Sharan Farmer, Italy ISD librarian, was named Employee of the Month by Jimmie Malone, superintendent, at the Italy School Board of Trustees regular meeting held Monday evening.

Farmer, who is in her 22nd year with the school district, was salutatorian from Waxahachie High School. She attended Navarro College and graduated from University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in journalism and English. She later earned her library resource certification and has been librarian for the past 10-plus years.

Malone said Farmer’s service to the district rises above others. He said she was a proactive librarian and praised her reading marathons and book fairs.

Farmer and her husband, Gary, live in Ennis. They have a son, Chance, and a daughter, Brooke.

Addressing the board of trustees, Farmer said, “Thank you for letting me do what I love to do.”

Malone presented the honoree with an apple and a Wal-Mart gift card.

Malone also expressed his appreciation to Marty and Tina Haight who donated $1,500 to the district for out-of-town meals for basketball, baseball and softball games.

During the financial reports, David Wood, interim business manager, said the district has realized 26.95% of its projected revenue and spent 29.32% of its expenditures. He pointed out that most property taxes are paid during the month of December and January and expected revenues to increase drastically.

Following the TRE election, Malone said funds are scheduled to be paid in full between March 1 and Aug. 31, 2009.

Malone said current enrollment for both campuses is 628 students as of Dec. 10. Refined average daily attendance is at 97.02%.

Malone praised the efforts of Kevin Witte, technology director, for his efforts to get Internet lines between the two campuses. Once started, the project should take three to five days to complete. Rental for the lines is about $800 per year. Witte said he would be available during the holidays to assist in getting the project completed, if necessary.

The superintendent presented the board with the results of a Public Health Department visit on food service in November. He said, “This is a very good report.”

The board also approved updated guidelines to the gifted and talented program and authorized Malone to seek sealed bids for energy efficient lighting resulting from the TRE election.

The board held its first reading for the Texas Association of School Board (TASB) Policy Updated 84.

No action was taken on the superintendent’s annual evaluation or the TELPAS results. They also tabled certification of board member training hours for 2008 until they could determine required training.

The board took no action following an executive session.

Paul Cockerham, board member, was not present at the meeting due to illness.

The next regularly scheduled meeting is set for Tuesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m.