June 8, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  The Board President or designee will call the meeting to order.

Description:  The Board President or designee will call the roll of members.

Description:  Pre-K ESL Summer School students will lead the pledge. Those students are:

Description:  A public hearing on ESSA and Perkins Grant allocations and planned expenditures will be held in accordance with grant requirements.

Description:  Citizens wishing to address the Board of Trustees have indicated by listing their name on the Communications from the Public sign-in sheet located on the table at the entrance to the boardroom. Those signing have given a brief indication of the topics to be addressed. Comments to the Board of Trustees under this provision will be heard in accordance with Policy and Board Operating Procedures. The members of the Board of Trustees will listen to citizen comments, but they will not respond or participate in a discussion of the topic. 

Description:  Board members routinely approve items on the consent agenda as a group.

Description:  State law requires that a record be kept in the form of official minutes on each meeting held by a governmental body and that these minutes be approved at the next regular meeting.

Description:  The Board is provided monthly financial statements.

Description:  In order to meet legal reporting requirements for investments, the Board receives quarterly reports on District investments.

At the May board meeting, the Lone Star performance statement for April was not available. Since then, it has been released, so I have included it in this month's agenda item. The performance statement for May has not been released yet. 

Description:  A monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget is provided.

Description:  A monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget is provided.

Description:  Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.

Description:  A review of the financial disbursements for the previous month is provided.

Description:  An annual review and discussion of Board Operating Procedures will be held.  Any action action on proposed changes will be taken at a future meeting.

Description: 

The Board conducts a self-assessment once a year to accomplish the following:

1. Assess governance team effectiveness
2. Review roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process
3. Identify the continuing education needs of the governance team and team members
4. Initiate dialogue among team members to enhance communications
5. Establish goals for the governance team

The Board uses a survey instrument and process recommended and developed by the Texas Association of School Boards. The instrument is organized according to the Framework for School Board Development.

Description:  The timeline for annual Board training requirement completion is May–April of each year. Trustees are required to annually complete training in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, parental rights, team building, and 5 additional hours.  Every other year, Trustees are required to complete Child Abuse Prevention, Updates to the Texas Education Code following Legislative Sessions, Evaluating & Improving Student Outcomes, and School Safety.

Description:  The annual txEDCON convention will be held on October 8-11, 2026 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX, where the Delegate Assembly will be held on Friday, October 9.  School districts around the state will nominate a Delegate and Alternate to discuss and vote on a variety of action items - from electing TASB directors and officers to approving the education issues included in the TASB Advocacy Agenda.

Description:  The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.

• A reunification School Safety Exercise was held on Tuesday, June 2
• Summer Meal Program every Tuesday & Thursday at 4 locations throughout the community
• Summer hours of operation began on June 1 and run through July 24

Upcoming Dates

• June 29 - Budget Workshop Meeting
• July 21 - New Student Registration at Brown Primary
• July 29 - 31 - New Teacher Academy
• August 3 - Convocation
• August 12 - First Day of School

Description:  The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) completed a pay system review in late spring 2026. Results will be reviewed and recommendations provided by TASB.

Description:  An update on progress of the SISD Strategic Plan Priority 2 will be provided.

Description: 

• 2026-27 Budget Development and Fund Balance Designation
• Update on Child Nutrition Services and 2026-2027 Meal Prices
• Adoption of the 2026-27 Employee Compensation Plan
• Receive a Report on Priority 3 of the SISD Strategic Plan
• Approval of 2026-2027 Board Operating Procedures
• Call for Public Hearing on Proposed Budget and Tax Rate in 2026-2027
• Approve Student Code of Conduct for 2026-2027 
• Approval of T-TESS Appraisers for 2026-2027
• Approval of the Submission of a Staff Development Waiver for 2026-2027
• Annual Approval of a Resolution regarding Extra-Curricular Status of the 4-H Organization and County Extension Agent
• Annual Approval of Required Training for School District Staff
• TASB Policy Update 127
• Adoption of an Affiliation Agreement with Ascension Seton Related to the Health Science Program

Description:  Christian Merritt, with Live Oak Public Finance, LLC will provide an overview and analysis related to debt management and the District's upcoming opportunity for a refunding of debt from the Series 2017 Bond.

Description:  A Property Tax Collection Update and recommended updates to the existing contract will be provided by Noe Reyes of MVBA Law.

Description:  Specifically, the Board of Trustees will discuss and consider whether McCreary, Veselka, Bragg and Allen, P.C. is a well-qualified law firm based on demonstrated competence, qualifications, and experience in collecting delinquent taxes, and whether the contract negotiated between the Smithville Independent School District and McCreary, Veselka, Bragg and Allen, P.C. is for a fair and reasonable price as provided for in Texas Tax Code, section 6.30(c).

Description: 

In May 2026, an annual report of the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) reviewed the process to develop curriculum recommendations for Health and Wellness in the areas of Hygiene and Human Sexuality.  The SHAC followed a structured review process that included individual ratings using an evaluation rubric, two public community viewings, and a final committee vote to arrive at its recommendation.

All recommended materials comply with Texas House Bill 1525 (87th Legislature), which requires a separate opt-in consent from parents or guardians at least 14 days before instruction begins. Materials are fully aligned with the Health TEKS, present abstinence as the preferred behavior for unmarried persons, and include instruction on abuse prevention, dating violence, and sex trafficking as required by state law.

The recommended materials include: The Source for grades 6-9, a Title V-funded curriculum available to the district at no cost, and age-appropriate elementary resources : CATCH (3rd-4th grade), Meet the New You (4th grade), and Growing Up (5th grade). 

Description:  Disclaimer: During the course of the meeting, the Board of Trustees may conduct a closed meeting in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Subchapter D and E. Decisions may be made as a result of the executive session.
 

Description:  In accordance with HB 121 resulting from the 89th Legislative Session, public school districts must annually evaluate for renewal a good cause exception to having armed guards at every campus when hiring a school safety officer who meets the alternative requirements under statute. This good cause exception will provide for the continued provision of utilizing a combination of School Resource Officers (SROs) and armed guards at campuses.