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Kilgore ISD board approves audit and calendar, approves Chromebook purchase and property buy; votes 4-2 not to implement Senate Bill 11 daily prayer/time
Summary
At its Feb. 23 meeting the Kilgore ISD Board accepted an unmodified audit for year ending 08/31/2025, adopted the 2026-27 academic calendar (option C), approved a $228,125 Chromebook purchase and several other contracts, and voted 4-2 to decline implementing Senate Bill 11's provision creating time for prayer and religious text reading.
The Kilgore ISD Board of Trustees at its Feb. 23 meeting accepted the district's annual audit for the fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2025, received a presentation that reported an unmodified opinion and discussed fund balances and timing-related budget findings, then voted to approve the financial report.
External auditors reported a general fund balance of about $26.8 million, a capital projects fund balance near $49.9 million and some timing-related overexpenditures that the auditor described as a common year-end budget-amendment issue; the board approved the audit and the annual financial report by voice vote (motion recorded as carried 6-0).
In other business, the board adopted the district's recommended 2026-27 academic calendar (option C). Administration described the development process, which included reaching roughly 4,400 parents and receiving 396 survey responses, and noted the recommended calendar increases instructional days by two and staff workdays from 179 to 182; trustees approved the calendar by a 6-0 vote.
The board approved several procurement and budget items. Trustees approved a recommendation to purchase Chromebooks from Travera not to exceed $228,125 to begin a device refresh cycle for the district's 1:1 program. The board also approved a monthly list of library materials and a workers' compensation renewal with Deep East Texas Self Insurance Fund for a three-year rate guarantee (effective 03/01/2026) at $87,006.55. Separately, the board approved the purchase of property at 311 North Longview Street, Kilgore, Texas, for no more than $40,000 and granted the superintendent authority to finalize the purchase.
On a contested policy item, a trustee moved and the board approved a motion "to not approve Senate Bill 11," effectively declaring the district will not create a daily scheduled time during school hours for prayer and reading religious texts as described in SB11. That motion passed 4-2. Board discussion on SB11 in the meeting record was limited to the motion and a short exchange before the vote; the motion is a local policy position rather than a legislative change.
Personnel matters and routine items cleared the consent agenda: the board approved administrator contract renewals, new employee contract recommendations and an early-resignation incentive program; trustees also approved a Motion to cancel unopposed candidates for the May 2, 2026 board election and the related order of cancellation as presented. Several motions recorded in the meeting carried unanimously or by recorded tallies in the minutes.
The board chair adjourned the meeting after completing the published agenda.
Votes and key motions recorded in the meeting minutes: the annual financial report (approved 6-0), the 2026-27 calendar (approved 6-0), instructional materials certification (6-0), Chromebooks purchase (motion carries, recorded as 6-0), workers' compensation renewal (approved; amount stated), property purchase (approved, amount not to exceed $40,000), and a 4-2 vote declining to implement SB11 provisions. The meeting record identifies movers and seconders for each motion in the minutes.
