The Italy School Board of Trustees prepared for the upcoming school year as they adopted student handbooks/code of conduct for students on both campuses and an employee handbook at their regular meeting Monday night.

They approved the employee handbook with a minor change.

Cheryl Owen, board vice president, praised both principals for their student handbooks. She said they were clear and concise and said she did not see any changes that were not appropriate.

Mark Stiles, trustee, had several questions regarding items in the handbooks.

He asked if the district is checking the driving records of employees/staff that drive school buses/vehicles. He said the district should check the driving records regularly. 

Paul Cockerham, trustee, said he thought the insurance company runs driving checks on all personnel driving school vehicles.

Celeste Carroll, superintendent’s secretary, said the district would be notified if school personnel receive a driving under the influence or a driving while intoxicated ticket through the fingerprint records done on all personnel.

Barry Bassett, school superintendent, said he would make sure the insurance company is taking this step. If not, he said the district could check driving records.

Stiles also questioned how many district employees were first aide certified.

Bassett said coaches and Rita Garza are certified. Speed Hamby, maintenance director, said he had three certified employees in the maintenance department.

Stiles said those employees who are first aide certified are required to turn that certification into the school by Aug. 15 per the employee handbook. He urged Lee Joffre, high school principal, to make sure the certification is up-to-date.

Before the board approved the consent agenda, Stiles questioned the large electric bill. He said the district is using more electricity in the summer than during the school year.

Hamby said the dome is one the biggest electrical users. Although the dome has energy-efficient units, he said staff does not always turn lights off or air conditioning up when not in use.

Hamby said they have had engineers investigate the system and they are preparing a proposal to install a new system that will allow Hamby to control the heating and air conditioning temperature from a computer.

Stiles said they should also investigate lighting that goes off in a room when there is no movement after so many minutes.

During the financial report, Tammy Gillespie, business manager, said the district received 99.48 percent of expected revenue and spent 88.02 percent of projected expenditures.

In other business, the board approved a resolution adopting a governmental accounting standard board statement (GASB 54).

Bassett said the state has decided that schools have too much fund balance and require fund balance monies be “committed” to a project.

The board approved the resolution but Bassett said they could “commit” the money anytime throughout the year. He explained that if they do commit money to a project, the board could change that commitment if something unexpected arises.

The board also approved Professional Development Appraisal System appraisers.

They approved Joffre as appraiser for the high school/middle school with Jason Miller, elementary principal, serving as secondary appraiser. Miller is appraiser at Stafford Elementary with Joffre serving as secondary appraiser.

Bassett presented the trustees with district appraisal deadlines, something the board has not had in writing in the past.

The trustees also accepted the resignation of Amanda Daughtry and Stephen Coleman.

Following an hour-long meeting, the trustees adjourned into executive session for informational purposes only. They took no action following the executive session.

One set of parents addressed the board regarding their child failing to promote to the next grade. The child’s father addressed the board.

He said the child has special needs and has failed TAKS for the third time. He said former school officials failed to take necessary action they requested. The parent said the child needs special attention and said the child is currently taking medication that helps this child’s focus.

Since the item was not on the agenda, the board was unable to take action on the issue.