School Raises Cafeteria Prices
The GCISD school board, with Tina Flores and Karla Hoelscher absent, voted Aug. 6 to raise prices for meals at the school cafeteria. The increase is 25 cents for each category of lunches, and the salad bar is now priced separately. The new prices are: elementary student $1.25; high school student $1.50; teacher lunch $2; teacher salad bar $1.50; visitor lunch $3; visitor salad bar $2.
Several changes were made to both the elementary and high school student handbooks, including making girls’ visors and caps off-limits inside school buildings. Previously, girls were allowed headwear inside, but boys were not. Other changes include a provision that detention will no longer be rescheduled; failure to show up on the assigned date will result in two more detention days. Also, a new state rule is that truancy may result in assessment of penalties by a court of law against both a student and his/her parents. There are other additions and changes; parents and students should carefully review the new student handbooks
Changes to Auxiliary Staff
The board hired Melissa Schmitz as an aide, replacing Beverly Pruit, who has retired. Schmitz was previously working in the school cafeteria, and will not be replaced, according to School Superintendent Steve Long. Rosalinda Martinez will move from a part time to a full time cleaning job, replacing Lillie Trevino, who has resigned. Long said he will eliminate the part time job. Other cleaning staff are Christina Montez, Kathleen Schniers, and Linda Salgado. Oscar Trevino has resigned from the school maintenance staff, but Long said that vacancy is also one that may not be filled, saying he will wait and see how things work out.
Trustees approved an updated employee housing agreement which adds language that yards and other outside areas are to be maintained in good condition, and if the school mows a lawn, a $40 fee will be charged.
The board voted to pay $200, the same as last year, toward each employees’ group health insurance, but will not pay the money to those who choose insurance outside the group plan. Long said to do so would defeat the purpose of a group plan.
Valuations Up; Tax Rate to Hold
Long told the board that with increased tax valuations, the tax rate necessary for the school district to raise the same monies as last year is $1.24 per $100 valuation, but he suggested the school’s tax rate be set at $1.30 for the next year, which is the highest possible without a roll-back election. The present rate is $1.30, after a rollback election which approved the rate. Long said he didn’t think a rollback rate was necessary this year, but he would probably recommend one in the future. He said the money raised from the rollback election last fall enables the school to meet its WADA payments without spending reserves. He said 43 percent of the school’s tax dollars are sent out to other schools in these payments, amounting to approximately $2.3 million for the next school year.
Long reported there are still problems with the Bearkat bus. He said he would price a “travel bus” from Bluebird Bus Company. The Bearkat bus, a 1980 model Greyhound-type, was purchased in May, 1998 for $53,400. A new engine was installed late in 1999 at a cost of approximately $9,000. The bus holds 46-passengers, has air conditioning, restroom, reclining seats, individual overhead lights and special paint.
Long reported that $7000 has been spent to replace the cast iron plumbing under the high school with PVC lines.