Seguin ISD board approves targeted improvement plan, bond orders and a slate of policy and personnel items

Seguin ISD trustees on Feb. 24 approved a package of measures including a targeted improvement plan for Global Elementary, authorization to sell the district’s remaining $46 million in voter‑approved school construction bonds and a separate refinancing of roughly $32 million in outstanding debt expected to save roughly $1.4 million net.

The board met for more than four hours and voted unanimously on the major items. Trustees also approved TASB policy updates, a local policy revision (FFI), a child‑nutrition equipment purchase, hiring recommendations, two budget amendments and two trustee committee appointments.

Why it matters: The bond approvals allow the district to access the last phase of voter‑authorized construction funds without increasing the districtʼs debt tax rate, officials said. The refinancing is intended to lower interest costs and reduce the district’s long‑term debt burden. The targeted improvement plan lays out specific, near‑term interventions the campus will use to raise math and reading performance and close gaps before STAAR testing in spring.

Key votes and actions at a glance: the board recorded these formal outcomes (all tallies reported by the clerk at the meeting): - Targeted improvement plan for Global Elementary: motion to adopt; moved by Board Member Bright; passed 7‑0. - Low‑attendance waiver (Jan. 22, 2025 weather closure): motion to submit waiver to the Texas Education Agency; moved by Board Member Dwyer; seconded by Board Member Wright; passed 7‑0. - TASB policy update (01/24 legal and local updates): first reading / consideration and approval motion recorded; passed 7‑0. - Local policy update (FFI): first reading / consideration and approval motion recorded; passed 7‑0. - Authorization to issue up to $46,000,000 in unlimited‑tax school building bonds (final sale parameters delegated to CFO): motion to approve and delegate execution; passed 7‑0. - Authorization to issue up to $38,090,000 in unlimited‑tax refunding bonds (parameters delegated to CFO; preliminary net savings ~ $1.4M): motion to approve and delegate execution; passed 7‑0. - Child Nutrition serving line purchase (two campuses): award to Arnold Refrigeration for modular serving lines and installation; passed 7‑0. - Personnel actions (recommended hires and resignations) and two small budget amendments to cover mid‑year staffing additions: passed 7‑0. - Creation of a board construction committee and appointment of a budget committee: motions to appoint passed 7‑0.

What the board said: Presenters described the bond timing and said the sales were planned for late April with funds expected to be available in May; the district financial advisor described anticipated fixed interest rates in the mid‑4% range. Trustees asked about tax‑rate impacts, and staff said the bond program was structured so the debt‑service tax rate should not increase if property‑value assumptions hold.

Context and next steps: The board delegated authority to the superintendent and chief financial officer to sign final financing documents once market conditions are appropriate. The district will submit the attendance waiver to TEA for the Jan. 22 weather day and proceed with scheduled procurement and hiring actions. The targeted improvement plan will be monitored by campus and district staff in weekly PLCs and progress‑monitoring cycles ahead of spring assessments.

Votes at the meeting were recorded in the minutes as unanimous (7‑0) for all items listed above.