From left: Cody Miller, Casey Lout, James Reagan, and Josh Burns
November 15, 2024 - Center ISD Board of Trustees installed newly elected and re-elected board members to start their Thursday, November 14, 2024 regular meeting at the Center ISD Board Room. Casey Lout retained her position on the board and Cody Miller, James Reagan, and Josh Burns won their positions for the first time.
After the statement of officer and oath of office was performed, the board addressed voting for officer positions on the board of trustees. Deuce Wulf was elected to President, Greg Hubbard was elected to Vice-President, and Casey Lout elected as secretary.
Recognition of the Center High School Band was the next item on the agenda. The CHS seniors were in attendance with Drum Major, Ja’Aliyah Moore, speaking on their behalf. "We are the Center High School Band Class of 2025. We have earned sweepstakes awards from 8th grade all the way up until 11th grade. We have also earned hundreds of medals in solo and ensemble and many of us have earned positions in the All-Region and Area Bands. This fall we earned straight ones at the Region Marching contest and made our 5th consecutive appearance at the UIL State Military Marching Band Championships." After the accomplishments, she thanked the board for getting them new uniforms and for all they do.
Band Director Chris Smith expressed appreciation to the board, "Thank you guys, we do appreciate everybody's support. Thank you, thank you, thank you. These are a great group of seniors that's going to be missed."
Center High School band holding all their trophies earned during their time from 8th grade to present.
The next group of students to be recognized in front of the School Board of Trustees was the Cross Country team. Coach G. Martinez gave highlights of the season, "Our boys team this year qualified as far as Regionals. They had a very outstanding season with a total of eight races. Five of those races, the team placed 1st to take the plaque for that said race. We also were able to accomplish something that we haven't been able to do in a while because of how competitive Cross Country is, especially in 4A and that was to become District Champions in a clear out, just overwhelming sweep based off of how they scored.” At the UIL 4A District 17 meet hosted by Hudson, the team members finished with Daniel Flores in 4th place, Chris Gomez in 6th place, Kevin Maldonado in 7th place, Osvaldo Reyes in 8th place, Edgar Caraveo in 9th place, Manuel Ordaz in 10th place, Erik Hidalgo in 17th place. The Center Roughriders took 1st place with a total of 34 points. The 2nd place team was Hudson with a total of 51 points.
Coach G. continued, “I was very proud of the guys. Honestly, they definitely impressed me in that matter of how they showed up, competed, and took it honestly. It was something that was backed up by the Hudson coaches because the guys finished together, they finished as a group. And that is the ideal picture that you want when it comes to cross country and that is just a testament of these young men’s hard work.”
Cross Country team are the UIL 4A District 17 Champions
Tennis Coach Leon Dykes and Assistant Coach Lori Cooper introduced his District Champion team in Fall Team Tennis, "In District we went undefeated, went perfect 5-0 in District play and headed into the playoffs we ended up winning 10-9 in Bi-District. So, it came down to the last few matches so it was pretty exciting. We went 10-9 in the Area round and so we had two very exciting rounds. And then in the third round we faced China Spring, and China Spring this year had a really solid team and they ended up winning our whole region. The team we lost to was the team that was the best in our region so I'm proud of the way we performed and looking forward to great things."
Coach Dykes then introduced the seniors on the team who are Laura Scull, Logan Galindo, Wade Collard, and Holly Herndon. "If you haven't already seen the info that was put out this week, they all received All-State Academic Honors, so, I would like to congratulate them for that." He also added concerning the improvements to the middle school courts, "We are also very, very thankful for the project that went on this summer with our tennis courts, so, its been a blessing to have them all resurfaced, it looks awesome."
Coach Dykes and Coach Cooper with the Center Tennis Team who advanced to the 4A Regional Quarterfinals.
Following student recognition, the new board of trustees address agenda items. They approved all consent agenda items as a whole which were minutes, tax office report, monthly financial statement, payment approval, investment report, overnight student activity trips, and amendments to the budget.
A presentation of the Tax Roll Turnover and Analysis of Delinquent Tax Roll 2024 was made by Kevin Dutton of Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson who is the delinquent tax collectors for the school.
Kevin Dutton advised the turnover report is for 2023 tax year. “You can look in here and see some of the numbers over the last year that we’ve collected.” In summary he said, “We’ve filed during this time frame reflected on here… 10 petitions on 12 accounts trying to collect $29,000. We’ve got 16 petitions paid for almost $75,000. We took judgements in 13 cases for $78,000. It says released judgements, that means that we took judgements and they got paid for $60,000 and we’ve currently got 73 suits pending in an attempt to collect $421,000. Once they get a lawsuit and if they don’t get paid during the lawsuit or once judgements taken we end up having to take them to sale and during this period we listed 53 tracks of property for sale and collected almost $120,000 for those sales.” He did advise the amount collected from the sales are prorated on the entities involved with the schools normally having the larger percentage. He added that according to the report the total collected in delinquent taxes is $388,358 over a several year period.
Robby Harbuck, also with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, addressed the board regarding agenda item 9 - Property Value Study Appeals Services 2024.
The 2021 Property Value Study determined that the Shelby County Appraisal District did not value properties at 100% market value and determined that Center ISD was outside the realm of acceptability. The low market valuation can affect the amount of state funding for the school.
He advised, “In 2023, per your property values study y’all did receive an invalid finding and went into a state fund assignment, y’all were losing funds, so for 2023 we attacked the states values with a category appeal. So, and we were successful, we were able to reduce their value by a $48.2 million, bring you back into compliance for the 2023 Property Values Study. And at this time, values were certified as final to TEA on August 15.” He estimates around $674,000 in additional aid gain which would have been lost. He ended by advising he is waiting for the next values study which will be released in January 2025 for 2024. They will continue to do audits and report to the school as well as any actions.
Additional agenda items approved:
11. Approved CISD's Emergency Operation Plan
12. Approved Compensation Plan and Its Inclusion in TRS for TIA
13. Approved Resolution to Declare a Good Cause Exception for House Bill 3 - Armed Security Officer Requirement
14. Approved for Administration to accept donation from Mark Lewis for the AG Department (Older trailer valued at $1,500. The trailer is to be refurbished into a portable job site trailer for the Center Ag Build-off team.)
Following closed session, the board approved to accept a resignation as presented and then the meeting adjourned.
Newly Sworn in board members with their family.
Students recognized at the Center ISD board of trustees' meeting.
Center Tennis seniors. From left: Coach Leon Dykes, Laura Scull, Logan Galindo, Wade Collard, and Holly Herndon
