ALL THE BUZZ

Sincerely,

Dr. James Barton

Caldwell ISD Superintendent

The Board meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM followed by the pledge and prayer, led by Matt Hicks.

Recognize Students & Staff

Dr. James Barton, Caldwell ISD Superintendent, recognized Axell Escalante and Kailey Simon, who were selected as Caldwell ISD’s “January Students of the Month.” Additionally, he recognized Elimar Zamora as the “January Employee of the Month.”

Public Input

There was no public input this month.

Board of Trustees

Vicki Ochs spoke about the Little Stingers employee daycare transition and the commended the daycare staff on their ability to adapt their daily routines without impacting the students. Matt Hicks also spoke about the importance of CTE courses to provide the best opportunity for our students to get exposure to different career opportunities.

Superintendent’s Report

Welcome to the New Board Room:

Dr. Barton gave a public welcome to the new board room location and expressed his sincere gratitude to the City of Caldwell for partnering with the District through the lease agreement. With the hard work of our maintenance and business office staff, we successfully moved in ahead of schedule and are back to business as normal.

Enrollment Report:

The enrollment of Caldwell ISD is currently 1,925 students.

Introductions:

Dr. Barton introduced Mrs. Lindsay Krueger as Caldwell ISD’s new Technology Director. With 24 years of dedicated service to the district, Mrs. Krueger has held various impactful roles—from Kindergarten teacher to high school business instructor, and most recently as the Technology Instructional Coach. Her extensive experience and commitment to Caldwell ISD make her an exceptional fit for this leadership position.

Additionally, Mrs. Heather Escalante has been named the new Deputy Superintendent. A valued member of the Caldwell ISD team for several years, Mrs. Escalante previously served as the Chief Operating Officer, where she demonstrated exceptional leadership and problem-solving skills. She has already made significant strides in her new role, addressing challenges and advancing initiatives that align with the district’s mission.

Informational Reports

ASPIRE Update:

Tammie Novosad, CISD Communications Director, recognized the 10 participants of Caldwell ISD’s ASPIRE program, which reimburses the cost of tuition and fees for current CISD employees working towards a bachelor's degree in education.

Finance Reports:

Heather Escalante, Chief Operating Officer, presented the November Financial Reports. The full report can be viewed HERE.

New Business (Action Items)

Consider and Approve Budget Calendar:

Mrs. Escalante presented the Budget Calendar, which includes Board planning and workshop dates. The calendar can be viewed HERE. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the 2025-2026 Budget Calendar as presented.

Consider and Approve Academic Calendar:

The members of the District Educational Improvement Committee (DEIC) provided input to create the calendar that was presented to the Board of Trustees, who unanimously voted to approve the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar as it was presented. You can find it posted on the District Website HERE.

Consider and Approve Innovative Courses:

Erin Supak, Chief Academic Officer, presented the innovative course, General Employability Skills, to be offered during 2025-26 course selections as a Junior High elective.

Consider and Approve TASB Policy Update:

Mrs. Supak presented recommended revisions to local board policies, resulting from the TASB policy review. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the TASB Policy Update as presented.

Consider and Approve Legislative Priorities:

Mrs. Esclante presented the first reading of the legislative priorities for the 89th Legislative Session in the November meeting. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the TASB Policy Update as presented. The full list of legislative priorities can be found HERE.

Resolution to Appoint a Member to the Burleson County Appraisal District Board:

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved appointing Trey Groce to the Burleson County Appraisal District Board.

Consent Agenda

Meeting Minutes:

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the meeting minutes.

Caldwell Independent School District was officially established as a public school district in 1923 and serves the northern and western portions of Burleson County. In 1990, Caldwell ISD became the largest school district in the county that serves just under 2,000 students and is comprised of four campuses: Caldwell Elementary

(PK - 3rd), Caldwell Intermediate (4th - 6th), Caldwell Junior High School (7th - 8th), and Caldwell High School (9th -12th). The district also has a District Alternative Education Program and an Alternative Center of Education.

Caldwell ISD is the home of the Hornets. The official colors are Texas orange and white. Texas UIL classifies Caldwell ISD Hornets as a 4A district.

Email: info@caldwellisd.net
Website: caldwellschools.net
Location: 107 South Hill Street, Caldwell, TX, USA
Phone: 979-567-2400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaldwellISD
Twitter: @CaldwellProud

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caldwell_isd/