Midland ISD trustees approve superintendent extension and key district business, postpone hiring board counsel
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Summary
In closed session the Midland ISD board extended Superintendent Stephanie Howard’s contract through 2030. During open session trustees approved a budget amendment, the 2025–26 academic calendar, boundary adjustments, an interlocal cybersecurity agreement and an intent to lease minerals; the board deferred a decision to hire a board attorney.
The Midland ISD Board of Trustees on Jan. 21 approved several routine and policy items and, following a closed session on personnel, extended Superintendent Stephanie Howard’s contract through 2030.
The extension: After convening in closed session, the board returned and voted to extend Dr. Howard’s contract through 2030 and authorized the board president and the superintendent to finalize and execute the contract. The motion was made and seconded in open session following the executive session and recorded as passing unanimously.
Votes at a glance - Superintendent contract extension (agenda item 15): motion to extend Dr. Stephanie Howard’s contract through 2030 and authorize the president and superintendent to finalize terms; outcome: approved unanimously (motion passed). - Budget amendment No. 6 (agenda item 10a): transfer of budgeted funds across functions to meet district needs; outcome: approved unanimously. - 2025–26 academic calendar (agenda item 10b): board approved Draft 2 of three calendar options; outcome: approved unanimously. The calendar meets the state minimum of 75,600 instructional minutes and includes built‑in bad‑weather and professional development days. - Boundary adjustments (agenda item 10c): rezoned portions served by Goddard Junior High to San Jacinto Junior High to reduce Goddard’s utilization from 113% to 108% and raise San Jacinto from about 60% to 72%; outcome: approved unanimously after procedural confirmation late in the meeting. - Angelo State University interlocal agreement (agenda item 10d): participation in the ASU Regional Security Operations Center for cybersecurity monitoring; funding for participation was provided through the Texas Department of Information Resources and poses no immediate district cost through Aug. 31, 2025; outcome: approved unanimously. - Intent to lease minerals (agenda item 10f): trustees approved filing an RFP and public notice to solicit proposals to lease minerals under district property at Bowie Fine Arts, San Jacinto Junior High and the Agriculture Barn; outcome: approved unanimously. - Hiring board counsel (agenda item 10e): trustees debated whether the board should hire its own attorney. After discussion trustees voted to postpone the decision indefinitely in order to continue review and public discussion; outcome: motion to postpone passed (6–1 in favor).
Other business and clarifications: During the meeting staff provided a monthly bond update describing progress across bond packages. Construction at the Ranchland Hills (Midland High) property included ongoing demolition, tree transplantation work (about 70 trees moved toward a target of roughly 250), and asbestos removal in parts of the clubhouse; some tree work was paused briefly to allow re‑planning. Bond program staff reported construction percentages for specific packages (example: one new elementary was reported as roughly 30% complete) and noted upcoming site work (Avalon/Thomason extension and Wadley widening design).
Board President Hodges described the board’s objective to make MISD "a destination district" and said trustees had discussed personnel and strategy with the superintendent in preparation for future work. Dr. Howard reported enrollment projections of 30,103 students for the upcoming year and highlighted district efforts in instructional frameworks, school safety and early testing increases for college preparedness (more students taking PSAT test administrations this year).
What the votes mean: The superintendent extension provides continuity for the district’s leadership through 2030. Approved budget transfers and the calendar keep the district on the state‑required schedule and allow staff to reallocate resources across functions. The boundary change is an interim measure to rebalance capacity while the bond program proceeds. The interlocal cybersecurity agreement is intended to provide real‑time monitoring and technical assistance at no immediate local cost. The board deferred the hiring of a dedicated board attorney to allow more discussion and public input.
What’s next: Trustees signaled continued follow‑up on bond timelines and tree‑transplant decisions; the board also scheduled additional meetings and an executive session to finalize contract details and other pending business.