El Campo ISD board approves teacher-certification plan, construction package and scholarship; declines state prayer policy and tables calendar

At its Jan. 28 meeting in El Campo, the El Campo Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a plan to reduce the number of uncertified foundation-area teachers, adopted construction spending for Hutchins Elementary, accepted a donor scholarship and voted to opt out of a state-proposed daily prayer/reading policy. Trustees also voted to table the district’s proposed 2027 school calendar for further review.

The board approved a district plan intended to comply with recent state certification rules enacted in House Bill 2. District staff told trustees the plan aims to reduce uncertified foundation teachers by roughly 25% each year, prioritizing elementary grades, using mentoring and quarterly progress reports, and offering limited release time for coursework. “Our goal, of course, would be to meet that requirement,” a district presenter said while outlining timelines and supports. Staff reported there are currently 12 uncertified foundation teachers and that “10 out of 12” have already begun certification work; the board approved the plan by unanimous vote.

Trustees debated the proposed 2027 school calendar, which staff said increases student days from the current 170 to 172 and would provide a full week off in October rather than a single day. Principals and trustees raised concerns over how the calendar would affect teacher professional development, extracurricular schedules and May testing windows. After discussion a trustee moved to table the calendar pending release of UIL district schedules; the motion carried.

On facilities, the board approved a guaranteed maximum price amendment for early-package work at Hutchins Elementary covering earthwork, on-site utilities and structural site work. A project representative described the scope as site dirt work, parking and utility connections; the district presented a phase-1 GMP of $4,149,417 tied to an estimated total project budget in the design phase. Trustees asked questions about what is included and noted a design change to preserve four memorial trees; the GMP was approved unanimously.

The trustees accepted a donation establishing the Homer and Pat Taylor scholarship fund. District staff said the donation creates accounts and guidance for awarding scholarships to two softball athletes; the board approved acceptance of the gift.

The board also considered two sample resolutions tied to Senate Bill 11 — one that would adopt a daily period for prayer and reading of religious texts and one that would decline to adopt such a policy. After discussion emphasizing existing campus moments of silence and student-led clubs, the board voted unanimously to opt out of adopting a district-wide mandated prayer/reading policy. As the board described it, opting out preserves current campus practices — including moments of silence and voluntary student clubs — while avoiding a district mandate that could require scheduled readings during the instructional day. “In my opinion, the best way to reflect the values of this community is to do the moment of silence, like we’ve always done,” the board president said during debate.

Procedural notes: the consent agenda was approved at the start of the meeting and several recognition items — including Girl Scout and staff awards — were presented before the business items. The board adjourned to closed session under Texas Government Code §551.074 at 7:10 p.m.

Next steps: the certification plan will be posted and submitted to the Texas Education Agency as required; the calendar will be revisited after UIL district schedules are available and the Hutchins Elementary project will proceed to subsequent bid packages and board review as drawings and bids are completed.