The attached Resolution Levying Branch Campus Maintenance Tax rate for Tax Year 2026, levies a branch campus maintenance tax ratio of $0.05 per $100/taxable assessed valuation.

Senate Bill 1453, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, amended the calculation of a school district’s Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate beginning with the 2026 tax year. Under the new law, the calculated I&S tax rate is based on the minimum amount necessary to meet the District’s annual debt service requirements, taking into consideration available debt service funds and applicable state funding.

SB 1453 allows a school district to adopt an I&S tax rate above the calculated minimum when at least 60 percent of the Board of Trustees approves a motion identifying the minimum I&S rate, the proposed I&S rate, the difference between the two rates, and the purpose for which the additional revenue will be used.

The attached Order Setting Tax Rate is used to adopt the 2026 tax rate.  The Maintenance and Operations rate is $0.7591 and the interest and sinking rate of $0.2932 equals a total rate of $1.0523.

SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (SHAC)

Title 2, Chapter 28, Section 28.004 of the Texas Education Code requires school districts to establish a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district’s health education instruction. The Barbers Hill ISD SHAC serves as an advisory council which provides recommendations, changes, and/or additions to the school’s health education curriculum and instruction for consideration by the BHISD Board of Trustees. The council will discuss issues and concerns that impact the entire district not just individual campuses. Information about the council was posted on the district web site. The following names have been chosen to serve on the council for 2026-2027 pending approval by the Board of Trustees since these are appointed positions.


 

The monthly financial report is attached for your review.

Approval to open a new account entitled Series 2026 Building and Refunding Fund (693) at our depository, Prosperity Bank.

Department Highlights:

• The District Education Improvement Council (DEIC) will have its first meeting on October 1, 2026.
• The Staff Development Steering Committee met in September to evaluate the summer professional development program and begin planning for the annual staff needs assessment survey, which will be distributed in October. 
• The 15-Day Challenge was launched in grades 3-8 to provide teachers with a more intentional planning process.  The process supports collaborative planning around student needs, strengthens the rigor and effectiveness of Tier 1 instruction, and helps teachers intentionally plan interventions and extensions to ensure continued growth for all students.
• The SEL Task Force has resumed its meetings to plan for and monitor the implementation of Social and Emotional Learning. Our third annual "We Are One Week" reinforces the connection between SEL and embracing the Eagle Way, with a focus on the core values that define us: tradition, dedication, commitment, and excellence.
• A districtwide behavior initiative was introduced to strengthen consistency and alignment in student expectations across campuses through the Eagle Way. Each campus has also established Tier 1 non-negotiables that provide clear, consistent expectations for classroom management, helping create learning environments that maximize instructional time and support student success.
• Each campus has hosted a "New to the Nest" event, during which principals and counselors welcome students who are new to Barbers Hill and introduce them to the traditions, expectations, and values of the Eagle Way.
• The College, Career, and Military Ready Task Force has resumed its monthly meetings.  The team continues to seek more opportunities for students while working toward the board goal of ensuring 100% seniors graduate via State Accountability Program and will be college, career, or military ready.

Section 26.04 of the Property Tax Code requires that the no-new-revenue tax rate and the voter-approval tax rate be submitted to the Board of Trustees by the designated officer or employee. The Rate to Maintain Same Level of Maintenance & Operations Revenue & Pay Debt Service defined Texas Education Code §44.004(c)(5)(A)(ii) also governs certain actions that must be taken during the tax rate adoption process. This item does not represent the adoption of the district's tax rate. This is an informational item only. No board action is required.

Additional Information and/or Back-Up:

As part of the Barbers Hill ISD Middle School North Renovation Project Phase II, cre8 recommends acceptance of the GMP for this project.

The subcontractor pricing for the BHISD Middle School North Locker Room & Choir Renovations project was received on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the offices of Purcell Construction. This project consists of the renovation of an existing space to accommodate the Middle School North Athletics and Choir programs. Purcell Construction has completed the evaluation of the subcontractor pricing and the overall scope of the project work.

The breakdown of the GMP pricing and soft costs is below:

BHISD Middle School North Locker Room & Choir Renovations:     $ 5,652,995.00
CM at Risk General Conditions at 6.41%:                                            $ 362,357.00
CM at Risk Fee at 3%                                                                           $ 180,461.00

Guaranteed Maximum Price:                                                             $ 6,195,813.00

Total Soft Costs                                                                                    $ 867,413.00

TOTAL COSTS, GMP + SOFT COSTS                                            $ 7,063,226.00

Additional Information and/or Back-Up:

Barbers Hill ISD has partnered with Simplified Power TIPS #260601 to negotiate the pricing for natural gas. Our current contract expires in December 2026, and due to the volatility and upward movement of the commodity markets, we are proactively seeking to strike a contract price that will benefit the District with best-value pricing and provide budget certainty. We are requesting the Board authorize the superintendent or his designee to accept the best-value proposal as pricing is only good for one day from the time they are received due to natural gas commodity pricing.
 

Background
Senate Bill (SB) 12 from the 89th Legislative Session addressed parental rights in public education and requires certification of compliance with provisions of the Education Code regarding (1) instruction and (2) diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) duties. 

Certification Requirement
Not later than September 30 of each year, the superintendent of a school district shall certify to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) that the district is in compliance with Education Code 11.005 (prohibition on DEI duties) and Education Code 28.0022 (instructional requirements and prohibitions). The certification shall be submitted electronically. 

The certification requires you to identify the policies and procedures required by Texas Education Code 11.005(c) and 28.0022(h) and to describe how employees and contractors were notified of these policies and procedures as well as existing policies, programs, procedures, or trainings that were altered to ensure compliance with Sections 11.005 or 28.0022.

Relevant Policies and Procedures
Since the District has adopted TASB Numbered Updates 119, 122, 126, and 127 and has accepted TASB Policy Service’s local policy recommendations.

Changes at Update 127 include 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 topics:

• CAA(LOCAL): FISCAL MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: FINANCIAL ETHICS
• DC(LOCAL): EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
• DH(LOCAL): EMPLOYEE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
• DHA(LOCAL): EMPLOYEE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT: EDUCATOR CODE OF ETHICS (RECOMMENDED DELETION)
• DP(LOCAL): PERSONNEL POSITIONS (RECOMMENDED DELETION)
• DPA(LOCAL): PERSONNEL POSITIONS: PRINCIPALS
• DPB(LOCAL): PERSONNEL POSITIONS: OTHER PERSONNEL POSITIONS
• EHAD(LOCAL): BASIC INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM: ELECTIVES (RECOMMENDED DELETION)
• EHBB(LOCAL): SPECIAL PROGRAMS:  GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS
• FFF(LOCAL): STUDENT WELFARE: STUDENT SAFETY

 

Texas Education Code §37.108 requires each school district to conduct a safety and security audit at least once every three years and to report the audit results to the district's Board of Trustees and the Texas School Safety Center.

Barbers Hill ISD completed the District Safety and Security Audit for the September 1, 2023-August 31, 2026 audit cycle. The required audit information was submitted to the Texas School Safety Center on September 3, 2026, before the September 15, 2026 reporting deadline.

This item provides the Board with the required report of the audit results and documents the Board's formal acceptance.  If discussion of specific security matters is necessary, that discussion may occur in closed session as permitted by law.

Following Board acceptance, the district will retain the Board agenda, minutes, signed audit documentation, and TxSSC submission confirmation as part of the district's audit compliance record.

In order for the district to prepare for the assignment of staff for the 2027-2028 school year, we need an accurate count of how many teachers will be returning prior to making those decisions.  We are recommending an incentive to contract personnel to provide early notification of their intention to retire or resign.  After consulting with our attorney, the attached resolution has been prepared for your consideration.

Most bonds have an optional redemption feature that allows the bonds to be paid off prior to the actual maturity of the bonds. Another term that is often used is callable bonds. Most municipal bonds can be redeemed 10 years after the bonds were first issued. At the time of redemption, only the outstanding principal amount and any interest accrued up to that date will be paid. In order to redeem the bonds prior to maturity, the Board must approve the redemption of the bonds and then not less than 30 days prior to the redemption date, the District shall send a notice of redemption to each registered owner of the Bonds to be redeemed.

The attached Resolution for potential Bond Redemption includes all current outstanding bonds. As part of the 2026-2027 budget development, it was determined that there would be sufficient Debt Service fund balance and / or I&S tax revenue to consider paying off a portion of the District’s outstanding principal balance. This resolution allows for outstanding bonds to be paid off during the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The administration recommends the Board move to approve the Resolution authorizing the defeasance and redemption of certain of Barbers Hill Independent School District’s Outstanding Obligations on one or more occasions; Appointing an Authorized Officer and delegating to the Authorized Officer the authority to make all determinations required to effectuate such defeasance and redemption; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject.