PASADENA, Texas — The Pasadena Independent School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 24 approved the district’s fiscal 2024 audit and a series of grants, contracts and construction-related actions, including a renewed partnership with Memorial Hermann to provide on-campus health services.

The board met at noon in the administration building boardroom and voted unanimously to accept the annual comprehensive financial report for the 2023–24 school year after a presentation from auditors with Whitley Penn. Patrick Simmons of Whitley Penn told trustees the firm issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the district’s financial statements and found no reportable internal-control findings; he said the district’s unassigned fund balance remained near the district policy target at about 25 percent.

The meeting also included routine personnel approvals, approval of multiple cooperative and clinical-placement agreements with higher-education partners, and several grant acceptances, including a $50,000 No Kid Hungry School Nutrition grant and two cybersecurity grants administered through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Why it matters: The audit and the grants together document the district’s fiscal position and ongoing efforts to fund safety, technology and student services beyond state allocations. The Memorial Hermann agreement, in particular, formalizes continued on-site and feeder-pattern clinic services that district officials said deliver care at no cost to families in need.

Key approvals and votes at a glance (all motions carried unless noted):

- Annual comprehensive financial report (fiscal 2023–24). Motion: approve as presented. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Kenny Fernandez. Vote: 6–0 (Fernandez, Davila, Gonzalez, Kendrick, Sullivan, Casey Phelan). Outcome: approved.

- Consent agenda (multiple routine items labeled a–e). Motion: approve agenda items a–e. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Kenny Fernandez. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Personnel approvals (certified and support personnel, appointments). Motion: approve listed hires and position changes (examples announced: Mariana Diaz; Sonia Carza; Jennifer Pena; Travis Dent; Sherelle Gillum). Mover: Paola Gonzalez. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Whitley Penn presentation and acceptance of audit (fiscal 2024). Motion: accept audit and reports. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Kenny Fernandez. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- No Kid Hungry School Nutrition Grant, $50,000. Motion: accept grant. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Paola Gonzalez. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Texas Department of Criminal Justice Cybersecurity Mitigation Grant, $379,832.12. Motion: accept grant. Mover: Kenny Fernandez. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Texas Department of Criminal Justice Cybersecurity Governance and Planning Project grant, $46,009. Motion: accept grant. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Kenny Fernandez. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Resolution authorizing application to the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor (grant application authorization). Motion: approve required resolution for grant application. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Kenny Fernandez. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Cooperative agreement with Angelo State University (clinical teaching placement). Motion: approve agreement. Mover: Kenny Fernandez. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Work-study agreement with University of Houston–Clear Lake for 2024–2029. Motion: approve agreement. Mover: Crystal Davila. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Amendment to extend MOU with San Jacinto College for dual credit programs through July 31, 2026. Motion: approve amendment. Mover: Kenny Fernandez. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Request waiver from Texas Education Agency to provide remote conferencing instruction for a student receiving specially designed instruction and homebound services. Motion: approve waiver request. Mover: Crystal Davila. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Lease agreement with Diamond Towers V LLC for existing monopole at 2323 Theta Street (to allow third‑party carriers to locate equipment). Motion: approve 10‑site lease agreement. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Kenny Fernandez. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved. (Amount not specified in the agenda packet.)

- Agreement between PASADENA ISD and Memorial Hermann Community Benefit Corporation to operate one or more health clinics on district campuses (exhibit A lists participating campuses; exhibit list was compiled from prior amendments). Motion: approve agreement. Mover: Kenny Fernandez. Second: Nelda Sullivan. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Multiple student travel approvals (examples): Miller Intermediate 7th–8th graders to Washington, D.C., March 5–8, 2026; Thompson Intermediate to Keystone, Colorado, Oct. 4–10, 2025; Bondi Intermediate 8th graders to Washington, D.C., and New York City, March 5–11, 2026. Motions: approve travel. Mover(s): Kenny Fernandez and others. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- J. Frank Dobie High School JROTC to Oklahoma State drill championship, Feb. 13–16, 2025. Motion: approve travel. Mover: Nelda Sullivan. Second: Crystal Davila. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved.

- Multiple bond- and construction-related items and change orders tied to the 2017/2022 bond programs (design services, construction contracts, final change orders, allowance expenditure authorizations). Examples: design services agreement with LTY Engineers for hydronic piping replacement at Burnett and Fraser Elementary Schools ($119,000 design fee; total project budget listed as $2,000,000); construction contract with Millennium Project Solutions for LED retrofit at Maguire Baseball Field ($965,000); final change order credit of $72,142.93 for guidance center conversion to nutrition services. Motions: approve each listed AEA/change order/contract. Vote: 6–0. Outcome: approved. (Where full amounts were not read aloud at the meeting, the board indicated figures are in the board book.)

What trustees said: Patrick Simmons, representing Whitley Penn, told trustees the firm issued an unmodified opinion and that “it was a very clean audit,” noting the district maintained a healthy fund-balance position relative to policy. Board members thanked finance and operations staff for the audit results and for handling bond and construction projects.

What was not decided: The board did not take a final public action at this meeting to fill the trustee seat left vacant by the late Vicky Morgan. A public speaker asked that the district post the vacancy and prefer a candidate with an education background; trustees and staff explained the timing of this meeting was constrained by auditors’ schedules and TEA requirements.

Background: Trustees opened the meeting noting it was the first convening since the death of former trustee Vicky Morgan. The district also observed board recognition month and heard short remarks and video tributes from schools and community partners prior to rolls of business and votes.

Ending: The board set its next regular meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The Jan. 24 session adjourned in the mid-afternoon after completing the agenda.