HOUSTON - The Houston Board of Trustees approached the idea of the construction of a new band hall, based on a report of funding availability from Superintendent Dr. Steve Coker. Coker reported that funds of approximately one million dollars are available in capital outlay for one-time projects. Following a walk-through of the district facilities, trustees submitted their top priority projects, which include a new band hall, a new roof for the Vocational and Technical building and repairs to the entryway bathrooms at Houston High School. The capital outlay funds include monies raised by the HHS band boosters to support the band hall project, which has been in discussion since 2004. Board President, Rayburn Parks, said the current economic conditions could be helpful in bringing the project in at a reasonable cost.

"This is a good time to bid," Parks said. "Unemployment is high and people need work."

The last time the band hall project was on the table, the lowest bid was slightly over one million dollars and over the budget amount the trustees had allotted.

The board is trying to schedule a meeting with the architects from Pryor and Morrow to discuss the feasibility of the project prior to the next meeting on Feb. 9.

In other actions, the board

- Recognized Sherron Horton, Miriam Garner and Dr. Elizabeth Harrison for achieving Master Teacher certificates.

- Approved a donation of the old lights from the football field to the City of Houston.

- Approved Federal Program budget amendments for Title I, Title II, Title III and Title IV.

- Approved the December 2009 financial statements

- Approved the acceptance of athletic scoreboards from Delta Beverage Corp., who originally made the donation with maintenance. The district will now assume maintenance on the equipment.

- Set Feb. 15 and April 5 as make-up days for the days missed due to snow and ice.

- Went into executive session for discipline issues.