Top Students Recognized, Board Reorganized, Budget Calendar Presented At May Board Meeting
During the regular May board meeting, Sulphur Springs Independent School District Board of Trustees approved 30 personnel changes and recognized top seniors. The 2020 budget calendar was also presented and unopposed incumbents were sworn in for another term, then, the board reorganized during the meeting as well.
Personnel Items
The trustees approved 30 personnel changes, during the May 11 Zoom meeting, including 12 resignations, eight new personnel recommendations and 10 changes either in job position or location among current SSISD employees across the district. The recommendations approved include the following:
Top Students
The trustees recognized Sydney Washburn as the SSHS Class of 2020 valedictorian and Andrew Westlund as the salutatorian.
SSHS Principal Derek Driver last month officially announced the pair as this year’s top students during a small gathering of media, a few school officials, Washburn and her family members — social distancing was enforced. Westlund did not attend the announcement.
“You guys are great shining example of what SSISD can do,” SSISD Superintendent Michael Lamb told them when offering congratulation to the pair.
The daughter of Troy and Kris Lopez and Scott and Ashley Washburn, Sydney Washburn finished her career at SSHS with a 4.0 grade point average.
She plans to attend Baylor, where she will major in medical humanities and religion. She sees becoming a pediatrician as “an opportunity to provide a more general care in areas that need it.”
Westlund, who was unable to attend the honors announcement Monday, graduates with a 3.96 GPA. He is the son of Daniel Westlund and Misty Westlund.
Westlund plans to attend Oral Roberts University, where he will study to become a quantum computer programmer.
Washburn offered thanks to the trustees and SSISD staff for all of their “wisdom and hard work” that went into making Sulphur Springs High School “such a special place.”
The SSHS class of 2020 valedictorian noted her experience at SSISD to be a great one, providing what will always be “some of my best memories.”
Salutatorian Westlund too expressed thanks to the school board for the honor as well as a fewer other occasions in which he earned other recognition for his academic achievements. He said he too has had a “really great school career; thank you for that.”
SSISD Board of Trustees President Robbin Vaughn extended congratulations to both for their hard work. She noted typically, the board would present each with a plaque at their board meeting. However, because the meeting was held on Zoom, so the district will get that out to them.
Oath, Reorganization of the Board
SSISD Board of Trustees May 2 trustees election was cancelled at the March board meeting, ahead of the COVID-19 changes to planned elections. The incumbents were the only candidates to file for the May 2020 election. Because they were unopposed for the two seats, the election was not necessary.
Robbin Vaughn, who serves as president of the board for two years, and Robert Cody, who has served as vice president of the board, Monday night were sworn for another 3-year term on the school board, with Marci Owens administering the oath.
Afterward, the trustees selected the three members to serve as top officers on the board. Robert Cody will now serve as president, Craig Roberts as vice president and Jason Dietze as secretary of the school board.
Budget Calendar
SSISD Business Manager Sherry McGraw presented to the trustees with a planned calendar for development of the 2020-2021 fiscal budget for the district.
Officials anticipate presenting a preliminary budget to the school board on June 8. This will feature revenue based on a new template, and estimated tax values and estimated student counts. Expenditures will include campus requests and estimated payroll increases. Employee turnover will not be entered in budget at this point. Any new expenditures will be added, however.
On July 13, the board should receive another preliminary budget with will include revenue based on new template, estimated tax values and 2019-20 student counts. Expenditure will include campus budget requests, payroll increases, employee turnover and any new expenditures.
The district should have certified values on July 25, which will give school officials a more firm idea regarding revenues. That will allow a proposed 2020-2021 budget and tax rate to be drafted and presented for the board to consider adopting on August 10. This final proposed draft of the budget will include certified values and final student counts used for revenue. Expenditures will include all changes to payroll, all campus budgets, and any new expenses that have been identified that need included.
To finish out the 2019-2020 budget, McGraw anticipates presenting to trustees at a special noon board meeting August 28 for trustees approve the amended 2019-20 to reflect any changes made to the original budget due to unexpected expenses or revenues.
