The Herald-Zeitung

According to the board’s agenda, the New Braunfels Independent School District Board of Trustees might divulge the lone candidate and possible finalist for the district’s top job during Monday night’s regular meeting at 7 p.m.

Until now, only one candidate has applied for the position, and the only detail known is that the candidate is from within the district.

Current Superintendent Mike Smith announced his resignation toward the end of September, saying he would stay on as superintendent through June 30, 2010.

This past week, the school board agreed to the arrangement with a new exit contract, and decided Smith will stay on until that time.

Smith’s most recent contract was set to expire on Feb. 1, 2013 and had an annual salary of $182,294.54 tied to a two-year extension of his original contract, which had a starting salary of $171,000.

Greg Schlather, president of the school board, said the board may convene in closed session first, but is ready to move forward in the hiring process.

“We are at the point in the process of making a decision and the only way to do that is to put it on the (open meeting) agenda,” he said.

Other items of interest on Monday night’s agenda include approval of the purchase of band equipment in excess of $25,000, approval of a retired computer recycling program through Bass Computers, approval of a contract for architectural services through SHW Group, LLP and approval of a contract with Energy Education, Inc, a company that specializes in energy-use reduction and conservation strategies.

Schlather did not have a dollar figure on-hand for the Energy Education contract, but said, “It was a guarantee they would save us money or reimburse us.”

SHW Group was used by NBISD for projects from the 2006 bond.

“They helped us with the New Braunfels High School Field House and Oak Run Middle School addition. We were happy with that relationship (and look forward) to their design work on upcoming campuses,” Schlather said.

Out of the facilities plan they intend to follow, SHW Group will likely design the next two to three elementary campuses that will be needed, as well as design changes to County Line Elementary and Walnut Springs Elementary to convert them to one middle school campus.

The district will also discuss and possibly approve the ballots of the 2010-11 appraisal district board of directors for Comal County and Guadalupe County. The annual financial report for the district may also win approval.