August 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Public and Special Meeting
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 8/18/2025 at 7:00 PM | |
| Wanese Butler | Present |
| Delfino Flores | Absent |
| Olivia Hill | Absent |
| John Mullenax | Present |
| David Rector | Present |
| Araceli Rodriguez | Present |
| Terry Stansberry | Present |
| Present: 5, Absent: 2 | |
| Regular Board | |
| Attendance Taken on 8/18/2025 at 7:05 PM | |
| Wanese Butler | Present |
| Delfino Flores | Absent |
| Olivia Hill | Present |
| John Mullenax | Present |
| David Rector | Present |
| Araceli Rodriguez | Present |
| Terry Stansberry | Present |
| Present: 6, Absent: 1 | |
| Minutes | |
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I. Opening Ceremony
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I.A. Call to Order
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I.B. Declaration of Quorum
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I.C. Pledges of Allegiance
Discussion:
Led by Trustee Araceli Rodriguez
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I.D. Invocation
Discussion:
Led by Trustee David Rector
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II. Public Testimony
Description:
Pursuant to Board policy BED, the Board will allow every person who wishes to address the board on an agenda item to do so before the board’s consideration of the item. The Board shall not deliberate regarding any subject that is not included on the agenda posted with notice of this meeting. This is a time for the Board to stop, look, and listen to public comments. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to address the Board.
Discussion:
There was none.
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III. Public Hearing
Description:
The presiding officer will now open the public hearing to discuss the proposed budget and tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year.
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III.A. 2025-2026 Proposed Budgets and Tax Rate
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
The proposed budgets and tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year have been provided for discussion.
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III.B. Public Testimony on Proposed 2025-2026 Budgets and Tax Rate
Description:
The public is invited to comment on the proposed budgets and tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year.
Discussion:
There was no public testimony regarding the proposed tax rate or budgets.
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IV. Action Agenda
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IV.A. Consider and Approve 2025-2026 Budgets
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
Information is included on all budgets that need approval.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.B. Discuss And Take Action On A Resolution Providing for the Defeasance and Calling for Redemption of Certain Outstanding District Obligations; Delegating to Certain District Officials and Staff the Authority to Effectuate Matters Therein Resolved; and Other Matters in Connection Therewith
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
The order authorizing the defeasance and redemption of a portion of the District's outstanding unlimited tax bonds, and approve an escrow agent and all other instruments and procedures related has been provided for consideration.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.C. Consider and Approve 2025-2026 Tax Rate Ordinance
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
The proposed 2025-2026 tax rate ordinance has been provided for consideration. This ordinance has been drafted by the District's attorney. The ordinance includes specific required language stating, "THIS TAX RATE WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR’S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 4% PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $30.00."
In addition, the District's attorney has included specific statutory language in the motion for possible action. This item must record each member's vote and requires a 60% vote in favor to pass.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.D. Consider and Approve a Call to Order of Election for a VATRE (Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election)
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
The Order of Election for a VATRE has been prepared by our District's Attorney for consideration and possible action. Specific language has been prepared by the District's Attorney for the recommended motion.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.E. Consider and Approve an Election Agreement with San Patricio County
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
Information is included concerning the election services contract for the Aransas Pass ISD VATRE conducted by the San Patricio County Election Administrator. ISDs are NOT required to hold joint elections for special elections; this requirement is only for general trustee elections.
Pursuant to the Texas Elections Code, voters cannot cross county lines to vote in local entity elections in November. In addition, local entities, including school districts, are required to share at least one of the county’s early voting locations located in their territory, use county election precincts, and the corresponding polling locations. Therefore, the District will need to contract with all three counties in our district boundaries (San Patricio, Aransas, and Nueces).
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.F. Consider and Approve a Joint Election Agreement with Aransas County
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
Information is included concerning the election services contract for the Aransas Pass ISD VATRE conducted by the Aransas County Election Administrator.
Pursuant to the Texas Elections Code, voters cannot cross county lines to vote in local entity elections in November. In addition, local entities, including school districts, are required to share at least one of the county’s early voting locations located in their territory, use county election precincts, and the corresponding polling locations. Therefore, the District will need to contract with all three counties in our district boundaries (San Patricio, Aransas, and Nueces).
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.G. Consider and Approve a Joint Election Agreement with Nueces County
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
Information is included concerning the election services contract for the Aransas Pass ISD VATRE conducted by the Nueces County Election Administrator.
Pursuant to the Texas Elections Code, voters cannot cross county lines to vote in local entity elections in November. In addition, local entities, including school districts, are required to share at least one of the county’s early voting locations located in their territory, use county election precincts, and the corresponding polling locations. Therefore, the District will need to contract with all three counties in our district boundaries (San Patricio, Aransas, and Nueces).
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.H. Consider and Approve a Donation from APISD Education Foundation for Innovative Teaching Grants and Student-Led Beautification Project
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
A $43,472.00 donation for the Innovative Teaching Grants from the APISD Education Foundation has been provided for consideration, as well as a $750.00 donation for a student-led beautification project.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.I. Consider and Possibly Rescind Prior Board Action Approving Policy FM(LOCAL)
Presenter:
Board President, Wanese Butler
Description:
At the August 11, 2025 Regular Board Meeting, the APISD Board of Trustees voted and approved adoption of policy FM (LOCAL) to allow homeschool students to participate in UIL activities at APISD, based on the Board and administration's understanding at the time of policy as related to SB 401. The Board and administration has since received legal clarification and determined that adoption of policy FM(LOCAL) is contradictory to permitting homeschool students to participate in UIL activities at APISD. Administration is recommending the Board rescind its prior action.
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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IV.J. Consideration and Possible Action on Policy Regarding Homeschool Student Participation in University Interscholastic League (UIL) Activities
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
Senate Bill 401 states that a board must adopt a policy indicating that it will not allow homeschool students to participate in UIL activities before the deadline established by UIL (September 1; however, in future years, it will be August 1). This is related to opting-out, so the board may either adopt policy change for FD and FM LOCAL, or they must allow homeschool student participation.
Attached are drafts of FD(L) and FM(L).
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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V. Convene in Executive Session as Authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.001 et seq.,
Concerning Any and All Purposes Permitted by the Act:
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
Convene in Executive Session as Authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.001 et seq.,
Concerning Any and All Purposes Permitted by the Act:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
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VI. Reconvene in Open Session and Act On Any Items Requiring Action from Closed Session
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VII. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The items included on the consent agenda for consideration are:
Action(s):
No Action(s) have been added to this Agenda Item.
Discussion:
Mrs. Butler recused herself at 7:56pm. Mr. Mullenax proceeded to preside over the meeting. Mrs. Butler resumed presiding over the meeting at 7:57pm.
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VII.A. Renewal of Adjunct Faculty Agreement with Texas A&M AgriLife San Patricio County Extension
Description:
The adjunct faculty agreement with the Texas A&M AgriLife San Patricio County Extension allows student participation in programs conducted by Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service, including 4H.
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VII.B. Renewal of Resolution to Recognize Extracurricular Status of San Patricio County 4-H Organization
Description:
The San Patricio County Texas 4-H Organization’s request to be sanctioned as an extracurricular activity has been included for the Board’s review.
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VII.C. Renewal of Memorandum of Understanding with Del Mar College for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Dual Enrollment Programs
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The MOU with Del Mar College for the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Dual Enrollment programs has been provided for consideration.
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VII.D. Renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding with Del Mar College for Dual Enrollment Programs
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The annual MOU with Del Mar College for the Dual Enrollment programs has been provided for consideration.
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VIII. Adjourn
Discussion:
Mr. Stansberry noted the change to the Open Meetings Act that requires agendas be posted 3 business days prior to a board meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:58PM. |