The Sealy ISD Board of Trustees approved employee retention stipends and substitute incentives during last Wednesday’s regular meeting in the Administration Building. The board also approved new band uniforms and water-related projects at the high school.

In January, CFO Lisa Svoboda presented the idea of a tiered program that will reward teachers who stay longer, and substitutes who work more, and returned in February to seek approval.

Four $500 retention payments for full-time teachers, and three $200 incentive payments for substitute teachers, are available if requirements are met.

Full-time teachers who are currently employed will be eligible for the first payment if they stay throughout the rest of this school year. If they renew their contracts and return in August they’ll earn the next.

After that, if they return after the winter break another payment will hit and if they remain through the 2022-2023 school year, a fourth retention payment would total $2,000 for a teacher that completes this school year and the next.

Substitute teachers can achieve the incentive payment by working at least 75% of the available workdays in the last three months of this school year.

Substitutes who work at least 12 days in March, 14 days in April or 13 days in May would be eligible for a $200 payment the following pay period.

The system was approved to use Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds and was not expected to exceed the roughly $1.2 million set aside. Svoboda said even if all 375 full-time teachers and 15 substitutes achieve all of the service requirements, that would run a total of around $835,000.

New band uniforms

Also during January’s meeting, SISD Fine Arts Coordinator Erin Moore and Band Director Oscar Cano presented mock-ups of new uniforms for the Roaring Sound from Tiger Town. In February’s meeting, Drum Major Ike Konvicka modeled the proposed uniforms and showed the alterations that can provide multiple looks in one uniform.

The helmet had a cover and feather in the top that can either be added or removed depending upon the performance or competition. The jacket also featured optional wrist guards and a tearaway sash which similarly varies the presentation.

The pair were approved to purchase 120 uniforms for band members and 10 for the drum majors.

Water filler, sink approved after second bid process

After he received only one bid when he originally sought offers for December’s meeting, Project Manager Mike Zapalac redid the bid process and returned to seek approval for a project that will replace bottle fillers and install a utility sink in the high school.

He presented multiple bids and was approved to accept the $160,000 offer from Helbison Plumbing after a motion from Board Vice President Katy Grigar and a second from Trustee Jay Aguado.

In other water-related projects, Zapalac also presented delivery method, selection criteria, selection weights and prevailing wage rates for ESSERfunded water efficiency upgrades. He was approved to use a competitive sealed proposal and ESSER funds as the prevailing wages after a motion from Trustee Joe Mike Young that was seconded by Trustee Brian Owen.

The next regular meeting of the Sealy ISD Board of Trustees is scheduled for March 30.

Other presentations, action

In other presentations, the board also

• Heard a presentation on a Community Outreach Bus presented by Special Programs Director Mary Gajewski and Special Education Director Shae Whatley; and

• Recognized Sealy High School’s state representatives from football, band, FCCLA and theatre

– William Forrester, Thomas Clark and Connor Krenek made all-state football teams;

– Wyatt Martinez earned first-chair trumpet in the all-state band;

– Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) sent nine to state, including Jessica DeBerry, Hannah Diemer, Alexa Hernandez, Lani Krenek, Connor Krenek, Francisco Reyes, Valeria Rodriguez, Graham Samonte and Ashley Schoelman; and

– Dario Picasso, Karrigan Berry and Summer Burleson competed at the state thespian convention.

In other action, the board also approved

• A curriculum audit and staff development minute waivers presented by Assistant Superintendent Chris Summers; and

• An amendment to Local Policy FNCE presented by Executive Director of Human Resources and Operations Shawn Hiatt.