The Granbury ISD Board of Trustees approved changes to both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 academic year calendars during its monthly meeting on March 18, 2019.
For the current school year, the change makes Thursday, April 18 a student holiday and a professional development day for teachers. Students will have an extended break for the Easter weekend as they were already scheduled to be off on Friday, April 19 and Monday, April 22. District employees will also have a holiday on Good Friday.
The additional student holiday is possible because the district did not have to close or delay school due to bad weather during the winter season. With enough instructional minutes accumulated to meet state requirements, superintendent Dr. Jeremy Glenn recommended the additional day off for students.
For the 2019-20 school year, modifications were necessary due to changes by the Texas Education Agency in state testing dates, the addition of an early release day prior to a fall break in mid-October and prior to Spring Break in early March, and a recalculation of staff workdays. With the state testing date changes, the new calendar will reflect a student holiday and staff professional development day following the Easter weekend.
Board members approved a waiver request to TEA in order for professional development time for teachers and staff. The G2025 strategic planning process has defined a need to provide staff time for collaboration, according to curriculum director Sharon Williams. The training is critical due to state curriculum changes and new resource adoption for English language arts and reading and the pedagogical shifts regarding student diversity and reading across the curriculum.
Trustees approved a trip for Granbury High School choir students to go to Boston and Canada during Spring Break 2020. The group will perform during the biennial trip, which will be funded by students, parents, and the choir booster club. Performances are scheduled for Les Jardins du Haut St-Laurent and Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré in Quebec City as well as the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal.
The board approved use of funds for the Instructional Materials Allotment to order classroom materials for English language arts and reading (grades K-8), Spanish language arts and reading (grades K-6), English learners language arts (grades 7-8), handwriting (grades K-5), spelling (grades 1-6), and personal financial literacy. The district will also be purchasing materials to meet the growth in any particular subject or grade level.
In personnel action, trustees received notification of several retirements and resignations effective at the end of the school year. Trustees also approved the appointment of a new third grade teacher at the STEAM Academy at Mambrino as well as a catastrophic sick leave request.
Additional reports to the board included:
- Dr. Glenn thanked trustees for attending a recent group trip to visit with state officials at the Texas state capitol in Austin. He reported that over 400 hundred district teachers have signed up for the #Teach4Gr8ness professional development conference at GHS in early June and that a new roof was installed at Oak Woods School over the break.
- The superintendent reviewed ongoing efforts to improve campus safety and security. In an effort to address student mental health needs, the district will be employing a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) to work in conjunction with the Behavioral Assessment Team. The district is also reviewing staff applicants for the school marshal program
- Dobie Williams, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, presented financial and cash flow statements for February 2019.
The board approved minutes from the last regular meeting and special meetings, budget amendments, and the purchase of steam tables for cafeteria serving lines at Brawner Intermediate School, Oak Woods School, and Roberson Elementary School. Trustees also adopted local policy changes in Policy Update 112 recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
Donations reported to the board included: $25,656 from the Acton Elementary PTO for student field trips, $1,138 from the Acton Elementary PTO for substitute expense reimbursement, $5,000 from the Acton Elementary PTO for library furniture, $1,300 from Raider Express Transportation for Mambrino student travel, $4,000 from the Lady Pirate Golf booster club for team travel, $10,000 from the Lady Pirate Volleyball booster club for team travel.
The next regular school board meeting is Monday, April 15. Board meetings are held in the GISD Board Room located in the Administration Building at 217 N. Jones Street.