LISD to reset trustee terms
By APRIL HAMMAN Louise Correspondent

Louise school trustees will start their deliberations early Monday night with a 5:30 p.m. budget workshop and review of superintendent's goals before the regular session.

After Louise ISD Superintendent Andy Peters shares his goals, trustees will hold a short 6:45 p.m. public hearing to discuss the Financial Rating System. This meeting, which is required each year, informs the public of the district's rating on financial accountability.

During regular session trustees will discuss grants that are being offered to the district - one of which will be used to purchase equipment for a physical education center available for use not only by students but the public as well. They will also look at proposals to remodel the elementary locker rooms to house the PE equipment.

Also on the agenda are: • Patrick Kubala, Wharton County tax assessor-collector will tell the board to be on the lookout for two separate tax statements this year;

• The board will extend one of two trustee positions until 2010 due to new state laws requiring four year terms; and

• Trustees will approve trustee term and election changes. The district is now required to hold November elections in conjunction with county, state and national races rather than city and other local balloting.

"The two positions that would have been up in May 2008 have to be stretched to November 2008," Peters said. "That gives us five positions that would have be elected/or re-elected in November 2008. I'm told by the school attorneys we have to elect no more than four at one time, so therefore, one of the positions has to be pushed to November 2010.

"So we will elect four positions … in 2008 and three positions in 2010 and then four in 2012 and three in 2014."

• Discussing the annexation plans of the city of El Campo. Some of the land the city is considering annexing is part of the Louise school district. This will have no effect on the district boundaries, Peters said.

• Discussing plans and budgeting for a new softball field and PE center;

• Discussing the purchase of additional projectors and document cameras for some classrooms;

• Taking a closed executive session to discuss duties and responsibilities of the superintendent; principal's pay and a paraprofessional position.

If any action is taken on the issues discussed during the closed session, it will take place in open session immediately afterwards.

The board meets in three session starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 15 in the district's meeting room in the administration building at 408 Second in Louise. Board meetings are open to the public.