SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo ISD school board met Monday and reviewed updates to bond-funded school construction, debated staff pay raises, and heard community appeals on whether to allow homeschool students to participate in UIL activities alongside district students.
A central focus of the meeting was the planned expansion at Crockett Elementary School, where trustees reviewed a bid for the construction of a new cafeteria and classroom addition. The proposed $10.3 million project will add approximately 21,000 square feet, including eight new classrooms, new restrooms, a new cafeteria with a stage and kitchen, and 77 additional parking spaces. The project is part of SAISD’s broader efforts to consolidate campuses as district enrollment continues to decline.
RJ Lopez, representing Parkhill Architects, said that by deciding not to demolish the existing cafeteria and kitchen as originally planned, the district saved costs and was able to expand the classroom addition from six to eight rooms for half the price it would have cost to build the classrooms separately.
“Instead of demolishing the cafeteria, we were actually able to build two new classrooms,” Lopez said.
He explained that preserving the existing cafeteria avoided costly work to reroute electrical systems connected to the older facility and freed up funds for additional classroom space. Lopez noted the extra classrooms could support future needs under the district’s long-range master plan.
Two construction firms submitted bids, with Lee Lewis Construction scoring highest and offering the lowest price of $10,328,500. Trustees, however, voted to delay approval until next week to allow a full board to be present. Board President Taylor Kingman and Trustee Pam Duncan were both absent from the meeting.
Bond Update Details District-Wide Projects
Trustees also received an extensive update on progress under the district’s 2025 bond program. Lopez outlined timelines and design plans for a series of construction projects aimed at improving campuses across San Angelo ISD over the next four years.
San Angelo ISD Bond Project Timeline
“We are underway,” Lopez said. “We’re meeting daily now on these projects, and we’re excited to get them going.”
The bond plan prioritizes safety and capital renewal projects first, with larger renovations and new construction scheduled to follow in phases. One of the first major bond projects is the Crockett Elementary expansion. Beyond classrooms and a cafeteria, improvements will include new restrooms, expanded parking, a basketball court, and a new playground.
Crockett Elementary School Addition
Safety enhancements funded by the bond include new fire alarm systems, upgraded paging and notification systems in every classroom, and new water and sewer lines at Crockett. Lopez emphasized that new construction would include modern utility services, resolving past plumbing and electrical problems.
Construction at Crockett Elementary is expected to start in August, pending board approval of the bid from Lee Lewis Construction.
Lopez said bond planning teams will conduct walkthroughs this week at Glenn Middle School, Central High School, and Lake View High School to begin design discussions for additional projects. Future plans include visiting recently built campuses around Texas so principals and educators can see modern facilities and explore ideas for San Angelo’s own upgrades.
“It’s exciting to get going, and we’re looking forward to it,” Lopez said.
Dr. Chris Moran, superintendent, added that the district will present a framework for launching a Bond Oversight Committee at next week’s meeting. That group will be built around members of the district’s previous Facility Advisory Committee to provide public accountability and updates as bond projects move forward.
Compensation Plan Sparks Discussion
Another lengthy portion of Monday’s meeting centered on SAISD’s proposed compensation plan for 2025-2026, driven by new state mandates under House Bill 2. Dr. Merl Brandon, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Support Services, detailed the complex funding picture that emerged from the recent legislative session.
Teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a $5,000 raise, while those with three to four years will receive $2,500, and teachers in their first two years will see a $1,500 increase.
Dr. Brandon said the district is working to balance competitive pay for all employees while facing significant budget constraints, noting that salaries consume about 83% of operating costs, leaving little margin for other expenses.
Trustees examined how to fairly compensate non-instructional staff, including paraprofessionals and manual trades workers, whose wages lag behind market averages despite a Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) study recommending adjustments.
Trustee Karla Cardenas expressed concern about low starting wages:
“These starting rates are alarming," she said. "They have families. They’re running around, they’re running the show a lot of times.”
Moran acknowledged the challenge, noting that even with proposed adjustments, the district remains constrained by available funding.
“Everything you’re seeing here is reflective of market, those positions in the market," Moran said. "And I’m not saying I like it or agree with the pay on all of it, but that’s where it came from."
One of the most difficult financial decisions facing trustees is how much of a projected $41 monthly increase in employee health insurance premiums the district should absorb. Dr. Brandon laid out several budget scenarios ranging from the district covering the entire increase to sharing costs with employees. Trustees discussed whether lower-paid employees might suffer disproportionate impacts if required to shoulder the full premium hike.
“I’m just thinking the impact of $41 a month on, you know, somebody who makes $60,000 a year, or $80,000 a year, is going to be much less than on somebody who makes $28,000 a year,” Vice President Amy Mizell Flint said.
Homeschool Participation Under Senate Bill 401
Public comments at the meeting highlighted Senate Bill 401, which changes the law to allow homeschooled students to participate in UIL activities unless a district votes to opt out by Sept. 1.
Chris Matlock, a San Angelo parent, spoke during public comment, urging the board to allow homeschool students access to extracurricular activities, particularly for his son who wishes to play soccer.
“We’re here to implore you to vote to not opt out of homeschool participation,” Matlock said. “We fully plan to adopt whatever rules you put in place, whether that be a standardized test, grade reporting, vaccinations, whatever that is.”
Jericho Matlock, age 14, also addressed the board directly:
“I’m standing here speaking today because I love to play sports, specifically soccer," he said. "Soccer helps me keep active, and as my mom would say, helps me use all the energy I’ve stored up. I’ve played soccer since I was 5 years old. But when I was 10, I started playing for elite. Elite is a travel team, and did that for over four years. So now I’m playing for the league on Sundays here in San Angelo. If you would allow me to try out and possibly make the soccer team, it would mean a lot to me.”
SAISD has historically barred non-enrolled students from participating in UIL activities out of concern that homeschool students could displace enrolled students on competitive teams. Dr. Moran explained the new legal landscape:
“If the San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees would like to continue the current practice of not allowing, then you’ll need to adopt a policy declining enrollment, and if you choose as a board to allow that, you take no action, and by default, then students would be allowed to participate.”
Dr. Moran cautioned against fluctuating policy:
“We want to be careful not to jerk them around," he said. "And so I would suggest that whatever decision the board makes, you stick with it. Because it’s not fair to the kids, you know, and we need to keep that in mind.”
Trustees will vote on the matter before the state’s Sept. 1 deadline.
"We'll bring it to you (the board) next week," Moran said. "You don't have to act next week, but by September 1, if you choose not to act, then by doing nothing, that's the decision to allow that to occur."
Legislative Updates, Flood Damage Reports, and Demolition Projects
Dr. Moran also briefed the board on a potential special legislative session, noting Governor Abbott has placed the possible removal of the STAAR test on the agenda, though accountability testing of some form is expected to remain.
Tony Kennedy, Director of Maintenance and Operations, updated trustees on flood damage after recent heavy rains, reporting that school buildings sustained surprisingly minor issues. The most significant problem occurred at Reagan Elementary, where water entered behind a stucco wall. Repairs, estimated at around $20,000 less than anticipated, will include replacing insulation, installing flashing, and upgrading gutters.
"We did better than we could possibly hope," he said. "After the flooding, we did not have any major damage. I was very impressed. We had several individuals from the custodial department and the maintenance department who showed up while it was still flooding. We had every school north and east had some type of flooding, but those dedicated staff members went out and they cleaned carpets, they extracted them, they put fans on them, they sucked water out with wet and dry vacs. They cleaned they did such a great job. I was so impressed they were actually in great shape."
The board also reviewed bids for demolishing unused facilities at Austin and San Jacinto elementary campuses, prompted by declining enrollment and structural issues. Jason Henry, Director of Purchasing, said Reese Albert Trucking and Building Abatement Demolition Company Inc. submitted qualified bids, with demolition at San Jacinto expected to start as soon as Aug. 11. Trustees raised concerns about dust and debris affecting nearby Head Start operations.
“I’m a little concerned, especially with the kids being feet away,” Cardenas said.
Henry assured the board that contractors experienced in similar projects, including work at Angelo State University, would handle the work safely.
“We’ll have construction fencing up, and we’ll keep everybody back out of that area,” Henry said. "The company that's doing it, they were the ones who assisted in tearing down the old men's high-rise at ASU. They're very experienced with this type of work."
Demolition at San Jacinto will proceed during the school year, while the district is evaluating whether some work could be postponed to holiday breaks.
Looking Ahead
Trustees will reconvene next Monday to vote on the Crockett Elementary construction bid, finalize the 2025-26 compensation plan, and potentially decide SAISD’s stance on homeschool participation in UIL activities.
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