Dear Wonderful Lovejoy Community:

Our communication plan includes a monthly update regarding Board meetings. Following each meeting of the Board of Trustees, I will share a recap of the evening’s events. Below you will find the November 18, 2019 Board Brief.

We begin each board meeting with a board dinner which includes the Board of Trustees and the Cabinet. The Lovejoy ISD School Board Members in attendance last night were:

Chad Collins, President

Amy Smith, Vice-President

Anne Smith, Secretary

Matt Gournay

Jennifer Kline

Al Litchenburg

Barrett Owens

Together with the Board, we are the Team of Eight.

Cabinet is comprised of myself and:

Shay Adams, Chief Financial Officer

Sancy Fuller, Executive Director of Special Education and Academic Support

Dennis Muizers, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction

Laurie Vondersaar, Executive Director of Communications

Dr. Dennis Womack, Assistant Superintendent of Operations

Stacey Dillon, Assistant to the Superintendent

Following the Board Dinner, we move into Executive Session which is a time where limited issues such as personnel actions may be discussed. No votes are taken in executive session.

The formal Board meeting began at 7:04 PM with an invocation by Board Trustee Matt Gournay.

Board President Chad Collins introduced Puster Elementary School students Liam and Anders Bronson who led the pledges.

The Board of Trustees approved Laurie Vondersaar as the Executive Director of Communications for the Lovejoy Independent School District. I had the pleasure of introducing Laurie.

The Board of Trustees approved Joseph Washburn as a Graphic Art and Design Teacher at Willow Springs Middle School. Dr. Kent Messer, Principal of Willow Springs Middle School, introduced Joseph.

Chris Mayfield, Principal of Lovejoy High School, introduced Paul Heuer, Band Director. Mr. Heuer congratulated and recognized the Lovejoy High School Wind Symphony 2019 Mark of Excellence Award Winners. You may click here to view the full list of recipients. 

Nathan Lewis, Assistant Band Director/Percussion, congratulated and recognized the Willow Springs Middle School Percussion Ensemble for their 2019 Mark of Excellence National Percussion Ensemble Project. You may click here to view the full list of recipients.

Director of Athletics Jim Bob Puckett introduced Head Girls Cross Country Coach Carly Littlefield and Head Boys Cross Country Coach Logan Kelly.

Coach Littlefield congratulated and recognized the Girls Cross Country UIL District 10-5A Team Champions, UIL Region II 5A Team Runner-Ups, UIL 5A State 6th Place team, and CCCAT recognition recipients. Lovejoy High School Freshman Amy Morefield was recognized as the 3rd Place UIL 5A State medal winner. You may c lick here to view the full list of recognitions.

Coach Kelly congratulated and recognized the Boys Cross Country UIL District 10-5A Team Champions, UIL Region II 5A Team Champions, UIL 5A State 5th Place team, and CCCAT recognition recipients. Lovejoy High School Senior Will Muirhead was recognized as the 4th Place UIL 5A State winner. You may click here to view the full list of recognitions.

I had the honor of introducing the Superintendent’s Team of the Month: Student Nutrition. The Student Nutrition team was recognized for their above and beyond service to our students, staff and community. We greatly appreciate this hard working team and all they do! You may click here to view the full list of recognitions.

Each Board Meeting contains a dedicated time for general public comments. Last night Sloan Creek Intermediate School student Vidya Dandona spoke in opposition to the district cell phone policy. Lovejoy ISD citizen Devika Dandona spoke in opposition to the district cell phone policy.

Each Board Meeting contains a dedicated time for public comments related to agenda items. There were no public comments related to November 18, 2019 agenda items.

The Board of Trustees approved the Consent Agenda which included:

Details regarding all Consent Agenda items may be found here.

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Dennis Muizers presented an update on Lovejoy’s November Professional Development. The presentation may be viewed here.

The Collin Central Appraisal District provides each voting unit of the Collin Central Appraisal District the opportunity to vote in favor of nominee(s) for the Board of Directors. The vote must be made in an open meeting, reported by written resolution, and submitted to the Chief Appraiser before December 15, 2019. The Lovejoy Independent School District had 70 votes. The Board of Trustees approved casting the 70 votes for Gary Rodenbaugh to serve on the Board of Directors of the Collin Central Appraisal District. Details regarding this agenda item may be found here.

Each year the Board of Trustees reviews the district’s Investment Policy CDA(LOCAL). There were no changes recommended to CDA(LOCAL). The Board approved the annual review. Details regarding this agenda item may be found here. CDA(LOCAL) may be found here.

The Board of Trustees held a Workshop on Finance. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Dr. Dennis Womack updated the Board on the 2014 Bond Authorization Program, including the status bonds issued and related construction projects. Dr. Womack explained the student capacity available on each campus and the current enrollment. Projections of future enrollment/capacity will be refreshed with a new demographer report in January. In addition to projects funded by the bond authorization, he also provided a report of items requested and identified by the community which were not included in the final referendum. The bonds from the $75,750,000 authorization by the voters in 2014 are issued in installments to match tax base growth and project timing. Details regarding the 2014 Bond Authorization Update may be found here.

Chief Financial Officer Shay Adams began 2020-2021 budget conversations with the Board. Specifically, she presented a calendar for budget planning and development through June 2021. Last night's presentation included a five-year review of fund balance and the state funding challenges Lovejoy ISD has maneuvered. Since 2014, the district has grown by 426 students and increased fund balance by ~$300,000. Ms. Adams highlighted the early-indicator personnel requirements for 2020-2021, reminding the Board of necessary adjustments once new demography is presented in January. In addition, there was a discussion surrounding the challenges of the new revenue estimate process and the clarification districts are seeking from the Commissioner of Education. The next budget workshop on expenditures is scheduled for February.

The timeline for budget workshops is as follows:

The October Superintendent’s Report contains updates from:

The Board adjourned at 9:17 PM.

All board documents may be found here.

Proud Lovejoy Leopard,

Michael Goddard, Ed.D. 

Superintendent of Schools

Lovejoy Independent School District