Boyd ISD trustees unanimously voted to call an election for a $63 million, single proposal bond proposal during the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election — the district’s second bond election this year. MICAH MCCARTNEY | WCMESSENGER
For the second time this year, the Boyd ISD Board of Trustees will try to address student overcrowding by putting a $63 million, single proposition bond proposal before voters.
Trustees unanimously approved calling for the bond for the Tuesday, Nov. 4 general election, which includes the same amount the district sought in a bond election held in May. According to Boyd ISD superintendent Tom Woody, no significant price increases on items within the bond package are expected to occur.
The bond’s centerpiece is a two-story, 86,000 square-foot intermediate school campus for Grades 3 through 6 — located southwest of Yellowjacket Stadium on Cemetery Road — priced at $50 million.
An additional $13 million is slated for infrastructure improvements for the new intermediate school, future campuses and remodeling of special needs classrooms.
In the failed May bond election, the district was planning to use about $11 million remaining from its successful May 2024 bond toward the total cost. Woody said the money has already been allocated for building plans and infrastructure work at the site.
The district’s current overcrowding issue is at Boyd Elementary School — a 510-student capacity building that is planning to educate 520 students at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.
Originally built in 1992 with a 350-student capacity, the campus is expected to exceed 600 in the 2028-29 school year, followed by 700 in 2031-32 and 800 in 2032-33.
Beginning in August, pre-Kindergarten classes will move to the district-owned Cornerstone Community Action Agency Head Start building (650 Knox Avenue) in order to help address overcrowding at the elementary school.
Voters rejected Boyd ISD’s $63 million, single proposition bond proposal in the May 2025 general election, 383-297 — an approximate 56 to 44 percent margin of defeat.
Trustees voted to approve the November bond package one week after hearing from community members and teachers during a facilities planning meeting.
The board had considered purchasing portable classroom buildings or leasing a 12-classroom modular building. However, trustees went forward with pursuing another bond election after seeing the price per square foot was about $400 per square foot — just $50 less per square foot if the district constructed a new intermediate school building.
According to Woody, the district will re-evaluate the impact the bond proposal will have on taxpayers when Boyd ISD’s certified values are released by the Wise County Appraisal District at the end of the month.
Trustees also unanimously approved the district’s 2025-26 school year compensation plan, which includes a general pay rise for all employees, as well as equity adjustments for employees whose current salaries are below the market median.
According to Boyd ISD Chief Financial Officer Shanda Wood, the compensation plan will increase the district’s total employee payroll by $759,000.
Under the new plan, Boyd ISD’s starting teacher salary will be $47,400, and will add between $1,500 and $2,489 for Steps 0-2.
Following the passage of House Bill 2 by the Texas legislature, Step 3 and 4 teachers will receive an additional state allotment of $4,000, while teachers on Step 5 and higher will get $8,000.
The increases in teacher salaries represent a range of 3 percent to 14 percent, depending on the step.
A local allotment will be added to mate the state for instructional coaches, counselors and registered nurses that have been paid based on the teacher salary schedule.
The district’s minimum salary for paraprofessionals will be $15 per hour, while custodians, maintenance and food service employees will start out at an hourly rate of $13.50.
A pay increase of 4 percent will be given to all classified personnel, with equity adjustments for staff due to duties and market study.
All campus administrative staff will receive a 2 percent raise. Assistant principals will also receive equity adjustments.
In other business:
- Trustees approved two purchase orders for Indeco Sales totaling $202,846 were approved to replace and install new tables and chairs inside the Boyd Elementary School and Boyd High School cafeterias. Of the amount, $28,548 will be used to replace equipment purchased in 1992 at the elementary campus, while the remaining $174,298 will be spent to overhaul seating at the high school.
- The district’s new cellphone policy was updated to reflect House Bill 1481, which was signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott June 22. Personal communication devices such as cellphones, smart watches, tablets, ear buds, headphones, gaming devices and pagers are prohibited during the school day. Woody said students at Boyd High School will continue to use the Yondr device pouches purchased by the district last year, while students at Boyd Middle School will continue to use their storage components.
- A new 1-year, $31,250 agreement to keep Elevate Student Nutrition as the district’s child nutrition management provider.
- Boyd ISD’s 2025-26 school year paid meal prices were announced. District-wide, breakfast will increase 10 cents to $2.20. Lunch prices will also see a 10-cent increase, bringing the price to $3.15 at the elementary school, $3.30 at the intermediate/middle school and $3.40 at the high school.
- Trustees voted to not allow homeschooled students to participate in the district’s UIL-sanctioned activities. Woody told board members the district has until September 1 if trustees wanted to reverse the decision and opt in on the plan.
- The district’s depository contract with First Financial Bank was extended by two years, running until August 31, 2027. Under Texas Education Code 45.205(b), a school district and a depository bank may extend a depository contract for three additional two-year terms. The extension is the parties’ second two-year term.
- The board voted to increase Woody’s annual salary by 10 percent from its current amount, bringing the superintendent’s annual pay to $150,700.
- Resignations for Abigail Figueroa (BHS), Kayla Horton (BHS), Pamelia Williams (BHS food service), Nathan Miller (BMS), Jason Cobb (BES), Judy Scroggins (BES food service manager) and Cristy Cary (maintenance/custodian) were accepted.
- Teacher assignment transfers for Judy Ledbetter (BIS) and Morgan Taylor (BMS) were approved.
- Trustees approved 12 new hires — Tasha Cox (BHS), Jackson Parker (BHS), Kristen Stockard (BHS), Michael Dansby (BMS), Nathaniel Ragan (BMS), Tracy Conner (BIS), Dianna Brashier (BES), Kurtis Chaney (BES), Christina Clemans (BES child nutrition), Deborah Utley (BES child nutrition manager), Jonna McCoy (food service/child nutrition) and Lucas Woodby (maintenance).
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