At last Monday’s WISD school board meeting, district principals recognized their campus’ employee and teacher of the month for August. Congratulations to the following:
Whitesboro High School
Employee of the Month – Ashley Drake (student services)
Teacher of the Month – Austin Nestler (band)
Whitesboro Middle School
Employee of the Month – Stephanie Harris (cafeteria)
Teacher of the Month – Sarita Dunn (reading)
Whitesboro Intermediate School
Employee of the Month – Elizabeth Adams (admin)
Teacher of the Month – Jessica Coello (5th grade math/science/social studies)
Hayes Primary School
Employee of the Month – Tanner Tolleson (office manager)
Teacher of the Month – Shawna Koerner (P.E.)
Early Childhood Center
Employee of the Month – Kaly Knight (library)
Teacher of the Month – Lindsay Rand (kindergarten)
Also at the meeting, Superintendent Ryan Harper gave construction updates on the remaining bond projects.
“We took a tour this afternoon of the Ag Barn and the Multi-Purpose facility,” Harper said. “As far as completion dates for the Multi-Purpose Auditorium and the Career Technology, they’re on track still for the first of December for the shed and multi-purpose buildings and Jan. 1 for the other two facilities.”
Harper said they’re waiting on stalls and pens for the Ag Barn but plan on having a dedication date around Oct. 16. After that, students and animals will be relocated to that facility.
“We’re on track, construction wise, and it’s looking great,” Harper said.
In conjunction with these updates, the board accepted completion notices from the construction companies pertaining to the completion of the Ag Barn and Early Childhood Center (ECC).
Next, the board of trustees held a brief public hearing regarding a Certification of Compliance in conjunction with Senate Bill 12 which states the district will not hire based solely on diversity, equity and inclusion purposes.
“Obviously Whitesboro will be following this policy, that we will not be hiring based off DEI – nor have we ever – but it is a chance for public conversation,” Harper said.
Nobody spoke on this topic and, at the conclusion of the hearing, the board approved the Certificate of Compliance.
Then, the board approved the list of book titles to be purchased for the ECC. The list of books had been posted to the district’s website for the past 30 days so community members could voice any concern, but none was made.
“We have thoroughly reviewed those titles, and as always, if anyone ever finds a title that’s questionable, walk in my door. We’ll be glad to review any books that are questionable,” Harper said.
The new ECC library currently has books that have been borrowed from other libraries to provide age-appropriate books for its students, but the library needs to build its own inventory. The total amount of the purchase will not exceed $45,000.
The board also approved the purchase of two school buses.
“Typically we purchase a school bus every year. Last year we did not purchase one,” Harper said. “We did include in our bond program the purchase of additional transportation in school buses in 2023 when we took that to the public… I’m recommending ordering two 78-passenger Thomas Built buses for the total each of $159,000.”
Harper explained the district needed to replace two buses that do not have seat belts and were right at or just over 100,000 miles. They have some mechanical issues that are costing the district money. The two new buses would replace those two current buses.
The board also approved the purchase of a new truck for the maintenance department not to exceed $50,000.
For the 2027-2028 school year, the board adopted a policy that would result in a stipend deduction for coaches or sponsors who fail to achieve their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) to transport participants to events. The policy states that for the first year without certification, the individual loses $500 off their stipend. The second year and each year thereafter, the individual loses $1,500 off their stipend until the CDL certificate is obtained.
Today, roughly half of WISD coaches do not have their CDL.
“This means the other 50 percent are picking up the slack and having to transport kids they don’t actually coach to and from games to make sure all kids are getting where they’re supposed to be,” Harper said.
The district covers the fees for the certification – coaches simply need to make the time to take the 40-hour course.
The board unanimously voted to adopt the policy.