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Northside ISD board meeting, Jul 28, 2026

3 h 45 min · 1 public speaker

Budget cuts and layoffs ▶ 1:02:28Reading and test scores ▶ 11:06

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 3 h 45 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Northside ISD board approves Holmes High School construction amendment 1:24:15

  • Laura Zapata moved to amend to remove the outdoor classroom learning center, and the motion passed with 6 approved and 1 opposed. 2:21:07
  • A motion to approve the items recommended by the CBC, reflected on the agenda as A through D, passed with 6 in favor and 1 abstaining. 2:59:40

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (15)
  1. Opening and superintendent report 0:02
    • Dr. Karla Duran led the invocation, and the meeting was called to order at 6:02 PM. ~0:10
    • The superintendent said the district would welcome about 100,000 students back on August 15th and thanked the board and staff. 2:39
    • The superintendent introduced a video recognizing a middle school student's induction into the National Junior Honor Society. 3:49
  2. Board member reports 6:37
    • Dr. Karla Duran thanked staff who worked summer school for the summer graduation and said Dr. Karla Duran attended the National Association of Latino Elected Officials in California. 6:42
    • Robert Blount, Jr. said the Great Essay Reading Challenge hoped to reach over 200 schools this year and thanked the superintendent, as did Laura Zapata. 9:33
    • Carol Harle described attending the STARS Matrix training for police officers and a servant leadership event for student athletes. 11:06
  3. Student recognitions 23:50
    • A presenter recognized Brennan High School FCCLA students who competed at the 2026 FCCLA National Leadership Conference held July 6th through the 10th in Washington, D.C. 24:08
    • The presenter said the students earned a gold medal and a silver medal in national events. 24:08
  4. Public comment 28:13
    • A speaker at public comment described an exchange during a bond committee meeting and spoke about the connections made in the district. 29:28
  5. Efficiency audit report 32:30
    • An auditor said the district's tax rate was lower than its peer districts by as much as 9 pennies for the 2026 fiscal year. 33:26
    • The auditor said general administration was 1.5% of district spending, compared with a state average of 3.3%, and told Dr. Karla Duran it was fair to say the district was efficient with its money. 40:40
    • In response to questions from Karen Freeman and Carol Harle, staff said the district lacks a comprehensive facilities master plan and creating one would take at least 2 and a half years. 51:28
  6. Consent agenda 1:00:34
    • Carol Harle asked about a district management group purchase, noting a cost of $840,000 for 4 campuses. 1:01:44
    • A staff member said the coaching contract was not a long-term solution, and Laura Zapata asked whether feedback could be gathered from teachers who took part. 1:06:38
    • Robert Blount, Jr. moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. 1:23:22
    • The consent agenda passed on a 6⁠-⁠1 vote. 1:24:11
  7. Holmes High School construction amendment 1:24:15
    • A staff member said Amendment Number 2 for the Holmes High School kitchen, cafeteria and athletic replacement was $51,495,071, bringing the project total to $57,393,273. 1:24:39
    • The staff member said the cost was about $2 million less than projected in early design. 1:26:27
    • The amendment passed unanimously. 1:27:41
  8. Bond defeasance presentation 1:27:41
    • The district's financial advisor said the 2026 defeasance of $85.75 million would provide $26.58 million in debt service savings and estimated $90 million for 2027. 1:29:22
    • Bond counsel said Senate Bill 1453 requires a separate motion approved by 60% of the entire 7-member board. 1:30:31
    • A staff member said the item was information only and action would come on August 11th. 1:34:21
  9. Grant notices and closure pay resolution 1:34:25
    • A staff member said the district was applying for 4 grants, including a COPS hiring grant, which another staff member said stands for Community Oriented Policing Services. 1:35:00
    • Staff said the ALERT grant, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training, would offset police training costs. 1:38:15
    • The superintendent said the district had upwards of 100 road closures on July 15th and 16th and the resolution would keep employees' pay whole. 1:39:34
  10. Proposed budget and tax rate 1:42:37
    • A staff member said the proposed total tax rate of $1.349 was 3 cents more than the current rate. 1:55:22
    • A staff member said the budget includes $45 million more in general fund revenue and shows a deficit of $17 million. 1:55:42
  11. Item 2:00:40
    • One board member suggested tabling the public meeting item until after the bond discussion. 2:02:18
    • Laura Zapata moved to amend to remove the outdoor classroom learning center. 2:22:16
    • One board member said they were not comfortable approving dollar amounts before reviewing individual bond projects. 2:45:14
    • Motions passed with 6 approved and 1 opposed, with 6 in favor and 1 abstaining, and unanimously. 2:42:24
  12. Attendance credit and P-TECH 3:01:20
    • A staff member said the district has no excess local revenue in either tier to send back to the state. 3:02:13
    • A staff member said the P-TECH program would need about 4 to 5 teachers, added as students progress. 3:13:43
    • A speaker said the program would move students from 42 hours to 60 hours of dual credit. 3:14:41
    • The attendance credit agreement and the P-TECH motion both passed. 3:10:01
  13. Security exemption and hiring policy 3:17:58
    • A staff member said the district has 27 police openings and would need 64 to cover all campuses, requiring a good cause exception. 3:19:14
    • One board member said officers are providing what campuses need for safety and security. 3:20:48
    • In a first reading, a staff member proposed replacing the vice principal title with associate principal and adding administrative interns to the hiring policy. 3:21:57
    • The good cause exemption resolution carried unanimously. 3:21:36
  14. Operating procedures and legislative planning 3:22:57
    • One board member suggested building approval of the board operating procedures into a board retreat. 3:24:39
    • Robert Blount, Jr. said the board travel item could not change until the BBG Local policy was changed first. 3:27:51
    • Carol Harle suggested adding the development of legislative priorities to the retreat. 3:35:16
    • Dr. Karla Duran modified the motion to approve the operating procedures revisions with the exclusion of item number 13, board travel, and the chair announced 6 for and 1 against. 3:32:51
  15. Future agenda and closed session 3:39:45
    • A staff member said the August 11th agenda would include adoption of fiscal year '27 budgets and the tax rates. 3:40:27
    • The board met in closed session from 9:44 to 11:03. 3:42:20
    • The board unanimously approved school appointments and the interim superintendent agreement. 3:43:43

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 “NISD Board Meeting 7-28-2026”