The Whitewright ISD Board of Trustees approved a new newspaper of record, discussed the district’s extracurricular absence policy and received updates on construction projects and enrollment during its regular meeting Monday night.
Trustees spent the bulk of the meeting discussing the district’s extracurricular day policy, which limits the amount of instructional time students may miss while participating in school-sponsored activities.
Current policy allows students to miss up to 15 instructional days, with principals authorized to approve an additional five days, for a total of 20.
Board members discussed whether additional flexibility should be allowed for students who excel academically while participating in multiple extracurricular activities.
According to superintendent Brian Garner, only a handful of students came near the limit last year and noted administrators have already refined how travel days and field trips are counted.
He also said that postseason competition no longer counts toward the total, reducing the impact on students advancing beyond district competition.
Trustees ultimately agreed to leave the policy unchanged while continuing to monitor its implementation during the coming school year.
“We’ve got a really good program going,” Garner said. “If we see something that needs to be adjusted, we can always bring it back.”
The board approved construction of a covered parking structure for a portion of the district’s fleet rather than constructing a larger vehicle facility originally considered.
The district recently received three replacement Suburbans following hail damage.
Garner said covering six existing parking spaces would provide better protection at an estimated cost of about $16,000, substantially less than the previously discussed facility.
Trustees approved the 2026-27 Student Code of Conduct without changes from the previous year and adopted revisions to the district’s grade weighting system for incoming freshmen.
High school principal Jorge Rubio said the changes simplify grade weighting while preparing for a statewide weighting system expected from the Texas Education Agency in the coming years.
Among the changes:
-Spanish III and ASL III will receive advanced-level weighting.
-Spanish IV and ASL IV will receive honors-level weighting.
-Precalculus will move to advanced weighting.
-Calculus and dual-credit courses will remain at the highest weighting level.
The changes will apply only to the incoming freshman class.
In other business, the board also certified the district’s compliance with new TEA requirements regarding employee and contractor disclosures and approved the purchase of new middle school library books after the required 30-day public review period concluded without comment.
Assistant superintendent Chad Long reported substantial progress on several summer construction projects across the district.
Concrete for the new athletic field house is expected to be poured next week following engineering approval. Inside work has continued in preparation for the slab.
At the middle school, flooring and restroom renovations have been completed, while painting has been delayed after contractors applied the wrong type of paint.
“It looked really, really good until you go pull it off the wall,” Long said, explaining crews are removing the paint and starting over.
According to Garner, elementary kitchen renovations are also nearing completion and he expects the projects to be ready before students return Aug. 12.
Administrators also reviewed updates to several student handbooks, including changes to middle school academic eligibility requirements, cheerleading procedures, Beta Club requirements and athletic participation policies for homeschooled students.
Among the changes, homeschooled athletes participating in Whitewright ISD athletics will now be required to participate in offseason athletic periods in addition to their competitive season.
“They can’t just show up for one sport and go home,” athletic director Charlie Roten said. “Everyone must participate in the full athletic program to play a sport.”
District officials also said new middle school cheer structure is intended to strengthen the program by developing separate seventh- and eighth-grade squads after participation declined in recent years.
Looking ahead, Garner said preliminary enrollment projections show the district will open the school year with approximately 790-793 students, up from about 775 at the end of last year.
Most of the growth is occurring at the elementary campus, with enrollment expected to approach 400 students. High school enrollment is also increasing, while middle school enrollment remains relatively flat.
Garner reminded trustees that Meet the Teacher is scheduled for Aug. 7 from 5:30-7 p.m., followed by Meet the Tigers at 7:30 p.m.
Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously approved designating The News-Record as the district’s official newspaper of record following the recent acquisition and merger of the Whitewright Sun.
The newly merged publication will continue covering Whitewright while expanding community news coverage throughout Grayson County.
Superintendent Brian Garner recommended the change, noting the district had already published some legal notices with the newspaper and praised its local presence and coverage.
Source: Freepik.com