Canyon ISD board: votes at a glance from April 14 meeting

The Canyon Independent School District Board of Trustees took a series of unanimous votes April 14 on routine and substantive agenda items. Highlights include approval of previous meeting minutes, monthly financial and investment reports, a budget amendment, an audit engagement letter, policy updates, acceptance of community donations, and personnel contracts.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes: The board approved the minutes from the March 17, 2025 school board meeting. Motion: Catherine Wiegand; second: Laurie Gilliland. Vote: 7-0 in favor.

- Monthly financials and quarterly investment report: The board approved the district's monthly financial report and the quarterly investment report as presented. Motion: Catherine Wiegand; second: Randy Davis. Vote: 7-0 in favor. Finance staff reported $35,000,000 in bank cash, $42,000,000.9 in investment pools (total cash available approximately $79,000,000, reconciled as of Feb. 28), and interest income for the quarter of about $925,000 (reconciled to Feb. 28).

- Budget amendment (April): The board approved amendments including a planned use of committed fund balance to complete approved capital projects at Randall High School (presentation cited a $400,000 budget pull approximated to $365,000 expected actual), and an increase to transportation repair funding after insurance recoveries of roughly $30,000. The I&S (interest and sinking) revenue budget was increased by approximately $3,000,000 to reflect higher property valuations and state calculations. Motion: Randy Davis; second: Catherine Wiegand. Vote: 7-0 in favor.

- Audit engagement letter: The board approved an engagement letter with Brown, Grama & Company to perform the 2024-25 annual financial audit as required by Texas Education Code 21.256. Motion: Catherine Wiegand; second: Matt Parker. Vote: 7-0 in favor.

- Policy update 01/2024 (GKA local and related changes): The board approved the posted policy updates, including added language to align community conduct policy (GKA local) with employee conduct (DH local) around nicotine and tobacco product prohibitions and the allowance for smoking-cessation exceptions under supervisor approval. Motion: Catherine Wiegand; second: Casey Posey. Vote: 7-0 in favor.

- Donations: The board accepted multiple community donations totaling approximately $79,778.68 (rounded figure reported by staff). Donations included athletics and program support, elementary playground equipment, and sponsorships. Motion: Catherine Wiegand; second: Mandy Palmer. Vote: 7-0 in favor.

- Employment and contract renewals: The board approved hiring recommendations for professional employees for the 2025-26 school year and renewed professional term and probationary contracts as presented. Motions from Laurie Gilliland and others; vote: 7-0 in favor.

How the board voted: Every listed motion carried by unanimous vote (7 in favor, 0 opposed) where a roll-call-style count was recorded. No dissenting votes were recorded for the actions listed above.

What was informational: The superintendent's report covered enrollment (11,386 students, 102 more than the same time last year), strategic-plan year-one progress, UIL and arts recognitions, and legislative updates including references to recent House and Senate education bills. The safety update and the public-comment items were received for the record; no board action was taken on those items at this meeting.

Board procedure notes: The meeting opened with a closed session called under Texas Government Code sections 551.072, 551.074 and 551.076 and reconvened for the public meeting. The board also received a district training-credit report that confirmed all trustees met state-mandated training requirements.