The Whitney Independent School District Board of Trustees met in regular session Monday, May 12, where the results of the recent school board election were canvassed and two members took their oaths of office.
Incumbent Amy Hoffman retained her seat with 355 votes, and new member Raygenna Heath received the next-highest amount of votes with 236. Hoffman and Heath were sworn in after the election was canvassed and will go on to serve three-year terms.
Outgoing school board member Katie Foster was recognized for her years of service, with Superintendent Todd Southard saying: “When someone takes on this job of being a school board member, they do it because they have a big heart for kids – they have a big heart for this district. I don’t think anyone has a bigger heart than Katie.”
Foster spoke in open forum: “The work that we do here matters. It shapes classrooms, influences teachers and should define the culture of our community. I leave my seat with pride in what we have accomplished together,” she said.
Whitney High School Agriculture Teacher Lauren Girsh gave a presentation on a potential Whitney Future Farmers of America puppy raising program, where students can assist in raising service dogs in training.
Girsh launched a similar program at South Grand Prairie High School, working with the DFW-based Scout’s Legacy and helping to graduate 37 dogs, one of which she now owns.
Girsh said that she intends to kick off the program with a small group of students, mostly high school seniors, and dogs that have had extensive prior training and are already close to graduation.
Students enrolled in the program will work together and take turns keeping the animals, and a room at the ag building is available to house the dogs during school hours when necessary.
Under this program, all expenses would be covered by Scout’s Legacy; a participating student needs only to donate their time. Every dog in training through Scout’s Legacy is covered with a $1 million insurance policy.
Staff members of the month were as follows: elementary school employees Rachel Elton and Ashley Strickland; intermediate school employees Lindsey Threadgill and Jan Holt; middle school employees Carmen Basaldu and Marilyn Ibarra; and high school employee Brad Coffelt.
Students of the month were: elementary school students Barrett Schadt and Ashlyn Heath; intermediate school students Sean and Jay Bustos; middle school students Hunter Hoffman and Katie Roberts; and high school student Cael Palmer.
The board approved renewing the district’s student blanket-insurance with Texas Kids First for the 2025-26 year, and an action item to consider the approval of a bid for the elementary school roof to be painted was tabled, to be discussed at a later date.
The annual audit engagement letter with accounting firm JRBT was approved, and the board voted to grant Superintendent Todd Southard authority to approve new teacher contracts over the summer months.
Enrollment stands at 1,421, down from 1,424. Resigning were Melissa Allen, Christopher Roberts, Kaeyln New and Jackson Howard.
New hires were: Chad Adkins, middle school principal; Mitchell Rodden, high school Disciplinary Alternative Education Program teacher and coach; and Phillip Sauceda, middle school security guard.
The next meeting will be June 16, at 6 p.m. in the WISD Administration Board Room at 305 South San Jacinto Street.
The Lakelander 