February 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  Annually, contracts are recommended and approved by the Superintendent. Previously the Board voted to give the Superintendent the hiring authority over these employees.
? Chapter 21 of the Texas Education Code (TEC) requires specific full-time professional and administrative employees an
school nurses to be employed by a probationary or term contract. These contracts are often referred to as Chapter 21
contracts. The law mandates specific rights and administrative procedures for each type of Chapter 21 contract. term
contract employees' statutory due-process rights above and beyond that provided by the U.S. Constitution before
terminating, discharging, or non renewing those employees.
? A term contract may not exceed five school years. The discharge must be for reasons contained in the district policy. The
teacher/administrator is entitled to a school board hearing. The decision can be appealed.
? Non-Chapter 21 contracts are given to people in positions that do not require certification or are on a DOI exemption (Local
Certification)

Please see the following list attached for contract recommendations made by the Superintendent.

Description:  According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines, school districts or campuses may request a waiver to exclude certain instructional days from Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and Foundation School Program (FSP) funding calculations. This is applicable when attendance falls at least 10 percentage points below the overall average attendance from the previous school year, due to inclement weather, health, or safety-related issues.
On February 3, 2025, there was a regional safety concern affecting students. Since Shepherd Independent School District (ISD) chose to remain in session on this date, we may be eligible for a waiver if our attendance for that day was at least 10% lower than the attendance recorded for the same day last year.

Description: 

Dr. Hewitt has full hiring authority at Shepherd ISD however, it is most appropriate for SISD Board of Managers to make the determination concerning the contract renewal for Mrs. Tammie Hewitt. Thus, I respectfully request the board of Managers approve a one-year term contract for 2025-2027 for Tammie Hewitt as the Director of Teaching and Learning.

Description: 

Consider approval of the Middle of Year Updates for District Improvement Plan, Shepherd Primary Campus Improvement Plan, Shepherd Intermediate Campus Improvement Plan, Shepherd Middle School Improvement Plan and the Shepherd High School Campus Improvement Plan. 

Description:  The TEA Financial Accountability System Resource Guide sets forth guidelines on budget amendments. Budget amendments are required by the State to reclassify appropriations at the level at which the budget is adopted. Shepherd ISD adopts the budget for the required funds at the functional level. Amendments which reclassify appropriations from one functional level to another require Board approval. The budget may also be amended by the Board of Trustees for changes in the level of its Revenue and Expenditures, CE(Legal/Local). Amendments are recorded in the District’s Board minutes. It is required by TEA and Audit guidelines that as of June 30, 2025, no function within the budget can record deficit funding.

Description: 

All changes are highlighted in YELLOW.

See Pg 5. Added Lead Counselor Elementary. This is not an additional FTE, this is a current employee with additional responsibilities along with a 207 work calendar.

See Pg 6. Coordinator of BIL/ESL changed from 207 to 226 work calendar.

See Pgs 12, 13,14: Identification of stipends that will be paid out in two equal halves. One half in January and one half in July. This will take effect in the 2025-2026 school year