HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-07-17 BOT Min WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING
August 7, 2017
PRESENT: President Laura Wheat, Trustees: Michael Barrett, Alesa Belvedere, Carol
Langdon, and Rick Rennhack. Wayne Stoltenberg arrived at 6:53 p.m.
ABSENT:
OTHERS PRESENT: Superintendent Tom Brymer, Assistant to the Superintendent
Amanda DeGan, Board Secretary Kelly Edwards, Executive
Director Dr. Mechelle Bryson, PYP Principal Rod Harding, PYP
Assistant Principal Beckie Paquin, Secondary Principal Stacy
Stoyanoff, Secondary Asst. Principal Jennifer Furnish, Registrar
Ange Bumgarner, Director of Finance Debbie Piper, Director of
Human Resources &Administrative Services Todd Wood,
Director of Facilities and Parks & Recreation Troy Meyer, Director
of Communications Ginger Awtry, and Director of Information
Technology Jason Power.
Work Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
President Wheat called the work session to order at 5:13 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
President Wheat led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and Texas flags.
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3. REPORTS
a. Report regarding international teachers, a review of the immigration status of non-
permanent residents employed at Westlake Academy.
b. Report regarding Faculty Turnover and student/teacher ratios for the 2016-2017
school year, including comparisons with surrounding districts and IB charter schools
for the 2015-2016 school year.
Trustee Rennhack asked for discussion regarding this item.
Discussion ensued regarding tenure, average tenure, various reasons for leaving such
as personal growth and commutes, rates of ISDs, and legacy teachers.
Additional discussion ensued regarding how we support our teachers, the on-
boarding process and cost, and deeper dive into the numbers.
c. Report regarding the New School Year 2017-2018 School Focus/Theme.
4. DISCUSSION ITEMS
a. Discussion and overview of the IMES2017 and Summer Student Travel.
Mr. Harding, Mrs. Busico-Flight, and Dr. Bryson provided a presentation and overview
of the summer travel and events.
Discussion ensued regarding locating a school in Canada for the Exchange Program,
increasing the number of partner schools to ten (10), breadth of the entire student
body, and participation costs.
b. Presentation and discussion regarding STAAR EOC results and student assessments
completed during the 2016-17 school year.
Mrs. Furnish, Mrs. Paquin and Dr. Bryson provided a presentation and overview of
the testing results.
Discussion ensued regarding the English results and changes in the exam, Lucy
Calkins program, and that there was not an option to reschedule testing for Grade 8
students.
c. Presentation and discussion regarding the 2017 Westlake Academy (WA) student
performance on International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP)
assessments.
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Mr. Stoyanoff and Dr. Bryson provided a presentation and overview of the
assessments.
Discussion ensued regarding number of students missing the diploma by a point,
tracking high performance, reasons for the low Spanish ab-initio results, and
predicting grades. In 2020 they will be changing tracts in IB Math, increasing skills
for MYP students by additional practice, grammar, pacing in the Senior year, social
skills and AP Scholars.
S. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS LISTED ON THE REGULAR MEETING
AGENDA.
No additional discussion.
6. BOARD RECAP / STAFF DIRECTION
Deeper dive into the turnover numbers, evaluate if possible an achievable goal and
establish a plan.
Review methods to increase participation in International Mindedness.
Methods to improve student social skills as necessary.
Review screening process for hiring DP Teachers and beyond.
7. ADJOURNMENT
President Wheat adjourned the work session at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
President Wheat called the regular session to order at 7:01 p.m.
2. ITEMS OF COMMUNITY INTEREST
Ms. Awtry provided an update regarding the upcoming events.
3. CITIZEN COMMENTS
No one addressed the Board.
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4. CONSENT AGENDA
a. Consider approval of the minutes from the June 5, 2017, meeting.
b. Consider approval of Resolution 17-09, Amending the Westlake Academy
Personnel Manual for the 2017-2018 school year.
c. Consider approval of Resolution 17-10, Awarding the bid for property/casualty
insurance products and services to Box Insurance Agency for FY 2017-2018 in the
amount of$135,460.00.
d. Consider approval of a Resolution 17-11, Authorizing the Superintendent to
Execute a Contract with the Education Service Center Region 11 for various
Business and Student Support Services for the operation of Westlake Academy.
MOTION: Trustee Stoltenberg made a motion to approve the consent
agenda. Trustee Langdon seconded the motion. The motion
carried by a vote of 5-0.
S. CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING AND CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION 17-12,
APPROVING THE AMENDED YEAR-END BUDGET FOR WESTLAKE ACADEMY
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2017 AND ADOPTING THE
PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING AUGUST 31, 2018.
Dr. Bryson and Mrs. Piper provided a presentation and overview of the highlights for the
2016-2017 school year. They also provided an overview of the challenges for the 2017-
2018 school year.
Discussion ensued regarding monthly enrollment meetings, ISD spending on facilities,
student capacity with the current campus configuration, number of school days, Career
and Technical Education (CTE) funding, state funding as discussed during the special
legislative session, resident enrollment percentage increase, maximum acceptance of
students, and enrollment boundaries.
President Wheat opened the public hearing.
No one addressed the board.
President Wheat closed the public hearing.
MOTION: Trustee Rennhack made a motion to approve Resolution 17-
12. Trustee Barrett seconded the motion. The motion carried
by a vote of 5-0.
6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No future agenda items.
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7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Board, President Wheat asked for a motion to
adjourn the meeting.
MOTION: Trustee Belvedere made a motion to adjourn the regular session.
Trustee Langdon seconded the motion. The motion carried by a
vote of 5-0.
President Wheat adjourned the regular session at 7:59 p.m.
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2017.
ATTEST:
Laura Wheat, President
Kelly Edwards)Board Secretary
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