Castleberry Independent School District
Gary S. Jones Administration Building  5228 Ohio Garden, Fort Worth, Texas 76114
Board of Education Meeting Notes
January 11, 2016
The Castleberry Board of Education met in regular session on January 11, 2016 at the CISD Gary S. Jones Administration Building.
The invocation was given by Dewey Taliaferro.
Camilla T., 2nd Grade Student at Joy James Elementary, led the United States and Texas Pledges of Allegiance.
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Shirley Blowers, Literacy Coach, recognized the CISD 2015-2016 Reading Bee Winners.
Sandra B., 2nd grade student at Joy James Elementary, was recognized as the CISD Reading
Bee Champion and contestant in the TCU Texas State Reading Bee competition. She received
a backpack full of prizes, a sleeping bag, a nutcracker and two medals. Sandra is a great role
model for other students in the classroom. She wants to be an actress when she grows up.
Layla B., 2nd grade student at A.V. Cato Elementary, was recognized as the CISD 2nd place
reading bee winner. Layla is an outstanding student and an accomplished reader in her class.
She enjoys reading chapter books in her spare time.
Castleberry ISD 2015-2016 Reading Bee Finalists:
A.V. Cato Elementary, 2nd grade students:
Lorenzo A., Trinity B., Luke B., Joshua H., Leslie W., and Damien P.
Castleberry Elementary, 2nd grade students: Erick M. and Camilla T.
Joy James Elementary , 2nd grade student: Brielle L.
Front Row: Sandra B., Brielle L., Layla B., Camilla T., Leslie W., Luke B., Lorenzo A., and Damien P.
Back Row: Doug Lee, Board Member; Shirley Blowers, Literacy Coach; and W.E. “Bill” Seybold.
Castleberry Independent School District
Gary S. Jones Administration Building  5228 Ohio Garden, Fort Worth, Texas 76114
Board of Education Meeting Notes
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Renee Smith-Faulkner, Assistant Superintendent of Technology Services, recognized the
Castleberry ISD Board of Education for School Board Recognition. Greg Hutson, City
Administrator; presented a proclamation from the City of Sansom Park and Renee SmithFaulkner presented a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Herman Earwood from the City of River
Oaks. Our local Board of Education works tirelessly and devotes countless hours to help lead
Castleberry students to success. These seven men and women roll up their sleeves and get
involved with the aim to improve things. Our Castleberry ISD Board Members are true superheroes. They are extraordinary people who voluntarily tackle the enormous job of governing
school districts. Their actions and decisions affect the present and future lives of our children.
January has been set aside as a special time for communities to celebrate their contributions
and say thanks to board members for dedicating themselves to every child enrolled in the
Castleberry Independent School District.
Front Row: Dewey Taliaferro, Board Member; Kenneth Romo, Board Vice President; Mary Lou Martinez, Board Secretary;
David Holder, Board President; Cathy Gatica, Board Member; Doug Lee, Board Member; and W.E. “Bill” Seybold, Board Member.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Castleberry Independent School District Board of Education ordered a General
Election that will be held jointly with Tarrant County, City of River Oaks and City of Sansom
Park. The General Election is for Place 3 for a remaining two-year term and Place 5, Place 6,
and Place 7 for a three-year term to be held on May 7, 2016. Election packets will be available
on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 with a deadline to submit an application for a place on the
ballot being Friday, February 19, 2016.
Castleberry Independent School District
Gary S. Jones Administration Building  5228 Ohio Garden, Fort Worth, Texas 76114
Board of Education Meeting Notes
CONSENT AGENDA
The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda. The consent
agenda consists of items that the board considers routine and approves under one motion. The
items approved were:
1. Board Minutes from the November 9, 2015, November 30, 2015, December 7, 2015,
December 14, 2015 meeting #1, and December 14, 2015 meeting #2.
2. Expenditure Report for the month of December 2015.
3. TASB Board Policy Update 103 was recommended for approval as presented.
4. TASB Board Policy Update CDA (Local) was recommended for approval as presented.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
1. The Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the 2014-2015 Fiscal Year End
Financial Audit. Castleberry ISD Auditor, Snow, Garrett & Company has given the District
another clean and unqualified opinion. This is the highest level given for financial reporting.
2. Tarrant County Tax Collection Reports for November 2015 reflected the amount of taxes,
penalty, interest & delinquent taxes collected for the month and year to date and the percent
of the total levy collected.
3. Investment Report for the month of November 2015 showed District investment by fund for
the month ending November 30, 2015.
4. Board Budget Report as of November 30, 2015 showed revenue and expenditures by fund
and function.
5. Financial Services Evaluation Report included financial services performance highlights,
and information on internal and external audits.
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
CISD Public Schools Week is March 1 - March 4, 2016. The Board reviewed the Open House
schedule and publicity plan for the 2016 Public Schools Week. CISD campuses will be holding
their Open House in observation of Public Schools Week. The Open House 2016 schedule is:
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
5:30 – 7:00
A.V. Cato Elementary School
Castleberry Elementary School
Joy James Elementary School
Thursday, March 3, 2016
6:00 – 7:30
Irma Marsh Middle School
6:00 – 7:30
Castleberry High School
6:30 – 8:00
REACH High School
Castleberry Independent School District
Gary S. Jones Administration Building  5228 Ohio Garden, Fort Worth, Texas 76114
Board of Education Meeting Notes
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
The Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the 2016-2017 CISD High School
Educational Planning Guide.
The Board of Education voted unanimously approved teachers and administrators to attend the
Professional Learning Communities Conference on July 6-8th.
Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Report:
1) Follow Up Three Year Curriculum Update was included in this report.
2) Follow Up Federal Program SAS Summary: A quarterly federal program update was
included in this report.
3) Follow Up Job Fair Analysis: A quarterly program update was included in this report.
4) Follow Up Staff Retention Rate: A quarterly program update was included in this report.
Dr. Laina McDonald took the Board on a Learning Walk and shared with the Board of Education
our Standards Based Bulletin Boards that are being implemented in Castleberry schools.
Mrs. Holman and Mrs. De La Cruz, both AV Cato Elementary
First Grade Educators, presented their class' bulletin board
depicting generated addition and/or subtraction story problems
with responses utilizing Kid Blog. Students in Mrs. De La Cruz’s
class created addition or subtraction story problems in Kid
Blog. The class shared them with Mrs. Holman’s class. Mrs.
Holman’s class solved the problems, utilizing correct vocabulary
and pictures to depict the addition or subtraction sentences. The
answers were sent back to Mrs. De La Cruz’s class to respond to
or repair. The use of technology (Kid Blog) allowed the students
to share, compare, and repair.
Pictured: Courtney De La Cruz,
Amie Davenport, A.V. Cato Principal, and Patsy Holman.
Mrs. Hazard, 3rd grade English/Language Arts teacher
presented her students’ work that was displayed on her
classroom bulletin board. The objective of the work displayed
was for students to identify cause and effect relationships within
a nonfiction text. In pairs, students collaborated on cause and
effect relationships. Students created a graphic organizer using
the Educreations App. Students then recorded an explanation of
their work in Educreations. Mrs. Hazard took this lesson even
further by providing the link to all of the students’ projects on
her blog. The students were able to view, listen, and reflect on
all of the students’ projects between both of her classes.
Pictured: Tiffany Hazard and
Ricardo Montalvo, Castleberry Elementary Principal
Castleberry Independent School District
Gary S. Jones Administration Building  5228 Ohio Garden, Fort Worth, Texas 76114
Board of Education Meeting Notes
TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Assistant Superintendent of Technology Services Report included a follow-up child nutrition
update with information on progress of program solutions.
STUDENT SERVICES
Mr. Keith Anderson and Derrick York with WRA Architects gave a presentation on the
conceptual design process for Joy James Elementary, Irma Marsh Middle School, and Castleberry
High School. Mr. Anderson answered questions from board members.
SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS
The Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the Superintendent’s Evaluation.
FUTURE MEETINGS
Monday, February 8, 2016 – Regular Board Meeting
Board Notes is produced by the CISD Public Information Office and contains information concerning decisions on issues and activities
pertinent to the School District’s operations. This report serves as a brief summary of the Board of Education meeting and is not intended
to replace the official meeting minutes. The official minutes of each public meeting are maintained by the Superintendent’s Office.
CISD’s regular Board of Education meetings are held at 5:30 p.m., the second Monday of each month (unless otherwise announced)
in the Gary S. Jones Administration Building Board Room, 5228 Ohio Garden, Fort Worth, Texas 76114. The public is invited.
ADMINISTRATORS
PRESENT
John Ramos, Superintendent of Schools
Renee Smith-Faulkner, Assistant Superintendent of Technology Services
Dr. Laina McDonald, Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services
DeAnne Page, Executive Director for Financial Services
Lenny Lasher, Executive Director for Student Services & Operations
Genaro Martinez, Director of Human Resources
Amie Davenport, A.V. Cato Elementary School Principal
Ricardo Montalvo, Castleberry Elementary School Principal
Leigh Ann Turner, Joy James Elementary School Principal
Dr. Amy Ellis, Castleberry High School Principal
Derrick Spurlock Irma Marsh Middle School Principal
Leigh Ann Turner, Joy James Elementary Principal
Wanda Byther REACH High School Principal
Chris McGrath, TRUCE Learning Center