United Independent School District

The meeting commenced with the Pledge of Allegiance and Texas pledge. Public comments included remarks from the TCTA President congratulating re-elected and newly elected board members, and raising concerns about board member conduct, specifically leaving executive sessions early, and attendance at committee meetings. The agenda included approval of consensus items (A through J). For individual consideration, the Board elected officers, appointing Ms. Molina as Secretary, and approved board member assignments to business and instructional committees, replacing Mr. Ramirez. Revisions to the board operating procedures were tabled until the December meeting. The Board approved several donations exceeding $1,000 for various departments and schools, including United South High School, Olmito Elementary School, the Federal Programs Department, the Athletic Department (from the golf tournament), and United High School FFA. A policy change (FFAC) regarding local wellness and health services, specifically addressing the administration of naloxone (Narcan) for opioid overdoses, was approved. The Board also approved requests for the use of discretionary funds for various campus needs, including student incentives and police department equipment like a custom canopy tent and an inflatable canine dog. Following a closed session, the Board returned to open session with no action taken in closed session, and subsequently took no action on a report regarding the requirement for detection findings.

The Business Committee meeting involved reviewing several items for the regular board meeting. Key discussion points included the monthly disbursements for February, property tax refunds for February, and a recommendation for approval of RFP 2018-366 for business continuity and disaster recovery services from SeeCore Data Solutions, which was previously approved by the Bond Oversight Committee. The committee also addressed the awarding of bids for computers, mobile learning devices, printers, and financing solutions. Further agenda items covered employment contract addendums, letters of insurance, requests from board members regarding discretionary funds, and detailed updates on local policies related to grievance procedures, conduct on school premises, and advertising/fundraising. Informational items included the superintendent's monthly finance report, noting a total cash investment balance of $221 million, and an update on pending legislative bills, specifically House Bill 3 concerning school finance.

The special called board meeting included a review of COVID-19 operational updates. Discussion points included the identification of approximately 45 employees and 108 students as positive cases, a slight reduction from the previous week, and the distribution of the COVID-19 handbook detailing mitigation measures. Staffing shortages, particularly in custodial positions, were noted, with current staff volunteering for additional duties. Protocols for case identification, intake, and the mandatory 10-day quarantine period for positive cases were detailed, including remote conferencing options for instruction. Significant attention was given to managing lunch periods and passing times to mitigate transmission risks, including utilizing larger spaces like gymnasiums and allowing outdoor dining or parent pickup for meals. The Health Authority provided an update on the severe local infection environment, citing increased pediatric cases in August (1056 cases) and resource strain, noting the lack of a pediatric intensive care unit and scarce ICU beds. The Health Authority emphasized the need to maintain mass mandates for unvaccinated populations to manage the ongoing public health disaster. Furthermore, the board discussed options like staggered days or hybrid learning, acknowledging state mandates requiring 600 minutes of instruction per term.

The Instructional Committee meeting covered several action items for recommendation to the next regular board meeting, including the approval of a resolution for credit by examination to waive an audit process since exams ordered from Texas Tech University are already validated. Another action item involved the addition of employees for Student Welfare Student Support Services, which was tabled pending interviews. The committee also discussed a class size waiver for the 2018-2019 school year for classes in Kindergarten and Fourth Grade exceeding the two-student limit, as well as the approval of regional appraisers for the 2018-2019 school year to fill vacancies. For informational review, the committee received an overview of the 2018 summer school program, detailing offerings such as Pre-K mandate, EOC, ESY, SSI, and migrant programs, and reported statistics on student recoveries and graduates.

Discussions included financial updates, noting approximately $1.271 billion in cash in the general fund, a portfolio yielding 1.4 percent interest, and administrative cost ratios. Delinquent taxes were reported, with a total of nearly $3.485 million, largely composed of property and personal property accounts. Information was provided regarding the renewal of voluntary life insurance, which showed a 7% reduction, and dental insurance, which reflected a 2.5% increase. Action items included recommendations for district-wide HVAC preventive maintenance services, the purchase of orchestra equipment and supplies, and repairs for multimedia cabling. The board also requested authorization to submit a waiver to the state to address attendance for a specific day in March 2020 due to low attendance following spring break. Furthermore, recommendations were discussed concerning teacher contracts and authorizing the superintendent to send notices following a hearing.