Board Briefs: March 30, 2026
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Welcome to the latest edition of Manor ISD’s Board Brief! Each month, we will offer a snapshot of key decisions, discussions, and highlights from our most recent board meeting. As always, Manor ISD is committed to transparency and keeping our community informed about the work being done to support our students, staff, and schools. In this update, you'll find information about important approvals, recognitions, and updates on initiatives aimed at enhancing the educational experience across our district.
Watch The Board Meeting Meeting Agenda
Student Recognition
Manor New Tech High School Students Earn First UIL State Championship
Manor New Tech High School students made history as the MNTHS Digital Animation Team earned 1st Place in Division 4A Filmmaking at the UIL State Championship for their film Daisy and Matilda.
Led by sophomore Urduja Raygon, this marks the first UIL state title in campus history. The team competed against top student filmmakers across Texas, with their work recognized for its creativity and technical excellence. Team members also include layout artists Maidienys Carrero, Roselany Marmolejo, and Halle Samaripa.
Manor High School & Manor New Tech High School Students Reach UIL State in Solo & Ensemble
Students from Manor High School and Manor New Tech High School earned UIL State qualification in Solo and Ensemble, the highest honor in the competition.
Only students receiving top ratings at the regional level advance to state, making this a significant achievement that reflects months of dedication and performance excellence.
Manor High School
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Band (Director: Andrew Quinn): Kayla Garcia, Jayden Reyes
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Choir (Director: Dr. Tyler Hughes): Mary Okpara, Tracy Annecka Tantiongco, Zion Calahan, Izayah Malik, Jonathan Garcia-Lopez
Ensemble: Xochitl Garcia, Valeria Robert Castro, Xiamara Mills, Zion Calahan, Izayah Malik, Angel Daniels
Manor New Tech High School
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Band (Director: Ricardo Rodriguez): Ireoluwa Adesanya, Ellen Guerrero Melendez, Oriana Iwabuchi, Yaretzi Landin Rostro, Liam Salinas, Isaac Sosa
Ensemble: Ashley D’Cruz, Kylie Lien, Muneera Shaheryar, Ireoluwa Adesanya, Brenden McNealy, Dario Reyes Gomez, Eli Rodriguez, Hayden Sheard, Daniel Vega -
Choir (Director: Samantha Miller): Joshua Rhea, Lauren Lara
Staff Recognition
Celebrating Excellence: March Staff Recognition
Each month, Manor ISD takes a moment to shine a light on the amazing educators and staff members who make a difference on their campuses every day. At the March Board of Trustees meeting, we had the joy of celebrating each school’s Teacher of the Month and Staff Member of the Month for March. Congratulations to our March 2026 Honorees!
Blake Manor Elementary School
- Harold Cabellon — ECSE Teacher
- Alma Medrano — Dyslexia Interventionist
Bluebonnet Trail Elementary School
- Hwaryoung Lee — Music Teacher
- Michelle Gomez — IC
Child Development Center
- Lori Torrez — Daycare Associate
Decker Elementary School
- Erik Hauck — Instructional Coach
- Tawynna Moore Bell — Senior Administrative Associate
Lagos Elementary School
- Nahely Garcia — 2nd Grade Math & Science Teacher
- Janet Ward — Counselor
Oak Meadows Elementary School
- Maydoly Vera Camacho — 5th Grade Bilingual Teacher
- Patricia Maldonado — Nurse
Pioneer Crossing Elementary School
- Ruby Dano — Inclusion Teacher
- Lorena Zambrano — Pre-K Educational Assistant
Presidential Meadows Elementary School
- Maria Luevanos — ECSE Teacher
- Eneida Johnson — Pre-K Educational Assistant
ShadowGlen Elementary School
- Angelique Davis — Music Teacher
- Debra Vasquez — Computer Lab Aide
Manor Rise Academy
- Melissa Christensen — 3rd Grade Reading Teacher
- Lindsey Clark — Registrar
Decker Middle School
- Sovanna Lieou — 8th Grade Math Teacher
- Angela Arguello — SLE Paraprofessional
Manor New Tech Middle School
- Mark Rosel — 6th Grade Science Teacher
- Jorge Velasco — Inclusion Staff
Manor High School
- Dr. Tyler Hughes — Choir Teacher
- Tywmoya Jennings — Security Officer
Manor New Tech High School
- Annie Chen — Science Teacher
- Courtney Thomas — Athletics Trainer
Closed Session Items
The Manor ISD Board of Trustees has appointed LaKesha Small to serve in the Place 2 trustee position, filling the seat following the passing of beloved educator and board member Dr. Mary Thomas. Small will serve the remainder of Dr. Thomas’ term, which will end in November 2026.
A long-time Manor resident, respected community leader, and advocate for public education, Small brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in the semiconductor industry, along with a deep, personal commitment to the students and families of Manor ISD.
Superintendent Update
Trustees reviewed proposed Mission and Vision statements and provided some feedback for the administration.
CPM 1 Monitoring Report: Teacher Retention
Tonight’s report reflects that the district met the CPM 1 with a 78.1% teacher retention rate for the 2024-2025 school year; the goal was 75%. Highlights of the presentation are:
- Manor ISD pays over 100% of the market rate for 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20-year teachers,
- Manor ISD has multiple pathways for quality teachers to remain in the classroom and earn additional compensation, and
- Manor ISD is making progress with providing an excellent visiting experience with internal and external stakeholders.
GPM 1 & 2 Board Monitoring Report: Math, Reading, and Student Achievement - This presentation provided an update on Goal Progress Measure 1 (reading achievement) and Goal Progress Measure 2 (math achievement) for students in grades K–3. Reading achievement is assessed using Amira Learning (ISIP), and math achievement is assessed using IXL.
Manor ISD continues to see encouraging progress in early literacy, with decreases in the percentage of students reading below grade level in all grades except kindergarten. The most notable gains occurred in 2nd and 3rd grades, each improving the percentage of students on or approaching grade level by 8 percentage points. Additionally, the percentage of students reading at or above grade level increased across most grades, with strong gains in 1st (+8 points) and 3rd grade (+6 points). Students in the “approaching” range (Q2) are showing steady growth and represent a key opportunity for targeted intervention. However, Spanish assessment results indicate an increase in students below grade level across all grades, reflecting both the increased rigor of the Spanish ISIP assessment and the need for continued focus on bilingual literacy support.
In mathematics, the district also demonstrated growth, with decreases in below-grade-level performance in kindergarten and 3rd grade, and increased proficiency across most grade levels—particularly in kindergarten (+11 points), 1st grade (+5 points), and 3rd grade (+7 points). These gains are supported by a strong focus on high-quality Tier 1 instruction, targeted interventions, data-driven decision-making, and ongoing professional development. The implementation of high-quality instructional materials, including Bluebonnet Math, alongside supplemental tools such as Amira, IXL, and STAAR-aligned practice resources, continues to strengthen instruction and support student achievement across K–3.
Monthly Financial Report
The operating financial report for the month ending February (8/12 or 67.0% of the budget year), reflects the following:
- The General Fund has collected $102,851,422 (98.2% of the budgeted revenue), which is an increase of $15,081,679 or 17.2%, year over year.
- The General Fund has spent $67,308,559 (64.3% of the budgeted expenditures), which is a decrease of -$5,726,302 or -7.8%, year over year.
- The Debt Service Fund has collected $43,940,112 (92.8% of the budgeted revenue) and has spent $31,813,086 (53.4% of budgeted expenditures). Debt service payments are made during the months of February and August.
- The Nutrition Program Fund has collected $5,063,798 (48.8% of the budgeted revenue) and has spent $5,504,505 (53.4% of budgeted expenditures).
Bond 2019 Updates
Manor ISD continues to advance projects funded through interest earnings from the 2019 Bond, while also implementing additional eligible initiatives to address evolving facility needs across the district. These efforts support improvements in safety and security, infrastructure, and technology, with a focus on maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient learning environments and addressing aging systems. We have procured an order for 4,200 student devices and 700 staff devices.
Consent Agenda
Consideration and Approval of the Updated 2026-2027 SY Academic Calendar and the 2027-2028 SY Academic Calendar
The Board approved the 2027–2028 academic calendar and updates to the 2026–2027 calendar following input from more than 5,000 stakeholders. Option A was selected based on majority community support.
The 2027–2028 calendar includes an August 11 start date, May 25 last day, and key breaks in October, November, December–January, and March. It includes 172 instructional days with the equivalent of four banked days to cover potential closures. If needed, designated bad weather makeup days will be used.
For 2026–2027, the calendar was updated to include bad weather days, though the district will primarily rely on four banked instructional days to make up for missed time.
Consideration and Approval of RFP 26-007 — School Lottery and Placement Management System
The district released an RFP (Request for Proposals) for a web-based School Lottery and Placement Management System to support student placement for school choice programs, transfers, Early College High Schools, and virtual learning programs.
Of the 5 proposals submitted, SchoolMint scored the highest and the most cost effective. School Mint is also our current vendor, but the new proposal is $5k less than our current annual cost. The contract is for 1 year with the option to renew up to 3 additional consecutive years.
Consideration and Approval of Contract for Freezer and Cooler Preventative Maintenance and Repair Services on a Task Request Basis to be Paid For Out of Child Nutrition Funds
This item supports the ongoing need to maintain and repair freezer and cooler equipment critical to Food and Nutrition Services operations. Regular maintenance and timely repairs help ensure proper food storage, prevent equipment failures, and support compliance with health and safety standards. The total cost of $75,000 will be funded through the Food and Nutrition Services budget. The board approved contract with Hill Refrigeration will provide consistent service and the flexibility to address both routine maintenance and unexpected repair needs throughout the year.
Consideration and Approval to Increase Authorization Over the $70K threshold for HOLT Truck
The board approved increased authorization was needed to better accommodate the rising and occasionally unpredictable costs associated with bus repairs and replacement parts, which are essential to maintaining a safe and reliable transportation fleet. Routine wear and tear, along with periodic unexpected maintenance needs and fluctuations in parts availability and pricing, can place pressure on the current $70,000 limit. A modest increase provides added flexibility to address these needs in a timely manner, helping to avoid potential delays and ensuring consistent transportation services, while remaining within the existing overall budget through the reallocation of funds.
Consideration and Approval for Administration to Purchase Bond Pre-Planning and Communication Services
Following the 2025 bond election, Manor ISD has identified a need to strengthen support in bond planning, community engagement, and strategic communications. The election underscored the importance of ensuring stakeholders clearly understand the district’s long-term facility needs, priorities, and the impact of potential bond proposals.
As the district considers a potential bond election in November 2026, efforts are underway to engage experienced partners to support community feedback, enhance outreach, and develop clear, transparent messaging. This work will help ensure staff, families, and community members are well-informed as the district evaluates needs and plans for the future.
Consideration and Possible Approval of Contract Services with Daybreak to Provide Virtual Counseling Services for over $50,000 - Dr. Harvey
The Board approved a contract with Daybreak, exceeding $50,000, to provide virtual counseling services.
This service is funded through a grant secured by the Manor Education Foundation from the Powell Foundation, allowing Manor ISD to offer virtual counseling to all students, along with additional support for families.
The district will continue pursuing external funding to expand mental health services and support student achievement.