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1. Roll Call

2. Verification of Compliance with Open Meetings Law.

3-A The Story of IDEA Public Schools

Trustees heard a presentation from Bethany Solis, executive director of IDEA Public Schools in the Permian Basin. Ms. Solis thanked the school board members for the chance to tell them about IDEA Public Schools. She said IDEA is committed to opening a total of 14 schools, at 7 locations, in Odessa and Midland over the next six years, with the goal of serving 10,000 students by 2030. She said IDEA plans to launch its first school in partnership with Midland ISD in August 2020 and expressed the charter school network’s interest in collaborating with ECISD in the coming years. School board members asked Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri to continue talking with IDEA about a potential partnership.

3-B AP/IB Results 2019

Trustees received a report on Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate test scores from last year. Last year, 1,285 ECISD students took more than 1,700 AP Exams with about 17% earning scores of 3, 4, or 5. The average in Texas is around 50%. Note: colleges may offer college credit to students for a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam. ECISD pays for all AP tests. Odessa High School offers IB courses, too, and, as with AP, ECISD pays the cost for students to take the IB Exams. Last year, 51 students took IB exams, 22 were considered candidates for the IB diploma and 9 eventually earned the IB diploma. Continued professional learning including a deeper use of data are planned for AP and IB in the coming year, as well as continuing to promote a college-going culture among students and families.

3-C Discussion of TASB Board Policy Update 113 (First Reading)

The Texas Association of School Board (TASB) Update 113 was pulled from the agenda, and will be on a later agenda.

4-A Discussion of and Request for Approval of School Nutrition Meal Prices for 2019-20 and New Meal Charging Policy

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve meal prices for the 2019-20 school year and a change in the charge policy for meals. School Nutrition Director Brandon Reyes announced all students who qualify for a reduced-fee lunch (about 1,400 kids) will instead receive free lunches. He called that particular cost “minimal” to his department budget. Elementary school lunches will cost $2.50; secondary school lunches will cost $2.75. Adult meals for staff will be $2.50 for breakfast and $3.55 for lunch. He also explained a change to the cafeteria charge policy: once a student’s school nutrition account runs out of money an elementary student will be allowed to charge 5 more meals, a secondary student will be allowed to charge 3 more meals. If the student exceeds those charge limits, they will receive a courtesy meal of a corn dog, choice of fruit or vegetable, and milk.

4-B Discussion of and Request for Approval of Visiting Teacher Plan and General Substitute Pay Increase

Trustees voted 6-1 to approve a Visiting Teacher Plan presented by HR, and a general substitute teacher pay increase. Visiting Teacher will be a designation given to full-time employees who meet specific requirements, such as actively working on a teacher certification. The Visiting Teacher would be listed on the Substitute Pay Plan and earn a salary of $45,000 plus benefits. This board action also approved an approximate 4% pay raise for general substitute teachers; and established the requirement of a high school diploma in order to become a regular substitute teacher (a GED is not sufficient). A long-term substitute will still be required to have 45 total college hours and 30 core academic college hours. Carol Gregg voted against the motion.

4-C Discussion of and Request for Approval of Purchases over $50,000

Trustees voted 7-0 to approve purchases over $50,000. The only item on the list this month is digital math resources for Bowie, Bonham and Wilson & Young middle schools.

5 - Consent Agenda

The Consent Agenda is a group of routine or previously reviewed items that are approved all together. This month’s Consent Agenda included a restricted grant agreement between ECISD and the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP). Under this agreement, the PSP will provide up to $360,000 over the next two years to subsidize teacher apartment costs, specifically in conjunction with the recently approved agreement between ECISD and Weidner Homes, Inc. The Weidner agreement currently gives ECISD instructional personnel a 10% discount on rent for up to 100 apartments. This new agreement with the PSP will result in an additional 10% discount on rent for up to 100 teachers, and is intended to support the district in recruiting and retaining quality teachers.

The other Consent Agenda items are 2019-20 Student Code of Conduct, 2019-20 Teacher Enhancement Pay Scale for Additional Instructional Duties (correcting an error in the salary schedule adopted by Trustees in June), and the annual crossing guard agreement with the City of Odessa.

6. There was no closed session

7. Information Items - the meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.