Two trustees attend state legal seminar

Bullard ISD trustees Dr. John Alexander and Brian Whatley spent a couple of days last week attending board training - which the two hope - can be beneficial to the entire board.

The two traveled to Corpus Christi last week for training from the Texas Association of School Boards. They joined more than 500 other local trustees from across the state at TASB's Winter Governance and Legal Seminar.

The seminar offered practical continuing education for new and experienced trustees on key issues facing local districts - including sex offenders and criminal background checks, student religious expression, crisis communication and new duties for boards and superintendents.

Passed by the 80th State Legislature, boards are now charged with duties that - while some may have already had in effect - will now be mandated.

Whatley and Alexander agreed that they're still digesting the voluminous information gleaned, but they do recognize that compliance is key.

Compulsory duties include:

! Overseeing management of the district;

! Ensuring the superintendent implements and monitors procedures and programs to achieve desired results in district operations;

! Building community partnerships/relationships;

! Adopting vision statement and comprehensive goals;

! Adopting academic and fiscal performance goals;

! Ensuring the superintendent is accountable for achieving results, recognizing accomplishments, and taking action to meet performance goals;

! Establishing district and campus-level decision making processes, publishing annual; performance and financial reports, adopting budget and tax rate, conducting elections;

! monitoring district finances to ensure proper fiscal management by superintendent;

! adopting grievance procedure for personnel, students, parents and community members;

! making decisions about terminations or non-renewals of Chapter 21 employee contracts;

! must adopt an employment policy that allows each district employee to present grievances to the board; and

! must employ and evaluate the superintendent.

At its discretion the board may:

! Issue bonds and collect taxes; and

! delegate contractual authority to the superintendent wherever permitted by law.

The board must also collaborate with the superintendent to:

! Advocate and build community support

! Provide district leadership including creating a district vision statement and long-range educational plan

! Support professional development of district staff

! Periodically evaluate board and superintendent team work.

Participants also examined electronic communication, prekindergarten initiatives, the board's role in personnel and education policy updates.

In additions a series of sessions focused specifically on the needs of small school districts, touching on such issues as parental involvement and boardsuperintendent relationships.

"We're learned a lot of new things," Alexander said. "And many of our ideas and current policies were validated, but we also understand that as growth continues to come to Bullard, we must be on the forefront of all issues facing Texas schools."

Whatley agreed.

"There were great speakers, insightful workshops and it gave us an opportunity to talk and exchange ideas with board members from all sizes of districts across the state," he said. "We're facing a challenging time as board members, but we found out we're not alone."

Both Alexander and Whatley have filed for their seats - which expire this year - in the May election. Tony Johnson has filed to retain his seat as well.

As of presstime, the three were the only to file for board seats.