Unofficial School Board Meeting Minutes

Unofficial Minutes of Regular Meeting - March 24, 2025

The Board of Trustees - Athens Independent School District

A Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Athens Independent School District was held Monday, March 24, 2025, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Administration Building Board Room, 104 Hawn Street, Athens, Texas.

I. Call to Order/Certify Notice/Establish Quorum

Mrs. Alicea Elliott, President of the Board of Trustees, announced a quorum of Board Members was present and called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

Members present: Mr. Kelley Lee, Mr. Tilo Galvan, Mrs. Gina Hunter, Mr. Eugene Buford, Mrs. Alicea Elliott, Mr. Freddie Paul, Mrs. Margaret Richardson

Members absent: None

Also present were: Cathy Kirkland, Director of Student Services; Randy Jones, Chief Financial Officer; Tony Brooks, Technology Director; David Glover, Interim Coordinator of Maintenance & Transportation; T.C. Long; Staci Gold; Michelle Snider; Erica Walker, Human Resources Coordinator; Nicole Cornish, Director of Curriculum & Instruction; Brooke Brock, Director of Special Programs; Bill Burton; Josey Vaughan, Accountant; Kathy Brown; Ginger Morrison, Deputy Superintendent; Lindsay Conner, Director of Special Populations; Zac Harrell, Athletic Director; Sergeant Jacob Sumrall; Gail Carnes, Executive Assistant and Dr. Janie Sims, Superintendent

II. Invocation was given by Mr. Kelley Lee.

III. Pledge of Allegiance was given to the national and state flags.

IV. Audience Participation

T.C. Long signed up to speak about the Livestock show and that there were no Athens ISD applicants for the scholarships that were offered. Bill Burton signed up to speak about the $121.5 million bond and a community meeting to discuss it.

V. Delinquent Property Tax Collections Report

Staci Gold, Attorney with McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, presented the delinquent property tax report. Ms. Gold gave a brief overview of the total revenue from tax collections, cumulative tax collections, and the delinquent tax collections owed to Athens I.S.D. Ms. Gold also shared the status of delinquent collection for the past four years.

VI. Information/Discussion Items

A. Administrative Report – Legislative Update

Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims gave a brief summary of her conversation with State Representative Keith Bell and the legislative session.

VII. Action Items

A. Consider Food Service Management Company Contract Renewal with Taher, Inc. for 2025-2026

Motion was made by Mr. Eugene Buford and seconded by Mrs. Margaret Richardson that trustees approve the proposed contract renewal for the 2025-2026 school year with Taher, Inc. (third amendment) as presented. Motion carried 7:0.

VIII. Consent Agenda

A. Minutes of the Regular Meeting Held on February 24, 2025

B. Financial Statements for the Month of February 2025

C. Consider Notice of Election for May 3, 2025 Board of Trustees and Bond Election

Motion was made by Mr. Kelley Lee and seconded by Mr. Tilo Galvan that trustees approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried 7:0.

IX. Executive Session Discussion

A. Consideration of Administrator Contracts for 2024-2025 - Texas Gov't Code 551.074

B. Employment/Resignations of Contract Employees - Texas Gov't Code 551.074

C. Discussing Purchase, Exchange, Lease, or Value of Real Property - Texas Gov't Code 551.072

At 6:34 p.m., the Board President announced that trustees would adjourn to executive session as authorized by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas Government Code and/or Education Code concerning any and all purposes permitted by the Act. Should any final action, final decision, or

final vote be required, then the final action, final decision, or final vote shall take place in open session. The Board returned to open session at 8:10 p.m.

X. Executive Session Action – Open Session

A. Consideration of Administrator Contracts for 2025-2026 - Texas Gov't Code 551.074

Motion was made by Mrs. Gina Hunter and seconded by Mr. Freddie Paul that trustees approve the following administrator contracts as presented. Motion carried 7:0.

Deputy Superintendent	Ginger Morrison	2 Year, 12 Months
Chief Financial Officer	Randy Jones	1 Year, 12 Months	Non-Chapter 21
Chief Financial Officer	Josey Vaughn	1 Year, 12 Months	Non-Chapter 21
Exec Director of Special Programs	Brooke Brock	2 Year, 12 Months
Director of Special Populations	Lindsay Conner	2 Year, 12 Months
Director of Special Curriculum & Instruction	Nicole Cornish	2 Year, 12 Months
Director of Student Programs	Cathy Kirkland	2 Year, 12 Months
Athletic Director	Zac Harrell	2 Year, 12 Months
Director of Technology	Tony Brooks	1 Year, 12 Months	Non-Chapter 21
Communications Coordinator	Toni Clay	1 Year, 12 Months	Non-Chapter 21
Human Resources Coordinator	Erica Walker	1 Year, 12 Months	Non-Chapter 21
Principals	Lisa Howell	2 Year, 12 Months
	Nicole Mason	2 Year, 12 Months
	Claudia Godwin	2 Year, 12 Months
	Amy Guidry	2 Year, 12 Months
	Jason Iglehart	2 Year, 12 Months
Administrators	Jennifer Nicholson	1 Year, 12 Months
	Brianna Hope	1 Year, 12 Months
	Breeona Parnell	1 Year, 12 Months
	Shannon Pursley	1 Year, 12 Months
	Tony Sikes	1 Year, 12 Months
	Emily Simens	1 Year, 12 Months
	Jennifer Livingston	1 Year, 12 Months
	Bryan Gorka	1 Year, 12 Months
(Employment Agreement)	David Glover	1 Year, 12 Months

B. Employment/Resignations of Contract Employees - Texas Gov't Code 551.074

At the February 24, 2025 regular board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved to delegate to Dr. Janie Sims, Superintendent, and Ginger Morrison, Deputy Superintendent, final authority for selection of personnel beginning March 1, 2025. The following professional personnel contracts have been approved: Stacie Morris and Cinda Warren.

The following professional resignations have been approved: Jaime Mitchell, Elizabeth Fehlbaum, Tammy Pruitt, Shawn Burt, Rachel Donnell, Sonja Dodd.

C. Discussing Purchase, Exchange, Lease, or Value of Real Property - Texas Gov't Code 551.072

No action was taken.

XI. Adjourn

Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.