CCISD board to vote on purchasing Main Street National Banks building

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

A real estate purchase is high priority on the agenda of tonight's meeting of the Copperas Cove Independent School District board of trustees.

CCISD has been negotiating with The National Banks of Central Texas since the early fall of 2015 to develop an agreement in which the District would purchase The National Banks building and property located at 408 S. Main St. in Copperas Cove.

“Student enrollment growth, the need for space to provide professional development, board room capacity and the need to coordinate services into one central location for efficiency as we face an uncertain future with federal impact aid funding were driving forces in CCISD’s interest in this property,” said Joe Burns, CCISD Superintendent of Schools.

The bank will continue to operate at that location while a new facility is constructed, said Ken Poston, The National Banks of Central Texas Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.

“We look forward to working with CCISD in this endeavor,” Poston said. “We want to reassure our customers that we are committed to Copperas Cove and want to serve them better in a new building. We are here to take care of our clients.”

CCISD would then take possession of the property and develop it for use after the bank's new location is constructed. 

Burns said CCISD anticipates closing in March 2016 if the request is approved by the CCISD Board of Trustees at this evenin'g meeting. The bank would occupy the building for at least another year, he added.

The Main Street biulding would serve as the new administrative offices currently located at 703 W. Ave. D and also house its technology department to that location.

The board members discussed the proposed purchase at its monthly school board workshop yesterday and will vote on the measure this evening during the regular monthly board meeting.

Prior to the regular meeting tonight, set to begin at 7 p.m., the board will hold a public hearing to discuss the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR).

Additionally, during the real meeting, the board will hear from the auditing firm of Lott, Vernon, & Co., LLC, which has completed its audit of CCISD's 2014-2015 fiscal operations and will present their findings at the meeting this evening. The district is required to have an annual audit completed by an outside auditory.

Although the 2016-2017 school year is months away, the board will also take a look at the changes to the CTE & Academic courses for the 2016-2017 High School Course Selection Guide.

The courses are determined by job outlook, teacher certification, alignment with Programs of Study/Major and student interest. Revisions of the guide are performed annually and the guide is published each January to help plan the student registration process for next school year.

In conjunction with the district's TAPR, the board will also be voting on CCISD campus performance objectives which will be included in the TAPR as required by the Texas Education Code.

At tonight's meeting, the board will be hearing the second quarterly update on the district's progress with Vision 2020, the district strategic plan which was implemented in July 2015. This update covers the months October through December. The board will also receive the monthly financial report as well as the district's first quarter investment report.

During the recognitions portion of the meeting, the Williams Ledger Elementary Sunrise Singers will perform for School Board Recognition Month. Fairview/Miss Jewell Elementary, Williams/Ledger Elementary, Clements/Parsons Elementary, CCHS TAFE, and House Creek Elementary will all be making presentations this evening as well.

The meeting will take place in the administration board room, located at 703 W. Ave. D.