Superintendent outlines childcare, virtual program and transportation options; board schedules special meeting

Kennedale ISD administration presented detailed operational and budget options for childcare and after-school services, a new virtual/hybrid learning model and proposed transportation changes, prompting trustees to schedule a special meeting in early June for final decisions.

Superintendent (identified in the agenda as "Doctor G") walked trustees through four sets of Monday childcare figures based on a recent attendance average of 123 students. Using that average, administration said payments to one vendor (iZone) totaled $42,004.66 for the period shown, and combined with Goodwill services the total was $49,007.99; projected annual costs depending on vendor and program structure could place the program near or above a $50,000 threshold. Administrators compared vendor proposals that quoted $38 per student per Monday (iZone) versus $30 per student (another provider described as offering revenue-sharing) and recommended the district not subsidize Monday childcare. "This is not something that we should when we're not in school, we should not be paying for child care," the superintendent said, but added the board could choose to supplement or approve parent-paid models.

The board asked administration to return with a recommendation at a special meeting; staff said both vendors need a prompt decision for planning and that administration would provide follow-up detail.

Administration also presented a potential district-run virtual/hybrid model — separate from an open-ed partnership for K–8 — using a new platform (referred to as a prospective provider) that could begin with roughly 6–12 students (target 10 students initially) at the secondary level. Presenters said the platform could reduce current contract costs (cited current contract of roughly $67,000 versus an estimated $25,000 with the new vendor) and allow students to take virtual classes while preserving opportunities for athletics and CTE on campus.

On transportation, administration recommended eliminating dedicated pre-K curb-to-curb service (estimated at about $100,000) and consolidating drop-off points to save costs, plus aligning junior high and high school schedules (a proposed 07:30 start for both) to improve route efficiency and address driver shortages.

A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the district’s student drug-testing program. Trustees reviewed recent test counts, per-test cost details ($19.50 per test plus site fees), and multi-year positives by substance (noting increases in nicotine/vaping detections). Several trustees questioned the program’s large initial round of testing (initial testing cited as approximately 500 students) and recommended tightening policy and consequences for positives to preserve program integrity and reduce cost. "If we're not gonna have consequences, you might as well scrap it," one trustee said; others proposed narrower, randomized seasonal testing tied to athletics or activities that would carry immediate consequences.

Administration said it will bring policy options and more specific vendor or cost proposals to the special June meeting so trustees can make budgetary decisions before vendors finalize summer planning.