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Harris County Dept of Ed School District board meeting, Sep 16, 2026

1 h 59 min

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 1 h 59 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Harris County Department of Education trustees approve plan for 2026 tax rate of 0.004797 1:13:46

  • The board heard an annual Schools Division update marking the 45th anniversary of the department's special schools, along with the monthly financial and quarterly investment reports. 44:57
  • Trustees voted 6⁠-⁠0 to approve a plan to adopt a tax rate of 0.004797 for tax year 2026, and Richard Cantu announced 6⁠-⁠0 results on several contracts and agreements, including a property and casualty insurance renewal. 1:14:20
  • After an executive session, the board voted 6⁠-⁠0 on a personnel agreement and on a certification of compliance under Texas Education Code 39.008. 1:21:54
Item by item (15)
  1. Call to order and opening 25:00
    • Richard Cantu convened the regular board meeting at 1:06 PM on Wednesday, September 16th, 2026. 25:00
    • The meeting opened with an invocation and the pledges to the U.S. and Texas flags. ~26:50
    • A speaker said there did not appear to be any public speakers. ~29:49
  2. Staff recognitions 29:49
    • The chief communications officer introduced a video for Hispanic Heritage Month in which staff members described people of Hispanic heritage who influenced them. 30:14
    • A human resources presenter honored the communications team's event coordinator as the September 2026 Employee of the Month. 33:50
  3. Superintendent's monthly report 40:45
    • The superintendent said 1,628 teachers had been awarded supply vouchers through the Schools for Teachers initiative, covering 24 out of the 25 school districts in the county. 40:59
    • The superintendent announced an appreciation breakfast on Friday at 8 AM for people who made charitable donations to the organization or its foundation. 41:33
  4. Schools Division annual update 44:41
    • The senior director of schools said the year marks the 45th anniversary of the department's special schools and that the division serves a grand total of 54 districts. 44:57
    • A staff presenter said the division launched a pilot dyslexia program at 3 campuses and that ABS West students achieved 83% of their typical growth in math and 67% in reading. 58:08
  5. Financial and investment reports 1:04:56
    • A finance staff member reported general fund revenues of $73.8 million as of August 31st, about 96% of budget, and said tax values fell from $688 billion to $672 billion. 1:05:33
    • The staff member reported an investment portfolio market value of $49.2 million, down from $61.1 million at the start of the quarter, and said the change is normal for this time of year. 1:09:02
    • John McGee said the rate had been increased for the first time in 3 years and asked to confirm that no more payroll costs remained for the fiscal year. 1:11:57
  6. Consensus agenda 1:12:58
    • No board members asked to pull items from the consensus agenda. 1:12:58
    • The consensus agenda passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:13:42
  7. Tax collection rate certification 1:13:46
    • The item asked for certification of the anticipated tax collection rate and the calculation of the no new revenue rate by the Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector. 1:13:46
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:14:20
  8. Certified property values and tax rate plan 1:13:46
    • The item asked for approval of 2026 certified property values and a plan to adopt a tax rate of 0.004797 for tax year 2026. 1:13:46
    • John McGee said the department was lowering the tax rate for the 13th straight year. 1:15:41
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:16:09
  9. Emergency administrative leave resolution 1:15:56
    • The resolution concerned emergency administrative leave with pay for staff associated with Tropical Storm Eduard on September 1st, 2026. 1:15:56
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:16:09
  10. Contract amendment ratification 1:15:56
    • The item asked for ratification of a contract amendment with Hilco in the amount of $276,000 for 9/1/2026 to 8/31/2027. 1:15:56
    • A staff member said the only change was the dates, extending the contract for another year. 1:17:20
    • A speaker announced that the motion passed. 1:17:37
  11. Leadership academy service agreement 1:17:44
    • The item asked for ratification of a $185,000 service expenditure agreement for Case for Kids Leadership Academy with the Black Professional Cowboys and Cowgirls Association. 1:17:44
    • A staff member said the program served 14 students in year 1 and last year served 41 high school students and over 80 middle school students, with work-study placements at 16 sites. 1:18:29
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:19:42
  12. Grant period extension 1:19:35
    • The item asked for approval of an amendment for $495,000 to extend a grant period with the Education Foundation of Harris County through 8/31/2027. 1:19:35
    • A staff member said the extension rolls over remaining funds from a prior grant rather than adding a new grant. 1:20:28
    • A staff member said a rollover figure of $43,997 in the backup was only an estimate. 1:21:22
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:21:54
  13. Property and casualty insurance renewal 1:21:47
    • The item asked for approval of a property and casualty insurance renewal with McGriff for a total premium of $958,655 for 10/1/2026 through 10/1/2027. 1:21:47
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:21:54
  14. Executive session and personnel agreement 1:21:47
    • The board went into executive session at 2:03 and reconvened at 2:37 PM. 1:21:47
    • The motion passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:57:41
  15. State law compliance certification 1:57:31
    • The item asked for approval of a certification of compliance under Texas Education Code 39.008 as enacted by Senate Bill 12, and no members of the public offered testimony. 1:57:31
    • The board then voted to adjourn. ~1:58:56
    • The certification passed 6⁠-⁠0. 1:58:34

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 “HCDE Board Meeting - September 16, 2026”