Laredo ISD board approves most TASB local policy updates, carves out several for local changes on signage, donations and facility naming

LAREDO, Texas — The Laredo ISD Board of Trustees agreed Thursday to approve the majority of proposed local policy amendments recommended by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), but carved out several policies for separate consideration and adopted local language on a number of items, including signage, employee solicitations and naming of facilities.

At the board workshop earlier, trustees asked staff and legal counsel to pull several items from the wholesale motion. The board then approved the omnibus TASB slate while agreeing to discuss a limited group of policies one‑by‑one.

Signage: trustees amended policy bbb a local to change allowable sign size. The board approved language that sets the total permitted sign area at 32 square feet rather than the smaller size originally proposed. Counsel explained the amendment as a response to prior community feedback about directional and campus signage.

Employee solicitations/web donations: trustees debated a revision to CDC local concerning web‑based solicitations and employee wish lists. After discussion, the board adopted language that prohibits solicitation of monetary donations via web‑based platforms while allowing employees to solicit non‑monetary “wish list” items for classroom or district use. Trustee Leticia Ayala (policy counsel read the revision) recommended the change to prevent misuse of online fundraising while preserving a way for teachers to request materials. “An employee may solicit wish list donations of items for use by the employee in fulfilling his or her professional responsibilities or for the district’s use,” the adopted text reads; the policy also states that employees “shall not solicit web‑based donations of money.” The motion passed with two dissenting votes noted.

Change orders and procurement: in local policy CV the board accepted a recommendation to raise the threshold for board review of additive or deductive change orders from $5,000 to $10,000. The revised language requires board approval for change orders that increase or decrease a contract by $10,000 or more; smaller adjustments remain at superintendent discretion.

Naming of facilities: trustees also revised policy CW to prevent naming a facility after a living person, by removing language that allowed naming for living honorees. Board members cited past instances in other districts where later revelations required renaming. The motion to amend was contentious but passed on the board floor.

New positions and hiring authority: trustees restored language in DC local that requires newly created positions to be described in the budget and approved by the board when added after budget adoption; at the same time the board adopted clarified text delegating to the superintendent the authority to employ contractual professional and administrative personnel as part of established practice. That change passed 5‑2.

Process and next steps

Board members instructed staff to publish the revised local policies and update the district policy manual. Trustees also asked that minor clarifications be returned to the board in written policy form for final placement in the district binder.