The Harris County Board of Education held a series of routine votes at its Jan. 9, 2025 meeting, approving officer elections, legal counsel, bid awards and its consent agenda.

Elections and legal counsel: The board accepted a nomination for Garnet Ray to serve as board chair for calendar year 2025; the nomination was seconded and the motion carried by voice vote. The board likewise approved Steve Goodno to serve as vice chair for 2025. The board approved the law firm recommendation of Greg Ellington (and partner Mariel Smith) to serve as the district's legal counsel for 2025; that motion was seconded and approved.

Bid awards and capital planning: The board reviewed and approved a stadium turf bid and track work under the same award. The board also approved an environmental site-survey contract for the Hopewell Church property; Southern A&E ran the RFP process and recommended Adams and McClain as the best-qualified bidder. The Hopewell survey was described as required for the district's capital outlay application this summer.

Consent agenda and personnel: The board approved a consent agenda comprising K-1 major purchases report, K-2 the financial report, K-3 the enrollment report, and K-4 the school nutrition report as a single motion. The board also approved personnel recommendations submitted by the superintendent.

Voting and procedure: Each motion on the record was approved by voice vote; the meeting transcript records no opposing votes. Several items were discussed previously in committee (the turf RFP was reviewed in a Tuesday committee meeting) and the board took the approvals as routine business in the action portion of the meeting.

What passed (summary): agenda approval; excusal to and exit from executive session; Dec. 2024 meeting minutes; officer elections (Garnet Ray, chair; Steve Goodno, vice chair); appointment of Greg Ellington (and partner Mariel Smith) as legal counsel for 2025; board ethics review and ratification; stadium turf bid award; Hopewell environmental survey award (Adams and McClain recommended); consent agenda (major purchases, financial, enrollment, school nutrition); and superintendent personnel recommendations. The board adjourned at the end of the meeting.