MISD Officially Badges Joe Arledge As District Police Chief
MARSHALL – The Marshall ISD Board of Trustees officially welcomed the district’s new police chief during Monday’s regular August meeting, as Chief Joe Arledge received the chief’s badge during a ceremony and reception held in his honor.
Board president Helen Warwick pinned the new badge on Arledge, who was hired in July as MISD’s police chief following the resignation of previous chief Chad Wilhelm. Arledge has been on staff with the MISDPD since last summer, when he came on board after retiring from the City of Marshall Police Department.
In his first year at MISDPD, as Sergeant Supervisor/Investigator, Arledge supervised campus-based officers as well as the day-to-day operations of the police department. He also conducted all criminal investigations within the school district and coordinated all after-hours school functions.
When Wilhelm left the district at the beginning of this summer, Arledge was named Interim Police Chief. The “interim” tag was removed in July and he became just the second chief in the history of MISD’s police department.
Arledge is a native of Marshall and served as a police officer for the Marshall Police Department from 1990-2015. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant in MPD before his retirement in 2015. He was a three-time Police Officer of the Year in MPD, and earned MISDPD Officer of the Year in 2015-2016.
Other actions of note from Monday’s Board meeting included:
• Mr. Robert Wilbanks, Project Manager with Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc., gave his monthly status report regarding the status of all projects in the Legacy 2017 Building Program. All projects are currently on schedule as planned to open in August of 2017.
• Trustees approved donations to MISD from the following: Marshall Education Foundation ($22,766.48 – grant monies)
• Trustees approved the district’s financial report for July.
• Trustees appointed Helen Warwick, Board President, to serve as delegate to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Convention in September. Trustee Cathy Marshall was appointed as an alternate.
• Trustees approved a School Priority Month Resolution as an Acknowledgement for Engagement for October of 2016. School Priority Month is to take place during the month of October every other year prior to a legislative session. School districts will have the opportunity to share positive experiences with elected officials based on classroom visits, student and teacher conversations, and administrative debriefs as part of their campus tours.
• Trustees approved an endorsement of Ted Beard for Region 7 seat on the TASB Board of Directors. Mr. Beard, a trustee with Longview ISD, currently holds the seat and is the only nomination on the ballot. Local boards have the opportunity to nominate individuals for TASB Board positions which are vacant or have expiring terms.
• Trustees approved purchase of attendance credits for Chapter 41 Wealth Equalization. The purpose of this agreement is to enable the district to reduce its wealth per weighted student to a level that is not greater than the equalized wealth level as determined by the Commissioner of Education in accordance with state law. MISD’s wealth per WADA falls between $319,500 and $514,000; therefore, the district is not subject to recapture payments.
• Trustees approved TASB-initiated Policy Update 105 affecting LEGAL and LOCAL policies.
• Trustees approved the 2016-2017 T-TESS (Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System) calendar and appraisers. T-TESS is the new TEA-recommended teacher appraisal system for the 2016-2017 school year. This system will follow a board-approved timeline and require appraisers to complete a training and certification prior to appraising teachers.
• Trustees approved the Student Athletic Insurance Policy as presented by the MISD Athletic Department. This is the second year renewal of the student athletic insurance policy, and there is no premium change from last year.
• Trustees approved TASB Unemployment Compensation Program renewal for 2016-2017. The district participates in the TASB RM Unemployment Compensation Pool for unemployment coverage. The renewal for 2016-2017 provides the district with a $2,252 savings compared to 2015-2016.
• Trustees approved Worker’s Compensation Coverage through Claims Administrative Services for 2016-2017. The annual fixed cost for worker’s compensation coverage through Claims Administrative Services for 2016-2017 is $52,281, as compared to $151,194 through TASB Risk Management Fund. This provides the district with a savings of $98,914 by participating in the Claims Administrative Services pool.
• Trustees approved Public Educators Association of Texas Auto, Liability and Property Insurance Policy for 2016-2017. The total annual contribution for auto, liability and property insurance through Public Educators Association of Texas is $188,980 as compared to $203,811 in 2015-2016. The district will realize a savings of $14,831 with this policy.
The September meeting of the MISD Board of Trustees will be held on Monday, Sept. 19. An Agenda Review for that meeting will be held at noon on Thursday, Sept. 15.