Olney ISD School Board Meeting Highlights

The Olney ISD School Board met throughout the summer and into the school year, working hard to ensure the Olney ISD 2021/22 school year would be a successful and smooth-running year. The following highlights will bring you up to date on what the Board has been working on.

The Board went over and approved many reports, including but not limited to: Schedule of Bank & Investments Report, Budget Summary Report, Utilities Summary Report and 2021-2022 Budget and 2021-2022 Tax Rates.

Many discussions and proposals included but not limited to: a review of the employee handbook, student handbook. The Board was informed that Barbara Herring had been hired as the Child Nutrition Director. Dr. Roach and the Board discussed various updates and improvements to the district facilities, inclusive of baseball and softball fields. Dr. Roach reviewed the recent property tax audit of Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins, & Mott, LLP. Their most recent 2019 Self Report Appeal resulted in a $5,000,000 local appraised value decrease which generated an additional $72,633 in state revenue. Dr. Roach reviewed the current year’s first-day enrollment. The high school campus reported 210, junior high campus reported 157, and elementary campus reported 278. Dr. Roach reviewed the current year’s first-day enrollment. The high school campus reported 212-up two from the first day of school, junior high campus reported 164-up seven from the first day of school, and elementary campus reported 336-up 21 from the first day of school. Dr. Roach discussed the disposal of the district’s surplus buses with options in the best interest of the district.

Items for action that took place included but not limited to: the proposed 2021-22 budget for Olney ISD was passed, the proposed maintenance and operating Tax Rate of $1.0517 and the Interest and sinking (Bond) tax rate of $0.1900 was passed, the proposed student code of conduct was passed, proposed campus improvement plans for all 3 Olney ISD schools where passed, Dr. Roach discussed the recent legislative decision allowing local education agencies to determine if homeschooled students residing within district boundaries would be allowed to participate in Olney ISD University Interscholastic League (UIL) activities, Motion to deny allowing homeschooled students residing within district boundaries to participate in Olney ISD UIL activities as discussed, with the Motion passing 6-0 for the denial, the proposal for adult cafeteria meal prices at $2.50 for breakfast and $4.25 for lunch was discussed and passed, Motion to approve a probationary contract for the 2021-2022 school year, subject to assignment, for Amy Seibert, as recommended by Gunter Rodriguez and Dr. Roach was passed, Motion to approve the purchase of the 2021 Suburban from Caldwell Country Chevrolet for $43,610 as presented was passed, Motion to approve the purchase of the 2022 71-passenger bus from Rush Bus Centers for $107,790 as presented with the addition of a bus security camera system was passed and Dr. Roach discussed options to authorize the superintendent to file a waiver for any student absent and engaged in remote conferencing in excess of the Senate Bill 15 allowable 20 days as discussed. This waiver will not be needed in lieu of administrative planning and the development of the District’s Asynchronous Remote Learning Plan. It was recommended that no action be taken. To learn more about Olney ISD Board meetings or read minutes from meetings, please visit: olneyisd.net/45209.