August 24, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting
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A. Call to Order
Description:
The Board President or designee will call the meeting to order.
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B. Roll Call
Description:
The Board President or designee will call the roll of members.
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C. Pledge of Allegiance
Description:
Smithville Elementary students will lead the pledge:
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D. Board Recognitions
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D.1. Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce
Description:
The Smithville ISD is grateful for the ongoing partnership and support of the Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce. In recent months, they supported the Top 10% Banquet by sponsoring the meal and provided welcome totes for our new SISD staff.
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D.2. National College Board Student Recognitions
Description:
Students earn these academic honors because of their GPA of 3.5 or higher and outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and/or AP® Exams. The following students won the Rural & Small Town Recognition Award and School Recognition Award:
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E. Public Hearing
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E.1. Public Hearing on the Smithville ISD Proposed Budget and Tax Rate for 2026-2027
Description:
School districts are required by state law and board policies CCG [Legal] and CE[Legal] to conduct a public hearing on the proposed budget prior to adoption. Any taxpayer of the District may be present and participate in the public hearing. Under board operating procedures, the Board will decide at the beginning of the meeting whether the hearing will be to (1) gather input only or (2) dialog with the public. Unless the Board takes action to declare the meeting a dialogue with the public, all hearings will be for gathered input only. According to law, the public notice of the hearing must be published at least 10 days but no longer than 30 days before the date of the public meeting. The public notice of this hearing was published in the Elgin Courier on August 13, 2026, which is 11 days before the hearing. Notice of this hearing was also posted on the District website. A presentation of the 2026-2027 proposed budget will be provided. The public will be invited to provide comments and the Board will hear comments provided by the public.
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F. Public Communications
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.
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G. Consent Agenda
Description:
Board members routinely approve items on the consent agenda as a group.
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G.1. Meeting Minutes
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.
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G.2. Financial Statements
Description:
The Board is provided monthly financial statements.
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G.3. Investment Report
Description:
In order to meet legal reporting requirements for investments, the Board receives quarterly reports on District investments.
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G.4. State Aid Comparison - Budgeted vs. Earned
Description:
A monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget is provided.
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G.5. Earned vs. TEA Payments
Description:
A monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget is provided.
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G.6. Tax Collection Report
Description:
Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.
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G.7. Financial Report
Description:
A review of the financial disbursements for the previous month is provided.
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G.8. Approval of Budget Amendments
Description:
Budget Amendments allow for properly appropriated funds for the necessary expenditures of the District. Budget Amendments on the function level require Board approval.
The business office provides monthly monitoring and reporting to the Board of Trustees of potential areas that require amendment and the reasons they are necessary. |
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G.9. Annual Approval of Self-Certification of the Micro-Purchase Threshold for FY 2026-2027
Description:
The Federal Office of Management and Budget allows school districts to increase their micro-purchase threshold, for federal expenditures if the LEA is a low-risk auditee for its most recent federal audit. This item must be reviewed and approved on an annual basis. This increase will allow Smithville ISD to continue making annual purchases up to $49,999 without soliciting competitive price or rate quotations if the District considers the price to be reasonably based.
By maintaining the higher micro-purchase threshold, the district will continue to work in a more efficient environment when reasonably priced items are procured. It is recommended that Smithville ISD renew the annual micro-purchase threshold of $49,999 for 2026-27.
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G.10. Ratification of the July 2026 Bond Repayment Resolution
Description:
In July 2026, the SISD Board of Trustees approved a bond repayment resolution of $3,067,000, with $2,515,000 to principal and $552,000 to interest. Following the recent bond refunding, $115,000 of the stated principal amount was for the Planned Issuer Contribution and not principal. The total amount of the repayment was unchanged.
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G.11. Amend the 2026-27 Compensation Plan
Description:
The Administration is recommending approval of the following amendments to the 2026-27 compensation plan.
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G.12. Approval of a Resolution Regarding an Adjunct Faculty Request and Extra-Curricular Status of the 4-H Organization and County Extension Agent
Description:
In order to allow Smithville ISD students to show their projects under 4-H during instructional days and receive state funding under the extra-curricular activity provision of attendance accounting action must be taken by the Board of Trustees to establish an adjunct faculty agreement between the District and the Bastrop County Extension department and adopt a resolution recognizing the Bastrop County Texas 4-H Organization as an approved extra-curricular organization. It is recommended that the Board approve an adjunct faculty agreement between the District and the Bastrop County Extension department and approve the resolution recognizing the Bastrop County Texas 4-H Organization as an approved extra-curricular organization.
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G.13. Accept a Directed Donation from the Smithville Education Foundation in the Amount of $40,000
Description:
In accordance with Board Policy CDC (Local), any gift that the potential donor has expressly made conditional upon the District's use for a specified purpose, or any gift of real property, shall require Board approval. These funds will be used as intended by the donor, with $34,000 to the Culinary Arts program for a new oven, materials to construct a BBQ pit, and other needed program supplies. $6,000 will be used to support the Health Science Program pathway with needs related to student's participation in internships at Ascension Seton Hospital.
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H. Information Items
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H.1. Superintendent's Update
Description:
The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.
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H.2. Smithville ISD Strategic Plan Update - Priority 4: Financial and Operational Systems
Description:
A regular progress report/update on the Smithville I.S.D. Strategic Plan will be provided by the Administration.
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H.3. Receive a Report on 2026 State Assessment and Accountability Results
Description:
A report on 2026 state assessment and accountability will be provided.
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H.4. Upcoming Agenda Items
Description:
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I. Action Items
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I.1. Consideration, Discussion, and Possible Action Regarding a Partnership with TTU K-12 as a Virtual Education Provider
Description:
As part of the Priority 3 Strategic Plan update at the regular July meeting, information was provided regarding a potential partnership to provide virtual school opportunities for Smithville ISD students through Texas Tech University K-12. Dr. Robert Bayard, TTU K-12 Superintendent, will provide information regarding the program and partnership opportunity.
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I.2. Consider and Approve an Investment Grade Audit with Schneider Electric
Description:
As identified in the SISD Strategic Plan, Strategic Action 4.2 calls for the District to conduct an Efficiency Study of Buildings through a third party vendor. This study was recently conducted by Schneider Electric, and results were reviewed at the July 20, 2026 Board Meeting. The Board will have continued discussion and possible action regarding a partnership with Schneider Electric to support HVAC needs across the district.
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I.3. Approve the Re-Designation of Fund Balance
Description:
The strategic object, goal or need addressed by this agenda item is to continue to practice designating surplus (unassigned) fund balance to future Smithville ISD Capital Projects and improvements.
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I.4. Adoption of the 2026-2027 Budget
Description:
The Board is required to adopt an operational budget before the beginning of each fiscal year, which begins September 1st. The Board and Administration have discussed the development of the 2026-27 budget over the course of the last several months, and all required posting and notices, including a Public Hearing, have been held prior adoption.
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I.5. Adoption of the 2026-2027 District Tax Rate
Description:
The Board is required to set a tax rate within 60 days of receiving the certified tax roll but no later than September 30th. The Board is also required to conduct a public hearing on the budget and tax rate before setting the tax rate.
The tax rate necessary to fund the proposed 2026-2027 budget as adopted is $0.9186 per hundred dollars valuation. This rate includes an M&O rate of $0.7386 and an I&S rate of $0.1800 - representing a total tax rate decline of $0.0239 in the 2026-27 budget year.
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I.6. Delegate Authority to the Superintendent to Execute an Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit
Description:
Smithville ISD is expected to be identified as a school district in Excess of Entitlement for School Year 2026-2027. To avoid any delays in the approval of the Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit or the Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit (Netting Chapter 48 Funding), it is recommended that the school board delegate authority to obligate the school district under Texas Education Code (TEC) §11.1511(c)(4) to the superintendent, solely for the purpose of obligating the district under TEC, §48.257 and TEC, Chapter 49, Subchapters A and D, and the rules adopted by the commissioner of education as authorized under TEC, 49.006. This includes approval of the Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit, the Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit (Netting Chapter 48 Funding) or the Agreement for Purchase of Attendance Credit and Netting Chapter 48 Funding.
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I.7. Annual Renewal of TASB Risk Management Insurance Policies
Description:
Description: Approval of annual insurance coverage renewal for worker’s comp, property, automobile liability, automobile physical damage, school liability, and cyber liability & security with TASB Risk Fund in the amount of $338,901, from the general operating budget.
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I.8. Purchases in Excess of $50,000
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I.8.a. Brown Primary Playground Resurfacing Improvements
Description:
Authorize the execution of a contract with Fun Abounds, via the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative, for Brown Primary Playground resurfacing improvements using grant funds in the amount of $50,000 and the remainder using General Fund balance designated for capital projects.
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I.8.b. Purchase of a 77 Passenger School Bus
Description:
Purchase one 77-passenger bus from Longhorn Bus Sales from the FY 27 general fund in the amount of $156,882 via the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative.
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I.9. Consider and Approve Certification of Compliance with Certain Laws under Texas Education Code 39.008, as Enacted by Senate Bill 12 of the 89th Texas Legislative Session
Description:
Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, school systems must take action to ensure timely compliance with new requirements as established in the 89th Texas Legislative Session. At the July 20, 2026 meeting, a presentation of these requirements as related to TEC, §§11.005 (Prohibition on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Duties) and 28.0022 (Certain Instructional Requirements and Prohibitions) was provided.
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I.10. Approval of TASB Policy Update 127
Description:
At the July 20, 2026 meeting, a first reading of proposed policy updates from TASB Policy Services was provided. Update 127 includes revisions to legal framework documents based in large part on changes to Administrative Code rules after the 89th Legislative Session. Changes to local policies offered for consideration address the following:
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J. Closed Session
Description:
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.
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J.1. Pursuant to Section 551.076 of the Open Meetings Act, the Board Will Convene in Closed Session to Review Findings of the 2023-2026 Safety Audit Cycle
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K. Open Session
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L. Adjournment
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