In the spirit of giving, the architectural firm of O’Connell Robertson -- which designed the new Lampasas High School and Taylor Creek Elementary near Kempner -- donated checks last week to the Lampasas Independent School District Board of Trustees.

Rick Burnight, representing the firm which has been affiliated with the LISD since 2004, offered the checks to James Briggs, president of the board of trustees.

Taylor Creek and the new high school each received $500, and Kline Whitis Elementary and Lampasas Middle School, both having undergone recent renovations, each received $250.

Burnight said funds are to purchase library books or whatever campus needs are most pressing.

“We appreciate the relationship we have had with the Lampasas school district,” said Burnight. “We wanted to give back to the district to reinforce our partnership.”

Said Briggs: “We certainly appreciate the donations. Even more, we appreciate the help you have given us through our building projects. It’s been a good ride, and we appreciate it.”

Also at the meeting, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Nelda Fortune- Crawford presented information at a public hearing on the LISD’s Academic Excellence Indicator System.

AEIS reports have been utilized for the past 17 years by the Texas Education Agency as a report card for campuses and school districts across the state, said Mrs. Fortune- Crawford.

The report summarizes data to include Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test results as well as enrollment, attendance figures and dropout rates.

While the district’s reading scores have climbed, math scores have not, and administrators and trustees continue to seek ways to improve test scores.

Board member Wesley Crow said he is concerned about the LISD’s math scores. He said the Leander ISD set aside money for a few years to hire additional teachers and has lowered class sizes. “That helped them,” he said. “I know in Lampasas we don’t have much money, and we would like to have specialized teachers over and beyond what is done in regular classes, but it’s a money thing.”

Briggs said his role on the board is to work to make all campuses and the LISD “exemplary.”

“That’s where I want us to be,” he said. “If there are things we can do to help, we need to know, and we need to see if there’s anything we may or may not be able to do about it.”

Crow agreed with the board president. “We don’t have much money, but there may be some things we are willing to spend money on. I’d like to look at some options, though we need to watch our money.”

Superintendent Randy Hoyer said the district can spend a lot of money toward progress, but it still comes back to the quality of teacher in the classroom. “Principals need to continue to work with teachers to be sure the programs they are teaching are of quality and they fit in with their concept, and teachers should be sure of mastery by students. That’s what moves districts from acceptable to exemplary.”

Lampasas High School and middle school campuses are rated academically acceptable, and Hanna Springs Elementary School, combined with Kline Whitis Elementary, is rated “recognized.”

Also last week, Shane Jones, LISD director of finance, discussed several projects the district will complete in the near future, including a press box on the visitors’ side of the competition field at the new high school. The field will be used for sub-varsity football games, soccer and track meets. Cost is $43,000, plus about $7,000 for electricity and related items. The press box also will house equipment to run scoreboards and the announcement system.

“We left this as one of the last items to be completed because we wanted to be sure we had funds left to complete it,” said Jones. “And we do.”

Also, the board agreed to spend an additional $23,000 to cover the cost of cameras for security systems at LHS and Taylor Creek Elementary.

The LISD already had budgeted $75,000 for the project.

In his monthly report, the superintendent noted that enrollment is down slightly. Though numbers are up at each of the three elementary schools, high school enrollment has dropped to 982. “It would be great to finish this year at 80 to 100 students up while keeping our attendance at 96 percent. That would be ideal,” said Hoyer.

The LISD receives funding based on average daily attendance numbers.

J.D. Butts, in his maintenance report, said that though the amount of work at new campuses has helped reduce work orders, the majority of maintenance work is needed at Lampasas Middle School (the former high school campus).

Crow mentioned that air-conditioning units at the campus average 25 years old, and he would like to see them replaced over a period of time. “They are old, and they are going to fail,” he said.

Butts loosely estimated that replacing outdated units will cost from $375,000 to $400,000, with an additional $75,000 to air-condition the old Badger gym. He said he will begin to look at the project and figure the most efficient and economical way the LISD can take care of it.

After an executive session, trustees agreed to divide the school district’s 3,019 votes evenly among five directors for the Lampasas Central Appraisal District board: David Hamilton, Milton Kellner, Mike Kriegel, Ted Newsom and Bob Wright.