A couple of issues were addressed by the board concerning students traveling for extra-curricular activities.
One was a board policy adopted just over a year ago that authorized paying for meals for students traveling for UIL activities, according to Hermleigh Supt. Marvin Beaty.
Beaty told the board that ag contests are not official UIL sanctioned events, but he thought the district should pay for their extended away-trip meals as well.
The other issue is the high cost of meals on the road for short road trips. Stopping and eating at some place on the road is “very expensive,” Beaty said and he proposed having the school cafeteria prepare a “sack lunch” meal for students. He said it would cost about $2.50 per meal rather than the $5.50 it currently averages.
“I had the cafeteria prepare the meals for the board members and we ate them during our executive session, we all enjoyed the meal,” he said. “The board voted to change the policy and give full discretion to the superintendent and high school principal.”
The board also hired Dr. David Harriger to write grant proposals for the district. Beaty said he and Harriger had known each other for a number of years. Harriger is employed by the Troy school system, has previously reviewed grants and has successfully applied for grants for other entities.
In the superintendent’s report Beaty told the board that Title I funds from the state have increased from about $7,000 last year to about $39,000 currently. He said the student population has increased from 104 students last year to 165 now, which accounted for some of the increase. He said increased diligence in reported meals and other reimbursable expenses has also helped.
He also praised Chief Appraiser Larry Crooks for his successful appeal of his property values for the district. The state had disputed the numbers and if the appeal had not been successful the district could have lost approximately $50,000 next year.
Landowner Dorothy Sprague had requested to be put on the agenda to address some land negotiations but did not appear at the meeting. The board took no action after an executive session on the land issue.