Two Italy School District retirees were honored Monday evening as the school board of trustees recognized Margie Davis and Speed Hamby for their service to the district.

Cheryl Owen, trustee, presented Davis with a $50 gift card and plaque recognizing her for her dedication to the students and the district. Davis, who has taught school for 38 years, is married and has two sons, Trevor and Derrick. Davis taught English, journalism and photography, among other courses throughout her tenure.

Barry Bassett, superintendent, recognized Hamby, maintenance and transportation director, for his years of service to the district. Bassett gave Hamby a Gladiator bobble head and a Tiger bobble head.

As two employees retire, the board also approved the hiring of two new teachers, one for the Stafford campus and one at the high school level.

Jonathan Nash, Stafford principal, made the recommendation to hire Maggie Westrick of Red Oak. He said they needed a science teacher with the sudden resignation of Mrs. Sparks. Nash said Westrick is a magna cum laude graduate of University of North Texas. She will be teaching fifth and sixth grade science.

Lee Joffre, high school principal, requested the district hire Stephanie Grisham as social studies teacher. She has been teaching 13 years and has the hours to teach dual credit classes.

Both teachers were approved unanimously.

In other new business, Jesus Perez, band director, had two requests for the school board – a new trailer and new/used band instruments and equipment.

Perez presented a proposal for an 8-1/2’x20’ gooseneck trailer from Guthrie Trailer Sales of Waco. The quote is $10,837 and should be ready within six weeks. Mark Stiles made the motion to approve the request with a second from Sal Ramirez. The motion passed unanimously.

The board also unanimously approved the purchase of 47 band instruments estimated at $53,785. This would include the purchase of 10 flutes, 20 clarinets, 2 alto saxophones, an oboe, 8 trumpets, a French horn, 3 trombones, a tuba and a sousaphone. The bid also included new sheet music and various other pieces of equipment for the band.

Perez said they needed these instruments because the band program is growing and they are teaching band in sixth grade.

Stiles questioned which students will get to use these instruments. He said that some parents that would have purchased an instrument will now expect the band to provide their child’s instrument. Stiles said his daughter and granddaughter both own their own instruments.

Owen asked Perez is he doesn’t have something in place now which allows students to use school instruments rather than purchasing their own. Perez said he did. Larry Eubanks made the motion, with a second from Owen, to approve the request. The motion passed unanimously.

Blake Godwin, agriculture teacher, requested $128,249 from the district for the construction of a project barn and project supplies. The barn is to be placed behind the pig barn on FM 667. The construction should last about seven weeks.

Godwin said this would house cattle, goats and sheep. The estimate he brought to the district for the barn was from Red Dot.

Stiles questioned the construction phase of the project and some of the vendors he is suggesting. He suggested Godwin hire Don Chambers to act as an inspector for the project. The motion passed with a motion from Larry Eubank and a second from Russ Lewis. Sal Ramirez abstained. The motion included an inspector be included for the project.

Hamby presented the trustees with a proposal to change electrical power services from Direct Energy through TASB co-operative to Hudson Energy. This group estimated a $3,000 to $6,500 savings on their energy bill. Stiles said electrical rates are not going down and recommended the 48 month rate.

Hamby briefly discussed the softball, baseball and football fields and the cost to just “turn on” the lights at certain times of the year. In the end, the board unanimously approved the move to Hudson Energy for 48 months.

The group also approved a resolution regarding extracurricular status of the 4-H organization and with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Ellis County. Eubank said this is an annual requirement for students to participate in 4-H.

Trustees also spent time discussing the CSCOPE curriculum.

According to Wikipedia, this curriculum, created by the Texas Education Service Center Curriculum Collaborative, has been used in 19 of the 20 education regions in the state of Texas. This curriculum was implemented, in part, to create accountability in the school system.

Some teachers have embraced the curriculum and others have not.

Joffre said CSCOPE is still in place in the Italy ISD – assisting with the “what and when” to teach. He said the teachers develop their own lesson plans just as they have done in the past.

He said the districts that are having trouble with the program are those districts that prepare their lesson plans with CSCOPE.

After complaints from teachers and parents, the state is backing away from the lessons. Stiles said CSCOPE is not perfect, noting there were philosophical differences, but said it was the best product out there. He cited political posturing for the state backing away from this program.

He said districts that are seeking waivers from the state for the state accountability testing may be wise.

Bassett also passed out Update 97, a policy review from TASB. The update should be reviewed and approved by trustees at the next school board meeting.

The group approved a budget amendment to reallocate appropriations for special education, the minutes from the previous meeting, the utility report, transportation report, June check payments, monthly investment and cash position, tax collections and the June financial statement.