COLMESNEIL – Both Colmesneil ISD superintendent Sharon Tule and Becky Yates, Colmesneil High School/Junior High principal, agreed that the first day of school went really well and smooth, with no hiccups, due to new policies.
“New schedules, new staff, all the new, went really well,” Yates said, and added that “we had a busy, successful day.”
Tule went on to praise her support staff, including Wanda Ryan, Becky Yates, Shelby Tillery, Kathy Gobert, Misti Mashaw and Richard Hoisington, all of whom she said helped make for a terrific first day back.
“All summer long, they worked to make sure we were ready for this day. There’s just not enough words to say how much I appreciate all of y’all,” Tule said.
Yates reported that JH/HS enrollment was at 175 as of August 11. Elementary principal Shelby Tillery reported enrollment at 207 for her campus, for a district combined total of 382 for the new school year.
Hoisington advised the board of the issuance of panic buttons for every district employee. The buttons, when activated immediately call the Sheriff’s department. “We need to have a lifeline. These few seconds can mean their lives,” he explained.
He added that “we are going to keep everyone safe and help protect our kids and get the information out there, all precautions, all measures.”
Tule said “we told every employee that as long as their feet are somewhere on district property, they must be wearing this, day or night”. Tule said this includes everyone employed at the district, including staff, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, everyone.
The board approved several agenda items including the appointment of a Concussion Team for the 2025-26 school year, which consists of: Becky Yates; Merrick Mitcham; Jessica Fasske; Artie Yates, and Tanner Shepherd.
The student code of conduct was also reviewed and approved, as was the staff development plan. Tule added that “opportunities come to us that we are not aware of, or teachers need specialized training. According to TEA, we are now required to have the board approve this”, referring to the staff development plan.
The new cellphone policy was discussed. “This strictly follows the legislature’s new law…our first day we didn’t have a single incident where a student demonstrated use of a phone, or physically saw a phone, of physically heard a phone. This includes not just cellphones, but also smartwatches, personal tablets, personal laptops, wireless headphones, or any other device capable of communication”, Tule explained.
The board also approved a Hazard Mitigation Plan. “Tyler County Emergency Management sent a letter encouraging CISD to participate in the hazard mitigation program. Schools participating get any information of hazards going on in the community that we need to know about”, Tule explained. Tule advised that she was to serve on this committee.
Tule advised the board on updates. “the Teacher Incentive Program is not new, but for whatever reason we are behind on implementing it”, she said. “It is a three- year process, the first year, we have to develop our plan, the second year, we have to gather data, and the third year is when the teachers get their money from the Teacher Incentive allotment coming from TEA.”
A new feature on the district website is the addition of a parent portal, where parents or community members can make suggestions, complaints, or comments to administrators. The comments/complaints will go to the superintendent and she will send it out to whoever is the relevant person to deal with the specific comments, complaints, or suggestions.
