The Muleshoe ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, Aug. 19, in a regular meeting. The board took action to lower the property taxes for the 2019-2020 school year.
“Last year the taxes were Maintenance and Operations (M&O), $1.17 and the Bonds Issues Taxes (I&S) were $.17” reported Lisa Whalin, MISD Business Manager. “Now we have asked the board to decrease taxes, and the new tax rates were lowered. The M&O is $1.0684 and the I&S is $.17. This lowered the total tax rate of $1.34 to $1.2384,” Whalin said.
Kevin Morris was sworn in to take Kelly Kettner’s at-large position on the board. The board chose Morris at the 6:45 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5, meeting, and City Secretary Zanea Carpenter swore him in at the Aug. 19 meeting.
Morris, who works at Five Area Telephone, has two children attending MISD schools. They are Drew, a freshman, and Maci a 6th grader. Muleshoe ISD Board of Trustees gladly welcomes Morris to the Board.
During the same meeting, Kurt Miller, District 3, resigned from the board citing family reasons. The Muleshoe ISD Board is again pursuing names for the school board. If you are interested in serving as a Muleshoe ISD trustee please contact a board member or Dr. R.L. Richards at 806-272-7400.
David Vela, School Safety and Gateway Administrator, reported on the new protocols for the safety drills. He explained the Guardian trainings, safety equipment, “GO BAG” in each classroom, radio communications and panic buttons. The board was especially glad to se Vela complete his School Officers Training, which allows him to make arrests if needed. The board asked questions about the Guardians and the school safety planning. Vela, along with Chief Gary McHone and Lt. Benny Parker will be conducting a safety audit.
Susan Hinojosa, Technology Coordinator, explained the transition of Outlook Email to Gmail for all staff members. This adjustment has allowed MISD staff members to be safer with communication and improved instruction with Google Classroom.
Expanding from the Google Classroom, Hinojosa and Cindy Bessire, high school principal, discussed the One-to-One Chrome books for ALL Muleshoe High School students. This classroom learning tool, a laptop for all high schools, was a large part of Muleshoe High’s being rated a “B,” an excellent rating.
Since technology and learning go hand in hand, the Board of Trustees is putting out a $100,000 technology grant for teachers to apply for technology equipment for their classrooms. This is a great example of the Muleshoe teachers working diligently to improve student learning.
Bessire also discussed the 2020 Muleshoe High graduation on May 15, 2020. Prom will be on April 25, 2020. Bessire will be meeting with senior parents in the near future to discuss Senior Recognition Night, Graduation and Prom.
Junior Martinez, Muleshoe Youth Football League Representative, requested the use of the MHS football field to play games on. After much discussion, a decision was made to attempt to allow one game to be played this fall on the David Wood Field with a large deposit and some restrictions. Sam Whalin and Richards will be communicating with Martinez.
Due to Miller’s resignation, Ashley Turnbow was elected by the board to serve on the Bailey County Appraisal District Board.
Curtis Preston, president of the Muleshoe ISD Board of Trustees, closed the meeting.