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DeSoto Independent School District board meeting, date not confirmed yet

2 h 06 min · 5 public speakers

Meeting video · district archiveDeSoto Independent School DistrictDate not confirmed yetWatch on the district’s video site ↗Opens in a new tab; skip to 22:01

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 2 h 06 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
  2. Cynthia Watson-BanksSecretary
  3. DeAndrea FlemingVice President
  4. James (JD) DurhamBoard member
  5. Eboni MitchellBoard member
  6. Traci McNairyBoard member
  7. Karen LacyPresident
What happened

What happened at this meeting

DeSoto ISD board ends interim superintendent contract, selects acting superintendent 2:01:49

  • During a financial update, trustees asked about 79 vacancies, including 26 teacher vacancies, and whether the district was on a hiring freeze. 53:48
  • After a public hearing, the board adopted the tax rate ordinance 7⁠-⁠0, with staff proposing a maintenance and operations rate of 0.747 and an interest and sinking rate of 0.4655. 1:53:29
  • The board voted 7⁠-⁠0 on naming an acting superintendent and posting the interim position, and a staff member said the board was expected to conduct 2 special meetings next week to interview and select an interim superintendent. 2:02:34
Item by item (15)
  1. Opening of the meeting 0:01
    • Karen Lacy called the meeting to order, followed by an invocation, the pledges and readings of the district mission and emergency statements. 0:01
    • Karen Lacy established a quorum with 7 trustees present. 3:45
  2. Introduction of fine arts directors 3:45
    • The director of fine arts introduced a new director of bands and a new director of choral activities at DeSoto High School. 4:07
    • The choral director invited board members to the program's first performance on Thursday, September 17th at 7 PM at DeSoto High School. 10:19
    • The band director said the main goal was to prepare students for whatever path they choose after high school, including college or the military. 11:19
  3. Public hearing on tax rate 13:11
    • A staff member presented a proposed fiscal year 26⁠-⁠27 maintenance and operations rate of 0.747 and interest and sinking rate of 0.4655, compared with 0.7552 and 0.47 last year, for a total rate of 1.2125. 14:39
    • A staff member said the state calculates the maintenance and operations rate and the district controls only the rate, not the value of anybody's home. 15:11
    • A speaker at public comment raised concerns about the state-appointed conservator and recommended the district rescind its bond. 18:45
  4. Public comment 22:01
    • Speakers at public comment raised concerns about school ratings, accountability for principals and the superintendent, and board oversight of the previous superintendent. 25:12
    • A speaker addressing the interim superintendent item asked the board to hire a permanent superintendent and cited a $21.6 million deficit. 34:26
    • A speaker at public comment described a request to the city council to fund 9 school crossing guards and to consider a 50/50 cost split for SROs instead of 80/20. 42:24
  5. Closed session 45:58
    • Karen Lacy announced a closed session for legal advice, real property, personnel matters and security, recessing at 7:32 and returning at 9:00. 45:58
  6. Financial update 45:58
    • A staff member reported enrollment of 5,333, which was 30 students below the fiscal year '27 budget target of 5,363, and 79 vacancies, including 26 teacher vacancies and 36 SPED vacancies. 47:06
    • James (JD) Durham and Eboni Mitchell asked whether the district was on a hiring freeze, and a staff member said a leveling process was moving teachers between campuses where possible. 57:46
    • James (JD) Durham estimated the vacancies at about $5.1 million in salary and asked for a monthly report tracking vacancies and substitute costs. 1:07:21
  7. Investment report and HCM updates 1:16:43
    • A staff member reported the district received $4,063,877 in interest for the fiscal year from July 1st, '25 to June 30th, 2026. 1:19:08
    • A speaker asked whether the district had a current organization chart, and a staff member said one had been sent and would be shared. 1:20:58
  8. School bus seat belt compliance briefing 1:21:39
    • A staff member said Senate Bill 546 requires 3-point lap shoulder belts on every bus by September 1st, 2029, and that the district is in compliance. 1:22:08
    • The staff member said a lease on 27 buses expires in 2029, and told James (JD) Durham that buses cost about $150,000 to $160,000 each. 1:22:08
  9. Monthly bond update 1:28:41
    • A staff member said most projects were in the construction document phase, with one project still in design development. 1:28:53
    • Traci McNairy asked about the limit on bond interest and what it can be spent on, and a staff member said the program manager manages the $199 million but not the interest. 1:30:24
    • A staff member said asphalt on the high school stadium track was curing and the high school tennis courts had been resurfaced. 1:33:15
  10. Consent agenda 1:38:06
    • Karen Lacy announced the motion passed 7⁠-⁠0. 1:39:18
  11. Custodial services contract amendment 1:39:14
    • A board member asked what the district would pay the contractor in '26-'27. 1:40:15
    • A staff member said the amended contract for its last year would be $2.8 million, or $234,353 a month, saving $418,000. 1:40:49
    • A staff member said the contract would go back out for bid in October. 1:44:59
    • Karen Lacy announced the motion to approve item 10A passed 7⁠-⁠0. 1:45:39
  12. School status platform contract 1:45:13
    • A board member said there was no documentation of what the school status platform is and noted the request was for $50,000. 1:45:50
    • Eboni Mitchell asked whether the district was already using the software, and a staff member said the contract would be revised and brought back. 1:47:37
    • The board voted 7⁠-⁠0 to table the item on a motion by James (JD) Durham. 1:49:28
  13. Tax rate ordinance and attendance credit 1:49:29
    • Cynthia Watson-Banks asked staff to confirm whether the tax rate item required a special motion, and the motion language was then read. 1:49:57
    • A staff member said the district is a recapture district and recommended purchasing attendance credit from the state. 1:54:41
    • A speaker asked whether the $700,000 was reflected in the adopted budget, and a staff member said it was not. 1:56:23
    • The board approved the tax rate ordinance 7⁠-⁠0 and the attendance credit agreement 7⁠-⁠0. 1:53:30
  14. Board operating procedure manual 1:57:43
    • Karen Lacy said proposed wording in blue would replace the existing wording and add core governance principles. 1:58:29
    • Karen Lacy announced the motion to accept the changes passed 7⁠-⁠0. 2:01:17
  15. Superintendent contract and acting superintendent 2:01:18
    • A staff member said the acting superintendent would assume the duties of superintendent until an interim is selected and may apply for the interim position. 2:04:13
    • Both motions passed 7⁠-⁠0, and Karen Lacy adjourned the meeting at 10:19. 2:02:34

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

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