Thursday, September 19, 2024
The Granbury Independent School District board of trustees convened Monday evening, Sept. 16, to make several critical decisions regarding district purchases and a property sale.
The board approved the acquisition of new school buses, Chromebooks and fencing for school campuses while rejecting the sale of district property.
Five trustees were present at the meeting. Board President Barbara Townsend and Place 7 trustee Karen Lowery were absent.
IXL LEARNING PROGRAM RENEWAL
The board renewed its contract with IXL, a teaching and learning platform aligned with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. Teachers use IXL to supplement instruction, track student progress, and target specific skills for improvement. According to district staff, more than 7,500 students have benefited from the program, which has shown significant growth in student achievement across multiple campuses. The board voted 5-0 in favor of renewing the program, with two members absent.
PURCHASE OF SCHOOL BUSES
The board approved a $990,000 purchase of seven school buses, including five 71-passenger buses and two special education buses from a Texas-based company that has been in business since 1965.
The change from 77-passenger to 71-passenger buses was made due to quicker delivery times and a $57,000 savings. These buses are expected to be in service before Thanksgiving. Funding comes from the sale of a five-acre property in Acton, with additional funds from a recent state “settle-up” regarding frozen property levies.
Monica Brown, a community member, expressed excitement over the purchase, noting that acquiring new buses had been a topic in multiple bond proposals. Brown also raised questions about the district’s fund balance, asking if the extra funds, which exceed 20%, could be used for additional buses or cost-of-living increases for staff.
CHROMEBOOKS FOR STUDENTS
The board also approved the purchase of 500 Chromebooks from Vivacity Tech Public Benefit Corporation at a total cost of $131,400. The Chromebooks will be used primarily in K-2 classrooms and are intended to address a shortage of devices within the district. The district will distribute these devices to students as part of its initiative to ensure equal access to technology and digital learning tools.
The board discussed the importance of technology in modern education but acknowledged concerns over too much screen time for young students.
FENCING PROJECT APPROVAL
A $431,990 fencing project was approved for Nettie Baccus Elementary, STEAM Academy at Mambrino and Granbury High School. The contract, awarded to Calvary Construction, will be funded by a safety and security grant. The project involves removing and replacing existing fencing to enhance campus security.
PROPERTY SALE REJECTED
In other business, the board discussed a bid for the sale of approximately seven acres of unimproved property located at 2850 Acton School Road. After consideration, the board voted 5-0 to reject the bid, citing reasons not disclosed in the meeting.
FUTURE DISCUSSIONS
The board closed the meeting by reminding the participants that future discussions will include HVAC system improvements, which will utilize funds from the state’s recent settlement related to frozen property taxes.
To watch the board meeting, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/YhYCle-UMdo?si=jbII2wyOAcilyM8d.
