Clear Creek ISD trustees approve staffing additions, $800,000 for repairs, contract increase and transportation policy first reading; appoint elementary school 

The Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees on April 14 approved a set of personnel, facilities and contract measures presented by district staff and administration.

The board unanimously approved the superintendent’s recommendations to add 16 teacher units and 34 paraprofessionals to support special education, elementary, visual and performing arts, advanced academics and career and technical education; to authorize use of $800,000 in capital project funds for facility repairs and replacements through August 2025; to increase the C3 Studios contract by $150,000 (raising the estimated annual contract value to $350,000); and to accept the first reading of a transportation policy that allows district vehicles and drivers to be used by outside entities under contract. The board also approved an appointment made in closed session, accepting the superintendent’s recommendation to hire Samantha Suler as an elementary school principal.

The staffing request was presented by Dr. Branch, who said the district needs additional staff as special education enrollments have grown even while overall enrollment has declined. Dr. Branch outlined program-specific requests including added paraprofessionals for early childhood (ECSE) tied to a 55‑minute extension of that day to qualify for full‑day ADA funding and teacher units for eSTEM magnet support, choir and band allocations, culinary arts and robotics coursework, and an advanced academics half unit for Hall Elementary.

Facilities staff summarized recent capital spending and a continuing shortage of in‑house HVAC technicians that has required contracted repairs. Trustees were told the district has spent about $1.3 million on critical building infrastructure and about $341,000 on major bus repairs and bus air conditioners since September 2023, and that the board previously approved approximately $2 million in capital project funding since September 2023. The motion approved by the board authorized use of $800,000 in capital project funds for facility repairs and related contracted services.

Trustees discussed retention and recruitment of bus drivers, including use of district vehicles and drivers for contracted non‑district work (weekends, evenings or summer) to provide supplemental hours and offset standing transportation costs. The board voted to accept the first reading of CNB (local) transportation language to allow district vehicles and drivers to be made available under contract and reimbursement.

The board approved a $150,000 increase to the C3 Studios live‑production support and AV classroom contract, bringing the estimated annual contract value to $350,000; the contract term was noted to expire Jan. 31, 2026. Trustees praised C3 Studios for providing students real‑world production experience and said the contract supports programs that take students to regional events.

In closed session the board voted to approve the superintendent’s recommendation to hire Samantha Suler as an elementary school principal. The board noted Suler currently serves as an assistant principal at Hyde Elementary and previously taught multiple elementary grade levels.

All motions recorded on the agenda passed unanimously by voice/hand vote.

Less‑critical details and next steps: staff said they will provide more detailed deferred‑maintenance timelines and bond‑program projections in an upcoming Friday packet; the extended ECSE day will add 55 minutes to qualify for full‑day ADA funding; and transportation contracts will require reimbursement to the district for full costs.