TISD receives Gold Performance awards

Troup ISD recognized its staff for receiving Gold Performance awards at Monday's school board meeting. Supt. Marvin Beaty presents achievement awards to high school principal Derek Driver, as well as a plaque designating Troup High School as one of the best public schools in the state as rated by Texas Monthly magazine.

Prior to Troup ISD's regular board of trustee meeting, a public hearing was held concerning taxing tangible personal property in transit which would otherwise be exempt pursuant to Texas Tax Code, Section 11.253. Jennifer Stewart, financial director for the district spoke to the issue. There was no public input.

The agenda for the regular meeting began with accolades for students and staff of the district. Awarded as students of the month were Alison Reynoso from the elementary school, Bayley Miller from the middle school and Chelsea Isaacks representing the high school.

Receiving the teacher of the month award was Suzanne Sanson from Troup Elementary. Receiving the auxiliary employee award was Melissa Eastman who is the secretary at the high school.

Supt. Marvin Beaty and curriculum director Katie Preast show off the Gold Performance awards presented to Troup ISD: Recommended High School Program, Commended Performance in Writing, Commended Performance in Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment Completion, and Texas Success Initiative in Math.

During the superintendent's report, Marvin Beaty took pleasure in presenting Gold Performance awards to the district and each campus from the Texas Education Agency.

Troup ISD received Gold Performance acknowledgments for Recommended High School Program, Commended Performance in Writing, Commended Performance in Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment Completion, and Texas Success Initiative in Math.

Troup High School received Gold Performance acknowledgments for Recommended High School Program, Commended Performance in Advanced Courses/Dual Enrollment Completion, Texas Success Initiative for Comparable improvement in Reading, Texas Success Initiative for Comparable improvement in E.L.A. and Texas Success Initiative for Comparable improvement in Math.

Elementary principal Debbie Moxley presents Suzanne Sanson as the district's Teacher of the Month.

Troup Middle School received Gold Performance acknowledgments for Comparable Improvement in Writing and Comparable Improvement in Social Studies.

Troup Elementary School received Gold Performance acknowledgments for Comparable Improvement in Math, Comparable Improvement in Reading, Comparable Improvement in Science and Comparable Improvement in Writing.

Administrative reports included a timeline and update on the softball complex, financial and technology reports and an updated report from the day care center advising the trustees that they now have 51 children enrolled and are expecting one more. Curriculum director Katie Preast presented the board with the 2006-07 AEIS report.

Two resolutions, one for Cherokee County and one for Smith County, that would keep warehoused goods taxed as they currently are was approved by the board with Kent and Keith Lindsey voting against the resolution.

A lengthy presentation was made by David Alexander and Benny Latham regarding oil and gas production and how the value is appraised for tax revenue purposes. Latham said it is appraised under an income approach to value, a direct capitalization method. Basically the tax value is driven by the amount of reser ves in the ground but it also is based on the availability to get it out and what the market will pay.

High school principal Derek Driver recognizes Chelsea Isaacks as his student of the month.

The presentation was requested by the board in hopes that it would help them to know what kind of revenues they could count on from the oil and gas production in the district. Alexander, who has been appraising in Smith County in 1978, said if "pressed to the wall" he would say to plan on a 15 percent decrease for next year.

Gar y Johnson of Halls, Johnson, McLemore, Redfield and Rodrigues, LLP gave the annual financial report for year ending August 31, 2007. His discussion of the report included no findings to present to the trustees, which is good as this means there were no problems with the information provided by the district. The board approved the report as submitted.

Photos/Suzanne Loudamy Middle school principal Ava Johnson (above) presents Bayley Miller as her students of the month, while elementary principal Debbie Moxley (right) recognizes Alison Reynoso.

Approval was granted for an educational field trip by the high school band to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in May of 2008 and the senior field trip for the class of 2008 to travel to Hot Springs, Ark.

Other items okayed by the board were a resolution approving the annual source of instruction for investments to be attended by Stewart and Beaty, a resolution approving annual investment policies and strategies and a vote to be cast for 2008- 2009 nominee, Pat Pinkerton, for the Smith County Appraisal District Board of Directors.

The board voted to approve a resolution for purchase of real property for the Cherokee County Appraisal District. Board member Bill Lacy spoke to this item and said that the current facility the district is housed in is simply too small for the number of employees. The appraisal district wishes to purchase the building next to the current offices which will drastically increase their square footage.

Brennen Pinchback from Apple Computers made a presentation of uses of Podcasting for educational uses in the classroom as well the benefits at home. The goal of this implementation would allow teachers to record and download lessons taught in class. Then students could check out IPod Nanos to take home or view the lesson from the ISD's website. This would give parents a tool to help their students using the actual lesson taught in class.

While this could be done with similar technology currently available, the equipment offered through Apple is much easier to use and offers more to the user. Director of Technology, Shannon Capps has seen this technology in use and spoken with other districts using it. She was very impressed with what it will offer their students and believes it will be a great asset. After a great deal of discussion, approval was given for the necessary budget amendments and purchase of three classroom test sets, the laptops as well as all of the warranty and professional training.

The trustees gave approval for purchase and installation of fire suppression equipment in the elementary and high school cafeterias with the necessary budget amendments. This equipment upgrade was mandated from the state fire marshal's office.

Following an executive session, the resignation of a transportation employee was accepted and a part-time second grade position was made a fulltime position through the 2008 spring semester. A licensed full time athletic trainer position was also approved.