Meeting Opening and Invocation
The meeting was called to order with a quorum present. After an executive session, the board reconvened for a facilities assessment workshop led by Scott Bean from TASB, who provided a detailed report on the district's facilities condition, maintenance planning, and recommendations for future budgeting and upkeep. The board planned to hold a workshop in November to discuss these findings further and incorporate them into budgeting and planning processes. The meeting then recessed and reconvened at 6:00 PM.

Consent Agenda and Training Compliance
The board reviewed continuing education reports for trustees. All trustees except Mr. Bolton had completed required trainings, including Open Meetings Act, cybersecurity, and child abuse prevention. Mr. Bolton acknowledged his incomplete trainings and committed to completing them. The board approved all consent agenda items (a through k) unanimously (6-0), including budget amendments and categorical spending items.

District Improvement Plan
Tammy presented the district improvement plan, which aligns with the strategic plan priorities: student achievement, human capital, culture, and facility and financial stewardship. The plan is developed through a needs assessment and input from district leaders and is similar to campus improvement plans. The board unanimously approved the district improvement plan (6-0). It sounds like we have another bond on the horizon.

Library Book Selection (SB 13)
The board discussed the new library book selection process in compliance with Texas Senate Bill 13, which prohibits acquisition or retention of materials deemed harmful or sexually explicit. The district has a list of over 700 books for trustee review, and trustees can submit books for further review. The board approved the library book list unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments on Library Books
Monica Brown spoke during public comments about concerns with the rejection of certain books by the district, including "Texas Before the Lone Star," a publication by the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She criticized the rejection, which was attributed to HB 900, a law aimed at stopping sexually explicit books, and expressed disappointment that these educational and historical books were not accepted. She also criticized the presence of certain books in the library she considered inappropriate, advocating for parental choice and better book selections aligned with community values.

Nomination to Hood Central Appraisal District (HCAD) Board
The board discussed nominating up to five individuals to the Hood Central Appraisal District Board. Several names were proposed: Scott Bradley, Eddie Rodriguez, John Highsmith, Rick Fry, James Wall, Richard Hoffs, and Mark McDonald.
Conservative trustees expressed strong opposition to nominating Eddie Rodriguez and Rick Fry due to their involvement in a prior period of financial mismanagement and misappropriation of taxpayer funds at HCAD, documented in a "red book" presented last year. They detailed issues such as attempts to set up a home office corporation, shell companies, land swaps, and significant audit errors requiring restatement of prior years' audits, with over $217,000 in write-offs. They emphasized the need for honesty and integrity for taxpayers and were uncomfortable nominating anyone who served on the board during that problematic period.
It was noted that Rick Fry did not wish to be re-nominated. The board ultimately nominated five individuals excluding Eddie Rodriguez and Rick Fry: Scott Bradley, John Highsmith, James Wall, Richard Hoffs, and Mark McDonald. The motion to accept these nominees passed unanimously (6-0). Eddie Rodriquez will be completely out of local government after the Nov 4 election.

Audit Services Recommendation
The board reviewed a recommendation for district audit services from a Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Six CPA firms were evaluated, with Snow Garrett recommended as the first choice and Pattillo Brown Hill as the second choice. The evaluation considered qualifications, experience, school district specialization, timeline, quality assurance, and references.
Some trustees expressed concerns about continuing with Snow Garrett due to their role as the outgoing auditor for HCAD during the period of audit discrepancies. There was discussion about the benefits of changing auditors every five to seven years for transparency and fresh perspectives. The board decided to postpone voting on the audit services until the next meeting to allow for further questions and community input.

Financial Reports and Recognition
The board received financial statements, categorical spending reports, and investment policy review.
Community donations totaling over $28,000 were acknowledged, supporting various campus activities, field trips, and student programs. National Merit Scholars were recognized for their academic achievements.
The board also approved staff recommendations discussed in closed session unanimously (6-0).

Facilities Assessment Workshop
Scott Bean from TASB presented a detailed educational facility assessment covering 27 district facilities. The assessment included evaluations of building components such as HVAC, plumbing, lighting, security systems, specialized learning spaces, and ADA compliance. The average age of educational buildings in Texas was noted as 40-50 years, with Granbury ISD slightly below that average.
The report emphasized the importance of proactive maintenance planning and budgeting to preserve the district's physical assets, which represent the community's largest investment. The board was encouraged to use the data to prioritize maintenance projects and plan strategically for the future.
The board expressed gratitude for the detailed report and planned to use it in upcoming workshops to guide facility-related decisions and budgeting.