June 9, 2025 – The June Board meeting began with several recognitions of service and success. Tascosa High School student Charlotte Lamb was awarded the Gold Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her remarkable commitment to volunteerism and civic responsibility, a testament to the power of student-
led service.
Trustee Connie Brown, on behalf of Texas Representative Caroline Fairly, presented honorary resolutions to three standout members of AISD: Superintendent Emeritus Doug Loomis recognized for nearly 39 years of service to Amarillo ISD; Kristi Leff, named the 2025 Texas Elementary Teacher of the
Year; and Joseph Stafford, honored as the 2024 Texas Wrestling Coach of the Year.
Superintendent Deidre Parish officially welcomed the four newly elected trustees from the May 3 election: Doyle Corder, David Nance, Don Powell, and Tom Warren II, and presented them with certificates of election. The Board later elected Doyle Corder as the president of the Board, and Jon Mark Beilue as the new vice president.
The meeting continued with the Board hearing a preliminary report on the proposed 2025-2026 school district budget, presented by Chief HR Officer Brett Beesley and Chief Financial Officer Daniel West. Beesley emphasized the District’s continued focus on staying competitive across all positions, with a proposed 2% raise on the midpoint of all pay grades (excluding temporary employees). He also shared updates from the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program: 47 teachers earned a “Master” designation, 97 designated as “Exemplary,” and 101 as “Recognized.”
West walked the Board through key budget projections, basing it on a projected enrollment of 28,771 students, reflecting a further drop of enrollment based on demographic trends. The proposed budget does not yet reflect any funding increases resulting from the 89 th Texas Legislative session. West also reported a 3.3% increase in property value estimates from the Potter-Randall Appraisal District and highlighted a $38.9 million in projected debt service savings through June 30, 2025, thanks to earlier Board-approved financial defeasance actions. Trustees set June 23, 2025, as the date to hold a public
hearing for the 2025-2026 school district budget, with the adoption of the budget planned for the same day.
In line with several board goals and priorities, and in a significant step toward student well-being, the Board approved legal representation from Thompson & Horton, LLP, Eiland & Bonin, PC, and O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo, PC to join a multi-district lawsuit against major social media companies. The lawsuit aims to hold platforms accountable for their role in the growing youth mental health crisis and seeks to recover funds AISD and other districts have been forced to redirect to support student social-emotional challenges caused by social media.
Finally, the Board expressed appreciation for gifts and donations totaling $140,397.68, given to various schools from Robert Lowry, Education Credit Union, Power Church, Laurie Hollingsworth through the Kim Carlile Fundraiser, 287 Body Shop, Access Credit Union, Taste of Thai, Brides of Amarillo, Mike & Susan Burt, Randy’s Shoes, Jerry & Janie Hensley, Ridgecrest PTO, Junior League of Amarillo, Wade & Candice Schuler, Coffee Memorial Blood Center, Crockett PTO and anonymous donors.
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