Blooming Grove ISD Board Meeting Community Update

June 25, 2026

The Blooming Grove ISD Board of Trustees met on June 25 and addressed several important items impacting our students, staff, and community. As a district, we strive to communicate effectively with all individuals, and we believe this recap will be beneficial to everyone.

Superintendent's Report Highlights

Bond Construction Update

Blooming Grove ISD is officially in construction mode at the elementary campus. The fencing project is nearing completion, demolition of the existing office space is underway, and dirt work for the new parking lot has begun. Construction on the new roadway connecting the campus to Granger Street will begin soon.

Bounds Construction remains confident that both the new parking lot and roadway improvements will be completed before students return for the 2026-2027 school year.

The district also held its first bi-weekly construction meeting on June 25. These meetings will continue throughout the project to monitor progress, address concerns, and ensure timelines remain on track.

In addition, the district continues to evaluate HVAC concerns at the elementary campus. Preliminary evaluations indicate that significant HVAC renovations may be necessary to properly address the issues identified. Additional information will be provided once the engineer's final report is received.

Fiscal Responsibility and Program Evaluations

As part of our commitment to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, the district continues to evaluate software subscriptions, memberships, and contracted services to ensure resources are being utilized effectively.

After reviewing usage data and staff feedback, several programs and services were identified for reduction or elimination with minimal impact on district operations. These adjustments will result in approximately $59,344 in annual savings, allowing resources to be redirected toward district priorities while maintaining high-quality services for students and staff.

Effective District Framework

This summer, a team consisting of three teachers, three principals, Ashlee Crabtree, and Judy Paschal attended Region 12's Effective District Framework (EDF) training.

The EDF is a research-based continuous improvement model that helps school districts evaluate systems, practices, and structures that have the greatest impact on student achievement. Rather than focusing on individual programs, the framework helps districts align instructional practices, leadership, curriculum, professional learning, and student support systems to maximize student success.

This work will guide Blooming Grove ISD as we continue evaluating and improving instructional practices across all campuses.

Technology Usage Committee

The district is establishing a committee to develop clear expectations and instructional norms for technology use from Pre-K through 12th grade.

The goal is to ensure technology supports instruction rather than drives instruction. The committee will review current practices, research-based strategies, and district needs to develop age-appropriate expectations that support student engagement, critical thinking, and meaningful learning experiences.

BGISD 10 Instructional Essentials & Daily Writing Initiative

As part of our continuous improvement efforts, Blooming Grove ISD will develop district-wide instructional expectations through the creation of the BGISD 10 Instructional Essentials.

These expectations will focus on:

• Clear learning objectives and success criteria
• Active student engagement
• High-quality questioning and discussion
• Daily writing and critical thinking
• Frequent checks for understanding
• Immediate feedback and instructional adjustments
• High expectations for all learners

A key component of this work will be the implementation of a district-wide Daily Writing Protocol. Every student, in every classroom, every day will engage in meaningful writing aligned to lesson objectives.

Students will utilize the RACE framework (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain) and the CUPS framework (Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, Spelling) to strengthen communication skills, critical thinking, and academic achievement across all content areas.

This work supports our commitment to ensuring instruction drives learning and that every student experiences rigorous, engaging, and meaningful instruction every day.

Playground Equipment to Remain in Blooming Grove

As construction begins on the elementary campus through our bond projects, the playground equipment previously located at the front of the elementary school can no longer be utilized by the district. The Board approved declaring the equipment surplus and approved a Public Use Guarantee that will allow the equipment to be donated to the City of Blooming Grove.

The Board felt strongly that this equipment should continue serving the children and families of Blooming Grove. The playground equipment will be transferred to the city and installed at the city park so that it can continue benefiting our community for years to come.

Policy Update 127 Approved

The Board approved TASB Policy Update 127, ensuring district policies remain aligned with current legal requirements and best practices.

Math Curriculum Adoption

Following a comprehensive review process involving teachers and administrators, the Board approved the district's math curriculum adoption for the 2026-2027 school year.

• Blooming Grove Elementary will adopt SAVVAS Math.
• Blooming Grove Junior High and High School will continue using McGraw Hill Math.

Multiple factors were considered during the selection process, including curriculum quality, alignment to Texas standards, teacher feedback, and the success of similar districts across the state. We are confident these resources will support both student achievement and teacher effectiveness.

Student Handbook Approved

The Board approved the 2026-2027 Student Handbook. No major changes were made outside of updates required by state law.

Compensation Plan Approved

The Board approved the district's 2026-2027 Compensation Plan, continuing our commitment to attracting and retaining quality employees while remaining fiscally responsible.

The district will continue contributing $509 per month ($6,108 annually) toward employee health insurance coverage.  

Teacher Salary Schedule

• Each teacher on the step scale will increase to the next step

Staff Pay Increases

• Non-exempt staff will receive a 3% increase based on the 2026-2027 midpoint salary.
• Exempt staff will receive a 3% increase based on the 2026-2027 midpoint salary.

Additional Action Items Approved

The Board also approved:

• The General Legal Services Agreement with Leon Acalla for bond and 313 agreements. 
• Revisions to Policy DC (Local), continuing superintendent hiring authority.
• The annual Region 12 ESC Contract for the 2026-2027 school year.

District of Innovation (DOI) Renewal Presentation

The Board received a presentation on the proposed renewal of the District of Innovation Plan. Thank you to the DOI Committee members who dedicated their time to reviewing and updating the plan. The proposed DOI plan has been posted for public review and feedback as part of the renewal process.The board will vote on the proposed plan in July. 

See attached proposed DOI Plan

Safety Committee Presentation

Executive Director Ashlee Crabtree presented recommendations from the district Safety Committee based on findings from the Region 12 Safety Audit conducted earlier this year. The committee identified several minor improvements that will continue strengthening safety and security across the district. As part of our commitment to maintaining safe and secure learning environments, the Safety Committee recently reviewed the findings from the Region 12 Safety Audit and identified several improvement areas for the 2026-2027 school year.

Key recommendations include strengthening emergency procedures through additional staff training on bomb threats, suspicious phone calls, CPR/AED response, and cardiac emergency protocols. The district will also continue improving facility security through measures such as securing unused lockers, enhancing access control, improving emergency signage, installing additional safety hardware, and ensuring staff are familiar with utility shutoff locations across all campuses.

Additional focus areas include reviewing hazardous material storage, updating chemical inventories, improving emergency response documentation, and strengthening key control and facility access procedures. Many of these items are low-cost improvements that will further enhance our overall safety and emergency preparedness efforts.

The district appreciates the work of the Safety Committee and staff members who continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and visitors.

Budget Workshop

The Board participated in a budget workshop focused on planning for the 2026-2027 school year. Discussions included:

• Enrollment trends
• District revenues and expenditures
• Current spending patterns
• Long-term financial planning

These conversations help ensure Blooming Grove ISD remains financially stable while continuing to invest in students and staff.

Superintendent Annual Evaluation

The Board conducted the Superintendent's annual evaluation, reviewing progress toward district goals and discussing priorities for the future.

Thank you for your continued support of Blooming Grove ISD. Together, we remain committed to providing outstanding opportunities for our students while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources.

Be the Standard.