The Houston School District will conduct a comprehensive review of its campus needs following the defeat of a bond issue in April that would have led to the construction of a new building. The decision came Monday during a meeting of the board of education.
Attending his first board meeting since becoming superintendent, Dr. Dan Vandiver said several issues will be addressed as part of the review process:
*Teachers and patrons will be sought for their input on district needs.
*A structural engineer will make a report on the condition of the Fine Arts Building.
*The district will study its finances and look at its bonding capacity, which has increased since the original building plan was conceived.
Voters at Houston narrowly defeated the proposal in November. A new library, computer and science labs, as well as additional classrooms would have been constructed at the site of the Fine Arts Building. The plan also called for the replacement of bleachers at Hiett Gymnasium. It was the first stage of a three-prong building plan. No increase in the school’s debt levy would have resulted.
The district also plans to address the middle school building. It is seeking bids for power washing, application of an exterior sealant and caulking in hopes of preventing leaking.
The board also approved seeking bids for roof repairs at Hiett Gymnasium and the middle school. Bids will be opened Aug. 7 and considered at an Aug. 11 meeting on Aug. 11.
Security cameras also will be added on campus. A bid from Frontline Protection was accepted. Vandiver said the move would enhance district security and be helpful to administrators when handling disciplinary issues.
Technology Upgrades OK’d: Over the coming months, projectors will be installed in all district classrooms. They will allow teachers to connect their computers and display such things as Power Point presentations, Internet research and anything else they might want to show on a white board for student learning.
It will make computer information much more accessible to students, Vandiver said.
In addition to the projects, the board approved plans to install document cameras in the elementary building. The equipment can be plugged directly into the projectors and function much like an overhead projector.
A two-day training session is planned for teachers, who will receive a stipend for attending.
Textbooks Coming: The district will begin replacing outdated textbooks. The board approved spending an additional $6,000 per grade to upgrade them. “This should enable teachers and principals to make good progress toward making the textbooks available to our students current,” Vandiver said.
The board also handled several personnel matters. Members:
-Accepted resignations from Judith Williams, paraprofessional; Wayne Jessen, in-school suspension and head boys’ basketball coach; and Daphne McCormick, bus driver.
-Hired as paraprofessionals were Cindy Ortega and Jaime Sutton. Kay Stilley will serve as a bus driver.
-Employed Brent Hall as head boys’ basketball coach following the resignation of Jessen. Hall will serve as interim coach for one year.
-Willy Walker was hired to fill the in-school suspension post. Derrick Heflin will take over Hall’s responsibilities as middle school boys’ basketball coach.