April 24, 2007 - Superintendent's Contract  
 
Austin School Trustees voted 7-1 Monday evening to approve a one-year extension to Superintendent Pat Forgione's contract. The action means that Dr. Forgione will continue to have a four-year contract with the School District, this one extending through June 30, 2011. There was no salary increase associated with the Board's vote. Dr. Forgione was named Superintendent of the Austin School District in August 1999.

Earlier in the evening, President Mark Williams announced Trustees' job evaluation of Dr. Forgione, as required by Board Policy. In his statement, Mr. Williams said, "The Board is pleased with the hard work and commitment that Dr. Forgione and his Administration are giving the academic progress of all Austin students, as well as professional career success of the employees of AISD." Mr. Williams also listed some of the significant challenges that must be addressed by the District and Dr. Forgione, including:  
 
• Ensuring that all schools meet State and Federal accountability standards.  
• Continuing emphasis to raise the academic performance of all students  
• Accelerating the District's progress in closing the achievement gap.  
• Strengthening our programs for the District's growing population of English Language Learners (ELLs).  
• Successfully implementing the District's High School Redesign Initiative.  
• Rethinking our approach to middle schools to achieve excellence and readiness for high school.  
• Working to improve the climate at each campus so that it is conducive to learning, and that all students feel safe.  
• Engaging the community in a more meaningful and impactful manner.  
• Developing an innovative and effective long-term Strategic Compensation Plan for AISD.  
 
Click here to read the complete evaluation.  
 
Implementation of State Accountability Sanctions per HB 1  
 
District Administrators briefed Trustees on the state sanctions that must be applied to any schools receiving Academically Unacceptable ratings for one or more years, as contained in House Bill 1 and as implemented by the Texas Education Agency. Preliminary ratings on schools' performance are scheduled be released on August 1. For the 2006-2007 school year, two Austin campuses —Webb Middle School and Johnston High School — were rated as Academically Unacceptable for a third year. Because of that rating, the District has been directed by TEA to prepare, approve, and submit by June 15 contingency plans for possible TEA-directed closure of these schools in either 2007-2008 or 2008-2009. Detailed education plans for support of these schools and the contingency plans will be presented to the Board at its May 14 meeting.  
 
School Lunch Price Increase  
 
Trustees approved the first increase in the price of breakfast and lunch in District cafeterias since 2005. Effective for the start of the 2007-2008 school year, the price for breakfast will increase from $1 to $1.25 for elementary and secondary students. Breakfast prices for adults are on an a la carte basis. Lunch prices will increase from $1.85 to $2.10 for elementary students and from $2 to $2.25 for secondary students. Lunches for adults will increase from $2.75 to $3.00. District officials said the increase is needed to cover the increases in food costs and labor. District prices for meals are comparable to those of surrounding school districts. The increased prices for breakfast and lunch will generate additional revenue of $63,393 and $448,543, respectively.  
 
Employee Insurance Plan Approved  
 
Trustees extended the District's contract with BlueCross/BlueShield of Texas to provide health insurance benefits for School District employees from September 1, 2007, through August 31, 2008. Should the District continue to pay 100 percent of the HMO employee-only premium, the additional cost to the District during that period will be approximately $4.7 million. School officials solicited input from both the Austin Association of Public School Administrators and Education Austin in selecting the health care provider.  
 
Director of Diversity & Intercultural Relations  
 
Trustees approved creation of a new staff position of Director of Diversity & Intercultural Relations. The position, to be housed in the office of the Chief Academic Officer, will serve as a resource on diversity issues to promote intercultural dialogue, understanding, and respect among the many cultures reflected in Austin's diverse community. The position will take the lead on advancing the District's efforts to build strong educational programs that foster greater community engagement to support closing the achievement gaps among students. The person employed will also serve as a liaison and lead facilitator to the African American and Hispanic Quality of Life Task Force recommendations.  
 
Principal Appointment at Pickle Elementary School  
 
Trustees approved the appointment of Joel De La Garza to be the new principal of Pickle Elementary School, beginning with the 2007-2008 school year. De La Garza, a graduate of Pan American University, has 27 years of education experience. He currently serves as principal of Metz Elementary.  
 
Recognition  
 
Trustees recognized and congratulated Pillow Elementary School for being selected as one of only seven schools nationwide — and the only school in Texas — to receive the 2007 Excellence in Education Award from the National Center for Urban School Transformation at San Diego State University. To compete for the award, schools must serve urban areas where most of the students were low-income, yet the school exhibited high performance rates, high attendance, low suspension rates and met annual yearly progress goals across all subgroups of students. Dr. Linda Webb is principal of Pillow Elementary School.  
 
Apple At Work Bond Program  
 
Trustees approved contracts for the following bond program projects:  
 
• Renovations at Gullett Elementary School totaling $439,000. The contractor is S&G Contracting, Inc. Renovations include improvements to drainage, exterior lighting, door replacements, and replacing the gym flooring. Work will be completed by November 2007.  
• Renovations at Murchison Middle School totaling $2.7 million. The contractor is R.E.C. Industries, Inc. Renovations include construction of additional parking spaces and sidewalks, refurbishing student lockers, door repairs/replacements, selected classroom renovations, asphalt re-sealing, and resurfacing the tennis court. Work will be completed by August 2007.  
 
Observances  
 
Trustees designated the week of April 23 as School Health Awareness Week, and the week of May 7 as Teacher Appreciation Week.  
 
125th Anniversary Documentary Premiere  
 
Trustees announced the premiere of the Austin School District's 125th Anniversary documentary film, Teaching Austin: 125 Years of Public School Education, on Sunday, May 6, at 7:45 p.m. at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in the IMAX® Theatre. The showing is free to the public; however, reservations are necessary and may be made by e-mailing aisd125@austinfilmfestival.com.  
 
 
The next Regular Meeting of the Austin School District Board of Trustees is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, may 14, 2007, in the Auditorium of the Carruth Administration Center, located at 1111 West Sixth Street. All Board meetings are carried live on Time Warner and Grande Communications Cable Channel 22 and the AISD website at http://www.austinisd.org