At the regular monthly meeting of the Bandera Board of Trustees, Middle School Principal Bobby Lalanne and High School Principal Patrick Sizemore gave a presentation outlining the benefits and drawbacks of a four-day school week.
The principals detailed the reasons to consider a four-day school week in light of the teacher shortage that is being felt in Bandera. Two positions at the High School have been vacant for two years, and finding substitute teachers is difficult.
Bandera ISD has been contacting other districts of like size who have gone to a four-day school week. School district administrators have met with parents, teachers and patrons to discuss possible solutions to the areas of shortage. Administrators have also studied the situation.
Lalanne and Sizemore said the benefits of the four-day school week would be: higher quality staff retention and recruitment; improved student and staff attendance; improved student and staff morale; and more time available for teacher training and planning opportunities.
The duo said a four-day school week would allow maintenance and custodial departments opportunities to do more deep cleaning and sanitization.
The presentation said operational costs would be reduced because maintenance workers could complete jobs on Friday. Staff and students who work at a second job or part-time job would be able to work on Fridays.
A significant decrease in the district’s turnover rate would also be a beneficial outcome, according to the presentation.
The calendar development process has been ongoing for the 2024-2025 school year. The final calendar will be proposed and voted on by the Board in either January or February of 2024.
The board also heard a presentation by Henry Steen, the attorney who oversees the collection of delinquent taxes for the county and school district. Steen explained the process to collect the delinquent taxes and gave an update on that process for Bandera ISD.
In the Regular Agenda, the board approved the Board of Trustees Code of Ethics, the Board of Trustees Operating Procedures, and the Board Priorities and District Performance Goals.
The board placed votes to elect directors of the Central Appraisal District. The top three CAD director’s candidates by vote were incumbent Bo Mansfield, Russell Hevenor and Don Giles.
The board considered adopting Texas Association of School Board Policy DP (Local). This policy would have allowed the employment of chaplains to volunteer to provide support services and programs to students. Policy DP (Local) was not approved.
TASB Policy FEA, which excuses a student for up to two days to participate in a career investigation, was approved by the Board. This would allow high school seniors to visit a professional workplace for career investigation, much like some seniors visit college campuses.
The board approved a change in the BISD District of Innovation Plan to provide for the hiring of highly qualified and skilled non-certified teachers.
The Board approved the TASB Policy FFAC (local) which allows for the procedures to use NARCAN by school nurses.
TASB Policy EHB (local) dealing with procedures in the Dyslexia Program, was approved.
The board approved the purchase of new outdoor tables for the High School Cafeteria.
Chief Academic Officer Laura Klein presented on the LASO Grant and asked the board to pre-approve the resources Amplify, Eureka and Carnegie in preparation for receiving the grant. The Board approved those programs.
The board approved the replacement of the flooring in the district’s cafeterias. Budget Amendment #4 was approved to purchase the flooring for the cafeterias out of the Food Service Department’s fund balance.
Alkek Elementary students Avery Ashcraft, Anali Garcia-Anaya, and Elliot Rodriguez were honored as BISD Students of the Month. Elementary Speech Therapist JoAnn Briones-Amador from Alkek was also named BISD Staff Member of the Month. Alkek’s School Secretary Monica Halsey was spotlighted by Superintendent Gary Bitzkie as a PICS recognized employee.
After the Regular Agenda, the board went into closed session to discuss approving selected personnel as Guardian Program members.
The district’s enrollment on Nov. 30 was 2,317, a decrease of 4 students since Oct. 31. Overall, the district’s enrollment has decreased 18 students since the beginning of the school year.
Lastly, an announcement was made that Bandera ISD’s attendance rate on Nov. 30 was 92%.
