Godley ISD school board trustees reviewed a recommendation from the Long Range Facility Planning Committee during its regular monthly meeting on January 22, 2024, at Godley High School.

Meeting five times over three months, the committee developed its proposal after hearing from demographers, financial advisors and others regarding projects to include in a possible bond election.  Committee members chose to use student enrollment and financial projections showing moderate growth over the next four years.  During its fifth meeting, the group discussed additional escalation costs resulting from scheduling the projects and bonding capacity.

The committee included individual projects that garnered at least 70% consensus from members. As a group, all committee members pledged full support for the entire package as developed by those present at the meeting.  The final composite list of projects totaling $355 million, which is less than half of the May 2023 unsuccessful initiative of $889 million, include:

• a fourth elementary school

• renovations at Legacy and R.B. Godley Elementary Schools 

• roof and HVAC replacements for Godley 6th Grade Campus

• additions and renovations for Godley Middle School

• special education classrooms, auditorium and paved parking lot at Godley High School

• addition for agricultural project center as well as locker rooms for both ag and tennis students

• district-wide technology upgrades as well as safety and security improvements

• new transportation facility plus new school buses as well as a traffic study for the high school-middle school complex

Board members discussed the option of splitting the projects into separate propositions as well as the added escalation costs.  Several committee members affirmed that their vote was intended to show support for the recommended projects rather than a specific dollar amount. All committee members present in the audience affirmed that escalation costs as well as additional funding for future land purchases did not change their support for the committee's recommendation. 

Reports to the board included:

• Jason Karnes, the assistant superintendent, and Brian Hunt, the safety and well-being director, reviewed the district’s volunteer process and explained ongoing improvements to criminal history background checks conducted through the Texas Department of Public Safety as well as Verkada, the district’s visitor check-in system.

• The board heard from Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Company regarding facility progress for Phase 2 projects at GHS including The WILD career and technical education center and competition gymnasium. In addition, REEDER Construction reported on Phase 3 construction for the high school’s fine arts wing.

The board approved minutes from recent meetings as well as financial and tax reports. Trustees also approved an interlocal agreement with Region 10 Education Service Center for a child nutrition purchasing cooperative.  Also adopted was a resolution regarding extracurricular status for local 4-H programs along with the appointment of adjunct faculty.