Godley ISD school board trustees held their monthly meeting on August 18, 2025, at Godley High School.

The board adopted a budget amendment to allocate funds for teacher and staff salary increases.  To implement a new state law, the budget amendment includes $1.86 million for 250 classroom teachers and $122,296 for all other non-administrative staff; the amendment also includes designation of local funds to supplement the state appropriation.

Key provisions of the salary increases are:

• Teacher base pay:  $250 more than the 2024-25 school year
• Teachers with 1-2 years of experience:  $1,000 more than the 2024-25 school year
• Teachers with 3-4 years of experience:  $4,025 more than the 2024-25 school year
• Teachers with 5 or more years of experience:  $8,050 more than the 2024-25 school year
• All other non-administrative staff:  $1,000 more than the 2024-25 school year

Chief Financial Officer Spencer Davis outlined the proposed tax rate of $1.2850 that will be presented to trustees at the September meeting - marking a decrease from the current overall rate of $1.2869.  The tax rate includes $0.6850 for the maintenance and operations rate and $0.50 for the interest and sinking rate.

Board members also reviewed the proposed tax rate for Hill College and will consider action at the September meeting.

Trustees adopted two local policy changes regarding library materials and student cell phone use.  A policy for instructional resource library materials ensures that the district provides a wide range of library materials for students and faculty that support student achievement and present varying levels of difficulty.  

In compliance with state law, library materials shall not include “harmful material”; any library material that is pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable; any library material containing indecent or profane content; any library material that refers a person to a website, including by use of a link or QR code, containing content legally prohibited under law; or any other material legally prohibited from inclusion in a public school library.

A district reconsideration committee is already in place to consider any library book challenges, and BookmarkEd provides a platform for parents to choose which books and materials are available to their children.

The second policy on student cell phone use was adopted to conform to a new state law restricting students from using personal telecommunication devices during the school day.  All campuses implemented this change for the start of school with administrative regulations developed over the past year.

Board members reappointed members to the School Health Advisory Council for the 2025-26 school year. The SHAC ensures that health education instruction aligns with local community values, and the council provides an annual report to the school board.

For the upcoming November bond election, trustees appointed Pam Mourning as election judge and Vicki Weaver as alternate judge.

Additional reports to the board included:

• The chief financial officer announced that departmental staff has moved into the business and student services annex near R.B. Godley, where some administrative offices have moved to free up classroom space at Legacy. Davis also updated the board on finishing work on high school projects as well as emergency improvements to portions of roofs at R.B. Godley Elementary School and Godley 6th Grade Campus.
• Davis provided an enrollment report with 3,329 students enrolled - up from 3,231 students on the first day of school on Aug. 6.
• A preliminary review was presented by Davis for the school district’s rating with the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) for the 2023-24 fiscal year.  The district received a score of 88 - only two points shy of returning to A status.  Final ratings will be issued by the Texas Education Agency in November.
• Chief Matt Quinteros of the Godley ISD Police Department introduced new school resource officers Lacretia Mack and Kevin Seaton, who join the district’s police force and security team.

The board tabled minutes from the most recent monthly meeting but approved financial reports and a good cause exception to a state law requiring armed security officers at each district campus.  Trustees also extended an agreement for Tarrant County 4-H and Texas A&M Agrilife extension service to serve as adjunct faculty for extracurricular activities.

School trustees will hold their next regularly scheduled board meeting on Monday, Sept. 15.