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Parents and student tell Waxahachie ISD trustees district beverage contract forces student groups to pay inflated prices
Summary
At the board27s public comment period, a parent and his son urged trustees to end a district purchasing requirement tied to a beverage vendor, saying it forces student organizations to buy drinks at much higher prices and effectively reduces funds for student support programs.
Barry Jacobs, a Waxahachie parent, told the Waxahachie ISD Board of Trustees during public comment that a district relationship with a beverage vendor forces student organizations to purchase beverages at inflated prices and diverts funds away from student needs. "This is wrong," Jacobs said, adding that the practice may be illegal and urging trustees to direct district leadership to change the purchasing requirement.
His son, Eric Jacobs, who identifies himself as a student council and Esports club representative, described the operational impact. "We27re getting screwed over," Eric said, saying the district27s requirement that student groups order through the district vendor forces purchases of large minimum quantities and prices "upwards of 4 times" what they could buy wholesale elsewhere. He said student fundraisers and charitable efforts—such as the Giving Closet that buys food and staples for families—are harmed by the practice.
Both speakers said the vendor contract has expired but that district practice continues to require purchases through that vendor. Barry Jacobs asked trustees to direct Superintendent Hollingsworth to stop requiring student organizations to purchase through the vendor and to let those groups buy at lower prices.
Trustees did not take action on the comment during the meeting. No district representative gave a full rebuttal on the record during public comment; the matter remains a request to district leadership for follow-up.
The board27s rules for public comment were reiterated before the speakers: five minutes per person and no board Q&A during the comment period.
Next steps: Trustees heard the request publicly; any formal change to purchasing rules or procurement contracts would likely require staff review and possibly a future agenda item for action.
