Board of Trustees

Agendas & Minutes Agendas & Minutes between Oct. 2019 & Oct. 2020

Parents and other community members exercise their voice in public education control through the election of the board of trustees. Board members are guardians of the public trust and, through the policies that they make, are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of local public education. The board serves as the advocate for educational excellence for the community's youth and puts those interests first. The policies school boards make dictate the standards and philosophy by which schools are run and the criteria used to evaluate whether they are being run well. In addition, board members act only as a whole and do not act on an individual basis. One of the board's responsibilities is not to respond individually, but to insure that the school district is responding.

 

The key roles and responsibilities are summarized as to:

• To select and employ a Superintendent to serve as the chief administrator of the district;
• To approve an annual budget and a tax rate that ensures the District's ability to maintain financial stability;
• To add, revise or delete policies that guide District actions as recommended by the Texas Association of School Board's Policy Service and in line with actions of the Texas Legislature;
• To develop a mission statement with goals that will ensure the educational success of every student in the District;
• To communicate the District's vision and direction to the community.

Board Policy Online

2020 Voting Guidelines Related to COVID-19

​On May 27, 2020, the Texas Secretary of State's Office issued guidelines to voters and entities holding elections concerning polling places and voting conduct during upcoming elections. Click here to view the document. This was updated on June 18, 2020. Click here to view these additional guidelines.

Early Voting

Registered voters may vote at any of approximately 100 Harris County early polling locations during the early voting period. All polling locations may be found at HarrisVotes.com.*

Dates	Times:
October 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17, 2020	7:00 a.m.   –   7:00 p.m.
October 18, 2020	12:00 p.m. –  7:00 p.m.
October 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 & 24, 2020	7:00 a.m.   –   7:00 p.m.
October 25, 2020	12:00 p.m. –   7:00 p.m.
October 26, 2020	7:00 a.m.   –   7:00 p.m.
October 27, 28 & 29, 2020	7:00 a.m.   –   10:00 p.m.
October 30, 2020	7:00 a.m.   –   7:00 p.m.

 

Early voting polling locations in the surrounding area:

Location:	Room:	Address:
La Porte Recreation & Fitness Center	Norman L. Malone Senior Center	1322 S. Broadway La Porte, TX 77571

 

Harris County’s main early voting polling location:

Location:	Room:	Address:
NRG Arena	Hall D	1 NRG Parkway Houston, TX 77054

All polling locations may be found at HarrisVotes.com.*

24-Hour Early Voting Polling Locations

Date & time:

Thursday, October 29 through  Friday, October 30  from  7:00 a.m.   –   7:00 p.m.

 

Location:	Room:	Address:
NRG Arena	Hall D	1 NRG Parkway Houston, TX 77054
Kashmere Gardens MSC	Auditorium	4802 Lockwood Dr. Houston, TX 77026
McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons	2nd Floor Food Court	6550 Bernter Ave. Houston, TX 77030
East Harris County Activity Center	Activity Room	7340 Spencer Hwy, Pasadena TX 77505
Tracy Gee Community Center	Auditorium	3599 West Center Dr. Houston, TX 77042
Jeurgens Hall Community Center	Dance Hall	26026 Hempstead Rd. Cypress, TX 77429
Victory Houston (church)	worship area	809 West Road Houston, TX 77038

All polling locations may be found at HarrisVotes.com.*

*Polling locations are subject to change up until Election Day.

Voting by Mail

Applications to vote by mail for the November election may be submitted to the Harris County County Clerk's offices in person until October 12, 2020. Applications may be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the County Clerk's office until October 23, 2020, but those that are emailed or faxed must have the original arrive by mail within the four days following the email or fax copy of the application.

Marked and sealed voted ballots  for November may be mailed to the Harris County Clerk's office. They may be submitted in-person at any of the Harris County Clerk Annex locations and NRG Arena (Hall D, NRG Pkwy, Houston, TX 77054) during business hours, during the Early Voting period and on Election Day (November 3, 2020) from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. November ballot packets may not be received by La Porte independent School District.

Chris Hollins
Harris County Clerk
Attn: Elections Division
P.O. Box 1148
Houston, TX 77251-1148

Email: BBM@cco.hctx.net

Fax: (713)-755-4983 or (713)-437-8683

Election Day

Registered voters may vote at any of approximately 800 Harris County polling locations on Election Day. All polling locations may be found at HarrisVotes.com*
 

Date:	Time:
Tuesday November 3, 2020	7:00 a.m.   –   7:00 p.m.

 

Election day polling locations in the surrounding areA: 

 

Location:	Room:	Address:
Bayshore Baptist Church	Youth Room	11315 Spencer Highway La Porte, TX 77571
Bayshore Elementary School	Gymnasium	800 McCabe Road La Porte, 77571
Jennie Reid Elementary School	Cafeteria	10001 W. Fairmont Parkway La Porte 77571
La Porte City Hall	Council Chamber	604 W. Fairmont Parkway La Porte, 77571
La Porte Recreation & Fitness Center	Norman L. Malone Senior Center	1322 S. Broadway La Porte, 77571
Lomax Junior High School	Gymnasium	9801 North Avenue L La Porte, 77571
Rizzuto Elementary School	Cafeteria	3201 Farrington Street La Porte, 77571
The Academy of Viola DeWalt High School	Gymnasium	401 N. 2nd Street La Porte, TX 77571
College Park Elementary School		4315 East Blvd. Deer Park, TX  77571

All polling locations may be found at HarrisVotes.com.*

*Polling locations are subject to change up until Election Day.

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The next election for the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees is November 3, 2020. 

Amended Order Calling the November 3, 2020 General Trustee Election

On August 11, 2020 La Porte ISD approved an amendment to the original order calling the May 2, 2020 Election. 

Resolution 2020-11; Amended Election Order Calling the Nov. 3 2020 General Trustee Election

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Ballot Order 

Notice was given and a drawing was held at 5 p.m. on February 17, 2020 at the La Porte ISD Administration Building, 1002 San Jacinto Street, La Porte, Texas to determine the order in which the names of candidates are to be printed on the ballot for the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees Election to be held on May 2, 2020 in La Porte, Texas.  Following are the ballot order results:

Trustee - Position 1
Place 1: Lois Rogerson
Place 2: Russell Schoppe

Trustee - Position 2
Place 1: Kathy Green
Place 2: Mason Peres

Trustee - Position 3
Place 1: Chris Murdock
Place 2: Dennis Slate

Sample Ballot

Qualifications for a Board Position
Candidates for the Board of Trustees must:

• Be a qualified and registered voter of the territory elected from as of the filing deadline; 
• Reside in the school district for a minimum of six months prior to the filing deadline; and
• Be a resident of the state for a minimum of twelve months prior to the deadline.

For additional information and/or updates in election-related laws and requirements, please call (281) 604-7015.

Notice of Drawing for Place on the Ballot

All school board members are required to participate yearly in a three-tiered type of continuing education as required by the Texas Administrative Code 19 TAC 61.1. for a total of 10 clock hours for new Board members and 5 hours for experienced members.

The first tier is an orientation to the Texas Education Code which is an overview of Texas school law. All members are required to take the updated session each year.

The second tier concerns a team-building session for the Board members and the superintendent only. This establishes the environment for working as a team to cohesively determine the annual budget, update and revise policy, set the tax rate, acquire and sell property, approve curriculum programs and other items necessary for the efficient operation of the school district. This session also defines the parameter of the duties of the Board and the superintendent as determined by law.

The third tier requires other sessions/workshops for the continual updating and educating of members on recent legislation, school law basics, school district finance, ins and outs of the Texas Open Meetings Act, ethics, employee compensation matters, and other relevant issues designed to assist members in making upcoming decisions affecting the district.

All instruction is required to be given by persons registered with the Texas Education Agency and who must be authorities of the subject. Workshops are conducted throughout the year sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, Region IV Education Service Center, and the Texas School Board Association. Continuing education hours earned are required to be reported each year in the minutes of the Board meeting scheduled prior to the annual (Board of Trustees) election.

Overview of Continuing Education Requirements for School Board Members

TASB Continuing Education Credit Report

Board meetings are usually held the second Tuesday of each month, with other meetings as needed. Closed meetings are held from 5 to 6 p.m., with the regular meetings beginning at 6 p.m. Meetings are held in the Board Room of the La Porte ISD Administration Building at 1002 San Jacinto St.

For more information about La Porte ISD Board of Trustees meetings, please call the La Porte ISD Communications Office at 281-604-7001.

Kathy Green Dennis Slate Lee Wallace

Charlcya Wheeler David Janda Lois Rogerson Dee Anne Thomson

Citizen presence and participation are encouraged at board meetings. In La Porte, you must complete a request to speak to the board before the meeting commences. 

According to Board Policy and/or the Texas Open Meetings Act:
 

• Presentations may be up to five (5) minutes in length; persons needing to address the Board through a translator may have up to ten (10)
• Complaints concerning employees or students may not be identified by name, inference, or implication as prohibited by the Texas Open Meetings Act.
• The Board may not discuss, deliberate, or make any decisions regarding the presentation. Such action is prohibited under the Texas Open Meetings Act.
• Questions addressed to the Board may be answered in writing or, if appropriate, placed on a subsequent Agenda.
• Complaints and concern for which other resolution channels are provided shall be directed through those

Where Can You Go With a Question or Concern?

The first essential step is to go to the immediate source and establish the facts. Please follow the steps below. The staff and administration are concerned and want to resolve problems in the most expedient manner possible.

First Step	Teacher	Questions or concerns regarding instructional practices in your child's classroom should first be directed to his/her classroom teacher during a scheduled meeting or via a telephone conversation.
Second Step	Building Principal	If more information is needed or you still have questions and/or concerns, a discussion should be scheduled with your child's principal.
Third Step	Program Director Special Education Buildings/Grounds Transportation Community Education	If further information is needed or if questions or concerns are not resolved at the principal level, a contact should be made with the appropriate director.
Fourth Step	Deputy Superintendent Administration	If questions still persist after contacting the appropriate director, please direct your concerns to an Associate Superintendent.
Fifth Step	Superintendent	A conference with the Superintendent of Schools is most appropriately made if questions or concerns have not been adequately addressed at earlier levels.
Sixth Step	Board of Education	The last level of contact with the district about a question or concern is the Board of Education. Please notify the Superintendent's Office if you plan to appeal directly to the Board. An agenda item entitled "Public Participation" will allow you a five-minute presentation to the Board.

Recordings of board meetings will be posted for 90 days after approval of the minutes by the Board as required under the Record Retention Schedule for Local Government Entities published by the Texas State Library and Archive Commission. They are not required by law to be posted.