Bellah appointed as new Albany school trustee

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany school board moved to appoint a  new member to fill a vacant seat, accepted one resignation, and approved a one-time payment to all school employees during a meeting held Monday, Dec. 13.

Albany resident Matt Bellah was sworn in to fill the Place 5 seat for the unexpired portion of a three-year term that ends in May 2022 on a motion by Kim Fuentes. The position opened after the resignation of longtime board member Kelly Head earlier in the year.

The board also discussed the possibility of changing from the state health insurance plan, going out on their own to take bids for the coverage for the district’s employees.

“If we opt out the insurance offered through TRS, we would not be allowed back for a five-year period,” superintendent Jonathan Scott said. “My recommendation is to stay with TRS at this point because there are too many unknowns in the medical insurance business currently.”

The board agreed, with Scott noting that the school can leave the state health system at anytime because of a change in the law.

Scott added that TRS is offering rates based on health cost average within each of the state’s service center regions.

“Based on the cost experience in Region 14, we would have a negative seven rate, meaning our rates would be seven points less that the state average when they start offering regional rates next year,” he said.

The board agreed that the district should stay with the current TRS plans.

The board also agreed to pay each employee a one-time retention payment of $250 from the school’s foundation funds.

“The foundation had a good year and this is a way to thank our employees for the extra work required during the pandemic,” Scott said.

The stipend was approved on a motion by Joe Tidwell, which passed unanimously.

School employees received a stipend using ESSR III funds received from the federal government to aid in recovery of the pandemic in their December paychecks. The amounts varied based on years of service.

Scott reviewed the annual Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) during a public hearing held at the meeting.

The report gave the district a score of 100 or A rating for superior achievement.

Ginny Ivy made the motion to accept the report, which passed unanimously. No one from the public was present to discuss the report during the public hearing.

The board also approved the district’s Local School Wellness Plan for the next three years,along with the by-laws for the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC).

The SHAC committee is normally headed by the school nurse and parents must represent at least 50 percent of the membership. The council makes recommendations at health needs to the board for implementation as needed.

The board members were each given a copy of the annual superintendent’s evaluation document to be completed and discussed at the January meeting.

Elementary principal John Gallagher reported that the mid-year MAPS tests, which measure student growth, were administered last week with positive results shown.

“We are excited about the amount of growth shown and that our students are closing the gap,” he said. “The teachers will meet on their first day back to develop a plan for the spring semester to continue the process.”

During the personnel portion of the meeting, Scott read a letter of resignation from school nurse Lisa Russell that is effective on Jan. 22, 2022. Dr. Cory Brown moved to accept the resignation, which passed unanimously.

Scott reported that he has received seven or eight applications and has conducted three interviews for the position.  He said he hopes to hire a new nurse prior to Russell’s final day so there can be a smooth transition period.