Board Notes: April 26, 2022

BOARD NOTES – April 26, 2022

Workshop Items

Discussion of Pre-K Board Update and Expansion
Cecilia Holt, Director of Early Childhood presented information regarding the Early Childhood Education department for the 2022-2023 school year as well as an overview of the current status of the Early Childhood education programs. The Denton ISD Early Childhood Education program provides an outstanding instructional program and services for the social and emotional development of children ages birth through age 5. The District has two child development centers – Virginia Gallian and Fred Moore Day Nursery School. Two early childhood schools – Gonzalez and Ann Windle. Ann Windle is the Head Start campus and then DISD has 20 elementary schools with Pre-K classrooms and four tuition-based campuses. Monday, April 25th there was an Early Childhood Showcase where parents could visit with the
District’s early childhood educators.

Discussion of Property/Casualty/Workman’s Compensation Insurance
Chris Bomberger, Exec. Director for Risk Management presented a workshop which outlined the Insurance Property Coverage, School Liability (Professional, General and Employee Benefit) Automobile Liability, Automobile Physical Damage, Privacy & Information Security and Violent Acts Coverage for Denton ISD effective July 1, 2022.

There has been 7 consecutive years of 10 or more billion-dollar weather and climate disaster events, building costs and inflation and cyber security events. The District has been with Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) since 1986 with general liability and auto policy insurance and has added various products since then. Utilizing prior data suggests that the District will continue to increase total Workers’ Compensation expense risk. By selecting the Aggregated Deductible Proposal, the District’s liability would be limited to a total of $863,253.

2022-2023 Budget Planning Discussion
Jennifer Stewart, Director of Budgeting reviewed the ADA projections the 2022-2023 budget will be based on. The 3% compensation pay and equity adjustments, Sandbrock Ranch opening, and the Reading Academy stipends have been included in the current 2022-2023 budget planning. Ms. Stewart reviewed the different scenarios of risk based on ADA and the percentage of estimated budget spent.

Discussion of TASB 2022-2024 Advocacy Resolutions
Deron Robinson, General Counsel and Dr. Gwen Perkins, Area Superintendent provided an overview of the resolutions proposed last year 2021. The purpose of this report is to provide an opportunity to the Board of Trustees to submit resolutions to be included in the upcoming TASB Advocacy Agenda. As the District continues to express concern and advocate for policy changes to address the capacity of public education to provide an equitable education for all Texas students. The District also realizes the power of a unified voice and the critical intertwining of these organizations in advocating for policies impacting our students, families, and community. The board annually discusses and adopts resolutions for submission to the TASB Advocacy Agenda. The call for resolutions runs from April 1, 2022, until 11:59 p.m. on June 15, 2022. Proposed resolutions are first reviewed by the TASB Resolutions Committee and then by the TASB Board. In September, the Delegate Assembly will adopt approved resolutions.

Discussion of Differentiated Staffing
Jason Rainey and Jason Liewler, Executive Directors of Human Resources provided the Board of Trustees with information regarding Differentiated Staffing for Elementary and Secondary Schools. A Differentiated Staffing plan allows campus principals, classroom teachers and support staff to meet the diverse and growing needs of all learners in the Denton ISD. The Differentiated Staffing plan honors the uniqueness of each campus within the Denton ISD. 

Texas Education Code specifies that school districts may not enroll more than 22 students in Pre-K – 4th grade unless a waiver is requested from the Commissioner. Projected class sizes for regular education classes utilize predictions based on data provided from current enrollment, early enrollment, and the demographer projections based on growth and new home builds then student-teacher ratios are applied to enrollment levels. Secondary staffing uses a factor of 1.33 x the projected student enrollment and then differentiated staffing by specific programs such as Special Education, Gifted education etc.

 

Report Items

2021-2022 Attendance Reporting - Period 5
The purpose of this report is to provide campus and district ADA percentages for the 5th Reporting Period of the 2021-2022 school year (February 22, 2022, through April 8, 2022) and to compare this data to prior years. This report will also identify current truancy prevention measures being used on Denton ISD campuses to increase student attendance. There are 27 instructional days in this 5th Reporting Period. The district ADA% for 2021-2022 Reporting Period 5 is 93.62%, this is a decrease from last school year when the ADA% was 96.78%. EP Rayzor had the highest attendance percentage for elementary campuses in Denton ISD at 97.14%. Harpool had the highest attendance percentage for middle school campuses in Denton ISD at 95.62%. Guyer had the highest attendance percentage for high school campuses in Denton ISD at 94.3%.

Other Items of Note

TAEA Student Recognition
Board Spotlight - Morgan Howell, Braswell