AISD Trustees Approve Tax Rate for 2020-21 School Year at September Board Meeting

Disponible en: Español

Chief Business and Operations Officer Dr. Tamika Alford-Stephens recommended the Board set the 2020-21 tax rate at $1.2744 per $100 valuation ($.9719 cents for maintenance and operations and $.3025 cents for the interest and sinking fund). The tax rate approved by Trustees is $.0727 cents lower than the 2019-20 tax rate. The tax rate provides for the day-to-day operations of Aldine ISD. It pays for the district’s long-term debt by selling bonds for capital improvement projects such as new school buildings, major renovations, and technology. Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Alford-Stephens’ recommendation.

The Aldine Board of Trustees met on Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the Board Room of the Donaldson Administration Building.

Board Approves Refunding Bond Order

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees unanimously approved a refunding bond order. Dr. Alford-Stephens made the recommendation. During the Monday study session, the district’s financial advisor Terrell Palmer and the district’s bond attorney Barron Wallace presented a proposed Bond Order that would allow the refunding of Unlimited Tax Refunding Bonds. The order provides the district with the opportunity to refund Series 2010A, 2010B, and 2013 Bonds at lower interest rates resulting in savings for AISD of approximately $11.8 million in future bond costs.

Board President Paul Shanklin Receives His Five-Year Pin

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Board President Paul Shanklin received his five-year pin representing five years of service on the Board of Trustees. Board Member Steve Mead presented Mr. Shanklin with his five-year pin.

Staff Assignments Announced

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney announced several staff assignments.

Derrick Sanders was named Assistant Superintendent of Operations after serving as Officer of Construction Services for Houston ISD.
LaTashia Abrams was named Director of Family and Community Engagement after serving as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist with Aldine ISD.
Hillary Sanders was named Emotional and Learning and Student Culture Specialist after serving as Dean of Counseling and Student Culture at the Young Women’s STEAM and Preparatory Academy with El Paso ISD.
Charles Land was named Associate Principal of Nimitz Ninth Grade School after serving as an Assistant Principal at that same school.
Paula Osisami was named an Assistant Principal at Lane School after serving as a History Teacher at Mead Middle School.
Elvira Morin Bates was named an Assistant Principal at Conley Elementary School after serving as a Counselor at that same school.
“I want to welcome our new Aldine leaders,” Dr. Goffney said.

Teaching and Learning highlights Professional Learning Team

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Dr. Todd Davis, Chief Academic Officer, highlighted the Professional Learning Team. He introduced Dr. Akilah Willery, Executive Director of Professional Learning, who introduced Stephanie Knight, Program Director of Professional Learning. Knight provided an update on the district’s New Teacher Onboarding Launch, which was held for new teachers during the summer. Five-hundred new teachers took part in the program, which offered 50 sessions. New teachers earned 2,349 CPE/Invest hours by taking part in the program, which only cost the district $450.

Employees Recognized

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, several Aldine ISD employees were recognized for their contributions to the district daily.

Dr. Javier Villarreal, Chief Human Resource Officer, named Lameka Martin as the Human Recourses Employee of the Quarter. Lameka serves as Director of Benefits for Aldine ISD.

Milo Ortiz, Executive Director of Buildings and Properties, named the Bamberg Professional Development and Resource Center as his department’s Building of the Month. The BAM’s custodial staff is under the direction of Head Custodian Gloria Leveston.

Dr. Jill Metcalfe, Executive Director of Transportation, named Denita Villegas as her department’s Employee of the Month. Denita serves as a dispatcher for the Eastside Transportation Department.

Trustees Approve Contract Extension for Superintendent

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees unanimously approved a one-year contract extension for Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney.

Grants Announced

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Stacey Smith, Director of Special Programs, announced several grants.

Victory Early College High School Principal Phyllis Cormier and Teacher Audrey Phillips secured a $752 grant from Donors Choose and the Major League Baseball Players Trust to purchase various books for Victory students.
Eisenhower High School Principal Mandele Davis, College Access Advisor Kesha Bolton, and Secretary Maya Benefield secured a $14,835 grant from the Harris County Education Foundation and the Harris County Department of Education to fund “Eliminate the (COVID) Spike at Ike” to install food operated hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus and help educate the campus community on staying healthy and safe during the pandemic.
Avalos P-Tech High School Principal Dr. Diana Del Pilar and the school’s grant writing committee of Glenn Bailey, Julian Barnwell-Joseph, Jonathan Duncan, and Thomas Raphael secured a $125,000 grant from the Texas Education Agency to fund the school’s P-Tech Success Grant. The grant program provides students with a smooth transition to post-secondary education and the workforce.
The Student Support Services Department, led by Assistant Superintendent Dr. Charlotte Davis, Tom Colwell, and Michael Williams, was awarded a Safe and Secure Schools grant from the Texas Education Agency in the amount of $1,081,764 to provide safety upgrades in perimeter fencing, security camera, and equipment for campuses across the district.

The grants announced at the Sept. 15 Board meeting totaled $1,222,351.

Trustees Approve Action Items

During the Sept. 15 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the following action items:

Approved the consent agenda
Approved the submission of the Staff Development Minutes Waiver application to the Texas Education Agency
Approved an interlocal agreement between the University of Texas and Teague Middle School
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Memorial Herman Northeast Hospital and Aldine ISD
Approved Amendment Number One to Memorandum of Understanding between The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and Aldine ISD
Approved a data-sharing agreement between the University of Texas and Aldine ISD
Approved contracts and purchases of over $50,000
Approved the General Fund Budget Amendment for Period 3 for the 2020-21 school year
Approved the monthly Tax Office refunds
Approved a Resolution to apply for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Grant
Approved a waiver request for 40% campus hybrid instruction for 9^th-12^th grade students
Approved a Resolution for staff pay during the closure of the district Aug. 26-28