School Board Meeting 04/09/24

Trustees convene, livestream now permanent

Board President Jesse De Lao gaveled the regular meeting to order at 6 p.m. on April 9. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Superintendent Dr. Christina Torres confirmed a quorum and announced that—effective immediately—all meetings will be livestreamed for the community.

Spotlight on student achievement

Athletic Director Mr. G. Yáñez kicked off a lengthy recognition segment:

• Boys’ Basketball – District 32‑2A Defensive MVP Jordan Vela plus nine teammates earned all‑district or academic‑all‑district honors.
• Band Solo & Ensemble – Daniel Bettis (state qualifier) and Matthew Schneider received Division I ratings.
• Tiger Paw Twirlers/Color Guard – A baton quintet headed to state for the ninth straight year, led by seniors Abigail Malloy and Ethan Luna.

Elementary Principal Mrs. Newman then celebrated 14 “Level 5” i‑Station readers spanning kindergarten through fifth grade, applauded by a packed boardroom of parents.

Data dives & program reviews

Academic Services Director Mrs. Price presented January‑to‑March updates to the District and Campus Improvement Plans. Trustees noted strong progress toward 100 % strategy completion but urged fresh ideas to boost parent engagement.

An attendance report showed district‑wide ADA at 93 %, dragged down by elementary grades hovering near 90–93 %. Secondary attendance is trending upward at 94–95 %.

Comparative interim‑assessment data revealed cohort‑to‑cohort growth—most notably last year’s third‑graders dropping their “Did Not Meet” reading rate from 50 % to 28 % as fourth‑graders.

The board also reviewed:

• The TRiO college‑readiness agreement with UTSA (one year remaining) and a potential switch to Gear Up for broader parent outreach.
• The county appraisal district’s draft budget—postponed to a special meeting after the chief appraiser missed the session.
• Avance Head Start negotiations; trustees later rejected the childcare proposal in executive session due to district cost concerns.

Action items adopted

• Instructional Materials Certification – 100 % TEKS‑aligned resources approved.
• 2024‑25 Calendar – Traditional start Aug. 22, added teacher workdays, nine-week early‑release grading periods, no flex days.
• County Hazard‑Mitigation Plan – Brackett ISD joins the multi‑jurisdiction effort, opening future FEMA grant options.
• MOU with Angelo State – Dual‑credit students will enjoy textbook‑free courses under the new FAST aid program.
• New Positions – A grant‑funded Stronger Connections Counselor and a combined ACE Director/Elementary Coordinator posts were created to bolster SEL and after‑school programming.
• Board Operating Procedures – Attachments will again be posted online 24 hours before meetings “as appropriate” to improve transparency.

Personnel moves

In open session, trustees accepted resignations from Julie Small and Candace Bettis, renewed secondary teacher Abby De León, and formally denied Avance’s proposal.

Looking ahead

Budget workshops are slated for May 2 and 9; STAAR testing begins next week; Teacher Appreciation Week runs May 6‑10; and graduation is set for May 24.

The meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m. Stay tuned to the BISD News Bulletin livestream for real‑time coverage of future board actions.