"Students First" recognition at Monday's October Board Meeting: from left, MISD Superintendent Dr. Jerry Gibson; Evan Zaragoza (South Marshall STEM Academy 2nd grade student); Kendon Bolden (Carver Elementary 4th grade student); Jaden Cooper (Marshall High School senior); Jianuna Paley (Marshall High School senior); and Chase Palmer, MISD Trustee.

Rezoning Plan For Legacy 2017 Projects Discussed


Marshall ISD’s Board of Trustees discussed options for the rezoning and attendance planning for the district’s new schools during the regular October board meeting Monday evening.

A study conducted by Population and Survey Analysts (PASA) provided options for rezoning of MISD attendance zones, but the board requested more information for study during Monday’s meeting.

MISD will be consolidating its current elementary schools (grades K-4) and middle schools (grades 5-6) from eight campuses to five next year as part of the Legacy 2017 building program approved by voters in the May 2015 bond election.

Beginning in the fall of 2017, Marshall’s K-5 students will attend one of four elementary schools: a new school at the current site of Price T. Young Middle School; a new school at the current site of William B. Travis Elementary; a new school at the current site of David Crockett Elementary; or a renovated school at the current Sam Houston Middle School which will serve as the district’s STEM Academy.

All students in grades 6-8 will attend the new Marshall Junior High School currently under construction on East Travis Street beginning next fall.

There is no set timetable for a decision on the rezoning plan, although MISD would like to have its plan in place as early as possible in order to effectively plan for staffing and student population at the new facilities.

PASA assists Texas school districts in planning for long range utilization of schools by projecting future student enrollment. This involves projecting new residential development, understanding potential land uses for undeveloped parcels, and relating these findings to future students in the schools. PASA also projects enrollment growth and decline in areas that have no new construction potential by studying which neighborhoods are regenerating with younger families.

Other actions of note from Monday’s board meeting included:

• Dr. Jerry Gibson, MISD Superintendent, opened the meeting by recognizing several MISD students for accomplishments this month. Carver Elementary fourth-grade student, Kendon Bolden, and South Marshall STEM Academy second-grade student, Evan Zaragoza, led the meeting with pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags. MHS senior Jaden Cooper was recognized for being nominated as the Elk’s Lodge Student of the Month for October. MHS seniors Jianuna Paley and Jackson Roth were also recognized for being named the Optimist Club Young Texanne and Young Texan of the Month.

• MISD conducted a public hearing to discuss the Targeted Improvement Plan for each of the district’s campuses that rated Improvement Required in the most recent state accountability ratings. The Targeted Improvement Plan is a requirement of the TAIS (Texas Accountability Intervention System) for each campus in Improvement Required (IR) to submit through the Intervention, Stage, Action, and Monitoring (ISAM) in order to provide campus focus for areas of need.

• Trustees heard a presentation from Wayne Haglund, of the Haglund Law Firm, P.C., of Lufkin, to serve as MISD’s attorney. MISD recently posted a Request for Qualifications for district legal services. Dr. Jerry Gibson later gave an official recommendation to hire Haglund as the district’s attorney, and the board approved the recommendation unanimously.

• Mr. Kyle Nichols, MHS Theatre Director, presented information regarding a summer tour to New York for students in MHS Fine Arts programs in the summer of 2018.

• Mr. Robert Wilbanks, Legacy 2017 Project Manager from LAN, presented his monthly report on the building program’s construction projects.

• Trustees approved the district’s financial reports for September 2016.

• Trustees approved members of the 2016-2017 SHAC (School Health Advisory Council) Committee as presented by Mr. Hutcherson Hill, MISD Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services.

• Trustees approved the utilization of a Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP) as the delivery method for the Sam Houston STEM Academy renovation project.

• Trustees approved an update to Board Policy DBAA (Local) to comply with TEA regulations on certifications, as presented by Mrs. Britni Searle, MISD Executive Director of Human Resources.

• Trustees approved Campus Improvement Plans for all MISD campuses for 2016-2017.

• Trustees approved the Gifted and Talented Compliance Report.

• Trustees approved the district’s Quarterly Investment Report as presented by Mrs. Kristin Byrd, MISD Chief Financial Officer.

• Trustees approved the annual contract with Trilogy Rehab Services, Inc., for occupational and physical therapy services, and the annual contract with Bayes Achievement Center for residential services, as presented by Mrs. Jessica Bayless, MISD Director of Special Education.

• Trustees approved the district’s contract with AIM for tutoring services.

• Trustees approved purchase of materials and assessment items for Math, Reading and Writing instruction and consulting services from Forde-Ferrier Consulting Services for David Crockett Elementary.

• Trustees approved the purchase of new Dell switches and Aerohive wireless points to outfit all new Legacy 2017 campuses. The solution also included upgrades to Marshall High School.

• Trustees approved payment of a damage estimate to an MHS employee due to personal property damage sustained while on district property.

• Trustees approved the construction of a walk-in freezer at the district’s Child Nutrition warehouse. The work will be done by Casey Slone Construction, LLC.

The November meeting of the MISD Board of Trustees is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 14, at 5:30 p.m. An Agenda Review for that meeting will be held at noon on Thursday, Nov. 10.

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