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Alvin ISD board unanimously approves safety contractor amendment, grant reallocation, calendar and appointments
Summary
The Alvin Independent School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 16 approved several safety, funding and personnel measures by unanimous votes, including an amendment to permit weapons-detection systems and armed contracted personnel, a $37,636 grant reallocation for fencing at Shadow Creek High School and the appointment of Devon Ruiz as Director of Safety and Security.
The Alvin Independent School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 16 approved a series of routine and safety-related actions by unanimous votes (6-0), including an amendment to a contracted-services agreement to permit weapons-detection systems and uniformed armed personnel on campuses, a reallocation of remaining School Safety Standards Formula Grant funds for perimeter fencing, adoption of the 2025–26 academic calendar and appointment of Devon Ruiz as Director of Safety and Security.
Votes at a glance
- Amendment to TSPA (Texas State Protection Agency) contracted services agreement: The board approved language allowing TSPA to deploy weapons-detection systems for random screenings while students are present and to provide both armed and unarmed uniformed personnel to supplement the Alvin ISD Police Department. - Motion: "that the Board approve the amendments to the contracted services agreement as presented." Mover: Trustee Sweeney. Second: Trustee Johnson. Outcome: approved, motion carries 6–0.
- Reallocation of remaining funds from the 2022–2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant: The board approved reallocating grant funds to physical security projects, including a perimeter security fence at Shadow Creek High School at a cost of $37,636 (to be paid from grant funds). - Motion: "that the Board approve the reallocation of remaining funds from the 2022–2025 school safety standards formula grant to the specified safety and security projects." Mover: Trustee Celski (recorded in the transcript as Salsky/Selski). Second: Trustee Scott. Outcome: approved, motion carries 6–0.
- Low attendance day waiver: The board approved a waiver mechanism permitting the district to request excusal of instructional days for average-daily-attendance calculations when attendance drops by at least 10 percentage points below the prior year because of weather, health or safety events. - Motion: "that the Board approve the low attendance days waiver as presented." Mover: Trustee Scott. Second: Trustee Humbert. Outcome: approved, motion carries 6–0.
- 2025–26 Alvin ISD academic calendar: The Board adopted the calendar recommended by the District Education Improvement Committee (DEIC), which the committee developed after stakeholder input and a public survey. The adopted calendar includes 172 student instructional days, 77,000 instructional minutes and 187 teacher workdays. - Motion: "that the Board of Trustees approve the 2025, 2026 Alvin ISD school calendar as presented." Mover: Trustee Johnson. Second: Trustee Scott. Outcome: approved, motion carries 6–0.
- Employment and administrative appointments: The board approved recommended personnel contracts and appointments, including naming Devon Ruiz as Director of Safety and Security. Ruiz, who had been serving as assistant director of admin and student services, is reported in the meeting record to hold a J.D. from South Texas College of Law, a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Lamar University and a B.A. in psychology from Texas A&M University. The board cited Ruiz’s 26 years of experience, including 23 years in Alvin ISD, as part of the rationale for appointment. - Motion (personnel): Mover: Trustee Humbert. Second: Trustee Johnson. Outcome: approved, motion carries 6–0. - Motion (Director appointment): Mover: Trustee Sweeney. Second: Trustee Scott. Outcome: approved, motion carries 6–0.
Procedural notes: All recorded motions carried by unanimous recorded voice vote, summarized in the transcript as "Motion carries 6 0" or similar. The board used standard mover/second procedure and did not record individual named roll-call votes in the transcript; tallies were provided instead.
Why it matters: The TSPA contract amendment expands the district’s ability to add contractor-supported screenings and armed personnel on campuses; the board voted to permit the district to use such services as a supplement to district police. The grant reallocation directs state formula grant dollars to a discrete perimeter control project at Shadow Creek High School, and the calendar and personnel actions set the district’s operational plan for the coming school year.
Attributions: The transcript records movers and seconders for each motion and the final tallies. The appointment of Devon Ruiz and her credentials were presented by district staff during the meeting.
