Transportation staff decry post‑fire conditions; board names new transportation director

At a May board meeting of the Liberty Hill Independent School District, transportation staff raised safety and operational concerns after a March fire at the district’s transportation facility and asked the board to inspect and invest in repairs.

Wesley Sandlin, the district’s safety and training supervisor for transportation, told trustees the department lacks adequate restrooms, a functioning sink, safe exterior wiring and space for training and meetings, and that equipment destroyed in the fire (including spare hard drives) has not been replaced. He described the bus yard as too small for safe parking and said current processes for retrieving video evidence from buses are manual and time-consuming.

“Would anyone here accept these conditions in your own office?” Sandlin asked the board, urging a facilities visit and funding “not in words, but in deeds.”

Separately, the board voted to appoint Abel Narvaez Jr. as the district’s transportation director. The motion to approve Narvaez was made by trustee Katie Hargrove and seconded by trustee Jamie Nabors; the board approved the appointment by voice vote.

Why it matters: Transportation is a core operational function for the district, responsible for daily student movement and field-trip logistics. Staff described unresolved safety hazards and diminished capacity following the fire; trustees approved a permanent director while staff asked for visible capital and maintenance attention.

Discussion and next steps: Trustees and district leaders acknowledged the concerns and several board members requested a focused presentation over the summer outlining repairs, replacement schedules and a timeline for replacing lost equipment. The new transportation director will be part of those follow-up discussions.

Votes at a glance: Appointment of transportation director — motion by Katie Hargrove, second by Jamie Nabors; outcome: approved.