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Tyler ISD board approves athletics director hire, moves to nonrenew one contract and okays retail electric agreement
Summary
At a regularly scheduled meeting, the Tyler ISD Board of Trustees voted to promote Sam Gillespie to director of athletics, approved a superintendent authorization to execute a retail electric services agreement, and voted to propose nonrenewal of a Chapter 21 term contract for an employee identified as Denise Kambuca.
The Tyler ISD Board of Trustees on an announced meeting date voted to promote Sam Gillespie to director of athletics, authorized the superintendent to sign a retail electric services agreement, and approved a proposal to nonrenew a Chapter 21 term contract for an employee identified as Denise Kambuca.
The board moved, seconded and approved the promotion of assistant athletic director Sam Gillespie to director of athletics. Dr. Crawford introduced Gillespie’s candidacy, describing him as having experience as a head coach in multiple sports and prior service as a small-school athletic director. The motion passed by voice vote; the board president announced the motion carried. Gillespie addressed the board and said he was “honored” and vowed to “work tirelessly to make sure we achieve successful student outcomes.”
Later in the meeting the board voted to propose nonrenewal of a Chapter 21 term employment contract for Denise Kambuca. The motion was made “on the recommendation of the administration.” The board president called for the required notices to be sent after the motion carried.
The board also approved a motion authorizing the superintendent to execute an agreement for retail electric services for the district; trustees voted in favor and the president announced the motion carried. Board leadership said they would discuss details of the electric-services agreement with counsel before final execution.
Why it matters: the athletic director hire places a district employee into a districtwide leadership role that will oversee extracurricular athletics programming; the nonrenewal motion initiates a formal employment contract process under Chapter 21 procedures; and the retail electric authorization allows the administration to finalize a district energy contract expected to affect operations budgets. Each action carried by board vote.
The meeting also included updates on cybersecurity, safety and security, and state legislative developments, which the board heard but did not vote on in this session.
Votes at a glance - Sam Gillespie, promotion to Director of Athletics — Motion moved by a trustee, seconded, approved by voice vote (outcome: approved). Motion language: “I move that we accept Sam Gillespie as the director of athletics for Tyler ISD.” - Denise Kambuca, proposed nonrenewal of Chapter 21 term contract — Motion moved “on the recommendation of the administration,” seconded, approved by voice vote (outcome: approved; board president and administration authorized to send required notices). Motion language: “I move that the board propose the nonrenewal of the Chapter 21 term employment contract of Denise Kambuca for good cause and that the board president and the administration be authorized and directed to send the required notices.” - Authorization to execute retail electric services agreement — Motion moved, seconded, approved by voice vote (outcome: approved; superintendent authorized to execute agreement). Motion language: “I move that we authorize the superintendent to execute an agreement for retail electric services for the district.”
No additional formal actions were recorded by the board in this meeting.
