SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH. January is School Board Appreciation month and the Free Press took an opportunity to photograph the DeLeon Independent School Board Monday, January 22, during their meeting. Left to right, they are, Janet McGinnis, Becky Golden, Dr. Brandon Gilmore, Lisa Nowlin, president; Dr. Randy Mohundro, superintendent; Kelly Dickey, secretary; Larry Don Womack, vice president; and Daylon Whitehurst.

The DeLeon ISD Board of Trustees received a major report at their regular monthly meeting January 22.

CADCO, Architects and Engineers, Inc. presented the Board with the Facility Master Plan study that was commissioned by the Board to determine the current state of district facilities and possible recommendations to address identified needs. Richard Rogers, president of CADCO, delivered the report and gave an overview of the format and content.

While there was initial discussion on a few highlights of the report, the Board was asked to take the report with them and spend some time reviewing it. At the next meeting of the Board, Rogers will then go over each building and discuss the needs and issues. Due to the length and depth of the report, it was decided that time was needed for the Board to review the information before beginning any in-depth discussion.

A copy of the report is available for public viewing during regular business hours at the Central Administration building at 601 S. Houston and at the high school library at 708 Johnson.

A comment was made by the Board vice president Larry Don Womack that additional Board meetings may be needed concerning this issue, so that a timely decision can be made.

The Board also approved a revision to the 2006-07 school calendar that will make Monday, February 19, a bad-weather make-up day. Previously, this day had been scheduled as a staff development day, but due to the recent spell of bad weather and a change in the state testing schedule, the recommendation was made to have school on this day.

Also approved was a recommendation to have TASB Environmental perform the necessary testing required by the state for updating the district’s asbestos management plan.

During the financial reports review, the administration updated the Board on student attendance for the first semester and its impact on the district budget. Currently, based on the first semester, the district’s revenue is exceeding its budgeted expenditures by $158,000.

The administration rolled out the district’s new website at the meeting. The administration has spent the last several months working on the district website to improve and make the site more user-friendly. The address for the site has not changed and can be found at www.deleon.esc14.net. Included on the site are new pages dedicated for parents and other users.

The Board was briefed on the December 31, 2006 break-in at Perkins Middle School. Damages for the break-in totaled $12,527.79 including $7,080.00 for a copy machine and $4,022.80 for carpet/tile replacement. The replacement is necessary due to water damage that occurred during the break-in and subsequent vandalism. The administration noted that it was seeking full prosecution against all parties involved in the matter.

In personnel matters, following an 85 minute closed session, the Board approved an extension of the contract for Dr. Randy Mohundro, Superintendent of Schools, until June 30, 2010. The Board then authorized Board president Lisa Nowlin to negotiate the contract on their behalf.