School board approves agenda and consent items, confirms personnel hires and a two‑year secondary redesign position

At its May 19, 2025 meeting, the Independent School District 77 school board voted to approve the meeting agenda with an addendum and passed the consent agenda, which included approval of minutes, bills and personnel items.

The consent agenda contained a personnel addendum that board members said included the cabinet hire Dr. Sam Steinman; a board member who sat on the final interview called Dr. Steinman “a phenomenal individual” and welcomed her to the cabinet. The motions were passed by voice vote (agenda) and by roll call (consent agenda). The meeting record shows the consent agenda passed on a roll-call vote with members answering in the affirmative.

During consideration of personnel, a newly created temporary administrative role — a two‑year “principal on special assignment” to support a planned secondary-school redesign — drew substantive questions from board members. A board member asked whether the elementary-focused temporary position that had been in place would end and how the new secondary position would be staffed and funded. District staff explained that the earlier elementary principal-on-assignment had been a one‑year temporary role that is sunsetting; the new secondary position is a separate, two‑year temporary assignment intended to support the district’s redesign of two high schools and two middle schools.

District staff said the secondary principal-on-assignment was selected from current administrative staff and that the employee holds a continuing contract; staff said a position would be available for that person at the conclusion of the two‑year assignment, but the exact post‑assignment role was “not specified” and would be determined later. John Lustig (district staff) explained that the position is built into the staffing budget. Superintendent Dr. Peterson and the district noted that the preliminary fiscal-year budget materials from Director Heilman will reflect the staffing assumptions for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Board members and staff described the temporary role as intended to give secondary principals relief and to do research and background work for the redesign while principals continue day-to-day leadership. Staff said the position will report to the director of teaching and learning and the superintendent and will spend time across the two middle schools and two high schools while maintaining a work space at the district office.

The board approved the agenda and the consent agenda and then adjourned the meeting.