July 20, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

Description:  The Board President or designee will call the meeting to order.

Description:  The Board President or designee will call the roll of members.

Description:  Citizens wishing to address the Board of Trustees on agenda or non-agenda items must indicate their intent 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. 

Description:  Board members routinely approve items on the consent agenda as a group.

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. 

Description:  Monthly financial statements are attached for the Board's review.

Description:  In order to meet legal reporting requirements for investments, the Board receives regular reports on District investments.

Description:  A monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget is provided.

Description:  A monthly status report of earned state aid in relation to the budget is provided.

Description:  Attached is the Tax Assessor-Collector's Report.

Description:  A review of the financial disbursements for the previous month is provided.

Description:  Budget amendments ensure that funds are properly appropriated to support the District’s necessary expenditures. Amendments at the function level require approval by the Board of Trustees. The Business Office provides monthly monitoring and reports to the Board, identifying areas that may require amendment and explaining the reasons for those adjustments.

Description: 

The Board must approve a resolution prior to each bond payment made via wire transfer. Attached is a resolution for the August 2026 payment.

Description:  The District will adopt a budget and set the tax rate for the 2026-2027 school year prior to the end of the current fiscal year.  State Truth in Taxation laws require the school district to publish a public notice of public hearing to discuss the proposed budget and proposed tax rate for the new fiscal year. The budget must be developed and adopted no later than August 31, 2026.

The Smithville ISD will publish the notice of the public hearing, scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026, in the local newspapers to comply with state laws and timelines for budget adoption and setting of the tax rate.

Description:  The Board must annually approve the district teacher appraisal calendar and the list of administrators certified to evaluate teachers. SISD uses the state-adopted appraisal system, Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) for teacher evaluations.   A list of appraisers and the appraisal calendar is included in the board packet.

Description:  In accordance with SB 1267 of the 87th Texas Legislative Session, the Board shall annually approve the District’s professional development plan for all District employees. Attached for approval is the SISD 2026-27 Continuing Education and Training Clearinghouse professional development plan.

Description:  The Superintendent will update the Board on important issues pertaining to the District.

Description:  As included 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 they will review results and recommendations from the study.

Description:  The Smithville ISD volunteer program enriches the quality of education for our students by providing opportunities for parents and community members to become actively involved in our schools. The 2026-27 SISD Volunteer Guidelines, which help ensure clarity and consistency across the volunteer program, will be reviewed. 

Description:  This month's Strategic Plan update will focus on efforts in the area of Priority 3 - Stakeholder Satisfaction and Engagement.

Description:  A first reading of proposed policy updates from TASB Policy Services will be 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:

• BJCF(LOCAL): SUPERINTENDENT - NONRENEWAL
• CAA(LOCAL): FISCAL MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES - FINANCIAL ETHICS
• DC(LOCAL): EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES
• DH(LOCAL): EMPLOYEE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT
• DP(LOCAL): PERSONNEL POSITIONS
• DPA(LOCAL): PERSONNEL POSITIONS - PRINCIPALS
• DPB(LOCAL): PERSONNEL POSITIONS - OTHER PERSONNEL POSITIONS
• EHBB(LOCAL): SPECIAL PROGRAMS - GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS
• FFF(LOCAL): STUDENT WELFARE - STUDENT SAFETY

Description:  Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, school systems must take action to ensure timely compliance with these new requirements as established in the 89th Texas Legislative Session. The Administration will review these requirements as related to TEC, §§11.005 (Prohibition on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Duties) and 28.0022 (Certain Instructional Requirements and Prohibitions), as well as discuss next steps regarding Board Certification.

Description:  An update on the development of the 2026-27 budget will be provided by Stacy Tiner, Business Manager.

Description: 

• Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget and Tax Rate for 2026-2027
• Adoption of the 2026-27 Budget and Tax Rate
• Approval of an Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit Related to Excess Local Revenue
• Approval of Self-Certification of the Micro-Purchase Threshold for FY 2026-2027
• Re-designation of Fund Balance
• Approval of TASB Policy Update 127
• District and Campus 2026 State Accountability Ratings
• Update on the SISD Strategic Plan Priority 4 - Financial & Operational Systems
• Approval of the School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) Membership for 2026-27 
• Certification of Compliance with SB 12 Requirements
• Review 3-Year Safety Audit Findings

Description:  In accordance with Board Policy CH(LOCAL), any single, budgeted purchase of goods or services that costs $50,000 or more, regardless of whether the goods or services are competitively purchased, shall require Board approval before a transaction may take place. 

Description:  In order to improve safety and accessibility, it is recommended that the Brown Primary main playground receive upgrades, including installation of an ADA accessable ramp and replacement of mulch around the fall area with a rubber safety surface.
The administration obtained three competitive quotes for evaluation, and is recommending procurement through the BuyBoard purchasing co-operative, with $50,000 of the total funding provided through the Toyota Way Forward Fund to support Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness, Prevention, and Emergency Readiness in partnership with Bastrop County Cares. 

Description: 

ESC Region 13 provides a variety of services for the District annually, including the provision of our Student Information and Enterprise System, Ascender. 

Product/Service 26-27 Pricing:

• Ascender Enterprise System $54,573.75

Cooperative Participation:

• Behavior Specialist $4,500
• Career & Technical Education* $2,800
• Homeless Education** $1,500
• School Finance $4,000
• State Comp Ed $1,000
• TEKS Resource System $11,074.20
• PEIMS $5,600
• TExGUIDE PK-12 $5,592
• TXED Support Service $20,000

It is recommended that the Board authorize payment to ESC Region 13 for continuation of contracted services in the amount of $110,639.95 from a combination of grant and general funds.

Description:  Candy Biehle, Director of Child Nutrition Services, will provide an update on the Child Nutrition program and recommendations related to meal prices for the 2026-27 school year.

Description:  The proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creates a formal partnership between Ascension Seton and Smithville ISD, designed to provide SHS Health Science students in the practicum phase of their Work-Based Learning pathway with hands-on clinical educational experiences at Ascension Seton facilities.  

Description:  The Student Code of Conduct for the upcoming school year is reviewed, revised and approved by the Board prior to the beginning of each new school year. There are no substantive changes to this year's Code of Conduct.

Description:  At the June 2026 Regular meeting, the Board reviewed proposed revisions to the Board Operating Procedures for 2026-27. It is recommended that the Board finalize and adopt these updated procedures. 

Description:  The annual TASB Delegate Assembly will be held on Friday, October 9 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. School districts around the state will nominate a Delegate and Alternate to discuss and vote on a variety of action items - from electing TASB directors and officers to approving the education issues included in the TASB Advocacy Agenda.

Description:  The Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) Region 13, Position B Director position is currently open with a term of 2026-2029. These following individuals have been nominated by their local boards for the TASB Region 13, Position B.

• Ana Cortez, Manor ISD
• Stephen Mackey, Blanco ISD (Incumbent)
• Ed Navarette, Florence ISD

Between Friday, June 26, and Friday, August 21, 2026, Region 13 School Boards are invited to endorse a candidate for each position in our Region. 

If a majority of the Active Members of the Region endorses a candidate, that individual will be elected to the TASB Board. If at least 25 percent, but not a majority, endorse the candidate, that individual will be included on the official ballot at the TASB Delegate Assembly. 

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.