August 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting
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I. Opening Ceremony
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I.A. Call to Order
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I.B. Declaration of Quorum
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I.C. Pledges of Allegiance
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I.D. Invocation
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II. Public Testimony
Description:
Pursuant to Board policy BED, the Board will allow every person who wishes to address the board on an agenda item to do so before the board’s consideration of the item. The Board shall not deliberate regarding any subject that is not included on the agenda posted with notice of this meeting. This is a time for the Board to stop, look, and listen to public comments. Each speaker will be allowed three minutes to address the Board.
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III. Presentation by District Financial Advisor
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III.A. RBC Capital Markets-Overview of Existing Debt, Current Market Review and Tax Rate Options
Presenter:
Dusty Traylor, RBC Capital Markets
Description:
A report prepared by Dusty Traylor has been included for your review.
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IV. Superintendent's Report
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IV.A. 2025-2026 Handbooks
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The 2025-2026 Student, Employee, and Maintenance Handbooks have been provided for information.
Attachments:
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IV.B. Calendar of Upcoming Events
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The calendar of upcoming events has been provided for information.
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IV.C. Reminder of Special Meeting to Adopt Budget and Tax Rate
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The 2025-2026 proposed budget and tax rate will be presented for Board consideration and approval at the August 18, 2025 Public and Special Board Meeting.
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V. Financial Reports
Presenter:
Director of Business and Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
The following financial reports from July 2025 have been provided for information:
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V.A. Accounts Payable
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V.B. Budget Status
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V.C. Tax Collections
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VI. Board Updates and Topics for Future Meetings
Presenter:
Board President, Wanese Butler
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VI.A. Requests for Topics for Future Meetings
Presenter:
Board President, Wanese Butler
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VII. Consent Agenda
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The items included on the consent agenda for consideration are:
Attachments:
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VII.A. Minutes of the July 14, 2025 Regular Board Meeting
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VII.B. Minutes of the June 26, 2025 Special Board Meeting and Workshop
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VII.C. 2025-2026 Student Code of Conduct
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VIII. Action Agenda
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VIII.A. Consider and Approve District-Initiated Proposed Policy Update to FD(LOCAL) and FM(LOCAL)
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
The bill states that a board must adopt a policy indicating that it will not allow homeschool students to participate in UIL activities before the deadline established by UIL (September 1; however, in future years, it will be August 1). This is related to opting-out, so the board can either adopt policy changes for FD(L) and FM(L) or they must allow homeschool student participation. Attached are drafts of FD(L) and FM(L).
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VIII.B. Consider and Approve District-Initiated Update to LOCAL Policy FNCE - STUDENT CONDUCT - PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
Pursuant to House Bill 1481, the proposed update to LOCAL policy FNCE - Student Conduct - Personal Communication Devices/Electronic Devices has been provided for consideration.
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VIII.C. Consider and Approve District-Initiated Update to LOCAL Policy EFB - INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES - LIBRARY MATERIALS
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
Pursuant to SB 13, two draft policies for EFB(LOCAL) - Instructional Resources - Library Materials, have been provided for the Board's review. SB13 includes significant changes to library governance, including the option for the formation of School Library Advisory Council (SLAC). SLACs come with extensive procedural requirements, but are optional. Following information received from the District's librarian, administration is recommending the Board adopt EFB(LOCAL)-ALT. The District's digital library catalog, Destiny, meets the requirements stipulated in SB 13 for review and challenge of library materials, alleviating the need to authorize a School Library Advisory Council (SLAC).
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VIII.D. Consider and Adopt TASB-Initiated Policy Update 125 (LOCAL) Policies:
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent-Wayne Bennett
Description:
The TASB-initiated policy update 125 was provided for first reading at the July 2025 regular meeting. These local policies are being presented for consideration for adoption.
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VIII.E. Consider and Approve New Fiduciary Bank Account to Establish a New Employee Health Reimbursement-Self-Funded Plan to be Managed by 3rd Party Benefits Administrator (1st Financial Group of America)
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
This bank account is requested to account for each employee's $200.00 per year-Health reimbursable account. This will be a self-funded account set up under a fiduciary account.
Authorized signers for this account shall be: John Mullenax-Board Vice President Wayne Bennett- Interim Superintendent Melinda Chapa-Finance Director |
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VIII.F. Consider and Approve a Resolution Declaring the District's Intent to Incorporate Disaster Pennies in Adopting its 2025 tax rate, to Order a Voter-Approval Tax ratification Election, and to Forego Conducting an Efficiency Audit Pursuant to the Authority of the Texas Tax Code and Texas Education Code
Presenter:
Dir. of Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
The attached sample resolution includes language stating the District will seek a VATRE election. In addition, the resolution mentions the District may seek disaster recovery tax relief based on July 9, 2024, Governor Abbott declared a disaster area.
A successful VATRE will allow the District to maintain the funding for several years. The disaster recovery tax relief would only allow the District to sustain funding only for the 2025-2026 school year. Also, due to the declared disaster area, the District may waive the efficiency study required prior to conducting a VATRE election. A call for the VATRE election will still be required to meet the election code and will be presented prior to August 18, 2025. |
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VIII.G. Consider and Approve an Agreement for the Purchase of Attendance Credit (Option 3 Agreement) and to Delegate Contractual Authority to the Interim Superintendent
Presenter:
Director of Business and Finance-Melinda Chapa
Description:
The District has received a TEA Notice-Notification of Local Revenue Level in Excess of Entitlement for School Year 2025-2026.
This is considering Aransas Pass a Chapter 48 District (previously known as Chapter 41). In reviewing the excess report, the District does not fall into recapture. Included in this agenda item is a report indicating no recapture amounts are being reported. Even though the District is not subject to recapture, the District still needs to provide a choice agreement to offset Chp. 48 Funding. Option 3, allows the District to purchase attendance credits not previously accounted for in our state funding. Attached is the agreement for your review. |
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VIII.H. Consider and Approve Request to Prepare a Resolution to Set the I&S Debt Tax Rate to Include Defeasance Payment
Presenter:
Director of Business and Finance, Melinda Chapa
Description:
A request for permission to move forward in preparing a resolution that would require the Board's approval prior to setting the I&S tax rate for the 2025 year with a defeasance payment has been provided for consideration.
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VIII.I. Consider and Approve Resolution to Add Representation to the Aransas County Appraisal District Board
Presenter:
Board President, Wanese Butler
Attachments:
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IX. Convene in Executive Session as Authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.001 et seq.,
Concerning Any and All Purposes Permitted by the Act:
Presenter:
Interim Superintendent Wayne Bennett
Description:
Convene in Executive Session as Authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code 551.001 et seq.,
Concerning Any and All Purposes Permitted by the Act:
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X. Reconvene in Open Session and Act On Any Items Requiring Action from Closed Session
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XI. Adjourn
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