Communication policies, student handbook revisions, an update from Sunshine Acres and an unexpected payment of nearly $397,000 were among the topics discussed during the Mineola ISD Board of Trustees meeting Monday, July 13.
The board reviewed new communication policies intended to set clearer boundaries for electronic communication between employees and students. ParentSquare will replace Remind and other messaging apps previously used by teachers, coaches and administrators.
“The primary mode of communication comes through ParentSquare, and that’s the expectation,” Superintendent Cody Mize said.
Employees generally will not communicate with students before 6 a.m. or after 9 p.m., although exceptions may be necessary when teams or organizations are returning from extracurricular trips. Employees will also be required to report any student who attempts to contact them through personal social media accounts.
“You never want to blur that line as far as how communication is being done,” Mize said.
The district will review the new communication expectations and updates to the Educators’ Code of Ethics during new employee orientation. Mize also noted the deadline for reporting suspected child abuse has been shortened from 48 hours to 24 hours.
Campus administrators then presented proposed handbook revisions for the 2026-27 school year. No changes were recommended for the primary or elementary campuses.
Middle School Principal Camron Frazier said several revisions are intended to give administrators more flexibility when addressing attendance, assignments and discipline. The middle school handbook will no longer prohibit chewing gum, excessively long hair or eyebrow designs.
“I really want my kids to be here more than I want to get them in trouble for chewing gum,” Frazier said.
Frazier also removed fees previously charged when confiscated cellphones were returned, although disciplinary consequences for repeated cellphone violations will remain.
At the high school, students will be allowed to wear opaque, non-sheer leggings as outerwear when worn with appropriate coverage. The dress code also establishes one standard for shorts for all students using fingertip length rather than separate measurements for boys and girls.
New eligibility requirements were also outlined for juniors and seniors participating in independent learning time. Students must remain enrolled in at least two qualifying academic or extracurricular programs to participate.
Trustees also received an update on Sunshine Acres and Promise of Peace Gardens, located on the district’s property.
Sunshine Acres founder Elizabeth Dry said the garden has harvested approximately 150 pounds of potatoes that will be served in the school’s cafeterias this fall. The garden now includes 23 fruit trees, 20 blueberry bushes, strawberries and a large okra crop.
“I can’t think of an objective that I couldn’t teach on the farm or in the garden, and it is learning that sticks with them,” Dry said.
Dry said she recently met with representatives from the Texas Department of Agriculture to discuss farm-to-school grants and opportunities to bring more locally grown produce into school cafeterias while giving students additional agricultural learning experiences. She also discussed the nonprofit’s Soup It Forward project, which provides meal kits for families while encouraging participants to share a portion with someone in need.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Keith Sparkman reported the district has approximately $7.8 million in cash, with year-to-date revenues and expenditures both near $21 million. He also announced the district received approximately $397,000 after an audit corrected previously unreported career and technical education enrollment data.
Sparkman said the additional funding resulted from correcting career and technical education enrollment data that had not been included in the district’s Public Education Information Management System reporting. After the error was corrected and an audit completed, the Texas Education Agency issued the additional funding.
The board unanimously approved new hires, accepted two resignations and approved one employee reassignment. Mize said all professional teaching positions have been filled, although openings remain in maintenance, food service and custodial services.
Online enrollment opens July 22. New employee orientation is scheduled for Aug. 3, followed by district convocation and a budget workshop Aug. 6. Meet the Jackets is Aug. 7. Meet the Teacher, a ribbon-cutting for the renovated career and technical education facility and the regular board meeting are scheduled for Aug. 17.