GISD Board hires Law as Superintendent

 

Friday, August 6, 2010

 

The Giddings school board last night finalized the hiring of Allen Law as Superintendent of Schools. He is expected to begin work in Giddings this coming Monday.

 

Law was named as the districts Lone Finalist on July 14th. He comes to Giddings from Moody ISD where he served as superintendent for approximately six years.

 

Law will take step up from Moody, where he ran a three-campus district with a total of 742 students. Giddings currently has four campuses with a total of 1887 students.

 

(Enrollment figures based on 2009 TEA data)

 

 

GISD Board names lone finalist for superintendent position

 

Thursday, July 15, 2010 (Updated July 19, 2010)

 

The Giddings School Board last night named a lone finalist for the district's  superintendent position. The move came after a special called meeting, scheduled to complete a second-interview process.

 

Allen Law was selected for the position. Law is currently Superintendent for Moody ISD and has served in Moody's top position for 5 years.

 

Moody is located west of I-35, between Temple and Waco. The district has an enrollment of 742 (2009 TEA data) with three ranked schools; a high school, a middle school and an elementary school. The TEA enrollment also includes 30 students at a Pre-K campus (un-ranked). 

 

Giddings ISD enrollment is 1887 (2009 TEA data).

 

For 2010 Moody High School's enrollment is 197 making it a 1A school. Giddings High School's enrollment is 624, giving it 3A status.

 

Because of a 21-day waiting period that is required by the State of Texas,

Law won't be able to begin work for the district until August 5th.  

 

 

GISD Board to begin interviews with superintendent candidates

 

Monday, July 5, 2010

 

The Giddings School Board is set to begin interviews with prospective superintendent candidates at a special called meeting on Tuesday, July 6, 2010. Interviews are scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:00 P.M.

 

The board will consider naming a lone finalist on Wednesday after all interviews have been completed. Once the lone finalist has been named a state-required 21-day waiting period will begin.

 

On May 20th, the Giddings School Board hired DRV Educational Solutions to conduct a search for candidates for the GISD Superintendent position. DRV sifted through applications then recommended several candidates for interviews.

 

The school's day-to-day business is currently being handled by Interim Superintendent David Deaver who is contracting with the district until a permanent superintendent is hired. Deaver began work in Giddings on Tuesday, June 1st.   

 

Community meeting planned as search for new Superintendent begins

 

Thursday, June 3, 2010

 

A community meeting will be held at the Giddings Elementary School Cafeteria on Tuesday, June 8th at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to give the community a chance to provide input on the qualifications and skills that are desired in a new GISD Superintendent. 

 

On May 20th, the Giddings School Board hired DRV Educational Solutions to conduct a search for candidates for the GISD Superintendent position. DRV's purpose is to "sift" through the applicants and provide several qualified candidates for the Board to interview.

 

DRV's goal is to build a working relationship with the board, the community, and staff in an effort to bring the best qualified person to lead the district in a positive direction. To accomplish this goal they plan to work extensively with the board of trustees.  

 

DRV is seeking community input and recently sent out a survey so that GISD employees could provide input. 

 

The district is paying DRV $6,500 as a base fee for their services, and up to $1,500 in travel and expenses.

 

GISD School Board hires Interim Superintendent

 

Thursday, May 27, 2010

 

In a special called meeting last night the Giddings school board hired David Deaver as Interim Superintendent. Deaver will begin work in Giddings on Tuesday, June 1st.  

 

The board also hired Zach Erickson as a coach and a physical education teacher for Giddings Intermediate School, and approved the hiring of 4-6 summer workers. 

 

 

Principal Shane Holman appointed “acting” Superintendent

of GISD

 

Thursday, May 13, 2010 Corrected

 

The Giddings Independent School Board last night appointed Giddings Middle School (GMS) Principal Shane Holman to the post of “acting” Superintendent. The move came after the Board went into closed session to discuss personnel matters.

 

Mr. Holman has been with the district for nearly 14 years. He will continue in his capacity as GMS Principal, but will add many of the day-to-day duties of superintendent to his normal work routine. Current Superintendent Mike Kuhrt is leaving to begin his job with Dayton ISD. According to Mr. Holman the district had to appoint an acting Superintendent. Mr. Kuhrt’s last official day at Giddings will be Friday, he will report for work in Dayton on Monday.   

 

The Board is expected to interview candidates for an Interim Superintendent position next Thursday, May 20th at the regular meeting.

 

Last night’s meeting began with the installation of newly elected board member Mark Johnson. Re-elected member Mary Ellen Whitsel and member Don Johnson were not in attendance.

 

Corrected

The Board then heard a presentation from Giddings Independent School District (GISD) board member and construction project manager representing Gaeke Construction Jason Locke. Locke explained the upcoming construction project at Buffalo Stadium, including the track surrounding the field and the plan for new artificial turf. After input and consideration the Board voted to accept the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the task. The Board passed the measure unanimously (4-0) and will spend $3,485,939.00 ($3.486 million) on this phase of the stadium renovation. Board member Locke abstained from the vote.

 

GISD Director of Technology Angele Fitzhenry and GISD Executive Director of Operations Jeff Dock presented information to the Board concerning the district’s technology infrastructure and the situation with the district’s current T1 line used for online connections. The Board considered and approved the installation cost associated with upgrading to a T3 line with Verizon. The approved cost of construction for the T3 line is $36,156.38. Construction of the line is expected to be complete within approximately 60 days.

 

The Board heard presentations from three executive search firms and is considering hiring one of them to conduct the search for a permanent Superintendent of Schools. The three organizations were DRV Educational Solutions, Arrow Educational Services, and the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). The Board did not act to hire any of the firms but instead decided to table the discussion and decision until all board members are present.

 

The Board then received a report concerning the planned purchase and construction of a new playground at the Giddings Elementary School. This project was approved in February but does not fit the requirements necessary to be funded by “stimulus money”. GISD administration, the superintendent and the Board are working to find different funding option.