Keller ISD Board Meeting Recap - May 15, 2025
Public Comment Section
Several community members addressed the board on various topics:
Community Unity and Division Concerns:
Multiple speakers expressed satisfaction that the creation of a new district was being tabled, with several calling for the establishment of a "unity committee" to help heal divisions in the district.
One speaker criticized the board's previous attempt to split the district without a public referendum, stating the fight "will not be over until the people that push this through resign."
A parent of a transgender student emphasized the importance of visibility and inclusivity for all students.
Budget and Financial Concerns:
A speaker requested the district rebid its transportation contract, noting the $16 million budget allocation seemed excessive.
Another urged Keller ISD to join with other districts to challenge the Tarrant County Appraisal District's fee assessment methodology, highlighting that while Keller ISD's taxable value is $27.3 billion, it pays $1.5 million in fees, while the City of Southlake with $11.8 billion in value only pays $194,000.
One speaker mentioned a bill in Austin that would require appraisal districts to reappraise property annually, with potential implications for school funding.
Procedural and Policy Requests:
A request was made for clarification on the status of the Tarrant County Community College MOU, as families are at risk of losing dual credit tuition.
One speaker suggested allowing board members to select community members to offer prayers at meetings on a rotating basis.
A request was made to review the district's truancy tribunal process.
Board Meeting
New District Formation Resolution
The board voted unanimously (7-0) to approve a resolution concerning no action on the creation of a new independent school district by detachment. This formally ended consideration of splitting the district, an issue that had caused significant controversy in the community. The resolution stated that the Keller ISD Board of Trustees "shall not initiate the creation of a new district by detachment" as outlined in section 13.103 of applicable laws and board policy.
Administrative Appointments
The board unanimously approved several administrative appointments for the 2025-2026 school year, including:
Christina Benhoff as Principal of Timber Creek High School
Sydney Bramer as Principal of Trinity Meadows Intermediate School
Several director-level positions including:
Lisa McDaniel as Director of Special Education
NaMicha Williams as Executive Director of Human Resources
Brandy Crow as Director of Language Programs
Fleet Management Agreement
The board unanimously approved a lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management to address the aging district vehicle fleet. The proposal noted that 39 maintenance vehicles are over 15 years old, and 84% of all vehicles are over 10 years old with most exceeding 85,000 miles.
Key points of the agreement include:
A phased replacement of 22 vehicles over a five-year period
Utilization of Enterprise's manufacturer purchasing power, saving 5-7% on vehicle costs
Budget predictability with annual costs of approximately $14,000 per vehicle
Reduced maintenance costs through newer, warrantied vehicles
The district maintaining ownership rights and equity in the vehicles
Flexibility to exit the agreement if needed
The district had already spent over $110,000 on vehicle repairs and maintenance by March 2025, with some vehicles being unrepairable due to age. The agreement will help transition from a 14-year replacement cycle to a 4-5 year cycle without requiring bond funding or use of fund balance.
Virtual Healthcare Services
The board unanimously approved a contract with Marathon Health for virtual primary care and mental health services. This decision follows the closure of the district's K-WELL clinic. The service will:
Cost $12 per month per covered employee (employees only, not dependents)
Allow employees to see the same healthcare provider consistently, unlike typical telehealth services
Be funded from the district's existing hospital benefit plan
Provide a transition solution for the 2025-2026 school year
The district opted for a fixed-cost model for budget predictability rather than a variable-cost approach that might have started lower ($9 per employee) but could have increased based on usage.
Policy Updates
The board unanimously approved the adoption of several policy revisions from TASB Policy Updates. These updates had been previewed in March with no changes since that time.
Budget and Legislative Update
Dr. Wilson and John Allison provided an extensive update on the district's budget situation and potential state funding:
State Funding Challenges:
The Texas House passed HB2 on April 21, which would have provided Keller ISD with approximately $16.2 million in additional funding through a $395 increase in the basic allotment.
The Senate's version dramatically alters the funding approach, directing money specifically to teacher raises through an allotment rather than through basic allotment increases.
Under the Senate plan, teachers with 3-4 years of experience would receive $2,500 raises and those with 5+ years would receive $5,500. However, teachers with 0-2 years of experience and all non-teaching staff would receive nothing.
The district would be required to implement these raises without additional funding to cover the associated benefit costs (approximately $2 million).
Dr. Wilson expressed frustration that the bill singles out certain employees while not addressing all staff needs, stating: "Every employee matters. Every single one of them."
District Budget Status:
The district is tracking close to budget projections for the current year.
For the 2025-2026 budget, assumptions include:
Enrollment decline of 450 students
Average daily attendance of 94%
No increase to the basic allotment (under current law)
Flat property value growth
The district has identified about $12.2 million in efficiency measures including:
$6.5 million in staffing reductions across elementary, middle, high school, and district levels
$800,000 in department budget reductions
Program changes including early childhood program modifications and optional transportation changes
More efficient delivery of intervention services
Long-term Challenges:
The district is experiencing declining enrollment that's projected to continue for the next 10 years
86% of the district's budget goes to personnel costs
Property tax compression has reduced local funding without proportional state increases
The basic allotment hasn't increased since 2019 despite significant inflation
Future Plans
Several upcoming events were mentioned:
High school graduations scheduled for May 24, 2025:
Central High School at 8 a.m.
Fossil Ridge High School at 12 p.m.
Keller High School at 4 p.m.
Timber Creek High School at 8 p.m.
A regular board meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2025
The board needs to approve a budget prior to July 1, 2025, following the required 10-day public posting
The administration noted they will need to continue budget planning despite legislative uncertainty, with major budget decisions possibly needed after the formal budget approval.