Del Valle ISD trustees approve bond actions, policy updates, safety screening and staffing motions

Del Valle ISD’s Board of Trustees approved a package of financial authorizations, policy updates and personnel actions during its Aug. 19 meeting, including orders that enable the district to redeem and refund existing bonds, to issue up to $20 million in remaining 2022 bond program funds, and to delegate authority related to potential state recapture. Trustees also approved the 2025–26 student code of conduct, adopted five‑year student outcome goals, authorized a visitor screening system and approved a district compensation manual. Several votes were unanimous; a compensation manual vote passed 8–1 and a later personnel action passed 7–0 after closed session.

The most significant financial actions were three related bond items presented by Rudy Mejia of Nico Hayden Advisors, the district’s financial advisor. The board: authorized up to $27 million for a potential cash defeasance should property-value increases create an I&S overcollection (motion carried 8–0–1); authorized district officers to execute a potential tax‑exempt refunding if market conditions allow (motion carried 8–0–1); and approved a parameters order permitting the sale of up to $20 million remaining from the 2022 bond election to fund school construction (motion carried 8–0–1). Mejia told trustees the district expects any sale under the parameters order to be for 30 years or less and anticipated interest rates under 5 percent when the sale is executed.

Trustees also acted on a standard annual recapture notification from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Dina Edgar said the district received TEA’s routine notice and recommended the board delegate authority to the superintendent to complete the required form electronically, using Option 3 to net any recapture against state aid. The board approved the delegation unanimously, 9–0.

On policy and program matters the board: adopted the 2025–26 student code of conduct with a single change allowing students assigned to the Alternative Academic Program (AAP) to participate in graduation activities on a case‑by‑case basis (9–0); adopted three district student outcome goals (math and reading targets and a college/career/military readiness target) after staff and trustees discussed targets and data (9–0); approved a local update to BBG (board member compensation/expenses) aligning it with recently adopted operating procedures (9–0); approved the purchase and deployment of the “Athena” visitor safety screening system presented by campus safety leadership (9–0); and approved the district’s 2025–26 compensation manual (8–1, one abstention reported).

After an executive session the board voted to approve employment resignations and terminations of professional staff (motion passed 7–0 in open session afterward). Earlier in the meeting trustees unanimously appointed and swore in Jason Sierra as the trustee representing Single‑Member District 5.

Votes at a glance (selected formal actions and results recorded in the meeting minutes): • Consent agenda (Items A–C, E–L): approved 9–0. • Pulled policy item (BE Local) approved as amended: 9–0. • Resolution authorizing redemption of certain unlimited tax bonds (cash defeasance authorization, up to $27,000,000 if collected): approved 8–0–1. • Order authorizing issuance of unlimited tax refunding bonds (refinancing if market conditions permit): approved 8–0–1. • Parameters order authorizing issuance of school building bonds (up to $20,000,000 remaining from 2022 bond): approved 8–0–1. • Delegation to superintendent to execute TEA recapture paperwork (Option 3): approved 9–0. • Student Code of Conduct 2025–26 (addition allowing AAP students case‑by‑case participation in graduation): approved 9–0. • Student outcome goals (five‑year targets for third‑grade math/reading, seventh‑grade math, CCMR): approved 9–0. • Policy update BBG Local (board member compensation/expenses): approved 9–0. • Visitor safety screening system (“Athena”): approved 9–0. • 2025–26 Compensation Manual (salaries, stipends, hourly guidance): approved 8–1 (one abstention noted by Vice President Ladesma Woody). • Employment resignations and terminations of professional staff (post‑executive session): approved 7–0.

Trustee and staff votes and motions were given by show of hands during the meeting; the board chair called each result at the table. The board did not report roll‑call vote lists (individual yes/no votes) in public comment portions of the transcript for each motion; the meeting record shows the tallies above as announced in open session.

Trustees and staff said the financial approvals were procedural steps to allow district leaders to act when market or tax‑collection conditions are favorable; no new tax rate was set at the meeting. Staff said the recapture notice is sent annually by TEA and that the district has received the notice for three consecutive years without entering recapture.

The board adjourned at 8:46 p.m.