Tidehaven ISD
District Program and Facilities Advisory

Planning Committee Meeting

Summary of Meeting 

The open forum was held in the Tidehaven High School Library.  There were 26 guests and 1 visitor present.  Mr. Jones began the meeting at 6:45 p.m. 

After welcoming all members and guests, Mr. Jones reviewed the agenda for the evening.  After a quick review of the five previous meetings, Mr. Jones introduced Cameron Hollomon, a technical specialist from the Region 4 ESC Facility Service Team.  Mr. Hollomon was present to explain the services available to Tidehaven Independent School District in evaluating our present facilities.   

Mr. Hollomon discussed services such as facilities performance review, facilities performance training, facilities design and construction management, and facilities maintenance and operations management.  The proposed service could include the development of reports based on several components.  Walk-throughs of existing facilities and classrooms, inspections of exterior components and interviewing personnel were among the topics Mr. Hollomon suggested using in order to create a final report.  The range of services can be tailored to suit the needs of the district.  The main purpose in using the services Region 4 offers would be to give the district a “tool” to better use our money.   

The reports generated after the inspections would also include a list of mandates (local, state and federal) that the district must abide by.  Each campus will receive a report, with the district receiving a comprehensive report and CD that can be used by the district to determine what action, if any, will be taken.  The Facility Service Team would be available during and after the process to attend board meetings and committee meetings as requested. 

After his presentation, Mr. Hollomon opened the forum up for questions.  Among the topics discussed were a possible timeline for the inspections, the number of members on Mr. Hollomon’s team and their specialty(ies), the format of the final report and questions concerning the gathering of information by the Facility Service Team. 

Mr. Jones asked the committee members if they had any thoughts and/or concerns that they would like to discuss.  Most of the concerns brought forward were previous topics, such as the age and condition of the older structures in the district, the growth potential in Matagorda County, the district’s Chapter 41 status and the increasing demands of technology.  Among some new concerns was the need to evaluate our present programs, the need to have a better understanding of what a bond election would mean for the citizens of our district, and a desire to take a tour of some new school facilities, such as Industrial or Louise. 

After electing to have the next Facilities and Programs Advisory Committee meeting on November 27, 2007, in the High School Library, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. 

PERSONAL NOTE from Supt. 

WOW, your thoughts, ideas and questions you shared at this meeting have really given me some guidance for our next couple of meetings. As a result of the information you shared and the questions you asked, I will have the following items on the November 27^th agenda (some of these agenda items may be on the January agenda):

1)      I have requested that the Region IV Facilities Services Team (Cameron Holloman) be ready to give our committee an interim report at the Nov. 27^th meeting.

2)      I have arranged for a director of business/finance services from an area Chapter 41 school district to come to this meeting to share his thoughts with the committee on what it is like to be a Chapter 41 school district for the last 15 years. He will offer us his hands-on, working knowledge of how we can effectively and efficiently be a Chapter 41 school district, as well as inside working knowledge of what it is like to be a Chapter 41 school district.

3)      I am going to review some of the financial highlights I have previously shared with you in the past meetings. I also will share data so that we can view it from a taxpayers’ perspective. This will include tax rates of local school districts, the district’s top ten taxpayers, exemptions offered by TISD, exemptions offered by other local school districts, several examples of what homeowners and landowners pay in local school taxes and a chart depicting a range of dollar amounts in millions vs. the approximate I&S taxes to fund a bond election in TISD.

4)      We will begin developing a written TENTATIVE timeline for the committee to give its recommendation to the TISD Board of Trustees.

5)      We will also discuss forming five (5) sub-committees

a.       One sub-committee to talk with the Blessing PTC about this committee's goals, ideas and future plans for the district.

b.      Another sub-committee to talk with the Markham PTC about this committee’s goals, ideas and future plans for the district.

c.       Another sub-committee to talk with the Intermediate parents about this committee’s goals, ideas and future plans for the district.

d.      Another sub-committee to talk with the High School parents about this committee’s goals, ideas and future plans for the district.

e.       Lastly, a sub-committee to begin some preliminary discussions with the landowners surrounding the High School to discuss the possible purchase of land.

6)  If there is time at this meeting, we will begin some preliminary discussions concerning the use of surveys to gather data from all of the district’s stakeholders. 

Once again, THANKS so much for sharing your thoughts, ideas, and for asking your questions for clarification at this last meeting. I am looking forward to continuing to work with you on this important project at the next meeting. During the next few meetings, we will hear valuable information that will assist us in reaching consensus on what our recommendation will be to the TISD Board of Trustees.  

Following the suggestion/lead of one of our own committee members, PLEASE MAKE IT A POINT TO CALL SOMEONE YOU KNOW THAT IS ON THIS COMMITTEE THAT HAS NOT ATTENDED THE LAST FEW MEETINGS AND ENCOURAGE HIM/HER TO ATTEND THE NEXT FEW MEETINGS. We need everyone’s input to reach consensus on this committee’s recommendation to the TISD Board of Trustees. 

October 16, 2007 Agenda pdf

            PowerPoint Presentation for 10/16/07 Meeting (PowerPoint)
            PowerPoint Presentation for 10/16/07 Meeting (pdf format)