Background:
Overton ISD experienced school closures on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, due to icy roads and inclement weather conditions, and Wednesday, April 1, 2026, due to a citywide water outage that created health and safety concerns impacting campus operations, including restroom sanitation and cafeteria food service.

Previously missed instructional days on Monday, January 26, 2026, and Tuesday, January 27, 2026, resulting from the same winter weather event, were recovered through designated make-up days on Friday, February 6, 2026, and Friday, May 1, 2026, in accordance with TEA guidance regarding the recovery of the first two missed instructional days.

Under TEA attendance waiver guidance and the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook, school districts must recover the first two missed instructional days through designated make-up days or additional instructional minutes. Districts may request missed school day waivers for additional closures related to inclement weather, health, safety-related, or other qualifying issues.

District administration recommends submission of missed school day waiver requests to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the following missed instructional days:

• Wednesday, January 28, 2026 - Inclement weather / icy road conditions
• Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Citywide water outage creating health and safety concerns

Recommendation:
Approve the submission of missed school day waiver requests to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for the missed instructional days of Wednesday, January 28, 2026, and Wednesday, April 1, 2026, and authorize the Superintendent or designee to complete and submit all required documentation.

Background Information:
In accordance with requirements of the Texas School Safety Center and applicable state law, the district has completed the 2023-2026 Security Audit Survey. Administration is seeking board approval to submit the required survey documenting the district’s safety and security practices, procedures, and compliance measures for the audit cycle.

Recommendation:
Administration recommends approval of the submission of the 2023-2026 Security Audit Survey as presented.

Background Information:
Administration recommends revision of Board Policy DC (LOCAL) - Employment Practices to expand the timeframe in which the Board delegates authority to the Superintendent to employ classroom teachers under probationary and/or term contract. The proposed revision would change the delegation period from June 1-August 31 to the day following the regularly scheduled April Board meeting through August 31.

This revision is recommended to improve the district’s ability to recruit and hire highly qualified certified staff during the late spring and summer hiring season. In the current educator labor market, districts frequently compete for a limited pool of candidates, and the ability to offer a contract in a timely manner can be the determining factor in securing high-quality personnel. Expanding the delegated hiring window would allow the district to respond more quickly to vacancies while maintaining Board oversight through regular notification of all hires made under this authority.

Administration further notes that delegated hiring authority of this nature is a common practice among Texas school districts. Examples from comparable and neighboring districts include:

• Mt. Enterprise ISD - Superintendent authority to employ contractual personnel from February 1-August 31
• Carlisle ISD - Superintendent delegated final authority for employment of contractual personnel year-round
• Arp ISD - Superintendent authority to employ classroom teachers from May 1-August 31
• Tatum ISD - Superintendent authority to hire certified personnel from the day following the May regular board meeting through August 31

The proposed revision for Overton ISD maintains Board authority for employment decisions while providing additional flexibility during the district’s primary hiring season.

Current Policy Language:
"The Board retains final authority for employment of contractual personnel; however, from June 1 to August 31, the Board delegates to the Superintendent the authority to employ classroom teachers. The Superintendent shall inform the Board of any persons offered a term contract under this authority."

Proposed Policy Language:
"The Board retains final authority for employment of contractual personnel; however, from the day following the regularly scheduled Board meeting held in April until August 31, the Board delegates to the Superintendent the authority to employ classroom teachers. The Superintendent shall inform the Board of any persons offered a term contract under this authority."

Recommendation:
Administration recommends approval of the proposed revision to Board Policy DC (LOCAL) - Employment Practices as presented.