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The February school board meeting on Monday, February 8th, began with a tour of LBJ Elementary School. The tour, led by Elementary Principal Shannon Helmke, took board members through Kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms as well as the computer lab and Title 1 classroom. During a brief presentation, Helmke told board members that throughout all five grade levels, teachers are making connections with students, using examples from students’ lives in order to reinforce the material being taught, and building relationships with each individual student in order to enhance the learning process. Further, technology now plays a large role in the elementary classroom. Document cameras and projectors, which are now in every classroom, enable teachers to present material in new and creative ways.

Some basic improvements are on the way for the elementary. In the computer lab new computers will be installed, the hallway cubbies will be removed to allow for freer movement in the hallways, and the old countertops in the classrooms will be replaced with new cabinetry or another form of storage. The board members commented throughout the tour on the neatness and cleanliness of the classrooms. Helmke said that the teachers always want to present their best "work" to the students in an effort to model the belief that you should always be putting forth your best effort. The teachers of LBJ Elementary, from the decoration of their classrooms to the research they do in order to improve student learning, are always striving to better the education children receive at JCISD and are a major reason why LBJ Elementary is an Exemplary school.

After the tour, the board continued their regular meeting. Nobody signed up to speak during open forum and the consent agenda passed unanimously. The first item up for consideration on the Action items list was the call for school board elections. A motion was made to hold the election in May of 2010, and was approved. Next, Principal Helmke accepted on behalf of LBJ Elementary School the National Center for Educational Achievement Award (NCEA). LBJ Elementary is a high performing school, especially in the area of mathematics, and the faculty has worked diligently with students to boost their achievement in all academic subjects.

Finally, the board issued a resolution to enable the district to collect unclaimed property from the State Comptroller’s Office. Apparently, two checks written by the district totaling $102.16 have not been cashed. One of the checks actually dates back to 1976. In order to claim the two checks, the school board must pass a resolution stating the district’s intentions regarding the unclaimed property. The resolution will now go to the state.

During the Superintendent’s report, Superintendent Shanley reported that overall enrollment is now at 681 students. He then noted that the election calendar has been revised. Ballot position drawing for the two open school board seats will be held on March 6th. The two board members whose positions are up for election are Randy Brodbeck and Kip Thompson.

Afterwards, the board went into closed session to consider the contracts of Assistant Superintendent A’lann Truelock, Technology Coordinator Kevin Jacks, and Special Education Director Chris Voron. Also up for contract renewal were the principals of all three campuses. When the open meeting resumed, Randy Brodbeck announced that the contracts for all six employees had been renewed for the following year.

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