February 16, 2026 Board Briefs
The Taylor ISD Board of Trustees met for a Regular Meeting on Feb. 16. Highlights from the meeting include:
- Elementary students recognized for their participation in the MLK Jr. Art & Essay Contest
- THS student Arya Roy and teachers Laura Cavender and Marisol Dominguez ear Superintendent’s 1+ Coin of Excellence
RECOGNITIONS
Priority 1: Superintendent’s 1+ Coin of Excellence - Student
Taylor High School junior Arya Roy was named the February 2026 Superintendent’s 1+ Coin of Excellence recipient. THS Principal Matthew Wamble said Arya is the embodiment of the 1+ mindset of going above and beyond.
“Arya is truly an amazing young man whose impact on Taylor High School reaches far beyond what many people see on the surface. A dedicated academic leader, Arya consistently exemplifies excellence, humility, and quiet strength,” Principal Wamble said. “Arya embodies the qualities this award represents: character, leadership, service, and academic achievement. We are incredibly proud of him and grateful for the positive example he sets for his peers.”
Arya has been the narrator in Taylor ISD’s “100th Year of the Duck” and “What’s My 1+?” videos. He is a two-year member of the nationally-ranked Academic Decathlon team, and an active member of Student Council and the Health Science career pathway. He most recently earned third place in UIL Ready Writing, putting him in the top writers in the area.
Priority 2: Superintendent’s 1+ Coin of Excellence - Staff
For the February Superintendent’s 1+ Coin of Excellence, two teachers were selected for their work in restarting the district’s participation in Destination Imagination. The awardees for February are Laura Cavendar, teacher at Main Street Elementary, and Marisol Dominguez, a teacher at T.H. Johnson Elementary.
Both educators have embodied the district’s 1+ mindset with a commitment to enriching the student experience in Taylor ISD, and creating an environment where students feel supported, encouraged, and inspired to grow.
Priority 1: MLK Jr. Art & Essay Contest Winners
The Board and Superintendent honored the MLK Jr. Art and Essay Contest winners for their great work in representing Taylor ISD in the arts. Winners included:
Art:
- 1st Place - Maggie Allison, 5th grade at MSE
- 2nd Place - Ezra Thums, 4th grade at MSE
- 3rd Place - Aviana Dykes, Kindergarten at THJ
Essay:
- 1st Place - Celia Barcenas, 3rd grade at MSE
- 2nd Place - Cecilia Cigales, 4th grade at MSE
- 3rd Place - Abigail Camarena, 3rd Place at MSE
Honorable Mentions:
- McKenna Wallace, 4th grade at MSE
- Emma Escobar, 4th grade at MSE
- Joel Levrie, 3rd grade at MSE
- Ella Edwardsen, Kindergarten at THJ
Priority 3: TEE Foundation Grant Winners
Executive Director of the TEE Foundation, Anita Volek, presented the latest round of TEE Foundation grant winners including:
- Alexandria Aufdenkamp-Piper - Main Street Elementary - $2,500
- Amanda Miller - Taylor Middle School - $2,000
REPORTS
Priority 4: 2026-2027 Budget Workshop #2
Chief Financial Officer Jina Self shared an update on the district’s budget planning. The district is reviewing salaries, stipends, and non-staff budgets to create fair compensation models and accurate revenue projections.
She also highlighted key budget priorities: boosting student achievement, and retaining and supporting staff. Student safety remains a top priority as well. Together, these priorities guide every financial decision, ensuring resources directly impact student success and the overall health of the district.
Priority 1: Mid-Year Academic Update
Chief Academic Officer Megan Zembik shared the latest updates on student achievement and how the district uses assessment data to guide instruction and prepare students for the next grade level and end-of-year exams.
This year marks the district’s first use of iReady as a tool to gauge student learning, providing detailed insights down to the individual level. Early results show promising growth:
- Pre-K and Kindergarten: Students have grown 25% in Reading/Language Arts, with continued focus on math.
- Elementary Schools: Strong growth in math and reading from the beginning of the year to mid-year, with data indicating math as a key area for continued focus.
- Taylor Middle School: Math remains a priority as students and teachers adjust to new instructional and assessment approaches.
The district also celebrates 1+ achievements, highlighting students who are making more than a year’s growth in reading and math.
Priority 1: Special Education Annual Report
Director of Special Education Stephanie Hartman shared encouraging news about the district’s special education programs. The district program has reached a growth point where the Texas Education Agency (TEA) recognizes that Taylor ISD is successfully supporting special education students, maintaining strong programs, and preparing students for success beyond the classroom.
The district continues to sustain these systems and closely monitor progress, ensuring that any issues are identified and addressed early, keeping students on a path toward meaningful achievement and real-world readiness.
Priority 4: Wireless Tower at Taylor High School
Executive Director of Maintenance & Operations Ron Verano presented a proposal to install a cellular tower near Taylor High School. The goal is to improve connectivity not only for THS but also for the surrounding community. Current coverage maps show spotty cell phone service and limited internet access, which can impact student learning and emergency preparedness.
The proposed tower, in partnership with Diamond Communications, would provide a stronger and more reliable signal, helping students, staff, and the broader community stay connected.
Priority 4: District Transportation and State Compliance Updates
Verano presented on state transportation compliance, indicating that SB546 requires all school buses to have seat belts, with full compliance required by Sept. 1, 2029. The district has to ensure all buses have seat belts, with about half of the fleet currently having seat belts.
The district recommended purchasing new buses to meet these compliance requirements before other districts begin purchasing, which will ultimately increase the overall cost to purchase buses. This approach would also streamline bus routes and allow drivers and monitors to be more efficiently allocated, better supporting the needs of the student population.
Priorities 2 & 4: Sign-On Bonuses for TIA Designated Teachers & High Need Areas
Chief of Human Resources Jennifer Patschke presented a plan for recruitment efforts that target highly-qualified, certified teachers to come teach in Taylor ISD.
The recruitment package includes sign-on bonuses for Teacher Incentive Allotment designated teachers in the amount of:
- $5,000 for Master
- $3,000 for Exemplary
- $1,500 for Recognized
This is in addition to the allotment they will receive from the state.
The second part of the recruitment package includes sign-on bonuses for certified teachers in high-needs areas:
- $5,000 for special education certified teachers
- $5,000 for bilingual certified teachers and Language Other Than English certified teachers
- $1,500 for theater arts certified teachers
Priorities 1-4 Review of Policy 126 Updates
Out of all the bills passed this session in the Texas Legislature, around 170 impact local board policies and district operations. Key updates shared by district staff include changes related to safety, health and counseling services, personnel, and certification requirements.
CONSENT AGENDA - Approved
- Minutes
- Tax Report
- Monthly Financial Report
- Purchasing Approval
- Approval of List of Brokers/Dealers of Investment Securities
- Approval of the Audit Engagement Letter with Singleton, Clark & Company P.C. for the 2025-2026 Financial Audit
- Approval of Board Resolution for Investment Policy and Investment Strategy
- Approval of FSMC Contract Renewal
- Approval to Move the June 29, 2026 Board Meeting to June 22, 2026
- Approval of Sign-On Bonus for TIA Designated Teachers
- Approval of Sign-On Bonus for High-Need Areas
- Possible Approval of Certification of Unopposed Status for Trustee Election For District 1 and/or "At-Large"
- Possible Approval of Order of Cancellation of the Taylor ISD Trustee Election for May 2, 2026 and Declaring Unopposed Candidates Elected to their respective Districts/Places
- Adopt Policy Update 126 Affecting (LOCAL) Policies
NEW BUSINESS
Priorities 1-4: Consideration and Possible Action to Approve District & Legacy ECHS Academic Calendar for 2026-2027 - Approved
Members from the DEIC shared their recommendations for the 2026-2027 calendar year, based on feedback from more than 400 stakeholders. The calendar option with a fall break in October earned a clear majority of the vote from respondents, and the DEIC. The group recommended the calendar option with the fall break.
Priorities 1-4: Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Resolution Regarding SB11/LOCAL Policy FNA - Approved
The Board considered adopting a policy related to student religious activity during the school day. However, because Texas law already protects students’ and staff members’ rights to voluntarily pray or meditate without disruption, the Board did not adopt Texas Senate Bill 11 and instead approved a resolution reaffirming the district’s commitment to protecting those rights.
Priority 2 & 4 - Consideration & Possible Action to Approve Board Resolution Regarding Wage Payments During Emergency Closure - Approved
The Board approved a resolution to compensate all employees for the January 26-27 school closures due to extreme winter weather.
Priority 4: Efficient Financial Stewardship - Consideration and Possible Action to Approve New Lease Agreement for 55.88 acres purchased from Texas Multifamily, LLC - Approved
The Board approved a new lease agreement with the tenant on the land recently purchased by the district by Taylor High School. The lease includes new provisions for flexible use by the district, and clarified provisions to ensure clear communication and coordination.
Priority 4: Efficient Financial Stewardship - Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Drymalla Final Change Order and Final Pay App - Postponed
The Board postponed the change order with Drymalla to update the final reconciliation.
Priority 4: Efficient Financial Stewardship - Consideration and Possible Action to Approve Alternate Design and Engineering RFQ - Approved
Verano presented options for top design and engineering firms and recommended establishing a professional services pool to support the 2025 Bond program. The pool will include McKinney York, O’Connell Robertson, and Corgan, who will oversee projects related to capital maintenance, safety, security, technology, and modernization throughout the 2025 Bond Program.
Priority 4: Efficient Financial Stewardship - Consideration and Possible Action regarding agreement for design services related to 2025 Bond Construction Projects, including possible delegation of authority to the Superintendent or her designee to execute same - Approved
The Board approved the Superintendent to finalize an agreement with VLK Architects for design services related to the 2025 Bond.
PERSONNEL - Approved
- Resignation of personnel
- Election of administrators
You can watch the full meeting at this link.