Board approves Senate Bill 12 compliance certification; presenters outline staff notification and posting requirements

After a public hearing required by state law, the board approved the district's annual certification of compliance with Senate Bill 12 in a recorded vote. Dr. Matt Bollinger summarized the statute and the certification process: "Senate bill 12...includes requirements for prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion assignments or responsibilities...and certain instructional materials that are prohibited," he said, and told trustees the certification must be uploaded and submitted to the Texas Education Agency by Sept. 30, 2026.

Bollinger and a second presenter described required next steps: the district must notify every employee (electronic and physical copies), maintain documentation of compliance during the year, post the certification on TEA's website, and include SB 12 content in district and campus mandates presentations. During Q&A, trustees asked how hard-copy notifications will be distributed; Carrie Smith said the district will issue a memo and provide physical copies through supervisors and include a slide in campus/district mandate presentations.

A trustee moved to approve the certification and the board recorded the motion; the motion passed (vote recorded in the meeting transcript as "Seeing 6 for, 1 against, 0 abstentions"). Administration said the certification and related policies will be posted and that staff briefings and presentation slides will be used to notify employees.

Trustees and several public commenters discussed how the SB 12 requirements relate to the earlier public comments about the dress code; staff emphasized compliance steps and documentation rather than immediate changes to day-to-day classroom instruction.