Sharyland ISD board approves consent agenda, policy aligned with state law and purchases; donor funding cited

The Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees approved a series of motions Tuesday night, voting unanimously on consent items, policy updates, and several purchases, including a 77-passenger replacement school bus and a portable annex for the Steps special-education program.

The board approved the consent agenda (financial reports, minutes, board policy updates and a budget-planning calendar) following a motion read by trustees; the motion carried by a 5-0 vote.

Trustees also approved a motion directing administration to author local policy aligned with the Texas Education Code (item cited as TEC 25.0823) and later considered a resolution referencing Senate Bill 11 concerning freedom of prayer and the reading of the Bible or other religious texts on campuses; the board recorded a roll-call vote and the measure passed 5-0.

On library materials (item 14b), staff noted the posted list of books was available on the district website since Jan. 23 and that no public feedback had been received by Feb. 23. The board voted 5-0 to approve the list in accordance with TEC 33.026.

The board authorized purchase of a 77-passenger replacement bus after the district lost a bus in a fall accident; the motion passed 5-0.

On construction business, project staff advised the board that the final payment and change order for the Steps building project resulted in the district coming in under budget. The presenter stated the change order will reimburse the district approximately $41,000; trustees also recognized Wonderful Citrus for a philanthropic contribution of $75,000 toward the project. The final payment and change order were approved 5-0.

The board approved buying a portable annex building to provide additional instructional space for the Steps program, noting Wonderful Citrus's $75,000 contribution will be used toward the purchase. That motion passed 5-0.

All roll-call and voice votes in the meeting were recorded by the chair as 5-0 unless otherwise noted. The board convened into closed session to discuss personnel, student discipline, security audits, and real property under Texas Government Code sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.074 and 551.076; it returned to open session and approved employment of personnel discussed in closed session, subject to satisfactory background checks.

What this means: The board completed routine governance tasks and approved several expenditures and a policy update tied to state law. Donations from Wonderful Citrus were highlighted as funding support for the Steps facility work.

The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.