In order to demonstrate what was being taught and learned in the QISD science classrooms, 5th grade science teacher Hannah Farmer brought three of her students in for the school board meeting student showcase Monday.

Students Cooper Adams, Kristopher Menter and Bladyn Farmer discussed the investigations they had done, which included constellations and the engineering/testing of different paper airplane methods. However, the most fun part of the evening came when the collective audience, board included, decided to change the plan and have the kids test their paper airplanes at the front of the room.

All three of the kids’ airplanes flew to roughly 15 or more feet away.

“Is it fun in science class?” she asked the boys.

“Yeah!” said Adams.

“But it can be a lot of work…. I don’t like a lot of work,” dryly added Menter, which comment was accompanied by much laughter from all watching.

Farmer also thanked the board for having purchased the digital and print versions of the science textbooks. She said that having both at her disposal gives kids, many of whom have rarely if ever had normal, print textbooks, an opportunity to experience things like learning how to use a glossary.

The Top Dog Award went to QISD’s custodial and maintenance staff, and especially to their lead custodians. Bradley Gann, Brian Harbin and Stacy Bradshaw were the three representatives to take the award.

“The pride starts with y’all; and we realize that. We recognize that, and we thank you for it,” said board member James Hicks.

Junior High students Lillian McWhorter and Harvey Whited gave the pledges.

Superintendent Chris Mason said that they now have 1,212 students. He also said that they currently have a “very healthy” fund balance. However, Mason said that only 89% of QISD teachers are teaching certified, which he pointed out is a growing happenstance/struggle among Texas schools. He expects that that number will reach 100% within this school year.

After a presentation by Director of Technology Colby Bridges, the board voted to purchase 20 smart televisions for the school. The 20 TVs, said Bridges, will go to “fill in the last section of classrooms…that don’t already have a TV.” The purchase of the televisions for the pre-k through 2nd grades will make the district “100% smartboard” based, said Bridges. The televisions will cost $41,909.

Bridges also requested 120 Chromebooks for next year’s freshman class. The Chromebooks would be a newer, up to date model. Funding for the computers was already planned in the budget. According to Bridges, after using the computers all through high school, seniors have the option to pay an extra fee and take the computers with them to college. The board voted to purchase the Chromebooks for $38,461.

The board also voted to purchase a new cattle trailer for the Agricultural Department. According to Brant Lee, the CTE ag teacher who presented the request, the department has two trailers. However, one of them is not usable due to newly-passed DOT requirements. Instead of updating the trailer to make it usable, the board decided to sell it and purchase a new one. It will be purchased from Longhorn Trailer Sales. It is 6 feet longer than the old one and has folding ramps, which the old one did not have. The $35,109 that the trailer will cost was also a budgeted expense, according to Mason. 

The board voted to purchase a new fleet vehicle from Toliver Ford in the amount of $61,744. 

“And again, that’s a budget item, too,” said Mason.

Mason noted the board would be holding advocacy meetings with the community this semester and next semester.

According to the Lone Star Governance Board Evaluation and Quarterly Progress Tracker, the QISD board’s visions and goals scores “have remained the same,” said Mason. However, their progress and accountability score dropped slightly, as they had a few emergency meetings since the last evaluation. Mason said that “even if it’s not our fault” that they had to meet, it counts against them for efficiency ratings. Their current overall score is a 79; Mason assured board members and spectators that most districts “run anywhere from 40s to 50s,” so he said that “we’re very proud of that 79… what they’re telling us is that that board is functioning at a very high level.” Mason said that QISD is expected to go to an even higher score of 91 by next quarter.

Kari Wilson, director of finance, announced that the district received a “superior” rating of 100 on their FIRST (Financial integrity Rating System of Texas) report. There will be a public hearing to discuss the results later, but the board heard the announcement Monday. They have received this score since 2018, according to Wilson.