Joshua ISD board approves auditor, calendar, MOUs and accepts 18.05-acre land donation; votes at a glance

The Joshua Independent School District Board of Trustees approved several consent and business items at the meeting, including retaining the district auditor for the 2024–25 year, adopting a 2025–26 school calendar, approving multiple memoranda of understanding for cooperative programs, approving construction proposals related to Nichols Middle School, and accepting a donation of 18.05 acres of land.

Trustees voted unanimously on multiple items during the meeting. The board approved continuing to engage Snow Garrett Williams as the district auditor for the 2024–25 year-end financial audit. Trustee Kevin Lee made the motion; McDonough Burke seconded.

The board also approved a pool of professional services in response to RFQ 23-001 to support district operational and capital projects. The pool covers categories that include asbestos, geotechnical, materials testing, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing services.

Trustees adopted calendar Option 1 for the 2025–26 school year. District staff reported that staff and families had been surveyed: staff preference and an 82% family favorable response for continuing the four-day school week were discussed in the presentation before the vote.

Other approvals included a low-attendance waiver for Cattle Grove Elementary for Jan. 22, 2025, after attendance that day fell to 81.9% following what was first suspected to be a gas leak but later assessed as an HVAC heat-exchanger problem. Trustee Cody Lee moved the waiver; the board approved the application to the Texas Education Agency as recommended.

The board approved memoranda of understanding with Southwestern Adventist University for student teaching placements and with Tarleton State University for a dual-credit leadership course (the Tarleton course was described in the presentation as $50 per credit hour, with potential reimbursement for eligible students pending Texas FAST funding). Trustees also approved the standard Department of Defense JROTC agreement and a Navy addendum for Navy JROTC.

The board approved recommended revisions to local JISD policies (identified in the presentation by local policy codes such as CAA, CDA, DHDH, DHB, EHBB, FFG and GKA) that the administration presented as minor clarifying edits.

Construction-manager recommendations for Nichols Middle School were approved, including selection between HVAC options and related proposals shown on the meeting spreadsheet. The board approved the recommended vendors and proposals for initial construction on that campus.

The board accepted a donation of 18.05 acres from WB Joshua Land LLC as described in the deed and survey presented; Trustee Cooley moved acceptance and Trustee Ryan Watson seconded.

The meeting also included routine personnel items (resignations and retirements) and a consent-packet purchase for a desktop computer refresh of $50,000 that was included in this year’s adopted budget; the transcript also references an $18,000 line item associated with the same packet.

Votes at a glance: - Continue Snow Garrett Williams as district auditor for 2024–25 year-end financial audit. Motion: continue with Snow Garrett Williams as auditor. Mover: Kevin Lee. Second: McDonough Burke. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve RFQ 23-001 pool of professional services (asbestos, geotechnical, materials testing, MEP categories). Motion: approve pool as presented. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve 2025–26 school calendar Option 1. Motion: adopt Option 1. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: passed (recorded as unanimous in minutes). Outcome: approved. - Approve low-attendance waiver for Cattle Grove Elementary for Jan. 22, 2025 (attendance 81.9% that day). Motion: approve waiver application to Texas Education Agency. Mover: Cody Lee. Second: Lee. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve memorandum of understanding with Southwestern Adventist University for student-teaching placements (five-year MOU with annual review). Motion: approve MOU. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve memorandum of understanding with Tarleton State University for a dual-credit leadership course (noted cost $50/credit hour; reimbursement subject to Texas FAST funding). Motion: approve MOU. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve Department of Defense and Navy JROTC agreements. Motion: approve MOU with Department of the Navy. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve revisions to JISD local policy updates (policies listed in workshop materials including CAA, CDA, DHDH, DHB, EHBB, FFG, GKA). Motion: approve revisions. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve Nichols Middle School construction proposals, including selection of HVAC and related vendor proposals presented by the construction manager. Motion: approve proposals as presented on spreadsheet. Mover: not specified. Second: Cody Lee (second noted in transcript for some construction approvals). Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Accept donation of 18.05 acres from WB Joshua Land LLC (Abstract 978, Johnson County). Motion: accept donation. Mover: Trustee Cooley. Second: Trustee Ryan Watson. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved. - Approve desktop computer refresh purchase of $50,000 (built into current budget) and related $18,000 line item referenced in the consent packet. Motion: approve consent items. Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Tally: 7–0. Outcome: approved.

Ending: Trustees adjourned after approving routine personnel items and the consent agenda.