Board recognizes state champion relay team

The Hallettsville ISD Board of Trustees met in a regular meeting Monday evening and began the meeting by recognizing the Brahma 4x100 relay team who brought home the gold medal at the UIL State Championship Track and Field Meet.

Head track and field coach Dusty Keller introduced the team in the order of their leg on the relay team, who include Mycole Pegoda, Shane Migura, Caden Willis and Colt Edmonds.

The quartet ran a 41.35 seconds at the state meet, which was only a hundredth of a second off the 3A state record.

In addition to the relay team Aiden Drozd was introduced. He also competed at the state meet and finished seventh in the discus.

A second group introduced prior to the meeting included three HISD staff members, who are retiring at the end of the school year.

The employees, who are retiring, included Gail Tesch (36 years), Jo Ann Madden (25 years) and Terry Dusek (5 years).

Agenda Items

Hallettsville Junior High principal Marisa Maes presented three options and cost for constructing a parking lot at the junior high campus.

The board decided to table the options and wait to see if any bond funds are left over after the classroom construction and renovation project is completed.

The board voted to seek depository bids for the district.

Currently, the district is contracted with Peoples State Bank for its depository.

The board approved the Hallettsville ISD Strategic Plan that addresses accountability, funding, staff, culture, infrastructure and technology.

Reports

Former HISD employer and Region III representative Kristin Marak, presented to the board how the Voter Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) would allow the generation of additional revenue for its day-to-day operations, which would include salaries, programs and other needs for the district.

Marak said VATRE requires districts to hold a special election to ask voters for their approval to exceed the tax rate that would exceed the district’s state-calculated maintenance and operations tax rate.

Hallettsville ISD superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Bludau presented a power point display of what the renovation of a restroom/concession stand project at the baseball/ softball fields would look like.

Bludau said to fund the project, she will be seeking grants from various areas as well as asking the local booster clubs and organizations to help in the funding.

Bludau also reported on the process for applying for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant as well as a Criminal Justice Grant.

She also reported on the revision of guidelines for DAEP and the Student Health Advisory Council.

The district’s executive director of student services, Trina Patek, presented an update on the Teacher Incentive Allotment and chief financial officer Farrah Jernigan reported the district has collected 96.93% of the taxes through April amounting to $9,350,896.61.

In other action taken by the board:

• Approved the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Program Participating agreement.

• Approved a quote from iCEV Multimedia for curriculum and certification testing for the 2025-26 school year.

• Approved the 2025 standing orders for Tylenol/Ibuprofen administration.

• Approved student transfers, as presented, for the 2025-26 school year.

Board president Brian Smith presided over the meeting with board members Sharesce Sydney, Justin Smith and Dennis Herring Jr. present for the meeting.