Kennedale Independent School District

The meeting included the call to order, roll call of members present, a section for public comments on agenda items, and discussion regarding the Board Appreciation Dinner. The session concluded with adjournment.

The meeting commenced with special recognitions for PAW Awards and School Board Appreciation Month. The Consent Agenda approved previous board minutes from December 18, 2025, financial statements, and the 2026 non-business day calendar. Informational items included a bond construction update and an executive briefing on the LASO 4 Grant. Key business actions involved approving the Annual Financial Report for the year ending August 21, 2025, approving the purchase of cafeteria furniture for Kennedale High School, and rescinding a previously awarded security fencing contract from November 2025. Subsequently, the Board awarded the Kennedale High School Security Fencing Project to Swift Corporation. Several TASB policies (Update 126 with exceptions, DGBA(LOCAL), EIA(LOCAL), FNG(LOCAL), GF(LOCAL), DBA(LOCAL), EFB(LOCAL), DGA(LOCAL), DEAA(LOCAL), DK(LOCAL), and EB(LOCAL)) were discussed and passed. The Board also called for a General School Board Trustee Election for two positions on May 2, 2026. The Superintendent's report covered updates on attendance/enrollment, the 4 Day Week initiative, retention, and potential new local housing developments. Following a closed session to finalize the Superintendent's goals and discuss personnel matters, the Board authorized the Superintendent to seek sanctions against a former employee for contract abandonment.

Key discussions focused on the progress of established goals, including the approval for high school CTE students to visit elementary schools to deliver health education, specifically covering topics like vaping, potentially starting in the spring or being postponed to the fall. The council is also focused on developing a mission statement, with participants requested to bring ideas to the next meeting. Furthermore, updates were provided regarding the placement of LifeVac devices in cafeterias, stadiums, and concession areas, and there was encouragement for members to recruit peers and parents to attend future meetings.

This document outlines Kennedale Independent School District's Parent Engagement Policy for 2025-2026, designed to fulfill federal statutory requirements for parent and family engagement in Title I, Part A schools under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The policy aims to engage parents in program planning, provide support and training to parents and staff, coordinate with other programs, ensure accessible communication, and annually evaluate its effectiveness. Key objectives include providing a safe environment, addressing participation barriers, promoting two-way communication, fostering family involvement for improved student achievement, and encouraging parents to advocate for their children's learning.

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance and roll call, confirming a quorum. Key agenda items included special recognition awards for personnel across Delaney Elementary, Kennedale Junior High School, Arthur, Patterson, Central Office, and Kennedale High School, with specific commendations for Mrs. Sonia Pitman, Mrs. Shantaa Stevens, and Taylor Ferris. Public comments for both agenda and non-agenda items yielded no speakers. The consent agenda was approved unanimously under one motion. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a bond construction update, detailing progress on high school projects, including the culinary space renovation, band and fine arts storage addition, and interior touch-ups; progress at Patterson regarding the bus canopy and work over Thanksgiving break; and the status of the library addition, which is on schedule for an early spring completion. A discussion ensued regarding the tabulation of an RFP for district fencing, which required a decision to restart the process due to a technicality in the original RFP documents not specifying evaluation criteria weights, necessitating all proposers to reapply. Finally, an update on library services addressed compliance with Texas Senate Bill 13 requirements, including the adoption of a new board policy concerning the approval and transparency of library materials.