HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-28-08 BOT Packet f
A"
Town of Westlake
Meeting Schedule
April 28, 2008
5:00 p.m. Board of Aldermen Pre-Board Meeting Civic Campus- Dining Fall;
J. T. Ottin er Road location
6:15 p.m. Board of Trustees Special Meeting Civic Campus- Board Room;
J. T. Ottin er Road location
7:00 p.m. Board of Aldermen Regular Meeting Civic Campus- Board Room;
J. T. Ottin er Road location
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING
AGENDA
APRIL 28, 2008
WESTLAKE CIVIC CAMPUS - BOARD ROOM
2600 J. T. OTTINGER ROAD
6:15 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER.
2. CITIZENS' PRESENTATIONS. This is an opportunity for citizens to address the
Board on any matter whether or not it is posted on the agenda. The Board cannot by law
take action nor have any discussion or deliberations on any presentation made to the
Board at this time concerning an item not listed on the agenda. Any item presented may
be noticed on a future agenda for deliberation or action.
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION.
A. The Board will conduct a closed session under Texas Government Code section
551.071 to seek advice of counsel on legal matters involving pending or
contemplated litigation. settlement offers. or other legal matters not related directly
to litigation or settlement, specifically related to the Texas Education Agency ruling.
4. RECONVENE MEETING.
5. HEAR A REPORT FROM THE CAMPUS LEADERSHIP TEAM REGARDING
ITS FIRST INAUGURAL SEMESTER IN THE 2007-2008 SCHOOL YEAR.
6. PRESENTATION BY EDITORS OF BLACK COW REGARDING UIL
AWARDS.
7. HEAR REPORT FROM STUDENTS REGARDING RESULTS OF STUDENT
PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE SCIENCE FAIR.
8. CONSIDER A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE
ACADEMY WITH AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT TO HELP RESOLVE
AN ISSUE WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY (TEA).
9. ADJOURNMENT.
ANY ITEM ON THIS POSTED AGENDA COULD BE DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION
AS LONG AS IT IS WITHIN ONE OF THE PERMITTED CATEGORIES UNDER SECTIONS
551.071 THROUGH 551.076 AND SECTION 551.087 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
CERTIFICATION
I certify that the above notice was posted at the Town Hall of the Town of Westlake, 3 Village Circle, and
Westlake Civic Campus,2600 J.T.Ottinger Road, Westlake, Texas,on Friday,April 25,2008,by 6 p.m. under the
Open Meetings Act,Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.
Kim Sutter,TRMC, Town Secretary
If you plan to attend this public meeting and have a disability that requires special needs, please advise the Town
Secretary 48 hours in advance at 817-490-5710 and reasonable accommodations will be made to assist you.
Item 6
4-28-08
Westlake Academy Student Newspaper Wins 47 Awards
at Texas State Scholastic Journalism Competition
The Black Cow is "Udderly Amazing"
AUSTIN —The Black Cow, the student newspaper at Westlake Academy, won more prizes at
the 2008 Texas Interscholastic Press Conference than any other school newspaper in the state.
47.
That includes 14 top-place finishes and one state championship for a 7th-grade student artist
who beat all high school students in the state.
Twenty students won prizes for their work on the monthly newspaper which gets mailed, at
the student paper's own expense, to every household in Westlake.
Leading the pack of winners is Sarah Malik, a Westlake 7th grader, who won the prestigious
"Tops in Texas Award" for student art. She beat every other student in the state in grades 6-12
for the award, the second state championship in the paper's three-year history.
Nick Ford, a 9th grader who is design editor, won the most awards with 12 in art, photo and
design categories.
Editor-in-Chief Taylor Jolissaint, a 10th grader who won six awards including four 1 st-place
finishes, notes that The Black Cow won 27 awards in last year's competition. That's a 20-award
increase in one year.
The students do the work on their own time. The public charter school offers no in-school
journalism program. The volunteer adviser is Star-Telegram Watchdog columnist Dave Lieber,
who has a son at the school. He is assisted by other parents, including Jaymi Ford, a parent
serves as the paper's general manager.
"We are bursting with pride," Lieber said. "These wonderful and talented student journalists
prove that age is no barrier when it comes to doing great work for their community."
The paper also received the top Distinguished Merit Award from the ILPC.
Here are the award winners:
Middle schoolIJunior High Category
Sarah Malik - Tops in Texas, state champion in Student Art for "Girls Scouts– You've Been
Warned," 1St Place in Junior High Category for same, 2na place for `Bandana Bonanza Scarf"
Cartoon, 1St place for "Mrs. Brizuela's Shoes."
Nick Ford (for 8th grade work)–Portrait Photo, 3rd place for "Brooke Awtry at Oasis."
Margaret Ledak–News writing, 3rd place for "It's a Tie–Election News." In-depth
News/Feature, 2"d place for "Westlake Voter's Guide –Who's Running?" In-Depth
News/Feature Package, 3rd place for "Candidate Election Package."
Taylor Braun–Editorial Writing, Honorable Mention for "Blame State for School Calendar."
Kelly Moran– Sports Action Story, Honorable Mention for "Overtime – PYP Girls
Basketball."
Sarah Titus - Personal Opinion Column, 3rd place for "Do You Dare?"
Carrie Crossley– Computer Art, 3rd place for "The Black Cow Loves You."
Item 6
4-28-08
1A High School Category
Nick Ford (for 9th grade work)— Computer Art, 1st place for "Winter Dance/Hearts & Hands,"
and 2 place for "Christmas in the Desert." Page One Design, Honorable Mention for "January
2008 Issue." Entertainment/Feature Page Design, 1st place for "January 2008 Spread" and 2nd
place for "December 2007 Spread." Double Truck Design, Honorable Mention for "Winter
Dance & Sock Hop." Feature Photo, Is' place for Westlake Heritage Day." Sports Feature
Photo, 3rd place for "Basketball Trio Shooting." Portrait Photo, 1St place for "Spotlight on Sarah
Malik," and 2nd place for "Two Best Friends." Captions, Honorable Mention for ""Patrick
Watson Taking Food."
Taylor Jolissaint —News Writing, 3rdst place for "Nov. 6th Bond Election." Editorial Writing,
1 St place for "Open Letter to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram." Personal Opinion Column, 1st
place for "My Generation Dancing Away." In-Depth News/Feature, 1 st place for "Nov. 6th Bond
Election." In-Depth News/Feature Package, 1st place for `Bond Election Package." Captions,
Honorable Mentions for "Costa Rica Spring Break" and "British Flag."
Riley Rennhack—News Feature, 3rd place for "Brizuela to Bid Farewell." Sports Action
Story, Honorable Mention, "Game of the Year—JV Girls Basketball." Personal Column, 1st
place for "All I Can Say is Thank You." Personal Opinion Column, 3rd place for "A Student
Who Wants to Understand." In-Death News/Feature Package, 3rd place for "Genocide
Package." General News Photo, 3r place for "Brizuela and Bradley Toasting Bond." In-Depth
News/Feature Package, Is` place for "Bond Election Package."
Brooke Awtry—Feature Writing, 3rd place for "He's a Trooper— Ian LaRue." Sports Action
Story, Honorable Mention for "Lady Eagles Tournament." In-Depth News/Feature, Honorable
Mention for "Save Darfur." In-Depth News/Feature Package, 3rd place for "Genocide Package."
Erik Herbst—Entertainment Review, 1st place for "The Last Mimzy."
Tyler Springer—Entertainment Feature, 1St place for "A New Spin on Fundraising."
Josh Frey— Sports Column, 1 St place for "Fool Me Once- Cowboys Story," and 2nd place for
"Disgruntled Texas Sports Fan." In-Depth News/Feature Package, 1 st place for "Bond Election
Package."
Katie Forbes — Student Art, 1St place for "Costa Rica Spring Break." Cartoon, 1St place for
"PYP Risk Taker."
Nigel LaRue — Cartoon, Honorable Mention for "Westlake Man —Messy Business."
Corey Timmerman — Student Art, 2nd place for "But Mom, She Did It."
Anisha Chandra - In-Depth News/Feature Package, 1st place for "Bond Election Package."
Clementine Cosyns - Sports Action Photo, Honorable Mention, "Connor Lenio Jump Shot."
Kent Bordelon— Captions, Honorable Mention for "Science Fair—Mrs. Kloempken."
Alex Champagne - Captions, Honorable Mention for "British Flag."
Precinct 3 Tarrant County Commissioner Cary Fickes of Southlake has invited The Black Cow
to attend the Tuesday, May 6 Commissioners' Court meeting to accept a proclamation in
honor of the student newspaper's 47 state awards. The student and town community are
invited to attend the festivities. They are meeting at 9.45 a.m. at 100 East Weatherford St. in
Mr. Fickes' 5th floor office. Aldermen, the mayor and all town and school officials and
interested community members are invited to attend. For further information, write to
westiakepaper @hotmail.com
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
MEMO
TO: Board of Trustees, Westlake Academy
FROM: Barbara Brizuela, Head of School
DATE: April 25, 2008
SUBJECT: Meeting on April 28, 2008
ITEM:
Consider a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Trustees to execute a
contract on behalf of the Academy with an Educational Consultant to help resolve an
issue with the Texas Education Agency (TEA).
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends approval.
BACKGROUND:
The Head of School and the President of the Board of Trustees met with Mr. Walt
Roberts in Austin to provide him with details of the situation and to become familiar with
Mr. Roberts who had come highly recommended by other charter schools and by our
education lawyer. We were impressed with him and encouraged by his assessment of the
situation and the confidence he had in moving this forward.
The Educational Consultant would advise and work actively on the issue of the contested
payment with TEA for educating students who were not within the transfer boundaries, as
well as work assiduously to promote in Austin the successes of the Academy.
The Board met on April 14, 2008, and discussed the proposed contract and subsequently
authorized the Mayor to renegotiate the contract. The renegotiated contact is being
brought back before the Board for consideration and approval.
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUfTION NO. 08-09
AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO
EXECUTE A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY
WITH AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT TO HELP RESOLVE AN ISSUE
WITH THE TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY (TEA).
WHEREAS, the Head of School and the President of the Board of Trustees,
acting on advice from the Board's Education Lawyer, have interviewed Mr. Walt Roberts
(Education Consultant)in Austin, Texas; and
WHEREAS, the Education Consultant proposes to provide advice to the Board
and to work on behalf of the Academy to reach a resolution satisfactory to the Board with
the Texas Education Agency concerning the charge levied by the TEA in connection with
the Academy having educated certain children who resided outside of the approved
transfer boundary; and
WHEREAS, the Head of School and the President of the Board believe that the
Education Consultant working with the Board's Education Lawyer, present the best
opportunity to finalize the case in the Academy's favor;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY:
SECTION 1: That employment of Walt Roberts as Education Consultant to the
Academy is in the best interest of the school.
SECTION 2: That the proposed contract presented to the Board is hereby
approved, and the President of the Board is hereby authorized to execute the contract on
behalf of the Academy.
PASSED AND AP'PRO'VED ON THIS 14T" DAY OF APRIL 2008.
Scott Bradley, President
ATTEST:
Kim Sutter, Board Secretary Barbara Brizuela, Head of School
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
L. Stanton Lowry, Board Attorney