The Bullard Independent School District Board of Trustees includes, front row (l to r), Karen Padrucco; Sam Smith, vice president (Banner Staff Photo by Don Treul) and Gary Roberts; back row (l to r), Tony Johnson, secretary; Dr. Jay Alexander, president; Brian Whatley and Michael Roy. Bullard Education Foundation President Darren Davis presented a gift of $26,832 to the Bullard Ind ependent School District.

The Bullard Education Foundation officially started in November with the promise to provide additional funding for grants and scholarships to BISD educators and students.

“We’ve raised a lot of money between then and now,” Davis said as he presented the gift to the BISD Board of Trustees at the regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 12.

David said there were more than a dozen applications and that BISD “teachers nailed it” as far as grant requests were concerned.

DAVIS Six board members voted to accept the gift, while Trustee Sam Smith abstained from voting only because he said he has some issues with the way the foundation is managed.

Davis said foundation members will likely distribute the grants in the next few weeks.

“I think its going to have a tremendous im- pact,” BISD Superintendent Keith Bryant said of the grants. “It spurs innovation and encourages teachers to go beyond just what is required.”

BISD Board of Trustees President Dr. John Alexander said the district appreciates the gift.

“We’re very proud of the effort volunteers and donors have contributed,” he said. “It helps out taxpayers to have some outside assistance.”

In other action, the board unanimously approved extending Bryant’s contract as BISD superintendent to the end of the 2012-2013 school year.

“We want our students and teachers to have a leader who will push them,” Alexander said. “We have that with Keith Bryant.”

Alexander said Bryant has been instrumental in improving students TAKS test scores across the board and especially in science.

January also is School Board Recognition Month as proclaimed by Gov. Rick Perry.

“Today’s public schools face tremendous challenges and opportunities, making the school board’s role more critical than ever before,” said James B. Crow, TASB executive director. “Local trustees diligently work with community leaders, parents, and educators to develop sound education policies. They help set high standards in the education system, encouraging us to strive to reach those goals and better prepare the next generation of leaders in our state and nation,” Crow said.

“We encourage every community to acknowledge the commitment that board service requires of more than 7,000 locally elected school board members in Texas and support them as they tackle the enormous task of governing school districts. We applaud their dedication as they offer vision and leadership and work to empower every child to succeed,” Crow said.

“We’ve got a pretty interactive board,” said Alexander, who has been a board member for five years. “It’s a good board, the best combination since I’ve been on the board.”

BISD students also were honored at the Jan. 12 meeting, including Prekindergarten students, Avery Terry and Hadison Fults; kindergarten students, Emily Bochow, Sarah Foster, Will Whisenhunt, Tristan Tamlin, Chance Hankins, Luke Morris, Holly Linebaugh and Ezrah Johnson; firstgrade students, Ariel Matula, Gage Wakefield, Hannah Grace Rogers, Jake Childs, Cole Wallace, Bryce Jewell and Landen Medley.