The Levelland ISD Board of Trustees met for their regular meeting on Wednesday to administer the oath of office to new board members and elect officers.
Board members elected to serve as officers and sworn in by administrative secretary Crystal Hill include Gary Bridges, Carrie Ellis and Matt Buxkemper.
A public hearing was held prior to the submission of applications for federal and special funds as required by the government.
Federal grants entitlements include Title I Improving Basic Programs ($802,429), Migrant Education Program ($128,737), Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting ($129,381), English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act ($21,315), Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant ($55,858), Rural and Low-Income School Program ($92,426), Perkins V ($36,789), Idea B ($618,090), IDEA Preschool ($15,622), and Head Start ($336,320).
The board approved a delegate and alternate delegate to attend the 2026 TASB Delegate Assembly. The assembly is annual TASA/TASB annual fall convention which is held to conduct business and formulate policies for the organization.
LISD Superintendent Dr. Don Heseman presented the district financial report, which was approved by the board.
LISD sought proposals to replace the HVAC system at the high school gym and received two bids from Comfort Masters ($73, 365) and BTAC ($72,172). The board approved the bid from BTAC.
Regarding a revised district Gifted and Talented (GT) Program Plan to ensure compliance with the Texas State Plan for GT students, the board approved the revised plan.
Assistant Superintendent Rodney Caddell presented information on SB 546 that requires that all school buses transporting children be equipped with three-point seat belts for passengers. TEA will be gathering data from each school district regarding bus fleets and the estimated cost to retrofit buses and must be in compliance by Sept. 1, 2029.
There are currently 10 route buses, nine activity buses, three special education buses and five sub buses.
Caddell said LISD had received quotes from A-Z Bus Sales, a Blue Star bus vendor, on the price of parts for retrofitting the 14 district buses that do not have threepoint seat belts, with the overall cost at $556,902, but has not received quotes from vendors to provide the labor to install the seats. He said the labor cost is expected to be double the amount of the parts. He advised the district will then determine which is more financially feasible - to retrofit the buses or purchase new buses already equipped since the cost is around one million.
Dr. Don Heseman, superintendent, and Dr. Matthew Birdwell, high school principal, presented the LISD academic report and HB3 goals. Possible changes to accountability may be coming in 2027 and the school has requested a hold harmless for two years to learn the rules.
Dr. Heseman and Caddell presented new hires and candidates for approval.
New professional hires approved by Dr. Heseman include Edward Trevino, South third grade math; Shawn Pebsworth, Capitol special education inclusion teacher; Brittany Walsh, Capitol special education inclusion teacher; Cain Cardiel, LHS math teacher; and Monica Nino, Cactus part-time speech language pathologist.
Caddell presented two at-will employment agreement, five auxiliary new hires, 14 changes of assignments, 22 resignations, and four retirements from all LISD campuses.