The Littlefield Independent School District’s Board of Trustees held a special meeting Thursday night to discuss a seven item agenda.
The meeting was called to order at 6:58 p.m. by Board President Reese Rogers. There was nobody present for Public Forum and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved by general consent.
Under Texas Education Code 551.074, the Board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters at 7:02 p.m. The Board reconvened at 7:25 p.m.
Item five on the agenda was Deliberation and possible approval of Fiscal Year 2026 Staff Retention Stipends within compensation plan.
Superintendent, Mitch McNeese, stated, “I recommend the approval of fiscal year 2026 staff retention stipends, at $4,000 for professional classified staff and $3,000 for non-professional classified staff. He also recommended the approval of the budget amendment to utilize fiscal year 2026 fund balance for staff retention stipends.”
Supt. McNeese explained, “For the 2026-2027 school year there are 110 Professionals and 82 nonprofessionals returning. There were 26 resignations and/or retirements. The $4,000 to professionals comes out to an average of 7percent of annual earnings and the $3,000 to nonprofessionals comes out to an average of 11-percent of annual earnings.”
He added, “The stipend will be considered a Non-TRS payment due to being a one-time retention stipend and will be subject to income tax as it is considered taxable income. After the audit report is presented in December of 2026 for Fiscal Year 2026 and PEIMS numbers are approved by TEA, administration and the board can decide if a retention stipend is financially appropriate and the amount.”
The motion to approve the Fiscal Year 2026 staff retention stipends within compensation plan was made by Will Williams and seconded by Ben Diaz. The motion carried.
Item six was deliberation and possible approval of budget amendment.
The motion to approve the budget amendment was made byDiaz and seconded by Eric Vargas. The motion carried.
Item four was personnel matters including the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, dismissal and/or compensation of individual district employees: a) certified personnel. Supt. McNeese stated, “I recommend the following individuals for employment with LISD: Chelsea Tully ( 2nd Grade Teacher) and James Dougherty (Government – Economics/Coach). Tully is from Edna and Dougherty is from Denver City.”
The motion to approve the hires of Tully and Dougherty was made by Cody West and seconded by Williams. The motion carried. b) At-Will Employees: Lynette Best and Emma Robles were hired as Primary Paraprofessionals.
With no further business to discuss, Board President Rogers declared the meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.