DISD School Board Agenda

Denison ISD Board of Trustees President Bob Rhoden called to order the Meeting of the Denison ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Staff Development room at the Denison ISD Service Center 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 Pledge of Allegiance was led by Board member Charlie Pool and the invocation was led by Denison ISD assistant superintendent Kyle Uber. 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 Charlie Pool: “Before I walked in, I got a picture from my cousin's daughter, so whatever that makes that. But she was pointing at the new sign at the new school that had all our names. And it was very cool. She was very excited. So that made my heart warm. And then today at lunch, Dr. Kirkbride, in a meeting with the DDF, explained that we're in the window. But it's kind of got my attention that not having school-aged kids anymore, we're in a very short period before it all starts. So, I feel for all the educators that summer is over.” 

 

Board member Brian Hander: “Y'all ready? Okay. So doing a project for the library on the 1922 railroad strike. And what it was, all of the workers at the car shops for the KATY Railroad went on strike all across the country. About 1,400 workers were in Denison. So, they went on strike for better wages. And they had to call in the National Guard. All of this, it got a little heated. So, that lasted from July to about October 1922. And, they ultimately didn't win the strike. The federal government sided with the railroads. And so, the KATY Railroad decided to move all of their car shop facilities out of Denison. They moved them to Waco. And so, here's the relevance to the school district. From the beginning of that school year, 1922, to the spring of 1923, the school district lost 1,000 students. The city lost 8,000 residents. And some towns, there were other towns that experienced this, Marshall, all up and down the Katy Railroad. Some of them just kind of threw their hands up. But the school district actually went in reverse and said, well, you know, we still have students here. They still need help. They all deserve a quality education. They went ahead and built the new Peabody building, which we still use. Raynall, added on to the high school, built a brand new Terrell. So, It just kind of shows that we're resilient, even though we're now experiencing a little bit of a decline in enrollment. Our district has done this before. We've thought outside the box. We did it all without state help. So just even though it seems rough, it's nothing we haven't experienced. So, it was really neat to learn all of that.” 

 

Board secretary Shelle Cassell: “I just want to say hats off to every person in the school district because it seems like everybody has been on the move. I mean, it's like one thing after another, but everything I keep hearing is that it has been a smooth transition, that there are hiccups, but people are just rolling with the punches. And anyway, I just want to say thank you to every person who's packed a box, unpacked a box, started in a new place, has a fresh view out their window in their office. It's just a whole new beginning, and it's just, it's all good. Everybody's going to have a good year.” 

 

Board vice-president Becky Russell: “Well, obviously, we went to the ribbon cutting, and it was so impressive. And just the excitement in the air, and not just for the district, but for the community. And the community showed up and stood in the rain. And Everybody was just, just the feel in the air is so positive. It feels positive about the future of the schools. It feels good about starting school. And there seems to be excitement in the air. And if I were to teach, I'd be excited. It's a good time.” 

 

Board member Amber Pilcher: “I just want to say as a parent, we had a lot of change in leadership roles starting in the summer and then it kind of continued on. And so, there was a little uneasiness on how things were going to transition into this next school year. But I have to say my heart is happy. I feel at peace. I'm so excited. We have so many alumni that are coming back, and, you know, bonding together to, you know, continue to keep Denison great. And a lot of people that have already been with the district for a long time are stepping into these roles. And so, I am just so excited for this year ahead. And it's great to be a Yellow Jacket.” 

 

Board member Eric Hunt: “Well, I just have to echo everyone's sentiments. This has been an exciting summer. When the teachers come into class, they usually ask, what'd you do for the summer? Write a paper. All the teachers are going to say, ‘move. I moved some desks. I unpacked some boxes. I found out where my new classroom was going to be’. And having something new, having a change of scenery is always refreshing. It helps your attitude. It helps just get you excited about things going on. And I do want to tell you a funny story. So, my daughter went to Hendricks College in Conway, Arkansas. And when she was recruited to play softball there, we met with the athletic director. And I found on the back of her car, it said, “every day is a great day to be a Warrior”. I was like, wait a minute, that sounds like you've been... And it turns out the head football coach at Hendricks College is a Denison alumni. And when Buck Buchanan said, “it's great to be a Warrior”, Coach Weaver took that and said, OK, well, we're just going to change it a little bit. “Every day is a great day to be a Warrior”. So every day is a great day to be a Yellow Jacket.” 

 

Board president Bob Rhoden: “Well, again, when you go last, everything has pretty much always been said. Dr. Kirkbride has an advantage over me because he knows things that he doesn't share with me, so I can't steal his thunder. But it was great to be at the ribbon cutting the other day, to see the new school, to see Alvis be recognized for all those years. Exciting to have his likeness there and his name will be up there. It is really a cool, cool building. And I know that probably everybody in the district is ready for a little bit of non-construction time for a while. Not you, I know. We live for construction, but I would imagine that everybody's ready to be settled in for just a little while and not have to be unloading boxes, and what have you. But we are looking forward to seeing the DESC completed and to seeing Pathways at the Peabody Building and all the opportunities that's going to bring. So, I just want to thank everybody here on the Board of Trustees who worked hard to work with the Citizens Committee to make sure that happened. And of course, thank the voters, and everybody who supported the bond issues, and always have, because as Mr. Hander pointed out, we do it without state help, and we do it to take care of the kids. And so, I think as long as we're continuing to do that, we'll be in good shape.” 

 

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: “Yeah, I want to just thank the Board again for being at the ribbon cutting and supporting that. I know lots of comments have already been made this evening. But I do always appreciate y'all being there to support those things and your role in that. So, thank you for that. As has already been mentioned, the DESC is underway. And I would encourage y'all, if you've got some time and you're in the neighborhood, just drop in. The building is not all the way finished yet. We're still working on it, and there’s a long way to go. But if y'all want just a quick tour of the building, drop by and somebody will walk you around and show it to you. We did a final walk through of the Peabody Building. I don't know if I'm stealing your thunder, Chuck. Yesterday, Randy and I and James and Cruz walked the old admin building, the Peabody building, just to make sure we had everything out of there that we needed to. And it was kind of nostalgic and just kind of hit me in that moment that we vacated that building. But it's also as a reminder of we would walk into these spaces that were empty and they seemed tiny because they are. And just that remembrance and the reminder of why we're doing everything that we're doing, and all that was the space we have now that we can grow into for the future. But that was just a neat moment yesterday. Construction and the renovation of that Peabody building is underway, I assume, or starting this week. And that's exciting. And just as a reminder, our plan is to have our Peabody Academy students in that building in January. The building should be ready mid-first semester, mid to late, and we'll get that rolling. But all things exciting. I have two very important people I want to introduce you to. Y'all know their names because I've communicated to you through my weekly communications. Here on the front row we have Julie Burnett. She is the new Special Education director. Julie has already been busy at work and has been working alongside Kerry Kaai for the past handful of years. She has stepped in and it's been a smooth transition. And then to her right is Shanda Timpinaro. She is now our HR Director. And Shanda's one of those alumni, she's and her kids and her husband are Yellow Jackets. And you're a Yellow Jacket because you started your career here as a teacher. So, we're glad to have you. And she's been working very closely with Mr. Uber regarding all things HR. I wanted to introduce them formally to you guys tonight and welcome to both of you. There'll be some information about season tickets and parking passes. Those tickets go on sale Friday at the Snap Center. We'll be pulling your tickets. I'll probably be communicating with each of you guys regarding your needs in that regard and we'll get that to you. And thank you for your patience, all of us, all of you, for being in this space tonight. Our plan is to be here maybe through December, hopefully maybe not quite that long, but this will be where all of our board meetings will be until the DESC is completely ready. But Chuck's going to get us there sooner than later. I have full confidence.” 

 

 

Following the Superintendent comments, the meeting proceeded as scheduled. 

 

 

 

 

 

Denison High School Journalism and Video Production students have the opportunity to attend the National High School Journalism Convention in Orlando, Florida November 19-22. Students will get to cover topics from a wide range of Journalism including: Ethics and Law, Technology and Design, Advertising and Business Operations, Photography and Art, Writing and Reporting, and so much more. The Board of Trustees approved the out-of-state travel as described for the Denison HS Journalism and Video Production students. 

 

Denison ISD has been awarded $1,700,000 from Educate Texas, a public-private initiative of the Communities Foundation of Texas, and the Texas Instruments Foundation to support the continued implementation and expansion of a districtwide STEM initiative over the next two years. As part of the grant requirements, district leadership will provide the Board of Trustees with quarterly updates to increase awareness, highlight progress, and keep the Board informed of the initiative's implementation, outcomes, and impact on students and staff. The Board of Trustees accepted the $1,700,000 STEM Implementation Grant from the Texas Instruments Foundation and Educate Texas and authorize the Superintendent or designee to execute all necessary agreements and documents required to implement the grant in accordance with the grant requirements. 

 

In response to the 89th Legislative Session, Denison ISD needs revision to several local policies. Although (LEGAL) policies are not adopted by the board, TASB recommends that the board review them. 

The district recommends the board add, revise, or delete (LOCAL) policies as offered by TASB Policy Service for consideration and according to the Instruction Sheet for TASB Localized Policy Manual Update 127: 

 

A public meeting must be held prior to the Board approving the 2026-2027 budget and tax rate. The Board must set and announce the date, time, and place of the meeting. The Board of Trustees set the meeting for the public hearing to discuss the 2026-27 budget and proposed tax rate on August 18, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Denison ISD Service Center located at 3906 South S.H. 91, Denison, TX. 

 

 

The budget committee conducted a review of the draft budget on June 8, 2026. 

Development of the budget was discussed, and input was provided by the 

committee members at the meetings. The first draft of the 2026-27 Budget will be 

presented to the Board of Trustees for discussion. 

 

 

The Texas Education Agency released 2026 STAAR End of Course results on June 10 and STAAR 3-8 results on June 16. The attachment includes Denison’s 2021 through 2026 historical results along with state and district comparisons across grade levels and content areas. 

 

Construction Update – Chuck Edwards 

 

Personnel Report: 

The following resignations were accepted, effective at the end of the school year: 

The following employees have been hired: 

 

Following the Open Session portion of the meeting, the Denison ISD Board of Trustees meeting adjourned and entered Executive Session.  

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED SESSION ITEM: Pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.074, to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer 

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION/CLOSED SESSION ITEM: Under the authority of the Texas Open Meeting Act, Texas Government Code, Sec.551.074, the Board will enter into closed or executive session to review the job performance and evaluation process of the Superintendent. 

 

 

Following the Executive Session portion of the meeting, the Denison ISD Board of Trustees meeting reconvened and the meeting was adjourned.