Several purchases over $50,000 were approved by the Board of Trustees of the Livingston Independent School District during its regular meeting Monday.
Due to an aging fleet, the board approved the purchase of six regular school buses and one special education school bus. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Pack noted that by 2029, all of the buses will be required to have seat belts, and that it will be easier to retrofit the newer buses as the district continue to phase out its old ones.
Pack reported that two school vans were in an accident and that one was repaired and is back in service but the other was totaled. The board approved the purchase of a new van as a backup, noting that it will be purchased using CTE funds.
Also approved were the purchase of a switch, which is a technology purchase, for use in the complete overall on all campuses, and a bleacher pad and sidewalk at the junior high campus.
The board approved supplement, not supplant methodology for federal funds received. Each year the board is required to certify that any federal funds received will be used to supplement the district and not supplant.
The annual bilingual waiver was approved. When a teacher is not certified as a bilingual educator, the district has to request a waiver and come up with a plan on how to get into compliance.
The board approved a resolution to pay all employees who were asked to not come to work because of the conditions with Tropical Storm Edouard on Sept. 2-3.
Also approved were budget amendments for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Following an executive session, the board approved extending the superintendent’s hiring authority until April 1, 2027.
During his administrative update, Pack reported that the school board has been nominated for an HEB Excellence in Education Award.
He presented an update on the strategic planning process which began in April, noting that every board member has been to at least one meeting and that there is a core group of about 50 people that include faculty, staff, students and community members. The committee is working on a vision statement and mission statement and will develop a strategic plan and eventually an action plan to be presented to the board in December.
Pack also thanked the board members for all of their hard work and dedication, noting that it is a thankless job and that he is very appreciative of them.
Assistant Athletic Director Heather Mosser presented an update on the athletic programs, noting that Athletic Director Tucker Carter was not at the meeting due to his attendance at the tennis team’s senior night event. She reported that cross country is crushing it, both boys and girls, and that the athletes are working very hard. She said tennis is wrapping up its season, volleyball is shaping up for district play and is very competitive, and the varsity football team is currently sitting at three and one.
Pack recognized this month’s Lion LEADERS – Student Honoree Hadley Wiegand, Staff Honoree Kim Munson and instead of an individual for community member honoree, the Livingston FFA Alumni and Supporters Organization was selected.
The Lion LEADERS recognition program was introduced in January. It is designed around the LEADERS acronym, with each letter representing a valued attribute that the honorees possess. These include: leadership in action, exceptional service, advocacy for students, dedication to the community, ethical character, resilience in the face of challenges and service beyond self. The program’s review team reads and reviews nominations monthly and selects individuals who best represent at least two of the attributes from the Lion LEADERS framework.
Also recognized during student and staff recognition was the Livingston Junior High National History Team which consists of Diego Lais Cruz, Hudson Rowe, Kenneth Montgomery and Matthew Gober, and their teacher, Kristina Miller.
The seventh grade students earned national recognition with their historical exhibit “D-Day: The Beginning of the End” which was submitted to the 2026 Naval Order of the United States National History Contest in Naval and Maritime History.
Other business included approval of the minutes from the previous board meetings.
