Bonham, Texas -- A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bonham ISD was held November 18, 2024, in the Bonham ISD Administration Center at 1005 Chestnut Street, Bonham, Texas. Board President Chance Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and led the invocation. All school board members were present.
The pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags was led by fourth graders from I.W. Evans Intermediate School, including Jaxon Greathouse, Easton Harger, Jakabrion Thomas, Nevaeh Charniak, Caydence Sansone, Abigail Whitson, Britani Gamez Munguia, Emily Hodge, Alaina Gocsik, Vanessa Villanueva, Olivia Perdue, Noe Ibarra, Acelynn Aubrey, Ava Gibbs, Tenley Munholland, Kinley Moore, Brynlee White, Allison Thompson, Blaze Sanders, Colton Davies, Nick Shelton, Jenae Lawson, Gabriel Chavez, Briauna Clark, Isabella Cruz- Funez, Arri Graham, Alexa Nunez Garcia, Reagyn Ruiz, Savannah Welch, Emma Springer, Molly Anderson, Max Costa, Ghanshyam Shah, Vanessa Andino, Troy Latham Gentry Hicks, Scarlette Kennedy and Elijah Hollowell.
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Warrior Talk
Carlous Gilstrap expressed praise for the great start for the basketball teams. LaTonia Arris gave shout outs to the Bonham Buddies for interacting with younger kids, off season skill days, Bailey Inglish perfect attendance pictures, Finley-Oates super warriors and the Friendsgiving hosted by the culinary group. She also noted with pride that the BHS fishing team has grown. Chance Roberts echoed lots of the praise, especially the Friendsgiving at the junior high, the Veterans Day program at Warrior stadium and the junior high and high school basketball teams. Roberts also read a thank you card from a staff member who lost a family member.
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Employee and Student Recognition
Cynthia Berk was honored as the L.H. Rather Professional of the Month. Weaver said Berk was attending her son’s graduation from boot camp today, so she could not attend the meeting and will be presented her award at the next meeting.
Brekel Dunlap was named the L.H. Rather Student of the Month. Weaver said Dunlap is playing basketball tonight and will receive her award next month. Dunlap was described as an excellent student athlete who excels academically and is friendly to all.
Wesley Fischer was named the Finley-Oates Student of the Month. This third-grader loves math and wants to be an engineer at NASA when he grows up. Fischer loves that his school has three playgrounds. He was described as thoughtful and a great leader. 
Kashley Fox was named the I.W. Evans Intermediate Student of the Month. Her principal said “to know her is to love her.” Fox was sick today and will hopefully be able to attend next month’s meeting. She was described as kind to everyone and a great athlete whose grades come first and is great on the court too.
Russell Welch and Landry Person were named the Bonham High School Seniors of the Month. Person’s plans for next year is to attend a local college for basics and then attend Stephen F Austin to become an author. She described being a senior as a time to get to remember, enjoy and reflect. BHS has been a family to her, providing support. When asked how long she has been a Bonham Warrior, Person was quick to say “all my life” with a big smile. Person said being a Bonham Warrior means being a part of the community.
Person and Welch were described as exemplifying quiet leadership, always setting perfect examples and having a quiet determination that others follow.
Welch’s plans for next year is to attend Texas A&M Commerce to pursue a sports management degree and keep basketball in his life. Welch has attended school in Bonham since 4th grade. To him, being a senior means being a leader, someone others can look up to and being an example. Welch said being a Warrior means to do things the right way and represent where you are from in a great light.
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Public Comment
Audrey Rayford praised the board for the job they have done and asked for clarification on what their action was for the superintendent. Roberts stated that the board cannot respond to anything not on the agenda, but can report statements of fact, which in this case includes that the evaluation of any educator is confidential and the board cannot tell anything about any staff evaluation.
First grade teacher Alyssa Willis described the shortage of substitutes and how it impacts the teachers, other staff and students. She said that 98 times this school year, they have not had a substitute. For the first grade, they have had to split classes seven times this year. This has caused teachers to have to replan their day with little to no notice. Some students have not had desks to work at and had added stress with the disruption to their day. When instructional aides are pulled in to serve as substitutes, then up to 35 students not get intervention services that day. Willis asked the board to consider providing extra compensation to the staff who have to do the extra work when there is not a substitute available and to do more to attract available substitutes.
Ms. Shockley, a third grade teacher, reviewed her background in education and asked the board to consider doing 360 evaluations for teachers and administrators. In her experience, this type of evaluation was important and helpful. She described it as everyone is taking a look at everyone else in a constructive way and that anonymous feedback from different groups in a caring, loving school is good feedback for everyone to do a better job.
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Board approved the Consent Agenda, including meeting minutes and financial statements and bills payable for October.
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Reports to the Board. The board accepted written reports from Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operations Officer, Boys Athletic Director, Girls Athletic Director, Bailey Inglish Principal, Finley-Oates Principal, I.W. Evans Principal, L.H. Rather Principal, Bonham High School Principal and Superintendent.
Superintendent Dr. Joy Wilson reported that at the end of October 2024, the enrollment count was 2,022. I.W. Evans Intermediate School had the best attendance in October with 94.71%.
Wilson reviewed the open positions in the district. Roberts noted that there are three openings for bus drivers and described this as a critical need. Arris questioned whether they need to re-look at rates of pay for bus drivers. Arris also asked what enrollment number was used in budget and it was reported that last school year ended with enrollment of 1,955 students.
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Board received an information item: School Board Head Start Self-Assessment Training
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Board received another information item: Construction update from Gallagher Construction. Steve Morales from Gallagher gave a recap on progress of the L.H. Rather construction project. He reviewed what has been completed and what will be worked on next. The new construction part is estimated to be completed by July 2025. Renovations of LHR will aim to be done by December 2025. Morales reported that they are still on schedule to finish concession stand by end of January. Work should start tomorrow on this project that will be by baseball and softball fields and tennis courts at the high school.
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Board received another information item: BISD Assessment Data. Each of the campus principals reviewed their initial test scores for the year and their action plans for the coming year. Bailey Inglish Principal Suzanne Kennedy noted that the admins have rigid schedule of doing walk-throughs in all classrooms and that the admins and teachers are doing a deep-data dive for all students.
Finley-Oates Principal Alisha Chenevert noted that they have math deficits for first, second and third. As she reviewed plans for coming year, she noted that they are providing some student choice to help increase engagement, targeted interventions, small group interventions, and tutoring for second and third graders twice a week.
I.W. Evans Principal Karli Fowler said the goal is to keep kids growing. She said they have revised the schedule to keep students in smaller groups and are also targeting math campus wide. She discussed efforts for tutoring, the new science curriculum this year and that the principal and assistant principal are having one-on-one meetings with every student.
L.H. Rather Principal Meghan Weaver said their focus this year is on 7th grade math, 8th grade reading and science. Teacher meetings are being data driven and the principal and assistant principal are having individual meetings with each students to review their individual goals.
Bonham High School Assistant Principal Eric Hicks reviewed goals and action plan at the high school. He noted that Warrior Time provides 140 extra minutes per week. He dscribed the efforts to improve students achievement in Algebra, US history, English and Science. He noted that one teacher asked to keep the same group of kids, as they were motivated to read in school and at home as the class was reading the Hunger Games. Hicks also talked about adjustments to schedule and teacher coverage at the 9th hour.
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Board held a Public Hearing regarding the School F.I.R.S.T Report, which looks at financial integrity and transparency. For the 2022-2023 school year, the district score was 79, which was passing. There were some material weakness in the audit and administrative costs were higher than the average. Roberts noted that this report was from a time period prior to Ms. Coonrod being at the district.
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Board approved the Financial Audit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Coonrod described this audit as the best opinion possible, with no findings. Coonrod noted that the district had an increase in net position, as total income was $36 million and expenses were only $30 million. She said that in January, the board can discuss paying down debt quicker than originally planned. Roberts stated this is one of best audits in many years.
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Board approved the BSHAC Committee members. Phyliss Kinnaird was excited about this year’s group, which has grown in size. They are, however, also looking for more parent involvement.
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Board reviewed and did not approve an electronic voting system for the board. Comments included that it was too expensive.
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Board approved TTESS Appraisers for 2024-2025 school year.
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Board approved ESL Waiver for Bilingual Students for 2024-2025 school year.
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Board approved the Fannin County Head Start Annual Report for the 2023-2024.
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Board went into Executive Session at 7:31 pm. Pursuant to Texas Government Code section § 551.074, board discussion of personnel matters pertaining to evaluations, duties, terminations, replacements, reassignments, hiring, and additions to the staff:
1. New Hires: Caraline Grintz ~ L.H.Rather; Susan Grisham ~ Substitute; Larry Reid ~ I.W. Evans;
2. Reassignments: Kelly Royse (Finley-Oates to BHS); Amanda Loftice (BHS);
3. Resignations: Leslie Ashley ~ Transportation; Lori Harlin ~ BHS (Retirement); Gayle Swinehart ~ BHS; Suzanne Bennett ~ I.W. Evans (Retirement);
Pursuant to Section 551.071, Texas Government Code, board consultation with legal counsel regarding legal and procedural matters relating to employment, evaluation, discipline, duties and responsibilities of a public officer or employee, including superintendent.
Board returned from Executive Session at 9:10 pm.
Board approved hiring Larry Reid as a police officer for the district.
Board approved a written reprimand and action items as outlined in the executive session.
Board went back into Executive Session at 9:11 pm. Pursuant to Section 551.074, Texas Government Code, board deliberations regarding employment, evaluation, discipline, duties and responsibilities of a public officer or employee, including superintendent.
Board returned from Executive Session at 9:39 p.m. No action further action items.
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Board meeting adjourned at 9:39 p.m.
