
She concluded by saying that the school is preparing for Fire Prevention Week and that overall everything at school has been going well during the semester.
Eagle Lake Intermediate School Principal Marcus McLemore said he is very pleased with the construction taking place at the school so far and that Bass Construction has been doing a great job.
“I was first concerned with the safety with all the construction but everything has been fine at the campus,” McLemore said.
He said a Grand Central Station teacher has been on campus during the school year to assist regular education students who are having problems with instructional strategies in math, science, writing and social studies.
McLemore said Officer Argo has also visited their campus recently to talk about bike and pedestrian safety and that Mayor Mike Morales will speak to the students Nov. 20 regarding careers and ins and outs of being a mayor.
McLemore also point out that Mike Hosman visited the school and taught a taekwondo class Oct. 23 during physical education courses. Hosman owns a taekwondo school in Eagle Lake.
He said there was a lot of turnout and parental involvement during open house at the beginning of the school year.
McLemore also informed the board that he traveled to a Title I Conference in Austin, which was informative in creating diversity, instructional leadership, parent involvement and building powerful school wide discipline systems.
Other items:
Approved an interlocal agreement with Louise Independent School District for a bus lease. Rice CISD, El Campo ISD and Louise ISD are currently in a cooperative for special education services and the purpose of this lease is because Louise is in need of a bus to transport a wheel chair bound student.
Superintendent Lanier said the school district is working cooperatively with both districts to make sure the cooperative remains efficient, economic and effective.
Reviewed an addendum to the Rice CISD Student Handbook which add parameters for a student that completes Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test requirement and course requirements at times other than the end of the school year. Lanier informed trustees that students who have passed all requirements by the end of the summer will be a graduate of the preceding school year.
Assistant Superintendent Hefner informed trustees that Johnson Controls plans to install the new cooling tower on campus during the Thanksgiving holiday week.
Approved a five-year agreement with Johnson Controls for air conditioning maintenance across the district.
The Rice CISD board of trustees will meet for their next regular meeting Monday, Nov. 16 at the administration building.
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