David Vincent Arreazola

The meeting agenda included recognizing an individual, a report from the Laredo College Student Government Association, and reports from various board committees: Program/Policy, Student Success, Building, and Finance & Audit. Information items covered reports on the Texas Presidents & Trustees Collaborative Meeting, the THECB HigherEdge 2025 Conference, a Real Property Lease Agreement, Foreign Trade Zone Designation Requests, notification of employee compensation during closure due to inclement weather, and an update on the SACSCOC Fifth-Year Interim Review referral report. The consent agenda addressed the approval of matching funds for endowments and grants, approval of software contract renewal, the December 2025 Financial Report, approvals for equipment purchases (microscopes), approval for a workforce external lab project, approval for building plaques, approval for out-of-country travel, and review/action on numerous TASB Board Policy updates. Discussion items included the FY 2025 Audited Annual Financial Report, approval for revisions to the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar, tenure recommendations, and resolutions to submit two grant applications (Edward Byrne Memorial Fund/Justice Assistance Grant and Operation Lone Star Program funding). The President also provided reports and remarks.

The Program/Policy Committee Meeting agenda included a call to order and roll call. Key discussion points involved the presentation and action on TASB Board Policy Update 50, specifically reviewing updated LEGAL policies and acting on LOCAL policies across various governance, administrative, and operational areas such as accounting, facilities, technology resources, employment practices, and student rights. Additionally, there was a discussion regarding potential modifications to Laredo College Board Policy BDB(LOCAL) concerning public participation.

The Laredo College Board of Trustees convened for their regular monthly meeting, addressing various topics including the introduction of new personnel, committee reports from the Program/Policy, Finance & Audit, and Building Committees, and a student success report. The board also discussed foreign trade zone designation requests and Senate Bill 37 training requirements for governing board members. Additionally, they adopted an amended resolution authorizing the continuation and ratification of the faculty council and approved revisions to board policies regarding board meetings. An executive session was held to discuss the employment, reassignment, and duties of certain employees due to a reorganization, with subsequent action taken in open session.

The Laredo College Board of Trustees convened for a 2nd Public Hearing on the proposed 2019 Property Tax Rate. The board reviewed the 2019 effective property tax rate, the rollback rate, and the proposed rates for maintenance and operations, and debt service. Following the public hearing, the Board held a Special Meeting and entered an executive session to discuss a Level III Grievance Hearing filed by a Laredo College Faculty Member and legal issues concerning the FY 2020 Salary Pay Plan. No action was taken during the executive session regarding the grievance, and the approval of the FY 2020 Salary Pay Plan was deferred to the next meeting.

The meeting included discussion and approval of naming a room in the Yeary Library and Executive Conference Center as the IBC Leadership Center. The board discussed and approved entering into a contractual agreement with a retail electricity provider and adopted a resolution supporting the application of a Foreign Trade Zone designation for Vilore Foods Company, Inc. They also discussed and approved the annexation of new property, a voluntary separation plan, and LC Board Policy CAK(LOCAL). Additionally, the naming of a room in the Visual and Performing Arts Building after Mr. Dale Short was discussed and approved. The FY 2019 annual audited financial report was reviewed, and the status of Laredo College District Board members' required training was discussed.