Student achievements took center stage during the Mineola ISD Board of Trustees meeting Monday night as board members recognized students earning professional insurance certifications and band members who excelled at state competition.
The board first recognized Mineola High School students Melanie Reina and Eva Cruz Caro for earning their Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) designations through the district’s Career and Technical Education program.
CTE instructor Jason Goodson praised the students for completing the rigorous certification process, which includes passing five separate examinations.
“These certifications are about getting them real-world ready and business ready and being prepared for life,” Goodson said. “I’m very proud of them.”
School board member and insurance professional Rodney Watkins said the accomplishment is uncommon, even within the industry.
“This is not just a designation,” Watkins said. “I’ve been in the business for 33 years, and I have never hired anybody that had a designation. This is a professional designation. There are five tests, and it’s a lifetime designation.”
Watkins told the students the certification would benefit them regardless of the career path they choose.
“The world is ahead of them in whatever they choose to do,” he said.
The board also recognized members of the Mineola High School Band who competed at the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest in Kyle.
Head band director Brandon Myers reported that 22 students earned medals at the state level out of approximately 68 Mineola students who qualified for the competition.
Among those recognized were Macy Whitehead, Olivia Thompson, Augusto Romero, Kaylee Nance, Michael Lim, Jason Cook, Jacob Fuchs, Jonathan McKinley, Knox Pappas McKinley, Jacob Perez, Herman Ramirez, Isabella Gonzalez, Carolina Torres, Police Palmer, Carol Brenna, Andon Dotson, Claire Potts, Miles Potts, Alyssa Robledo, Andrew Vega, Andrew Wires and Lane McLemore.
Myers highlighted freshmen Isabella Gonzalez and Carolina Torres, who each earned gold medals.
“We had a lot of students that worked really hard and had some pretty great comments and a lot of great feedback,” Myers said. “We’re very proud of them and excited for the future here.”
Following the recognitions, trustees spent considerable time discussing a proposal from Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Cody Moore to replace aging lockers in the varsity football locker room.
Moore told board members that the current locker system is showing significant wear, with six lockers no longer functioning properly and several others unable to be secured.
“There are six to eight in there that we can’t lock,” Moore said. “I want to put the onus on our kids to take care of their stuff and lock their stuff up, but there are six to eight kids in there that don’t necessarily have the ability to do that.”
The proposal would replace the existing lockers with modern units featuring secure storage compartments, built-in seating and dedicated space for shoulder pads and helmets. The project would also add seven lockers, increasing capacity from 37 to 44 lockers.
Moore said the request goes beyond functionality.
“One of the things that’s really important to me, I want our kids to feel valued,” he said. “I want our kids — not just in football, but across all sports — to feel like they’re a part of something special.”
Moore said creating an environment students can take pride in is one way to strengthen culture within the athletic program.
“I feel like a quality locker room reinforces pride, ownership, accountability and excellence,” he said.
After discussion, the board approved the purchase of new lockers and a related budget amendment, with the total project not to exceed $70,000.
In other business, trustees approved the hiring of Jason Dodd as the district’s new athletic trainer and accepted the resignation of Brian Miller. The board also approved the district’s 2025-26 school safety audit following a presentation during executive session.
Board members received updates on district finances, tax collections and enrollment. Administrators reported that enrollment currently stands at 1,793 students, remaining above the district’s starting enrollment for the previous school year despite a slight decline since May. Trustees also heard an annual report from the Student Health Advisory Council, which plans to continue existing wellness initiatives while exploring opportunities to provide internet safety education for students, parents and guardians.
The board reviewed TASB Policy Update 127, with final consideration scheduled for July, and approved several routine agreements and administrative items. Those included a performance services contract to replace aging electrical switchgear at the high school, a memorandum of understanding with Kilgore College for dual-credit opportunities connected to the Grand Saline Fire Academy, amendments to the district’s innovation plan, an interlocal agreement related to tax calculations, a field clinical teaching agreement with the University of Texas at Tyler and the district’s 2026-27 innovative course list.