While bond renovations and expansions are already underway, the Llano ISD Board of Trustees took its first steps toward upgrades to the athletic facilities for the district.

The board approved a motion to accept the initial design and development documents for new tennis courts, a restroom/concession stand facility in addition to renovations to the visitor’s bleachers at Jacket stadium and to the parking lot.

Fromberg Associates, Ltd., presented plans and drawings to the board. Along with four new tennis courts, there will be bleachers added to the tennis facility. The new restroom/concession stand facility will be constructed on the northwest portion of Jacket stadium.

The district is budgeting about $1,000,000 for the upgrades, which were approved this past spring. During Monday’s meeting, board members suggested some changes to the initial design and asked that it be brought back for final approval before the bidding process begins.

In other action, the board accepted the resignation of Bob Bender, who was elected to the board in 2007. Bender resignation was effective June 9. He left due to work that will be taking him out of the county for an extended time.

A committee will be appointed to find a nominee for appointment to the board to fill the unexpired term.

In other discussion, Dr. Pat Pringle, Director of the Education Service Center for Region XIII presented awards to Llano Elementary for a Distinguished Performance as a Title I, Part A school and to Dennis Hill for being the Region XIII nominee for Superintendent of the Year.

Pringle said it was an honor to nominate Hill. “He is honest, hard working and dependable and he’s done a lot for this school district in the past five years.

Region XIII is composed of 59 school districts with more than 290,000 students.

“I am honored to have been chosen to represent the superintendents of Region XIII. I truly believe that my selection is about something far greater than the performance of the superintendent,” Hill said. “I am convinced that this is recognition of the hard work exhibited by all of the stakeholders of this district who have sacrificed so much to move us so far over the last five years.”

In other action the board approved changes to the 2008-09 student handbooks for all four campuses, approved the 2008-09 school district goals and approved contracts for special education service providers.

Also, the board approved an additional nurse position for the secondary campus. In the past, one nurse has split time between high school and junior high. Now, each campus will have its own nurse.

Finally, the board approved a pay increase for substitute teachers in accordance with the new increase in minimum wage. Cafeteria, custodial and non-certified classroom subs, will receive $65 per day

Nurse and office substitutes as well as certified classroom subs will receive $70 per day.