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The Abilene ISD Board of Trustees held a combined workshop and regular meeting Thursday, Sept. 3 at the District Support Center (241 Pine Street). The AISD community is invited to attend meetings in person or watch online through AISD Live. A list of future meeting dates is available at www.abileneisd.org/board.
Workshop
2027-28 Academic Calendar
Executive Director of Human Resources Chris Bailey shared an overview of the calendar development process as the district prepares to draft the calendar for the 2027-28 school year. Calendar development will begin this month, in collaboration with the Calendar Development Committee and Districtwide Consultation Committee. Families and staff members will have the opportunity to share feedback through a survey in November before the final calendar draft is presented to the Board for consideration and approval in December.
Head Start Governance & ERSEA Training
The Board of Trustees participated in required Head Start governance and eligibility training led by Director of Early Childhood Programs Julie Wilson. Mrs. Wilson shared that Crockett Early Head Start aims to serve families with the highest needs in the community, noting that the program is currently at capacity with a waitlist.
During her presentation, Mrs. Wilson thanked the Board for supporting the employment of 11 recent AISD graduates at Long Early Learning Center. The former students all earned Career and Technical Education credits in high school through the district’s early childhood programs, preparing them for a clear path to employment. Mrs. Wilson noted staff members at Long helped the new graduates develop resumes and practice for their interviews to prepare for the hiring process.
Regular Meeting
Superintendent’s Announcements
Dr. Waldron began the meeting by spotlighting the upcoming Crosstown Showdown football games at Shotwell Stadium and the upcoming Labor Day holiday. He also shared his firsthand experience with new instructional coaching initiatives underway in AISD classrooms through a TEA LIFT grant and partnership with Big Rock Education Services.
During classroom visits at Ward Elementary School, he observed real-time coaching in action and helped collect data on student engagement. In case you missed it, Dr. Waldron shared more about the value of coaching in the first episode of his new video series, A Word with Waldron.
Teaching Minute
Abilene ISD’s Teaching Minute video series returned with a new episode featuring Taylor Wise’s kindergarten class at Ward Elementary School. Mrs. Wise shared how intentional beginning-of-year routines, like using new school supplies, helps young learners develop confidence and experience the joy of learning.
Report: Academic Performance Update
Chief Academic Officer Lyndsey Williamson presented a detailed look at Abilene ISD’s A-F accountability results following the TEA’s recent release and Dr. Waldron’s community update.
Mrs. Williamson celebrated areas of progress and pinpointed strategic responses for areas to improve. She noted that the district has already implemented several strategies, including a new elementary math curriculum, a stronger focus on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and expanded instructional coaching through the TEA LIFT grant.
“We were very proactive before this information even got to us officially from TEA,” Superintendent Dr. Joe Waldron said. “This summer was filled with strategic action in order to make sure that on day one of school, these responses were in place with the right kind of energy and the right kind of support.”
Board Action
Facility Assessment Service Provider: The Board approved the vendor evaluation rankings as presented and authorized the superintendent or designee to negotiate a final professional services contract with the highest-ranked proposer. The facility assessment will establish a clear picture of current facility conditions and identify the most critical building and system needs, providing data to support the Long-Range Facility Planning Committee process.
SB 12 Annual Certification of Compliance: Following a public hearing, the Board certified the district’s compliance with specified Texas Education Code requirements outlined in Senate Bill 12.