Lake Dallas ISD board unanimously approves audit, academic calendar, facilities contract, policy update and personnel actions

The Lake Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on a package of action items Jan. 19, approving the district's audited 2024–25 annual comprehensive financial report, the proposed 2026–27 academic calendar, a flooring contract for two elementary schools, a set of local policy updates, and personnel actions pending from executive session.

Annual comprehensive financial report: CFO Anne Hahn introduced the district's 2024–25 annual comprehensive financial report and auditor Scott Scarborough presented the results. Scarborough said the audit returned an unmodified (clean) opinion and complimented the district's finance staff for an efficient close. He summarized key fund-level results, noted the district had adopted a budgeted general-fund deficit of about $604,004 and reported capital-project spending tied to a bond issuance; Scarborough also explained an industry accounting change (GASB) that increased reported long-term liabilities (accrued compensated absences) by several million dollars at the government-wide level. Motion to approve the report was made by Mark Tucker, seconded by Greg Bartley, and passed unanimously.

Academic calendar: Chief Operations Officer John Modica presented the calendar selection process and recommended calendar option 3, which the board approved unanimously. Highlights of option 3: teachers would begin Aug. 4 and students begin Aug. 12; the last student day would be May 26 (last staff day May 27); 20 additional school-year (ADSY) days are available for extended learning/summer programming; two built-in bad-weather days and alignment of spring break with North Central Texas College to accommodate nearly 100 dual-credit students were among the features discussed.

Facilities contract: The board approved a flooring installation contract for Lake Dallas Elementary and Shady Shores Elementary. The district reported three bids were received and Vector Concepts earned the highest evaluation score; the work is planned primarily for summer with long material lead times noted. Motion to approve was by Aaron Appleby, second by Bruce Smith, and the vote was unanimous.

Policy updates: The board considered TASB update 01/26 (local policies updated to reflect state legislative changes effective Sept. 1, 2025) and approved the recommended local policy revisions. Modica highlighted several items, including restroom signage requirements for multi-stall restrooms, changes to the timelines for the grievance/complaint process, the establishment of a school library committee, and parent-consent provisions tied to SB 12 (described as requiring parent or guardian approval before certain student programming/services).

Personnel and educator certification actions: The board took two actions related to a term-contract teacher, Cameron Hogan. First, the board voted to find that good cause did not exist for Hogan's abandonment of his contract. Second, the board authorized staff to send information to the State Board for Educator Certification seeking sanctions related to that abandonment; motions carried unanimously. After returning from executive session, trustees approved personnel items including the superintendent's evaluation and contract extension; that motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved unanimously (motion mover: Bruce Smith; second: Ginger Collier). - 2024–25 annual comprehensive financial report: approved unanimously (mover: Mark Tucker; second: Greg Bartley). - 2026–27 academic calendar (Option 3): approved unanimously (mover: Scott Baird; second: Ginger Collier). - Flooring installation contract (Lake Dallas Elementary & Shady Shores Elementary): approved unanimously (mover: Aaron Appleby; second: Bruce Smith). - TASB local policy update 01/26: approved unanimously (mover: Bruce Smith; second: Mark Tucker). - Finding of abandonment (Cameron Hogan): approved unanimously (mover: Ginger Collier; second: Scott Baird). - Notification to State Board for Educator Certification re: Cameron Hogan: approved unanimously (mover: Aaron Appleby; second: Scott Baird). - Personnel items including superintendent evaluation/contract: approved unanimously (mover: Aaron Appleby; second: Bruce Smith).

What happens next: the district will file the audit and required reports with the Texas Education Agency per state deadlines, post the TAPR online, schedule contract work and equipment orders discussed in separate agenda items, and carry out the personnel notifications and follow-ups required by statute.