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Beaumont ISD board meeting, Sep 24, 2026

4 h 23 min

Chronic absenteeism ▶ 2:23:55Reading and test scores ▶ 28:04Safety, weapons and police ▶ 36:25

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 4 h 23 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Beaumont ISD board adopts 2026⁠-⁠27 tax levy and approves SB 12 compliance certification 3:46:31

  • Speakers at public comment raised concerns about curriculum delivery, the block schedule, school libraries and the treatment of teachers by administrators. 18:25
  • District staff presented on Head Start, a proposed pre-K through 12 device initiative and student attendance. 1:01:02
Item by item (14)
  1. Opening and posting of colors 0:51
    • Jeff Wheeler announced a quorum and asked the audience to stand for the posting of the colors. 4:45
  2. Recognitions 7:36
    • A staff member recognized the Beaumont ISD Nutrition Department for providing meals during Tropical Storm Edward while schools were closed. 7:53
    • Staff also recognized teachers with perfect attendance for the 25⁠-⁠26 school year, two National Merit semifinalists and the employee of the month. 10:49
    • A staff member announced a free family STEM night on Wednesday, October 21st, from 5 to 8 PM. 16:05
  3. Public comment 17:06
    • A speaker at public comment raised concerns about possible library closures, locked bathrooms and the treatment of teachers. 18:25
    • Several speakers at public comment said teachers were resigning and asked for more collaboration and transparency. 20:54
    • Speakers also raised concerns about late curriculum materials, 90-minute block classes and an open-door classroom policy. 36:25
  4. Head Start program overview 1:00:38
    • A staff member said a new pre-K schedule would increase literacy instruction by 25 minutes a day and math by 30 minutes a day. 1:03:48
    • The staff member said Bingman Head Start is capped at 510 seats with 104 families on the waitlist, and that Bingman's attendance last year was 89.8%. 1:04:23
    • The staff member asked the board to approve 7 Head Start governance and compliance documents. 1:04:23
  5. Credit by exam 1:22:04
    • A staff member said the district would offer credit by exam in November, February, June and July using University of Texas High School exams. 1:22:09
    • The staff member said students must score 80% or higher to earn credit and that students skipping a grade must pass all 4 core exams. 1:22:09
  6. Device modernization proposal 1:35:18
    • A staff member said 63% of district devices were beyond their recommended lifecycle and that repair expenditures exceeded $212,574. 1:36:24
    • The staff member recommended Apple devices, saying the investment for 14,585 devices equals over $11 million with an estimated annual payment of $2.8 million. 1:56:57
    • A finance staff member said the first $2.8 million payment would come out of fund balance, and said the district has $60 million in fund balance. 2:03:36
  7. Student attendance report 2:23:45
    • A staff member reported 23,921 total student absences in the first 26 days of school. 2:23:54
    • The staff member said the district would file truancy with the court after 10 unexcused absences. 2:30:32
    • Darrian Graves asked when the attendance reporting period occurs, and the staff member said it is at 9:00 for elementary and 10:15 for secondary. 2:39:13
  8. Curriculum update and goal progress 2:46:15
    • A staff member said the curriculum department commits to publishing materials by Monday noon for the following week and has added 2 pre-K to 2nd grade writing positions. 2:46:15
    • Darrian Graves asked how teachers should report errors, and the staff member said teachers can submit feedback through the curriculum website. 2:57:38
    • The staff member said the goal is to raise 3rd grade reading meets from 27% to 65% by June 2031 and proposed a 2nd grade interim goal of 39%. 3:00:59
  9. Superintendent remarks 3:24:29
    • The superintendent spoke about pressure from district changes and said pressure is information but not a decision point. 3:35:04
  10. Consent agenda 3:44:13
    • Jeff Wheeler asked whether any board member wished to remove an item from the consent agenda, and none did. 3:44:13
    • Jeff Wheeler announced that the motion to approve the consent agenda carried. 3:45:15
  11. Senate Bill 12 compliance certification 3:45:26
    • A staff member said the certification must be submitted to the Texas Education Agency by September 30th. 3:46:01
    • Elias Ibarra moved to approve the certification of compliance under Texas Education Code 39.008. 3:46:22
    • The motion carried. ~3:46:31
  12. Tax levy and tax rate 3:47:11
    • A staff member said the maintenance and operations tax rate of 0.7654 is a decrease from last year and the total tax rate is 0.92801. 3:47:28
    • Laurie Leister moved to adopt the 26⁠-⁠27 tax levy ordinance and resolution. 3:48:38
    • Jeff Wheeler announced that the motion carried. 3:49:17
  13. Board time use tracker 3:49:17
    • Darrian Graves said approximately 91% of the August 20th, 2026, meeting time focused on student outcome goals and adult behaviors that impact student outcomes. 3:49:33
    • Jeff Wheeler announced that the motion to approve the August time use tracker carried. 3:51:40
  14. Closed session and adjournment 3:51:40
    • Jeff Wheeler said the board reconvened in open session at 9:17 PM with no action items resulting from closed session. 4:22:24

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Beaumont ISD School Board Meeting | September 24, 2026.”