Structural upgrades and building improvements to district facilities were just some of the agenda items approved by the Longview ISD Board of Trustees during their regular meeting Monday, February 13th.
An elevator located near the library at Longview High School requires extensive repairs and updates. Mr. Mike Gipson, LISD Maintenance Supervisor, explained that the elevator is from the original construction of the high school back in 1976.
"There have been instances where staff and students have become briefly stuck in the elevator," he said. "In order to ensure safety while on campus, we felt the need to repair and replace the elevator."
Dr. Wayne Guidry, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, said the district accepted a bid proposal of $103,000 from Arlington-based Oracle EMR Elevator.
"With the approval of the contract, the repairs for the elevator should begin sometime this summer," he said. "It will include a variety of replacement parts such as a new car operating panel, new door operator, and new signal fixtures."
Mr. Gipson added that "the project is expected to take between 6-8 weeks to complete."
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Warehouse Repairs
Trustees also approved a bid of $915,020 from Longview-based Curtis-McKinley Roofing & Sheet Metal to repair damages to the district warehouse at 1000 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Initial damages were sustained in the hailstorm on Jan. 19, 2022.
Dr. Guidry told board members that the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Risk Management Fund has facilitated the process for the installation of a new roof.
"The administration feels it is in the best interest of the district to accept the proposal, and TASB Risk Management has agreed to fund this proposal," he added.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
New Air Filters for Campuses
Board members later approved using $163,000 in grant funds for the purchase of MERV 13 Air Filters for district campuses.
Dr. Guidry told trustees that in 2022 the district received a Covid-19 health grant in the amount of $319,855 and "improving indoor air quality is one of the allowable expenditures in this grant."
"MERV 13 air filters use both charged fibers and traditional mechanical filtration principles to immediately grab and trap airborne contaminants," he said. "These upgraded filters block 98 percent of pollutants and will be installed throughout the district."
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Superintendent's Report
During the Superintendent's Report portion of the meeting, the Technology Student Association gave a presentation to the board about the program's benefits to Longview students, as well as some of their recent accomplishments.
Other items in Dr. James Wilcox's report included the various facility updates being considered for the different campuses, including new water fountains that can fill water bottles at the high school, and improvements to campus Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning units.
Also included was the latest Teach Worthy Report, the RAPTOR (Rapid Algorithmic Prototyping Tool for Ordered Reasoning) data from the Office of Innovation, as well as updates on LISD Summer Programs.
In addition, Dr. Wilcox received presentations from public school charter partners: East Texas Advanced Academies (ETAA), Longview Educates and Prospers (LEAP), and the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS).
Public Hearing
Board members also held a public hearing over the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR).
The Texas Education Code requires each district's Board of Trustees to publish an annual report that includes the TAPR Report, campus performance objectives, a report of violent or criminal incidents, and information received under the Texas Education Code 51.403(e) from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Performance is shown disaggregated by student groups, including ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
Chapter 39 of the Texas Education Code requires each district’s board of trustees to publish an annual report that includes the following information:
• Student Performance in Postsecondary Institutions
• 2021-22 Texas Academic Performance Report
• Report on Violent or Criminal Incidents
• 2021-22 District Accreditation Status
• PEIMS Financial Standard Reports
• Campus Performance Objectives
The Board of Trustees is required to hold a public hearing for discussion of this report within 90 days of the receipt of the TAPR report from TEA. Chapter 39 also stipulates that within two weeks following the hearing, the district must publish its annual report, including posting it on the district website.
No residents spoke up in support of or opposition to the TAPR report during the public hearing. Please click here to download the report.
District Donations
Board members unanimously approved the following donations:
- $40,000 to the Longview High School football program from the Lobo Football Booster Club for supplies and expenses;
- $4,200 from Longview High School to pay for repairs to Chromebooks. The money is from fines paid by students for damaged Chromebooks;
- $1,000 from Ron Hutchison-Network Investment for books for the classroom library/reading area;
- $800 from Longview Regional Medical Center for the Backpack Program in honor of Dr. James Wilcox;
- $500 from Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. for student incentives (academic);
- $500 from ETX Clearing & Dirt Work for Longview Beekeeping Club;
- $500 from Keebaugh & Company LLC for the CATE Welding to purchase competition shirts, supplies, and/or meals;
- $100 from ABC Auto Parts, Ltd. for LHS Welding to fund shirts and equipment; and
- $77 from Carolyn A. Jones for the purchase of Bailey Elementary UIL shirts for students participating in UIL.
In other business...
During the course of the meeting, the LISD Board of Trustees also:
- APPROVED the Resolution to Hold a Joint Election with the City of Longview on May 6, 2023;
- APPROVED Minutes and Board Time Use Tracker for Jan. 25 Special Meeting;
- APPROVED Financial Statements as of December 2022 and January 2023;
- APPROVED the Trustee Election Order for Districts II and IV; and
- APPROVED Budget Amendment No. 5.
For more info
Trustees usually meet in the boardroom of the LISD Education Support Center (1301 E. Young Street), but often set special-called meetings at various locations around the district. The next regular meeting is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. March 6th.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.