WISD board discusses construction timeline
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Monday night’s Whitehouse ISD board meeting began with a lengthy executive session to consider a student/parent appeal of disciplinary expulsion. Following discussion behind closed doors, the board voted to affirm the administration’s decision. No further information was disclosed on this matter due to its nature.

Open forum afforded Earl Drott the opportunity to praise the district for several recent successes. His first compliment was for the success of passing the bond proposal to build a new elementary campus, and his second to Coach McFarlin, his coaching staff and the championship football team.

“It appears that this community is really supportive of what’s going on in our schools right now,” Drott said. He thinks this is the ideal time to rally that support and continue improvements to the current athletic facilities.

His list included installing artificial turf, upgrading the field house and bringing the seating up to a higher standard. No discussion followed since it was not an agenda item.

After consent items were approved the business moved toward discussion of a timeline for construction of the new elementary.

December 2006

· Engage architectural services

· Initiate conceptual planning with campus staff

January 2007

· Complete conceptual planning · Initiate design documents

January 16, 2007

· Select Construction Manager at-Risk

February 5, 2007 · Marketing of Bonds

March 2007

· Invest proceeds from sale of bonds

May 1, 2007

· Accept design documents and distribute for bidding

June 4, 2007 · Accept bids on project

June 11, 2007

· Tentative ground breaking and begin construction

June 16, 2008 · Accept and occupy new campus

In other matters, the board approved the architectural firm of Eubanks, Harris, Roberts and Craig for design services for the new elementary school and other facility renovations. Approval was also given for use of the Construction Manager-at- Risk as the construction delivery methods for the new elementary school and designation of the authority to rank offerors.

The construction delivery method for the Higgins Intermediate

roofing project, approval was granted for competitive sealed proposals.

The final items for consideration were presented. The 2006 Certified Tax Roll, the amended access lease agreement for Brown Elementary and authorization for the superintendent to execute lease documents were all approved by the trustees.

Information items included presentation of a survey conducted on the Holloway campus

concerning bullying prevention. Also, Monét Brown, director of personnel, presented documentation to the board that Whitehouse ISD has reached 100 percent of its faculty being considered “highly qualified.”

According to Mrs. Brown, The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 states that all teachers in core academic subject areas must be “highly qualified.” There are different ways in which a teacher can be “highly qualified” in a given subject, including passing a subject area exam, having a college major in the specific subject or having 24 semester hours in the specific subject.

“Since 2002 when districts were first required to submit a ‘highly qualified’ teacher report to the Texas Education Agency, Whitehouse ISD has met or exceeded the state required percentage. During the 2005- 2006 school year, WISD reached 100%,” Mrs. Brown stated.