The Northeast Independent School District Board of Trustees voted 7-0 to approve a certification that the district complies with specified provisions of Senate Bill 12, including limits on assigning diversity, equity and inclusion duties and requirements on teaching controversial topics.

The certification form requires the superintendent's signature and a majority board vote before the district uploads the document to the agency. Trustee Villareal moved the approval and Trustee Landry seconded; the motion passed 7-0.

Trustees said the certification addresses two narrow elements of the bill rather than endorsing the entire statute. "This certification form is not certifying this bill. That is not what this is," said Dr. Micah, who answered trustees' questions about the form and countywide implementation. The certification references two parts of the Education Code identified in the form as sections 11 0 0 5 and 28 0 0 2 2 and a certification clause that the board must approve by majority vote.

Trustee Filarell said some parents have raised concerns that material they view as DEI content has been integrated into textbooks and curricula: "some of this stuff has been integrated into our our, textbooks." Dr. Micah replied that adopted instructional materials are provided through the state adoption process and are intended to align with the TEKS; he said if employees violate the new limits on assigning DEI duties or other statutory provisions, the administration would investigate and take "individual action as appropriate against those employees who may be doing that."

Trustees also asked staff to clarify a cross-reference to local policy EMB after noting an apparent date mismatch in the district's online policy record. The board approved the certificate with a change to add a clearer reference to the legal policy for EMB before submitting the certification.

Under the law cited in the certification, the superintendent must submit the certification to the agency by Sept. 30 each year, a timetable staff called to trustees' attention during the discussion.

The board did not take any other formal action on unrelated provisions of SB 12 during the discussion.