Houston Public School District board approves multiple facilities projects, insurance renewal and co-op sports agreements; nonrenewal resolution passes

At its regular meeting, the Houston Public School District board approved a series of facilities projects funded through long-term facilities maintenance, accepted an insurance renewal quote, renewed athletic cooperative agreements, accepted donations and passed a resolution nonrenewing one probationary teacher contract, among other routine business.

Facilities: The board approved multiple facilities items recommended by the facilities committee and funded from long-term facilities maintenance. Items approved included a concrete quote (contractor referred to in packet as "Miter concrete"), completion of laundry-room flooring work, a high-school secure entry project that repurposes part of the current space for a secure vestibule, paving work at the bus barn, and an overhaul of the bus garage. On the baseball/softball fields, the facilities committee recommended and the board approved keeping a limestone infield surface for maintenance and multi-use reasons. Board members said the projects were in the facilities packet and that the district’s available long-term facilities maintenance funds would cover the work; board members directed staff to proceed with the individual contracts.

Insurance and procurement: The board accepted an insurance renewal proposal from EMC with higher premiums compared with the prior year. Administration reported increases in property coverage (about $16,000 increase for property), an increase in auto coverage figures and a roughly $20,000 overall increase across lines, while noting the district continues to maintain a flat $25,000 deductible for wind and hail rather than a percentage deductible. The board voted to accept the quote as presented.

Food service and bids: The district opened sealed food-service bids per procurement schedule; one vendor submitted a bid by the deadline. The board will review the sealed bid and take final action at the June 4 meeting.

Athletics co-op agreements: The board voted to continue cooperative athletic agreements with neighboring districts (listed in meeting materials) for the 2025–26 school year and asked administrators to relay parent feedback and suggestions — including communication, team identity and inclusion items — to the co-op partners for follow-up.

Personnel and donations: The board approved a resolution nonrenewing 1.0 FTE of a probationary teaching contract for Dane P. Wiscow effective May 30, 2025; the board conducted a roll-call vote on that resolution and recorded the motion as carried. The board also accepted several donations listed in the packet, including amounts from the Houston Lions Club, the Houston American Legion and a named donor for the courage retreat and musical club.

Process notes: Several motions were approved by voice vote and without roll-call counts recorded in the public audio. Where motions involved budget impacts, administrators said the expenses are covered by either the long-term facilities maintenance fund or the district general fund; staff noted the on-site budget would not have included any retroactive settlement for the grievance discussed earlier unless the board chose to fund one.