Lexington ISD Weekly Board Report

MAY 2, 2025

Notes From This Week:

BOARD TRAINING - Board training hours will post after the May meeting. Hopefully this will allow everyone to get caught up on any training you might still need. Please contact Renee if you are unsure of your hours. I will likely ask her to send each of you a friendly reminder next week as well.

SPRING BANQUETS - Banquet season is upon us. Please check the calendar for dates and times of end-of-year banquets and presentations you would like to attend.

NEW ARRIVALS - We've had something happen here that I haven't seen in all my years working in school districts. From Friday to Tuesday, 5 staff members welcomed 3 new baby girls into their families. If you know Amy Casarez, Victoria & Donte McGee, and/or Kynslie & Nathaniel Clifford, I know you will want to congratulate them if you haven't heard the news by now.

PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION - I applaud the depth of your discussion at our special called meeting this week and the way you as a Board approached the decision to commit to the stadium project. In my humble opinion, I believe this is the way that all Board's should operate - no sugar coating or drama, just define the need, get all the facts, and weigh every option. I believe your process has produced the best-possible outcome for the district.

GOVERNOR WILL SIGN ESA BILL SATURDAY - On Wednesday the Governor's Office announced that Gov. Abbott will sign SB 2, which creates a $1 billion education savings account (ESA) program, at a signing ceremony on Saturday at 2 p.m. Attending will be Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and bill authors Sen. Brandon Creighton and Rep. Brad Buckley. The governor will also be joined by the director of Kingdom Life Academy, a “project-based learning, micro Christian school” in Tyler, as well as “families from across the state.”

HOUSE BILL 4 WOULD OVERHAUL THE TESTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM....AGAIN -

The House Public Education Committee conducted hearing on 21 bills beginning Tuesday morning and lasting until almost 4:00 AM Thursday morning. Once testimony concluded, HB4 was unanimously voted out of the committee. The full House will debate CSHB 4 once it is set on the House Calendar.

Based on a report from the Texas Rural Education Association (TREA), of which we are members, HB 4 represents a historic and positive shift in the Accountability system, and it's about time. This has been a legislative priority of TREA for several Sessions. HB 4 would eliminate the STAAR test.

Many public school employees had input in developing the bill. I've read the entire 26-page bill (attached below) and there are several things included that, if followed strictly by the TEA, could make the system more relevant and more fair. Regardless, we will continue to build and maintain the strongest-possible team at LISD for our students.

Have a great weekend!

GO EAGLES!