Board Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2014
A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Refugio Independent School District was held on
Thursday, November 20, 2014, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Refugio High School Library, 212 West
Vance Street, Refugio, Texas, with the following members present: President Rene Garcia, VicePresident Ethel Garza, Secretary Andy Rocha, Jorge Jaso, Laura Ramirez, Christie Mascorro, and
Eugene Lewis.
Also present: Jack Gaskins, Superintendent.
Staff present: Twyla Thomas, Melissa Gonzales, Ariel Aleman, Lisa Herring, and Brenda
Schumann.
Others present: Erica Flores, Candelario Flores, Candi Ortiz, Jacob Flores, Maria Flores, Issac
Flores, Amber Ross, Trevor Ross, Trenton Ross, Tracelyn Ross, Jeremy Ross, Lisa Jones, Linda
Jones, Kevin Jones, Delainey Jones, Emily Jones, Michelle Mascorro, Richard Mascorro, Maria
Placencia, Norma Placencia, Yahir Placencia, Elizar Placencia, Saldavar Placencia, Jose Sustaita,
Jessica Valencia, Heidi Gillespie, Ysidro Mascorro, Margaret Salinas, Lola Bailey, Jack Bailey,
Daidrin Dukes, Hannah Heard, Dillon Bailey, Daniel Bailey, and Peter Silvas.
President Rene Garcia established a quorum of members present, welcomed guests, and called the
meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Mrs. Christie Mascorro led members and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance.
During the Spotlight on Excellence, the following students were recognized for being exceptional
students and demonstrating leadership qualities: Issac Flores, Yahir Placencia (6th grade students);
Delainey Jones, Jose Susaita (7th grade students)Ysidro Mascorro, Trevor Ross (Eighth grade
students); Daidrin Dukes (11th grade student) Mrs. Thomas spoke in support of the 6th grade
students, while Mrs. Gillespie spoke on behalf of the seventh grades students and Mrs. Jones spoke
in support of the eighth grade students and Mrs. Gonzales spoke in support of the High School
student. On behalf of the Board, Mr. Andy Rocha presented them with certificates and the Board
congratulated them.
An audience with visitors was held.
The board entered closed session beginning at 5:57 p.m. pursuant to the following sections of the
Texas Open Meetings Act Texas Govt. Code Sections 551.074, 551.075, 551.0821, 551.082: to
deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of
a public officer or employee or to hear complaints against an officer of employee; to confer with
employees of the school district to receive information or to ask questions; employment of
probationary contract employee(s) for the 2014-15 school year; deliberate a matter regarding a
student if personally identifiable information about the student will necessarily be revealed by the
deliberation; deliberate in a case involving discipline of a public school child, or in a case in which a
complaint or charge is brought against a District employee by another employee and the complaint
or charge directly results in a hearing.
The Board returned to open session at 6:56 p.m. having taken no action.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Gaskins reported the following:
a. Enrollment
b. Principals’ reports:
 Refugio Elementary – Mrs. Thomas reported that RES is implementing the
Fundamental Five and 710 Power Walks have been taken since the start of school
until present time; Mrs. Thomas will continue to focus on small group purposeful
talks and critical writing strategies both of which have seen an increase in frequency;
RES second grade students are to perform at the Nursing Home in Refugio;
Student Treasure books are almost completed and ready for production; RES UIL
December 2nd-4th; Ladies of Distinction are really influencing the students of RES
and a couple of the 5th grade students have started a No Bullying Club and a Note
Making Club; Mrs. Thomas thanked Mr. Jaso for his donation of coats.
 Refugio Junior High – Mr. Aleman reported that they are implementing the
Fundamental Five and 135 Power Walks have been conducted; BELT (Bobcats
Expanded Learning Time) this time is set aside in the students’ schedule to
encourage reading and to develop the love of reading, and to enhance the students
reading skills and comprehension skills; UIL will start the first week of December
with an increase in student participation.
 Refugio High – Mrs. Gonzales reported on academics; RHS English Team, as a
result of the grant Lisa Herring secured and with the leadership of Anna Garcia, has
a new resource to help both struggling readers and readers needing preparation for
College Readiness; The Math Team is offering rotational reviews to prepare for
upcoming STAAR retests; Social Studies Team has taken significant steps toward
fully implementing the Fundamental Five by focusing on both higher-order
thinking skills and connecting curriculum to real life; The Science Team is focusing
on the lesson framing component of the Fundamental Five, they are actively
investigating the new resources available within the science curriculum; Juniors and
Seniors had the opportunity to attend the Del Mar College Fall Success Day on
October 30th, and all juniors took the ASVAB Career Exploration Program on
November 6th. Several clubs and organizations have been very active this school
year also.
 Library Reports.
 Truancy Report.
Mr. Gaskins introduced Mike Brooks and Casey Sledge. Mr. Brooks and Mr. Sledge spoke to the
Board regarding TASB Facility Services and Sledge Engineering, LLC and how the experience,
knowledge, approach, and methodology of these two companies will be a great match for Refugio
ISD’s construction needs. TASB has been a voluntary, nonprofit, statewide educational association
serving and representing local Texas school districts and their interests for 65 years. Sledge
Engineering is a professional firm registered by the State of Texas and established in 2004. After
more than 100 projects for local Texas governments, Sledge has gained the experience to deliver all
types of projects in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
Motion by Mr. Rocha, seconded by Ms. Ramirez to authorize the Superintendent to enter into
negotiations with TASB and Sledge Engineering for bond process assistance and program
management services based on presented qualifications and competencies. All voted for. 7-0
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Financial information – monthly bills.
Date of December Board meeting – Monday, December 15, 2014, 5:30 p.m.
Winter Governance Seminar – March 5-7, 2015 – Corpus Christi.
Cafeteria Report
RISD Calendar of Events – November, 2014 & December, 2014.
Football playoffs
Letter of Support for Head Start Grant Application to BCFS
General comments on the state of the District
The following consent agenda items were approved by common consent:
A. Approved minutes from the October 23, 2014 regular meeting and special meeting
October 31, 2014 as presented.
Motion by Mr. Lewis, seconded by Mrs. Garza to approve the improvement plans for District,
RJHS Campus, and RES campus for system safeguards. All voted for. 7-0
Motion by Mrs. Garza, seconded by Mr. Lewis to accept the proposal from VCS Company-Infiniti
Communications Technology of Victoria, Texas for installation of Shore Tel Voice IP Phones and
operational system as per proposal dated 10-16-14 in the amount of $44,944.00 . Voting for: Rene
Garcia, Jorge Jaso, Eugene Lewis, Laura Ramirez, Christie Mascorro, and Ethel Garza. Voting
Against: Andy Rocha. 6-1.
Motion by Mrs. Garza, seconded by Mr. Rocha to delegate to the Superintendent the authority to
alter the Refugio ISD 2014-2015 school calendar as necessary to accommodate the state football
championship game. All voted for. 7-0
Motion by Mrs. Mascorro, seconded by Mr. Lewis to approve the Superintendent’s recommendation
for employment of Nicole Johnson as teacher on a one-year probationary contract for the remainder
of the 2014-15 school year, subject to assignment and teacher salary schedule to be approved at a
later date. All voted for. 7-0
Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
_______________________________
Rene Garcia, Board President
_________________________________
Andy Rocha, Board Secretary