School board meets

A large crowd attended the December monthly meeting of the BISD School Board, many of whom were parents who had come to see their students recognized for achievement, but some were clearly there to expand the discussion on the possible 313 Agreement (tax abatement) between the district and Montague Solar.

Only one person signed up to speak in the Citizens’ Comments portion of the Board Meeting. Upon inspection, Board President Brittany Hicks affirmed the topic to be presented was not on the agenda for the meeting and could not be heard according to Board Policy.

After an unsolicited comment from one of the audience members about allowing comment on the solar farm application, Interim Superintendent Gary Bitzkie assured the group he had been in contact with Montague Solar.

He said a town hall meeting would be set up in late January with company representatives at the Middle School Cafeteria.

Bitzkie also encouraged any community member to sit down with him individually and that he would provide the information he had on the abatement process.

BHS Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams were recognized for their outstanding performances at the state meet. Chelsey Graves and Kate Guajardo were recognized for placing second in the National FFA Science Fair in the Food Products and Processing/Division 6 category.

BHS Principal Dr. Kenneth Vogel reported the school’s Texas Association of Future Educators team would be advancing to state competition and that the Debate team would be advancing to semi-finals.

Bitzkie reported enrollment had grown to 2,315 students and attendance was holding at 91 percent.

The Board approved Board Policy Update 118 including 14 changes to local policy recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards. The changes included the areas of student records, admissions, attendance, academic achievement, special programs, basic instructional programs, personnel positions, termination of employment, technology resources, and accounting.

Budget Amendment #3 was approved by the Board. The Board voted to purchase a 77-passenger bus and a 54-passenger bus for the district. Both would come with seatbelts and have Wi-Fi installed.

The Board approved the purchase of aluminum bench seating for the Middle School stadium to continue with renovation of that facility.