Aldine ISD Trustees Hold Monthly Board Meeting on Dec. 15

Disponible en:

Aldine ISD Trustees held their Dec. 15 Board meeting with some Trustees attending live in the Board Room of the Donaldson Administration Building and others via videoconference following the modified open meetings act by Gov. Greg Abbott. Board President Paul Shanklin, Assistant Secretary Dr. Kimberley Booker, and Members Steve Mead and Randy Bates joined Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney and members of her Executive Leadership Team in the Board room. Vice-President Rose Avalos, Secretary Connie Esparza, and Member Dr. Viola M. Garcia participated in the meeting via videoconference.

AISD Trustees reorganizes

During the Dec. 15 Board meeting, Aldine ISD Trustees approved a new slate of officers. Each year, the Board reorganizes in December. The Board’s Nominating Committee, consisting of Member Randy Bates, and Members Steve Mead and Dr. Viola M. Garcia, recommended that Paul Shanklin serve as president, Dr. Kimberley Booker serve as vice-president, Connie Esparza serve as secretary and Rose Avalos serve as assistant secretary. Mr. Bates, Dr. Garcia, and Mr. Mead will serve as members.

Aldine ISD earns state’s highest

fiscal accountability rating for 17th straight year

For the 17^th consecutive year, Aldine ISD received a rating of “Superior” under Texas’ School FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) accountability rating system. The “Superior” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating Aldine ISD’s financial management and reporting system’s quality. Aldine ISD received a score of 98 out of a possible 100 points.

The primary goal of the School FIRST system is to ensure that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices. The School FIRST system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to manage their financial resources better and provide a maximum allocation for direct instructional purposes.

The School FIRST system has 15 indicators that are evaluated. The first five indicators are critical and must be met to avoid failure. The other 10 indicators evaluate financial solvency and financial competency.

According to Alexia Rogers, Aldine ISD’s Executive Director of Finance, Aldine met the five critical indicators’ requirements. Those indicators are: filing of the district’s annual financial report within a month, the districts annual financial report was free of any instances of material weaknesses, the district complied with the payment terms of all debt agreements at the end of the district’s fiscal year, the district made timely payments to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), the IRS and other governmental agencies, and the district’s total unrestricted net asset balance in the Statement of Net Position/Assets was greater than zero.

Indicators 6-10 evaluated the financial solvency of the district. Those indicators analyzed the amount of cash on hand needed to cover operating expenditures, the ratio of current assets to current liabilities, the ratio of long-term liabilities to total assets, total revenue compared to expenditures, and whether the district had sufficient funds to cover its debt. Aldine met the requirements for each of those indicators.

Indicators 11-15 evaluated the district’s financial competency. Those indicators assessed the district’s administrative costs ratio, student enrollment compared to the number of staff, the accuracy of its PEIMS reporting, compliance with guidelines, and revenue forecasting. Aldine met the requirements for those five indicators as well.

“Since the implementation of the School FIRST accountability system, Aldine ISD has received the highest rating a school district can receive,” Rogers said. “This year’s “Superior” rating is a reflection of the district’s continued demonstration of high-quality financial management and reporting.”

Administrators, student recognized by Teaching, Learning and Leading Department

During the Dec. 15 Board meeting, Dr. Todd Davis, Chief Academic Officer, and Katy Roede, Chief of Schools, recognized two administrators and one student as part of the Teaching, Learning and Leading Department’s presentation.

Mrs. Roede announced that Carter Academy Principal Lee Wold received the 2020 Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) Principal of the Year Award. This honor is awarded to one non-TAAEA member of an elementary, middle/junior high school, or senior high school in Texas. It is awarded to a principal who has demonstrated unusual support for art education and the visual arts.

Mrs. Roede also announced that Kujawa Elementary second-grade student Dylan Virtudazo was recognized for making a difference in his community. During the Thanksgiving holidays, Dylan raised funds to help feed the homeless. Dylan’s teacher David Steffen and his fellow teachers helped Dylan’s cause by donating money to his effort. Dylan also provided hygienic products to the homeless. Dylan assembled 50 hygiene bags as well as providing food for the homeless. Channel 11 learned of Dylan’s generous outreach and did a story on him for making a difference in his community.

Dr. Davis announced that Xandra Williams-Earlie, Aldine ISD’s Program Director of High School Science, was the recipient of the Outstanding Leadership in Science Education Award by the Texas Science Education Leadership Association (TSELA). This prestigious award recognizes and honors a TSELA member who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in science education at the school, district, county, regional or national level through their professional work. Williams-Earlie received a $1,000 check and a plaque, which were presented virtually during TSELA’s Annual Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching/Science Teachers Association of Texas conference.

United Airlines recognized by district

During the Dec. 15 Board meeting, Aldine ISD recognized United Airlines for its community and outreach in the school district. Dr. Martha Escalante, Executive Director of FACE (Family And Community Engagement), along with Linda Olson, Director of the Aldine Education Foundation (AEF), reached out to Darrin Hall and Andy Jamison of United to launch a reading program and mentorship program targeting Aldine elementary students. This year, second-graders from Wilson Elementary School and Odom Elementary School have heard weekly stories from United team members. United employees have not only shared anecdotes about their roles at work but have shared photos and videos from inside airplanes. While this is the first year of the program, plans call for expanding to other Aldine ISD elementary schools.

Staff assignments announced

During the Dec. 15 Board meeting, Dr. Goffney announced three staff assignments.

• Dr. Sara Jolly was named Director of Research and Program Evaluation after serving as an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Houston.
• Jennifer Trevino was named as the Social and Emotional Learning and Student Culture Specialist after serving as a Learning Behavior Specialist at the Latino Youth Alternative High School of Chicago.
• Karla Cupial was named a Counselor at Worsham Elementary School after serving as a Structured Learning Class Teacher at that same school.

Employees recognized

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

• Juan Vargas, Director of Buildings and Properties, named Raymond Academy as his department’s Building of the Month. Filomena Ibarra is the head custodian, and Tannessa Maddox is the school’s principal.
• Dr. Javier Villarreal, Chief Human Resources Officer, named Marla Slaughter as his department’s Employee of the Quarter. Marla serves as Director of Payroll and Compensation.
• Kelly Gilbert, Director of Transportation, named Eric Carrington as her department’s Employee of the Month. Eric manages the East Side transportation fleet.

FACE team recognized

During the Dec. 15 Board of Trustees meeting, the district’s FACE (Family And Community Engagement) team was recognized for the outstanding effort they put in collecting toys for NAM (Northwest Assistance Ministries). The FACE team collected 13,000 toys for NAM. The FACE team consists of Executive Director Dr. Martha Escalante, Director LaTashia Abrams, and Specialists Nancy Gaither and Ivan Tamayo.

Grants announced

Stacey Smith, Director of Special Programs, announced several grants during the Dec. 15 Trustees meeting.

• Escamilla Elementary teacher Priscilla Benitez received a grant from Donors Choose to fund her “Letter and Number Recognition” program. Tamika Brown received a Donors Choose grant to provide digital resources for her virtual students. Anne Nygaard received a Donors Choose grant to fund her flexible seating and to purchase classroom resources. Morgan Delaney received a Donors Choose grant to provide flexible seating for her classroom’s reading area. Fatimata Lam received a Donors Choose grant to purchase storage desk sacks for sanitizing. Dr. Monica Loas received a Donors Choose grant to purchase books on careers, biographies, and social and emotional learning projects. The grants provided by Donors Choose totaled $2,982.
• Wilson Elementary Principal Dana Baker and teacher Tracey Collins secured a $7,500 grant from the Lennar Foundation to fund the Reading Rocket program.

The grants announced at the Dec. 15 Board meeting totaled $10,482.

Trustees approve action items

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

• Approved the Innovative Courses in the Non-Destructive Testing Program of Study at Avalos P-TECH High School.
• Approved an MOU agreement between Aldine ISD and the University of Houston regarding the National Center for Research on Educator Diversity.
• Approved bids for fundraiser vendors, instructional supplies, professional and consulting services, restaurant food and catering vendors, custodial equipment repairs, welding and repair services, and Internet access.
• Approved contracts and purchases of more than $50,000.
• Approved General Fund Budget Amendment for Period 6 for the 2020-21 school year.
• Approved the monthly tax office refunds.
• Approved an Interlocal Agreement for Harris County Department of Education for 21^st Century Community Learning Centers.
• Approved request to increase default days for inventory held in Harris County for United Airlines.

The January Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 12.