CCISD board of trustess approves hiring of district director of digital learning and innovation
By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
The Copperas Cove Independent School District Board of Trustees approved all agenda items during their regular meeting Tuesday evening.
The board also approved several new hires. Among them is Danielle Patterson, who is now the district’s Director of Digital Learning and Innovation.
This is a new position the district created as it adapts to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020-2021 school year will mark Patterson’s 13th year in education. She has spent 10 of those years at Copperas Cove ISD.
Patterson joined CCISD in her third year of teaching as a classroom teacher at Williams/Ledger Elementary.
In 2013, Patterson graduated with her Master of Education in Instructional Technology from Sam Houston State University and was promoted to the position of Coordinator of Instruction and Digital Learning to support and train educators on how to incorporate technology in the classroom.
Patterson spent the 2019-2020 school year at another district, continuing her professional growth as an instructional technologist for secondary campuses.
The agenda also included several budgeted items exceeding $25,000 including a 2020-2021 Region 12 Education Service Center Contract for $96,632.31 to assist with professional development and other services; a College Board Contract for SAT and PSAT for the 2020-2021 School Year for $29,694.00; the district wide software license contract with Frontline Education for $59,663.14; the purchase of the i-Ready Program for $97,230 for online assessment and instruction for grades K-8; the purchase of Edgenuity renewal using TIMA funds in the amount of $90,750; and the purchase of the software license for Skyward, for financial management, payroll, PEIMS, Human Resources, student and family access in the amount of $149,359.81.
The board approved appointing Board President Joan Manning to serve as the district’s delegate for the National School Boards Association’s Advocacy Institute in Washington, D.C. The board also approved appointing board member Ann Davis as an alternate delegate.
The delegates receive briefings on federal issues, learn about the impact pending federal legislation and regulations may have on their local school districts and meet with US senators and members of Congress to discuss local issues. At this time, the NSBA is planning on an in-person event to be held in January.
“This is a really pertinent time in our nation and across our state to discuss education, certainly because of COVID-19 but also because of funding and a variety of other issues,” said CCISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns.
The board also approved the adoption of an election order for November 3 for the board of trustees’ election. The trustee positions designated as Place 6 (currently occupied by Jim Copeland) and Place 7 (currently occupied by Dr. Karen Harrison) will expire on November 3. The election will be conducted under a joint contract with the City of Copperas Cove, Coryell County and Bell County. Harrison has filed for reelection. Copeland will not be filing for reelection, but retired CCISD educator John Gallen has filed for Place 6. The deadline for candidates to file is Monday, Aug. 17.
The board approved Competitive Sealed Proposal as the procurement method for the installation of a new gas line at the district’s Technology Service Center. Once proposals are received, the committee will score them and bring a recommendation back to the trustees for approval.
The board approved the renewal of several agreements with Central Texas College for the 2020-2021 school year, including an MOU for College Prep Mathematics and Language Arts courses, an agreement for Dual Credit courses and an agreement for CTE courses such as the EMT program, the Automotive Technician program and the Welding program. The Dual Credit agreements allow students the opportunity to enroll in courses and receive articulated credit at CTC while still in high school. The CTE agreements provide students with opportunities to enroll in dual enrollment courses that allow them to receive simultaneous CTE credit for the course from both the college and the high school. Tuition will be billed to CCISD at the current in-district rate. The CTE dual credit agreement will cost approximately $100,000 to be split between federal grants and local funding.
The board also approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Copperas Cove to provide police services at CCHS for the 2020-2021 school year. The terms provide for two full-time certified police officers for Copperas Cove High School. The cost for services for this school year includes a decrease of $24,774 from last year, due to the retirement of a veteran officer. The replacement officer has fewer years of experience and as such, his salary is decreased.
The board also renewed an agreement for use of school facilities between Five Hills 4-H Club and the district. The Five Hills 4-H Club uses space at the district agricultural barn for housing club members’ animals.
The board approved adjunct faculty agreements for County Extension Agents in Bell and Lampasas Counties for the 2020-2021 school year. These agreements will allow students participating in 4-H and other Texas Cooperative Extension activities to be counted in attendance while away from school. The district has not yet received the agreement for Extension Agents in Coryell County, but will vote on that once it has been submitted.
The board approved the acceptance of work by Rabroker A/C & Plumbing for the completion of the HVAC replacement at Clements/Parsons Elementary School and Crossroads High School and authorized the final payment of $58,862.15. The final cost to the district for this project is $1,177,243.00, which is $35,519 under budget.