"Van Vleck trustees purchase furniture for administration building" by: Jessica Shepard

   Van Vleck ISD trustees unanimously approved a $76,800 bid for new furniture at the administration building during its regular meeting Monday, Nov. 15.
   Board members present included Tony Kucera, Casey Kile, Terry Blackmon, and Terry Evans while trustees Kevin Ward, Kurtis Brown, and Donnie O’Connell were absent.
   “This bid covers new furniture for the entire building and was already factored in as part of the bond project,” explained VVISD Superintendent John O’Brien.
   “We’ll be updating our flooring with budget funds and having a local company come in to replace the carpet.”
   O’Brien added that all of the furniture was made in the U.S. and there was a short lead time on when it would be ready.
   “We’re looking at getting all the work done around Christmas break,” he added.
   “The furniture is by Indeco - the same design company that we’ve used in all the schools, too. That way everything has a uniform look.”
   Trustees also heard the results of the district’s Schools FIRST report in a public hearing.
   “We received an ‘A’ superior rating for the district,” said VVISD Assistant Superintendent of Finance Gayle Blackmon.
   “The 20-2021 report is based on 2019-2020 audited information.”
   Blackmon explained that the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) assesses the quality of public schools’ financial management practices.
   “The state looks at 20 total indicators and grades each district on how they perform for these indicators,” she added.
   “The first four are the most critical and if a district fails any one of those, they fail the whole report.”
   Those indicators included filing the annual financial report on time, having an unmodified opinion in a financial audit, being in compliance with all debt payments, and making timely payments to the IRS, Texas Workforce Commission, and Teachers Retirement System.
      The board also heard a bond update from Skanska Bond Project manager Tim Richard.
   “There are still a few things left to go on the ag building, but, that’s all under one subcontractor to finish,” he said.
   “I’m still forecasting about $800,000 left in bond funds when we close out the junior high portion of the project,” Richard said.
   Richard said he expects to bring the final junior high change order to the board at its January or February meeting.
   “Things are going well and we’re down to a handful of punch list items,” he said.
   “Drymalla is finishing up and jumping on any warranty items due to some of the buildings reaching a year old.”
   Richard and O’Brien will be touring nearby ag facilities at Fort Bend and Dickinson ISDs for inspiration for a possible ag barn or animal pen ideas.
   “If there are any board members interested in joining us, please let me know and we can coordinate that,” said Richard.
   In other news, board members:

•     Set a special meeting for Monday, Dec. 6 to discuss a possible reinvestment zone and 313 agreement for Lavaca Bay Solar.
•     Approved a $400 donation check from STP Nuclear Operating Company.
•     Approved a $500 donation check from PBK.