What to watch: The Midland ISD Board of Trustees will meet Thursday, Jan. 22, to review or approve improvement plans for seven campuses, academic updates on reading and math performance, who pays for pipeline relocation at the new Midland High School, and how students are placed in alternative disciplinary programs.

Key items:

  • Improvement plans: Trustees will receive a detailed briefing on improvement plans for Burnet Elementary, Goddard Junior High, Henderson Elementary, and Jones Elementary, which outline specific corrective actions required for campuses that did not meet specific state accountability benchmarks.

All four campuses are focusing on strengthening classroom instruction, including tighter alignment to district-approved instructional materials, more frequent classroom walkthroughs by principals, and tracking student progress in reading and math. Teachers at these campuses will receive targeted coaching focused on lesson pacing, small-group instruction, and addressing learning gaps identified through district assessments.

Trustees will also approve improvement plans for Abell Junior High, South Elementary, and Long Elementary. All three campuses are proposing tighter consistency in core reading and math instruction, closer monitoring of classroom lessons by campus administrators, and more structured intervention time during the school day for students who fall behind.

  • Pipeline relocation: The board will discuss and possibly approve a reimbursement agreement and second amendment related to the relocation of pipelines at the new Midland High School site. The item addresses cost responsibility and coordination between MISD and Energy Transfer.
  • Juvenile justice: Trustees will discuss and possibly take action on a 2011 memorandum of understanding with Midland County governing how MISD students are placed in the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program for the 2026–27 school year. Under Texas law, counties of Midland’s size are generally responsible for operating a JJAEP to serve students removed from regular campuses for serious disciplinary offenses, although Midland county is not required to have one.
  • DEI policy compliance: Trustees will consider certifying that MISD is complying with Senate Bill 12 that sets limits on instruction related to DEI, adds parental consent requirements for human sexuality instruction, restricts certain terminology and pronoun use, and establishes review procedures for potentially inappropriate instructional material.
  • Local policy updates: Trustees will consider revised and new local policies aimed at aligning MISD with recent state legislation and updated district procedures. Among the revisions, trustees will consider multiple student discipline policies to clarify how in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, and removals are handled, including documentation requirements, review timelines, and protections for students with disabilities.

The policy package also includes revisions to instructional and employee conduct standards, including updates that govern teaching about controversial issues, and employee standards of conduct. New policies address employee immunity, special education procedures, and student conduct related to tobacco use.

  • Academic updates: Trustees will receive an update on Board Goal A, which focuses on improving student academic performance across the district, including reading and math outcomes, and whether campuses are on track to meet end-of-year targets. Administrators will also present results from fall assessments and the middle-of-the-year i-Ready diagnostic, which measures student progress in reading and math.
  • Teacher certification: Trustees will hear an update on how MISD is implementing changes tied to House Bill 2, which altered teacher certification rules and expanded flexibility in who may teach in Texas classrooms. The report will outline how the district is adjusting hiring and certification practices, how many teachers are affected, and what the changes mean for classroom staffing and instructional continuity.