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DISD School Board Agenda

The School Board agenda each month is posted online prior to the Board meeting. You may view the current and past agendas by following the link below.​

The Denison ISD Board of Trustees meets the third Tuesday of each month (in most cases). Please refer to the School Board Meeting Calendar page to verify meeting dates.

The Denison ISD Board of Trustees meets at 6:30 pm in the Bruce T. Hibbett Board Room in the Denison ISD Administration Building located at 1201 S. Rusk. The meetings are open to the public. Attachments for agenda items may be located in the Denison ISD Board Book site. Click the link below to view the agenda with attachments. 

DENISON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES MEETING MINUTES

DENISON ISD BOARD OF TRUSTEES | Denison Independent School District 
1201 S. Rusk Avenue, Denison, TX 75020 
 

October 21, 2025 Published following monthly school board meetings 

Denison ISD Board of Trustees President Bob Rhoden called to order the Meeting of the Denison ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Bruce T. Hibbett Board Room in the Denison ISD Administration Building in Denison, Texas. Let the record show a quorum of board members was present. This meeting has been duly called and notice of this meeting has been posted in accordance with Texas Open Meetings Act, Texas government code Chapter 551 The Board began the meeting with the role of the Board of Trustees which states, “Board meetings are a public meeting of the Board of Trustees, not a meeting of the public. Day-to-day operations of the school district is the function of the Superintendent, but he or she must do so within the framework of policies and priorities adopted by the Board of Trustees.” The meeting continued with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Matea Hoops from Hyde Park Elementary followed by the invocation by Denison ISD assistant superintendent Dr. Andru Gilbert. The vision statement of the DISD Board of Trustees, who work diligently to serve and meet the educational needs of more than 4,500 Denison ISD students, states “The Denison Independent School district will inspire, enable and encourage all students to learn, grow and succeed in a global society.”    

During the Board Comments portion of the meeting, trustees stated… 

Board member Eric Hunt: “Break from the usual, and this is real personal. I just want say thank you to everyone. Thank you for your calls, your texts, your cards. It's been a difficult couple of months for my family and I appreciate you all.” 

Board member Amber Pilcher: “I just wanted to give some quick highlights. We had the Denison Education Foundation Golf Tournament on Friday last week, the 17th, and I know some of you in this room were there. We appreciate the support.  I found out we had the most teams we've had ever, 2014 teams. We raised $1,000 more in sponsorships than we did last year, and we had more whole sponsorships than we have before. So we are looking forward to a record-breaking year. So we get all of our stats back. And just as a reminder, all the money raised at the golf tournament goes right back into scholarships or grants for classroom innovation projects and things like that. And so that's one of my favorite parts of being on the Dennison Education Foundation Board is what we call the grant patrol where you get to go. And we'll do that in November and surprise teachers awarding them grants on campus. So anyway, I just wanted to highlight that and thank everybody for their support in the tournament. Thank you.” 

Board vice-president Becky Russell: “Well, I was honored to be a judge for a whole lot of really fun pinatas at May's. And so that was kind of a neat experience and a little bit nerve-wracking, I will say, to pick out the best when they're all so cute. But that was a really neat thing. And then, we also just recently were able to attend the groundbreaking for the new Preston Harbor project. So I'll let you guys talk about that. But that was very exciting.” 

Board member Charlie Pool: “I just wanted to say I love the students being on the home side, but it really shows that the visitors never travel. I feel sorry for our team looking out and seeing empty stands, even though we're all behind them. But if you went to the away Frisco game and see how well we travel, it just, it amazes me all these years from the time I used to watch Mr. Hunt play and we used to travel, that the spirit of Denison following, not just football, but really athletics, we still travel.” 

Board member Brian Hander: “I recently became part of the Campus Improvement Plan Committee for Scott, with Dr. Butler taking the lead on that. And that was a lot of fun. It was a great learning experience to kind of see what all our schools are working towards and how student-focused they are. And one of the things that was highlighted in there was our history and how we needed to celebrate that. I thought, I'm kind of a history guy. I'll look up some. There's going to be a cornerstone part of our meeting today. I tried to look up when the first cornerstone was laid in Denison. I couldn't find it for that thing. But your history fact for today is October 12th, 1874, 151 years ago Denison's first public school opened. It was supposed to open September 1st, but there were construction delays.” 

Board secretary Shelle Cassell: “Well, I always like to comment on how the community supports the district and how the district partnerships partners with different organizations. And so, to carry that another night. A special thanks to the Junior League and to the Dennison Performing Arts because they help so many of our kiddos in finding clothes and food and shoes and money to go to museums and different experiences and things like that. So those two organizations really do a lot of things. They don't just support us; they support our students, and I just love it.” 

Board president Bob Rhoden: “I'll hold my comments, if that's okay, until I have another time on the agenda that I'll be speaking, so I'm going to save my comments for that time, if that's all right.” 

Following the Board Comments portion of the meeting, Board president Bob Rhoden opened the floor for Public Comments. Following the Public Comments portion of the meeting, the Board proceeded to hear Superintendent comments. 

Denison ISD Superintendent Dr. David Kirkbride: “Amber, I appreciate you highlighting the Denison Education Foundation Golf Tournament. One thing I'd like to add to that is about Melanie Truxal's leadership and organization. I know she had a wealth of people in there helping her out, but I had a lot of comments from people that participated in that event about the organization of it and how well it was run. Melanie does a great job as the Executive Director of the Foundation. I just want to put a plug in for her. Next is a reminder that we're going to start our series of Community Showcases of our elementary expansions. This coming Monday night, we'll start at Terrell. The board has a VIP opportunity with our long-range facilities planning committee from 5:00 to 6:00pm, and then we'll open it up to the rest of the community from 6:00 to 8:00pm. So, the first one again will be at Terrell. And, we've got a special guest. Greg Roman was the principal at Terrell Elementary for 25 to 30 years. He retired a year before my family and I moved here. And so, because it was still really close and Greg and his family were still living here in town, I had the privilege a couple of different times to get to meet him, and he actually served as a translator at Terrell one year for us. Just a phenomenal gentleman. He and his wife have since moved out of this community. He's going to be back, and we're going to just try to get some of the old Terrell folks there. One, he'll get to see the expansions. He opened the Terrell as we know it back in 1999 before he retired. I'm really looking forward to seeing him and for him to be honored that way. So, that's Terrell Monday night. Lamar will be the following Monday, that's November 3 with the same format. And then Houston Elementary will be the next Monday, November 10. Looking forward to showcasing those campuses. And then, October is Principal Appreciation Month. We're going to honor our principals tomorrow with a couple of gifts that Dr. Gilbert and Barby have created. We have our APC meeting in the morning and we'll honor them. We have one of our principals here with us, Dr. Butler. Campus leadership in any district is critical. We've got a strong group of campus principals and assistant principals and other administrators in the district. If you think about it, you've got a few more days in October to maybe reach out to them and just give them a little pat on the back. We appreciate Dr. Butler and all of our principals for the work that they do every single day.” 

Following the Superintendent comments, the meeting proceeded as scheduled. 

 

ACTION ITEMS

Routine Business - Consent Agenda 

  • Approval of Board minutes for the September 2025 (11.A.1) 
  • Approve Expenditures for August 2025 (11.A.2) 
  • Approval of the August 2025 investment report (11.A.3) 
  • Approval of the August 2025 financial reports (11.A.4) 
  • Approval of the August 2025 tax reports (11.A.5) 

 

 

REGULAR BUSINESS

Agenda Item #: 11.B.1.  
Subject: Consider approval of Investment Policy Resolution 
The Public Funds Investment Act requires each governing body to review their investment policy and strategies at least annually. The act also requires the designation of investment officers, approval of independent sources of investment training, and approve authorized brokers/dealers. The attached Board Resolution documents the annual review of the investment policy and investment strategies. The board approved the investment policy resolution. 
 
Agenda Item #: 11.B.2 
Subject: Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas setting a cornerstone at the new B. McDaniel Intermediate School 
The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F. & A.M. requires a vote of the Board of Trustees granting them permission to provide the stone and conduct the ceremony.  
 
Symbolic Foundation: The cornerstone ceremony is a symbolic "leveling" of the foundation stone, ensuring it is square and true, much like the craftsmen of old. 
Blessing the Building: The ritual includes symbolic consecrations with representations of health, peace, and prosperity for the building and all who will use it. 
Connection to History: It connects Freemasons to their historical roots as skilled stonemasons who built the grand cathedrals of the past. 
Public Display of Tenets: These ceremonies are a public event where Masons share insights into the values of their fraternity. The Cornerstone Leveling Ceremony involves members from The Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, as well as local Lodges.  
 
During the handling of this agenda item, Mr. Rhoden shared his comments.  
 
“Item 11B2 is regarding the Masonic Grand Lodge setting the cornerstone to the new B. McDaniel, our intermediate school. And I just wanted to talk for just a second, this is why I reserved my comments. I am a member of Billy Moss Lodge, and we're very delighted to be working with Lone Star Lodge 403 that's downtown, to be setting this cornerstone. The last cornerstone that we set was set at the new high school, but it was built a few years ago. The purpose of that really is the ceremony itself basically asking for a blessing on the building and all the kids and all the teachers and everyone who's ever there. You may have seen a cornerstone at the high school as you go in the back door by the auditorium. It's there on your right. Or you may have seen one in downtown at the Grayson County Courthouse. It's a long-standing tradition, for the Mason’s to set a cornerstone, blessing for that building. Texas Masons and Texas public education are tied together through a gentleman by the name of Mirabeau B. Lamar, who was the first president of the Republic of Texas. He set aside land for the first public college and the first public schools. In many towns, early on when public schools were being formed across the state, because of Texas Masonic law at that time, lodges had to meet on the top floor of a building. And it was really simple. That was so that nobody could walk past and hear what was going on inside because there was no air conditioning and the windows would be open in the summertime. So, Masonic Lodges met on the 2nd floor, which left the bottom floor available. The first public school was actually met in a Masonic Lodge on the bottom floor of the building. Texas Masons are very proud of public education. One of the main things that we do, and 403 does, are scholarships to graduating seniors each year. We're very proud to be able to do this. The reason that we have to approve it is because there is a ceremony that happens and there's a couple of prayers that happen and the Grand Lodge requires that the school board trustees approve it so that it goes on record that they approve it. I would like to ask the board to consider approving the cornerstone leveling ceremony at B. McDaniel Intermediate School on November 11. It's on Veteran's Day, at noon. And it's open to all of you who want to come. It'll take about 20 to 30 minutes to do the ceremony. And, it's right at the front door. I'd like to ask for a motion or any questions. Anybody have questions or comments? 
 
The board of trustees approved the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas to provide the cornerstone and conduct a ceremony at the new B. McDaniel Intermediate School to be held on November 11, 2025. 
 
 

INFORMATION ITEMS

Agenda Item #: 12.A  
Subject: Food Service Report 
Aramark will provide an update about the Food Service program. 
 
Agenda Item #: 12.B 
Subject: Personnel Report 
The following resignations were accepted: 
  • Angelia Bailey – SMS Teacher 
  • David Land – SMS Teacher 
  • Jatonne Mask – Terrell Teacher 
  • Shayla Love – Terrell Teacher 
  • Randy Taylor –Director of Transportation (Retirement 12/19/25) 
The following employees have been hired: 
  • Brittany Harvey – Hyde Park Teacher 
  • Angela Johnson – SMS RLA Teacher 
  • Hannah Land – SMS Math Teacher 
  • Andrea Vargas – Assistant Speech Language Pathologist 
 
Agenda Item #: 12.C 
Subject: 2025 American Education Week 
American Education Week is celebrated during the third full week of November each year. In 2025, it will take place from November 17th to November 21st, providing a dedicated time for schools, families, and communities to come together and support education. 
 
The first observance of American Education Week occurred December 4-10, 1921, with the NEA and American Legion as the cosponsors. A year later, the then U.S. Office of Education joined the effort as a cosponsor, and the PTA followed in 1938. 
 
Denison ISD has a longstanding tradition of recognizing our teachers, students, and staff over the course of this week. Please join us in celebrating the continued successes of our local public schools. 
 
The Rotary Club of Denison will host their meeting at Mayes Elementary School on November 20th, 2025, in celebration of American Education week. 
 
Agenda Item #: 12.D 
Subject: Denison ISD STEM Implementation Grant Quarterly Overview 
In June of 2025, Denison ISD received a grant for $1.9 Million to support a district-wide STEM focus. As part of the grant process, Denison ISD leadership will bring a quarterly overview to the Board of Trustees to increase awareness and engagement in the work. STEM elementary coordinator Toni Nunn presented the program to the Board. 
 
The focus for the October Report will be on the following: 
  • STEAM Labs opening at elementary campuses (presented by Toni Nunn, STEAM Coordinator) 
  • The launch of the CTE Advisory Committee on November 11, 2025 (present by Dr. Andru Gilbert) 
 
Agenda Item #: 12.E  
Subject: NWEA Map Growth 
Dr. Gilbert provided an overview of NWEA Map growth.  
 
Following the handling of all business, the regular portion of the Denison ISD Board of Trustees meeting was adjourned and the Board entered into Closed Session. 
 
EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED SESSION ITEM: Pursuant to Sections 551.071 and 551.074, Texas Government Code, discussions and Consultation with District legal counsel regarding legal and procedural matters concerning personnel matter 
 
EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED SESSION ITEM: Pursuant to Section 551.074, Texas Government Code, the board will enter into closed or executive session to review the job performance of the Superintendent – Formative Assessment 1.   
 
Following the Closed Session portion of the meeting, the Board reconvened in Open Session for possible action relative to Closed Sessions.  
 
After the handling of all Closed Session business, the Denison ISD Board of Trustees meeting was adjourned.