The Longview ISD Board of Trustees approved a one-time $2,500 early retirement and resignation bonus for professional staff who meet the qualifications, during their March 22nd regular meeting.
Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of District Services, explained that the Texas Education Code allows educators employed under a probationary, term, or continuing contract to provide notice of retirement or resignation without penalty, at any time up until 45 days before the first day of instruction of the following school year.
'In order to allow the district additional time to plan staffing for the 2021-2022 school year, LISD is offering a one-time incentive to eligible employees for their early notice of retirement or resignation,' he said.
This incentive is available to professional staff currently under contract. 'Professional staff' means employees currently on a Chapter 21 (or Non-Chapter 21) written employment contract. However, the incentive is not available to professional staff members who have already retired/resigned, who retire/resign effective immediately, or who do not work until the last duty day of the 2020-21 school year.
In order to qualify for this incentive, retiring or resgning employees must provide notification in-person of their intent before 4 p.m. April 9, 2021. The notification must be a dated and signed letter of retirement/resignation addressed to Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox.
The employee's retirement/resignation must be voluntary, unconditional, in a form acceptable to the Superintendents of Schools, and must state that it is effective on the employee's last duty day of the 2020-21 school year.
Retirement/resignation incentive forms will not be received by email, U.S. Mail, or fax. Employees who make late submissions will not be eligible for the incentive.
For more information about this program please contact Mrs. Shalona McCray, LISD Director of Employee Relations, via email or call 903-381-2262.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Board Elections
The board also approved an interlocal agreement with the Gregg County Elections Office for the rental of equipment and software support of the upcoming LISD board election.
Mr. Dennis Williams, Assistant Superintendent of Admin & Pupil Services, explained that an agreement with the Gregg County Elections Office allows for cost efficiency by renting the electronic voting equipment and associated software.
'Gregg County will also be responsible for the counting of paper mail ballots,' he said. 'The new contract has not been finalized at this time. Costs are based on the number of polling places, and the number of polling places is dependent upon contested races.'
The board also approved the appointment of election officials to serve on Election Day.
Place 3 Election Day voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 1st at Forest Park Middle School, Mr. Nathaniel Burgess will serve as Election Judge, with Ms. Nancy Butler serving as Alternate Judge, and Ms. Karen Collins serving as Election Clerk.
For the Early Voting taking place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 19-27 at the Longview ISD Education Support Center, Ms. Eriel Harris will serve as District Elections Coordinator/Early Voting Clerk, with Ms. Nancy Butler and Ms. Karen Collins serving as Election Clerks.
The Early Voting/Mail-In Ballot Canvassing Board will consist of Mr. James Mathis serving as Election Judge, with Ms. Michelle Navarrette and Ms. Eriel Harris serving as Election Clerks.
Compensation for the officials will be $10 per hour for Judges and $9 per hour for Clerks, plus a $25 delivery fee for election judges. The rates are comparable to those paid by the City.
Election Judges (and their alternates) are qualified voters of the district in which they live. If the appointed election judge is unable to serve, the alternate judge shall serve as the presiding judge for that district. If the appointed election judge serves, the alternate judge shall serve as one of the clerks for the election.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Winter Weather Pay
In the wake of the recent winter weather that caused the extended closure of district facilities, the board also approved a measure that will ensure wage payments during an emergency school closing.
Dr. James Hockenberry, Assistant Superintendent of District Services, explained that staffers who are instructed not to report to work due to an unexpected weather event 'may suffer a loss of pay unless the workdays are made up at a later date.'
'Continuing wage payments to all employees who suffer a loss in pay due to an emergency closing, serves the public purposes of maintaining morale, reducing turnover, and ensuring continuity of district staffing when schools reopen,' he said.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Monitor Well Drilling
Board members also approved the drilling of monitoring wells at the Longview ISD transportation facility.
Dr. Wayne Guidry, Assistant Superintendent of Finance, explained that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has mandated that LISD drill monitoring wells as a result of the soil testing during the recent removal of the underground storage tanks at the Bus Barn.
'Administration recommends contracting with Aledo-based LW7 Environmental Services at a cost of $26,186 to perform the necessary site work involved with this project,' he said.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
Innovative Furnishings
The board also approved the purchase of Innovative Furniture for the Forest Park campus using MSAP Grant Funds.
Dr. James Coleman, Chief Innovation Officer, explained that to continue the plan of creating innovative classroom spaces that align with the IB/STEAM magnet theme, the administrative staff at Forest Park Middle School is requesting permission to purchase innovative classroom furnishings.
Please click here to download the resolution and related documentation.
In other business...
During the course of the meeting, the LISD Board of Trustees also:
- APPROVED a donation of $15,000 from the Lobo Football Booster Club for football equipment and supplies;
- APPROVED a donation of $3,000 from Summerhill Publishing Inc. on behalf of The Longview Voice Scholarship program;
- APPROVED a donation of $616 from the LHS Swim Team Booster Club for athletic supplies and equipment;
- APPROVED a donation of $500 from Longview Regional Medical Center for the LISD Backpack Program in honor of Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox and his tireless work on behalf of the greater Longview community;
- APPROVED a donation of $500 from Claims Administrative Services Inc. for the CAS Student Scholarship program;
- APPROVED certifying Superintendent Dr. James Wilcox to serve on the Regional Advisory Committee for the Region VII Education Support Center;
- APPROVED the EVAAS Service Agreement for the 2020-21 School Year;
- APPROVED revisions of Board Policy FFAC (Local) in Update 116;
- APPROVED minutes from the Feb. 24th Special Meeting; and
- APPROVED Budget Amendment No. 8.
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. April 12th, 2021.
Due to public health protocols currently in place, anyone wishing to attend the meeting in person must abide by COVID-19 guidelines, as only limited seating capacity is available. The meeting will be streamed online at LISD.org/BoardroomLive.
For more information about the Longview ISD Board of Trustees please click here.
