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Board reviews first readings of multiple local policy edits including higher purchasing threshold, virtual learning and student search rules
Summary
Trustees heard first readings of several local-policy changes: raising the purchasing threshold from $5,000 to $10,000, updating employee days/hours to fit the calendar, expanding virtual-learning policy, revising grade-calculation exclusions for virtual academy courses, and edits to student-search and drug-testing rules.
The Kennedale ISD Board considered first readings of edits to several local policies, covering procurement thresholds, employee calendars, virtual learning and student rights.
Under the proposed CFB(Local) update, the district would increase the internal purchasing approval limit from $5,000 to $10,000. Staff said the change follows auditor recommendations and would reduce routine administrative approvals that currently require higher-level sign-off.
The board reviewed DEED(Local) edits to align employee required hours and days with the district's revised calendar (examples discussed included shifts from 236 to 217 days and changes in eligible-employee day counts). Trustees clarified that maintenance and other employee categories operate on different schedules.
A major policy expansion would add the district's virtual programming to its distance-learning policy beginning with the 2026–27 school year. The draft adds definitions for hybrid and fully virtual models and references courses offered through the Texas Virtual School Network (TXVSN) and the district's Wildcat Virtual Academy. Board members were told the revisions formalize virtual options for students who need courses (for example, courses the district does not offer in-person).
Related edits to grading and class-rank calculations (EIC Local) would exclude grades earned in district-approved local credit courses and Wildcat Virtual Academy or other approved distance-learning courses from class-rank computations for the affected graduating classes, aligning with state guidance discussed by staff.
Trustees also reviewed revisions to FNF(Local) on student rights and responsibilities, which incorporate earlier discussion about drug-testing policy. Board members raised questions about the interplay of "voluntary consent" language and administrators' authority to initiate searches. Staff confirmed that voluntary consent is an option but administrators retain authority to conduct searches when authorized by policy.
All policy changes were presented as first readings; no final votes were taken. Staff said revised policy language will return for a subsequent reading and formal adoption at a future board meeting.
