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No one showed up to address the Board on the proposed tax rate and new budget but the Board was busy with other items. On items listed on the agenda, the KISD Board of Trustees approved all but two which were delayed for future action.
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The consent agenda was approved after the Amended ?Budget for 2012-13 was removed from the list for discussion. Approved without discussion were {{more}} the monthly financial statement; the bills payable report; the report of Tax Assessor Collector; setting the 2013-2014 Eligible Tuition fee; appointing teacher appraisers for the 2013-2014 school year; and, approving an agreement for an employee assistance program with Deer Oaks Associates.
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In discussion of the Amended Budget for 2012-13, Board Trustee Julie Green asked for clarification on the cost of the approved renovations of the KHS athletic fields. The project called for replacing the turf on the stadium field and for putting turf on the baseball and softball fields for $1.7 million. It was approved by a budget amendment in December of this past school year. In the final amended budget for 2012-13, given to the Board to approve Tuesday night, the amount for the project was listed as $2 million. Green asked why the difference.?Superintendent Gary Dugger responded that the project was not yet finished so an exact figure could not be used. There were some changes to the original design causing a delay and a change in total cost. Among the things listed as add-ons included safety pads and addition of logos on the field that had been requested by the coaches. This was going to add to the original figure. He wanted to make sure there was enough left in the amended budget for this past year to cover the project. He felt that $1.8 million would be sufficient but could not be sure.?Green wanted to know if the Board should have approved. Dugger said that was what he was asking the Board to do by passing the amended budget. The Amended Budget for 2012-13 passed without further discussion.
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Under old business the Board had a discussion with the engineer for the Sublett Road/287 Kroger development project. This project will involve a new 123,000 square foot Kroger store using the Marketplace concept similar to one in Mansfield. The site would include pads for other smaller businesses. Kennedale ISD owns the surrounding the property and an easement is needed through the property for sewage connection to existing lines in the area.?Kennedale ISD has approximately 70 acres of undeveloped land adjacent to the proposed development. Board President Joe Taylor reminded the board that the land was purchased by the district several years back to stop the building of up to 1000 apartment units in the area. No decision was made on the easement request as consultation with the school attorney was needed. The City of Arlington will also have to sign off on any final agreement.
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With no one at the public hearing, the 2013-14 budget was approved without discussion. The new budget is for $25,435,075.00.
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The proposed tax rate was not adopted because an error had been made in the original posting in the Star Telegram. By the law the correct amount must be posted in print (Star Telegram) prior to approval of the new rate. The proposed tax rate will now be voted on at the next regular meeting set for September 19, 2013. The error in the posting was in the amount listed as bonded indebtedness.
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In other matters the Board approved the hiring of Daniel Pope as history teacher/coach at Kennedale High School and Tonya Widner as a 2nd grade teacher at R.F. Patterson; reviewed a delinquent tax update that listed 4 houses in foreclosure along with summary of back taxes collected; and, heard from Mr. Erol Oktay, Director of KISD Bands, on this year’s spring break trip to Durango, Colorado where the band will participate in a music festival and ski.
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Supertindent Dugger gave a 2nd day of school enrollment report that showed enrollment up slightly at all schools. This continued the trend started last year where enrollment showed growth over the previous year after several years of level or lower enrollment figures. KHS had a 2nd day ?students in seats? of 980. KJHS reported 481 present. 476 students were in their seats at James Arthur Intermediate. Delaney Elementary recorded 762 students while Patterson Elementary ended the day with 436 students. The total for the district was 3,135 students was up from last year on the same day.
