The Levelland ISD Board of Trustees held a regular meeting last Wednesday with the housing keeping items on the agenda such as repairs to campuses stemming from the May storm.
LISD Superintendent Becky McCutchen explained that the district sought out sealed competitive proposals to replace the HVAC systems at Levelland ABC, Levelland Middle School (LMS) and Capitol Elementary due to the damage sustained by the storm in May.
Bids were received from Roberston & Agnew, Lowery, Bell Heating & Air and BTAC. Following the discussion between board members, the group decided to award Bell Heating & Air with the Capitol replacement while BTAC would be responsible for the LMS and ABC replacement.
Discussion was also held regarding sealed proposals for replacing wells in the district that were also damaged in the May storm. The district received one bid from Townsend Pump Service with the recommendation from administration being the council accepting the bid proposal.
During the presentation of the agenda item, it was explained that during the storm the electrical surges played a role in damaging the pumps.
Pricing associated with the project is $113,253. The well at Cactus Elementary would cost $29,917, the two wells at South Elementary would cost $17,533 and $22,836, the well at Lobo Stadium would cost $18,414, the well at Capitol Elementary would cost $17,109 and the well at the Levelland High School would cost $13,444.
The agenda item regarding the replacement of the wells was approved unanimously. A resolution regarding the designation of nonbusiness days for the 2025 calender year were set. Effective September 1, 2023, House Bill 3033 defines “business day” to mean “a day other than a Saturday or Sunday; a national holiday under Section 662.003(a) [of the Texas Government Code]; or a state holiday under Section 662.003(b) [of the Texas Government Code]” as it pertains to the Texas Public Information Act.
All other days are considered “business days” regardless of whether the governmental entity is closed. However, a governmental entity, such as Levelland ISD, may choose up to 10 “nonbusiness days” outside of those days covered in the bill for the 2025 calendar year (ending December 31, 2025).
These “nonbusiness days” will not count as business days for information requests made through the Texas Public Information Act.
Levelland ISD has reviewed a 2025 calendar to determine which school days it would like to designate as “nonbusiness days” for the 2025 calendar year. Consideration was given to the Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, New Year’s Week, and anticipated dates in March for Spring Break.
The days suggested included January 2 and January 3, March 20 and March 21, November 26 and November 28, December 22, December 23, December 24 and December 25. The board approved the several dates listed.
According to policy CO(LOCAL), the Superintendent, with Board approval, shall develop administrative regulations allowing students with an exhausted or insufficient balance on his or her meal card or meal account to continue to purchase meals for an unlimited time. These regulations shall include the District’s processes for parent notification during the grace period, including a schedule for repayment; and whether the student will be limited to certain foods or beverages during this grace period, and, if so, the District’s efforts to minimize overt identification of the student.
The updated lunch charge policy states: Students are allowed to charge lunch meals as needed. However, several means will be followed to collect all past due balances. Procedures below include: Weekly automated calls will go out once the student account reaches a negative balance and will continue as long as the account is in the negative; Low balance reminder calls will go out weekly once student account drops below $3; Negative balance letters will be sent through school distribution (folders, mail, etc.); and Unpaid meal account balances may require a parent to be contacted by District personnel to discuss options available (ex. setting up a payment plan, etc.).
To make a payment on a student account balance, they may go online at https:// s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/ 455/levellandparentflyer-2.pdf.
The can also pay in person at the child’s school by: cash or check. If at any time the family faces a hardship that does not allow them to pay for your child’s meals please consider applying for the Free and Reduced Breakfast/Lunch Meal Program at the Food and Nutrition Office located at 701 11th St, Levelland, Tx 79336 or call Dee Dee Montez at 894-9628 ext. 6520.
If students charge meals and they later become eligible for the free and reduced program, the parent is still responsible for payment of the charges up until such time as they were eligible for benefits.
Students that have unpaid charges will not be allowed to charge a la carte items until the charges are paid.
Following the breakdown of the updated policy, the board approved the item unanimously.
4-H members of Hockley County and the Hockley County staff of Texas AgriLife Extension annually request that the 4-H organization be sanctioned as an extracurricular activity under 19 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 76.1001.
Texas AgriLife Extension submitted a request for the superintendent to sign on behalf of the board a continuance of the existing resolution regarding extracurricular status of the 4-H organization. The continuance was approved.
Additionally, 4-H members of Hockley County and the Hockley County staff of Texas AgriLife Extension annually request that the 4-H organization leaders be approved as adjunct faculty under 19 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 129.21(j).
Texas AgriLife Extension has submitted a request for the superintendent to sign on behalf of the board a continuance of the existing resolution regarding adjunct faculty of the 4-H organization.
The request was also approved by the board.