Superintendent search continues

Brooks to remain at district helm

By LPR Staff
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Lockhart ISD Interim Superintendent Susan Brooks will not return to Lockhart Junior High School with her students on Monday, Aug. 27.
Although the search for either a long-term interim or a permanent superintendent was discussed during a meeting of the LISD Board of Trustees on M

onday evening, the board opted to take no action on the issue, leaving Brooks in place at Central Office as the students return to class. For the time being, Linda Bertram, one of the assistant principals at Lockhart Junior High School, will be acting principal at that campus.
Budgeting concerns dominated much of the board”s remaining conversation during Monday”s meeting, largely in regard to the district”s pay program.
After several months and dozens of changes, district administration continues to struggle with a “salary survey” document prepared by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) last year. Although the survey was intended to equalize employee pay plans and clarify pay procedures, Human Resources Director Theresa Ramirez continues to present employees who she believes were either overlooked or classified incorrectly in the survey.
The most recent round of changes suggested by Ramirez adds around $9,000 to the district”s employee budget. However, the board expressed concern about moving forward with the changes until Ramirez is certain the survey has been corrected.
The board also discussed a new law enacted by the Texas Legislature this year which will affect students” freedom of expression.
HB 3678 mandates that students in classroom settings and named as speakers at school events should be granted the same leeway to express their religious views as would a student expressing a secular view about the same subject. Further, the law mandates that students be allowed to gather for religious meetings, such as prayer groups and “See You At the Pole” gatherings, with the same protections as students participating in other campus organizations.
In brief district news:
The board discussed the possibility of installing artificial turf in Lion Stadium, but decided against the notion because it is cost prohibitive and not practical at this time. A member of the board brought the issue forward, suggesting that the district could save money on water bills and sod replacement if artificial turf was installed.
LHS Principal Larry Ramirez announced that only two of the nearly 30 seniors who had to re-take their exit level TAKS tests this summer passed the examination. Although the Board had promised to set a graduation ceremony for those students that passed, Ramirez informed the trustees that neither student was interested in having such a ceremony. The two recent graduates will be recognized during the board”s next regular meeting.
As the school year begins, the LISD Board of Trustees will return to a normal meeting schedule, which calls for meetings on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the LHS Conference Center.