Attendees including Board Members, Staff and guests are noted.

A copy of the draft minutes for the January 16, 2026, regular meeting is included as an attachment to this agenda.  

The procedures used in the 2026 election for the vacancies on the Board of Directors were in accordance with the BBB(LOCAL) policies of the Board and the Texas Administrative Code.  As stated in the local policy and noted in the official notice calling the election, should there be an uncontested election, the Region 16 Board of Directors has determined that no election will be held.  Mr. Justin Smith filed his application for Place 4, and Mrs. Kathleen Morris filed for Place 5.  

The filing deadline was February 20, 2026.  Places 4 and 5 were uncontested.  

The Head Start Program Performance Standards (45 CFR Part 1301.2) states that the Governing Body must approve or disapprove of the following policies and procedures:

Dispute Resolution Procedure (Governance - 45 CFR Part(s): 1301.6)
Governing Body Roles and Responsibilities (Governance - 45 CFR Part(s): 1301.2)
Health and Safety Inspections (Health and Safety - 45 CFR Part(s):  1302.47)
Playground Supervision (Health and Safety - 45 CFR Part(s): 1302.31(c)(d)
Policy Council Composition and Selection (Governance - 45 CFR Part(s): 1301.3)
Program Planning (Administration - 45 CFR Part(s): 1302.102)
Significant Incident Reporting (Health and Safety - 45 CFR Part(s): 1302.47(c), 1302.102(d)(1), 1304.12)
Supplemental Pay Procedure for Completion of Child Development Associate (Administration - 45 CFR Part(s): 1302.91)
Use of HS/EHS Policies/Procedures (Administration - 45 CFR Part(s): 1302.12(l), 1302.16(a)(1), 1302.45(b)(6), 1302.47(a)(b), 1302.90 (a)(2),1302.91 (8)(i), 1302.102(4)
 

Update — Per Leslie Callahan, no budget amendments will be presented at this time.

Information will be presented for the 2025-2026 Head Start/Early Head Start Budget Amendment.

Mrs. Leslie Callahan will present the summary information for the 2026-2027 Head Start/Early Head Start Program Grant Continuation Application, including the amount Region 16 is eligible to apply for in 2026-2027.  

Region 16 ESC programs and service areas will be reviewed. There are two reports — a highlights report (AI-generated) and a full report with details.

Chapter 8 of the Texas Education Code requires that client satisfaction be considered as part of the annual evaluation of Education Service Centers.  The Statewide Client Satisfaction Survey was revised and again electronically submitted to all Texas school districts and charter school districts in November 2025.  The specific report for Region 16 ESC is included, as well as individual written responses by Region 16 districts. 
 

Authorize the Executive Director to execute the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) Agreement with Perryton ISD, Follett ISD, Darrouzett ISD, Booker ISD, Canadian ISD, Amarillo College, and Frank Phillips College, and to make non-substantive corrections as necessary.

Approve delegating the day-to-day monitoring and oversight of the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) to the R-PEP Advisory Board, provided that the Board of Directors retains sole authority to approve contracts obligating the Education Service Center, the budget for pathway operations, appointment and approval of members of the R-PEP Advisory Board, and modification or termination of the Partnership Agreement.
 

Mr. Michael Keough and Mr. Steven Singleton will provide an informational update for the EdNet16 Fiber Project.  

Copies of the Financial reports through January 2025 are included.  Questions or observations regarding these reports are invited prior to or during the Board meeting.  

The Investment Report for the fiscal year through January 2025 is shown.  Questions or observations regarding this report are invited prior to or during the Board meeting. 

The Special Revenue Funds will be presented as information.

The following organizations were booth sponsors at the Region 16 EdTech Conference held on November 10, 2025, totaling $14,900:

Atlona - $500.00
Audio Video Corp/Amarillo Media Systems - $800
BenQ - $500
Cisco - $500
ClassLink - $800
FiberLight  $800
Firia Labs - $500
HPE - $1,500
iT1 - $800.00
LockStep Technology Group - $1,500
Lone Star Learning - $800
Lunu Technologies - $1,500
Newline - $800
Norris Audio Visual - $500
Swivl - $800
UDT - $800
ViewSonic - $1,500

 

In accordance with Board policy, proposals were received for the following items.  Detailed proposals and recommendations are presented.  

 

Listed below is a proposed schedule of Board meeting dates for Board consideration.  Special meetings may be called as needed.

Friday, October 30, 2026
Friday, January 15, 2027
Friday, March 12, 2027
Friday, April 23, 2027
Friday, June 25, 2027
Friday, August 27, 2027

The schedule of holidays recommended for planning purposes for the 2025-2026 service year is presented as follows: 

 

EVENT	DATE(S)	NUMBER OF DAYS
Labor Day	Monday, September 1, 2025	1
Thanksgiving	Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; November 26, 27, 28, 2025	3
Christmas Break	Monday, December 22, 2025, through Friday, January 2, 2026	10
Memorial Day	Monday, May 25, 2026	1
Independence Day	Friday, July 3, 2026	1
TOTAL		16

 

It is the recommendation of the Administration that discussion on agenda items 19 and/or 20 be conducted in closed session in accordance with Section 551.074 of the Texas Government Code, as needed.

6:30 p.m. Dinner - Mezzanine
7:00 p.m. Lecture Hall

12:00 p.m. - Lunch - Mezzanine
12:30 p.m. - Region 16 ESC Board of Directors' Meeting - ESC Board Room