Friday, June 26, 2009

Board Unanimously Approves New Teacher Payscale

The Bandera ISD Board of Trustees approved the administrative recommendation for employee pay raises, and unanimously approved a new teacher payscale for the 2009-2010 school year.

Beginning teachers with a Bachelors Degree will earn $41,600 per year. This is an increase of $1,700 from the 2008-2009 payscale. Teachers with one to 30 years of experience will receive a pay raise of $1,800. The Board also continued to reward veteran teachers by maintaining the payroll scale through 30 years of experience, versus the State’s 20 year maximum. Para-professional employees will receive a $50 per month increase, auxiliary employees will receive a seventy five cent per hour increase, and administrators will receive a $2,000 per year increase. A complete listing of the 2009-2010 Teacher Payscale is available for download from the Bandera ISD web site at www.banderaisd.net/HR.


Bandera ISD payroll costs for the 2009-2010 school year is $15,186,878 which is approximately 81% of the district’s total budget. The Bandera Independent School District is the largest employer in Bandera County.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Bandera ISD E-Mail Now OK

Bandera ISD's E-Mail service is up and running again.

Bandera ISD Summer Hours

Bandera ISD Central Office (815 Pecan Street)

Superintendent's Office (Superintendent, Personnel, Federal Programs, Communications)

  • Monday through Thursday: 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

  • Friday: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Business Office

  • Monday through Thursday: 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

  • Friday: Closed

Technology Department:

  • Monday through Thursday: 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM

  • Friday: Closed

Support Facility (1576 Hwy 173)

Transportation Department:

  • Monday through Friday: 5:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Bandera ISD E-Mail Service

Bandera ISD's E-mail service is currently down. No timeline has been established for services to be enabled.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Bandera ISD June 9, 2009 Board Meeting

This blog will be updated through the evening instead of sending constant tweets from Twitter. Agenda

Bandera ISD Board Briefings - June 9, 2009


This briefing is a summary of action taken by the Bandera Independent School District Board of Trustees at their recent scheduled meeting. It is provided as a courtesy and not a requirement of the Texas Open Meetings Act. It is not intended to act as the official minutes which are maintained by the Superintendent’s office and approved by the Board at a later date.

A meeting of the Bandera ISD Board of Trustees is being held on June 9, 2009 at the Bandera ISD Central Office located at 815 Pecan Street in Bandera.

Board President, Dr. Barbara Skipper called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.

A quorum was established with Board Members Rick Groomer, Greg Hicks, Laurie Neff, Barbara Skipper, Lee Haile, Don Miller, and Genevieve in attendance.

The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and Texas flag was presented by Board Member Greg Hicks.

The Board approved the Consent Agenda which included: Approval of the minutes from the May 12, 2009 Regular Board Meeting; the Budget Status Report; the Quarterly Investment Report; and the Personnel Report.

The Board tabled agenda item “Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Three Year Contract with Cambridge Strategic Services for Strategic Planning” until the July 2009 Board Meeting.

Mark Holliday signed up to be heard during Citizen's Comments.

Dr. Kevin Dyes presented the Superintendent's Report which included district activities, a legislative update, and a budget update.

The Board approved the Owner/Architect Agreement between Bandera ISD and Pfluger Associates Architects for renovations to the District’s existing facilities.

The Board approved the adoption of the Educational Support Calendar for the 2009-2010 school year.

The Superintendent withdrew the recommendation to approve the BISD Teacher Pay Scale and Employee Pay Increase for 2009-2010 due to legislative approval pending.

The Board approved the calendar for appraisals and the appraiser list for 2009-2010 as presented.

The Board approved the changes to Policy DEC (LOCAL) Leaves and Absences as presented.

The Board approved the recommendation to add, revise, or delete (LOCAL) policies as recommended by TASB Policy Service and according to the Instruction Sheet for Localized Policy Manual Update 85.

The Board adjourned to closed session at 7:18 PM pursuant to Section 551.082 and 551.0821 of the Texas Government Code , Level III Appeal Hearing and Deliberation of a Parent/Student Grievance Concerning Timeliness.

The Board reconvened in open session at 8:20 PM.

The Board granted Mr. and Mrs. White a hearing regarding the matters disclosed during closed session.

The Board adjourned to closed session at 8:22 PM pursuant to Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code, Level II Appeal Hearing and Deliberation of a Parent/Student Grievance Concerning Complaint filed against Superintendent.

The Board reconvened in open session at 9:30 PM.

The Board denied the Level II Grievance to the Whites and further denied the requested remedies.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:31 PM.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Bandera ISD E-Mail Now OK

Bandera ISD’s E-mail service is working again. Mail can be sent and received from outside the district’s network.

Bandera ISD E-Mail Service

Bandera ISD’s E-Mail Service is unable to send or receive mail from outside of the district. The technology department is hoping to have the situation rectified as soon as possible.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Bandera ISD E-Mail Now OK

Bandera ISD's E-mail service is working again. Mail can be sent and received from outside the district's network.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Bandera ISD E-Mail Service

Bandera ISD’s E-Mail Service is unable to send or receive mail from outside of the district. The technology department is hoping to have the situation rectified as soon as possible

Monday, June 1, 2009

Ryan Named Principal at Bandera Middle School

Effective immediately, Joy Ryan has been named the new Principal at Bandera Middle School. Ryan joined Bandera ISD in 2007, serving as the Assistant Principal at Bandera High School for the past two years. She began her educational career 18 years ago in Junction ISD, and then taught middle school at Lueders-Avoca ISD before spending the next 15 years with Lampasas ISD.

“Ms. Ryan will do a great job serving the students and staff at Bandera Middle School”, stated Superintendent Dr. Kevin Dyes. “Her attitude and professionalism will keep the campus successful and on target”.


“I am excited and humbled to have this opportunity”, explained Ryan during a meeting with faculty and staff earlier today. “I look forward to getting to know all of you and our students as we work together to continue the great tradition of success that Bandera Middle School has enjoyed”. Ms. Ryan earned both her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Texas Tech University.

Bitzkie Named Principal at Bandera High School

Mr. Gary L. Bitzkie has been named Principal of Bandera High School effective immediately. Bitzkie has served as Principal for Bandera Middle School since 1998, the same year his tenure with Bandera ISD began. He started his career as a science teacher and coach at Southwest ISD in 1990. Bitzkie has taught science and biology to students in 7th, 8th, 9th, 10, and 11th grades. Prior to his arrival at Bandera ISD, he was a Vice Principal at Pleasanton ISD south of San Antonio.

Bitzkie holds his Bachelors of Science degree in Education from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his Masters in Mid-Management from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. “I have been very fortunate to work with such a great staff at Bandera Middle School, it will be hard to say goodbye”, said Bitzkie.


“Mr. Bitzkie has been a great asset to our district with his leadership role at Bandera Middle School”, stated Superintendent Dr. Kevin Dyes. “We look forward to success following him as he takes on his new responsibilities”.

“Last week my house was struck by lightning and then hail came down on the open roof, but when I found out I would be Principal at our flagship school, I felt like the luckiest man in the world!”, Bitzkie told the staff of BHS at a faculty meeting this afternoon. He will assume his new job in the morning.

Bandera High School Commencement

Photos from the May 29th Bandera High School Commencement Exercise have been posted to the school district's web site.

To view the photos, click here.