Berry & Clay Construction presented a PowerPoint overview of the planned new Canton High School and associated multipurpose and gym facilities at the board's Aug. 18 meeting. Stephen Berry of Berry & Clay Construction gave the presentation; the minutes do not record a board vote or action authorizing construction at that meeting. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Duke, representing the Republican Club of Van Zandt, presented 250 "Ten Commandments" posters to Canton ISD for display in classrooms across the district; the minutes list the presentation but do not show board action on the donation. Superintendent Dr. Brian Nichols provided district information, reporting total enrollment of 2,271 students with campus breakdowns: Canton High School (CHS) — 662; Canton Junior High (CJH) — 549; Canton Intermediate School (CIS) — 532; Canton Elementary School (CES) — 528. The district received a "B" accountability rating for both 2024 (overall score 84) and 2025 (overall score 88). Canton High School earned an "A" rating in 2024 (score 84) and an "A" in 2025 (score 88), earning six of seven distinctions: Academic Achievement in RLA, Academic Achievement in Math, Academic Achievement in Science, Comparative Academic Growth, Postsecondary Readiness and Comparative Closing the Gaps. Canton Junior High received a "C" rating in 2024 (score 79) and a "B" rating in 2025 (score 89) with three distinctions (Comparative Academic Growth, Postsecondary Readiness and Comparative Closing the Gaps). Canton Intermediate and Canton Elementary are paired for accountability reporting and both received "B" ratings in 2024 and 2025 (overall scores 84 and 86, respectively). The district's preliminary FIRST rating is "A" (98 out of 100). The superintendent also noted a legislative update: Governor Abbott called a special session with 19 agenda items; the minutes identify two items on that agenda as elimination of the STAAR test and a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying. The minutes list upcoming athletics and stakeholder meeting dates; no action was taken on the construction presentation or the poster donation at the meeting.
