What to watch: The Midland ISD Board of Trustees will meet Tuesday, April 21, at 5:30 p.m. to consider a long-term lease and expansion of the First Tee golf facility, approve changes to 1882 partnership agreements at South and Sam Houston elementaries, and continue shaping the 2026–27 budget.

Key points:

  • First Tee: Trustees will consider approving an amended lease agreement with First Tee West Texas, a nonprofit youth development organization that uses golf to teach life skills and character development. Under the lease, First Tee pays $1 per year to use the property but is responsible for all maintenance, operations, and utility costs. The organization has funded improvements to the property at no cost to the district.

Midland ISD retains oversight and access under the agreement. District golf teams and students are guaranteed priority use during designated times, including weekday afternoons during the school year and weekday mornings in the summer. Trustees will also consider approving the expansion of the First Tee golf facility, including additional holes and a covered pavilion.

  • Technology services: Trustees will receive an update on the district’s Technology Services Department, which manages IT infrastructure, student data systems, and classroom technology.

The department says its recent work focused on strengthening data security and system oversight, including implementing a Technology Management System to vet instructional software and ensure compliance with student data privacy agreements. The district uses monitoring tools such as GoGuardian to support safe student device use.

Ahead of the meeting, Trustee Matt Friez said he plans to ask questions about student device use and oversight, citing concerns raised by parents and community members. He said those concerns include students accessing games during instructional time, taking Chromebooks home and using them late into the night, and navigating beyond intended classroom content on platforms like YouTube.

  • 1882 contracts: Trustees will consider amending existing 1882 partnership agreements with Third Future Schools for Sam Houston and South elementary campuses to align performance reporting with district standards. The changes would require partner campuses to follow MISD’s reporting format, timelines, and board-aligned performance metrics.

Trustees will also consider approving addenda to the South Elementary agreement that establish financial performance requirements, define a “menu of services” for district support, and formalize governance and attendance zone alignment. The addenda also include detailed student discipline and restraint policies.

  • Instructional materials: Trustees will consider certifying that all students have access to instructional materials aligned to Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards for the 2026–27 school year. Districts are required to verify that materials cover 100% of the TEKS in core subjects and confirm safeguards are in place to prevent access to inappropriate or harmful content.
  • Financial audit: Trustees will consider approving the 2025–26 audit timeline, with interim work beginning in June and final results presented in November.
  • Budget preparation: Trustees will receive the third update on the 2026–27 budget process. The district is shifting from historical data to forward-looking assumptions, including enrollment, staffing, and potential legislative impacts. Monthly updates will continue through budget adoption in June and tax rate setting later in the year.
  • Closed session: Trustees will meet in closed session to discuss the IDEA Travis 1882 partnership and potential next steps, including possible contract modifications or transitioning the campus to a new 1882 partner with Third Future Schools for the 2026–27 school year.