Board Meeting Updates

Important Highlights from the June 23, 2025 Regular Board Meeting

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you for your support of Carroll ISD. I would like to share a few important updates from the June 23 board meeting.

Property Sale Updates

The Board voted to terminate the real estate contracts for the property at N. Carroll and E. Highland Street, as well as 2400 N. Carroll, due to a default by the buyer. We remain confident in our ability to navigate future property sale opportunities while continuing to evaluate the District’s ongoing needs.

November Special Election

The Board passed a resolution to call a Special Election on November 4, 2025 to fill the Place 3 vacancy. This follows the June 2 vote to hold a Special Election for such purpose.

Legislative Impact on CISD Code of Conduct

The 89th Legislative Session brought changes for school districts across the state, including new legislation regarding student behavior and discipline. A few key highlights we reviewed include:

House Bill 6, which implements changes to In School Suspension, as well as repeals the mandatory placement in DAEP for vaping offenses
HB 1481, which prohibits the use of communication devices of all kinds during the school day. The District has already begun in recent years to curb device usage, and with this new legislation, will continue to outline policy for enforcement and discipline measures to align with the law.

Personnel Report

Carroll ISD continues to excel not only in recruiting but also in retaining highly qualified and talented educators. According to the personnel report, the District achieved an impressive retention rate, with an attrition rate of just 10% - nearly half the statewide average of 19.1%.

Exit interview data reveals that approximately 50% of those departing the District are doing so due to retirement or relocation, with no respondents citing job dissatisfaction as their reason for leaving. Additionally, 30% of those exiting are leaving the education profession entirely, which aligns with national trends surrounding teacher shortages.

The great news: CISD continues to attract strong candidates, receiving an average of 70 applications per week for open positions.

2025 - 2026 Budget Update

We received an update on the proposed 2025–2026 budget, including proposed tax rate projections that would give our community the opportunity to vote on the adoption of additional golden pennies for our M&O (Maintenance & Operations) tax rate. This portion of the tax rate funds the District’s day-to-day operational expenses. At the same time, the proposal includes a reduction in the I&S (Interest & Sinking) tax rate, which funds debt payments. As a reminder, Carroll ISD has made significant progress in recent years, paying off $45 million in debt in just three years, saving tax payers $16 million in interest.

By considering this tax rate exchange, we will have the ability to optimize local funding and generate an additional $3.5-4 million annually while keeping the total tax rate below the current rate of $0.961700.

We also reviewed anticipated revenue increases from recent state legislation, which are expected to result in a net gain of approximately $1.13 million for CISD. This includes state-funded raises for teachers and staff.

The proposed budget for next school year showed the impact of zero-based budgeting, right-sizing, and continued efficiency efforts, strategies that have saved the District millions and allowed us to pass a balanced budget, despite ongoing challenges. This projected budget would include the new revenue from the state, as well as anticipated revenue should our community approve the school funding measure in November.

Hope you're having a great summer, Dragons!

Cameron Bryan
President, Carroll ISD Board of Trustees
Place 4 Trustee

Important Highlights from the June 2 Special Board Workshop

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you for your continued engagement and support of Carroll ISD. As part of the June 2 Special Board Workshop, I’d like to share several key updates with you:

Legislative Session Recap:
The 89th Legislative Session has concluded, and while House Bill 2 finally delivers some overdue funding to public schools, we have a long way to go to make up for six years without increases coupled with the impact of record inflation. Carroll ISD will be good stewards of the approximately $1.25 million we are projected to net from HB 2 and will continue the difficult work of balancing the budget. The fight is not over and we will be looking ahead to advocating for the sustained, meaningful investment our schools deserve in future legislative sessions.

Thanks to our staff, board members, and Dragon community for helping defeat open enrollment legislation and for advocating so effectively throughout the session.

Leadership Transitions:
We extend our appreciation to Mr. Wilson and Ms. Benhoff for their service to Carroll ISD. Both have made a lasting impact on their campuses and in the lives of students and staff. We wish them all the best in their new roles.

As we look ahead, we are confident in the strength of our leadership pipeline, and we remain committed to excellence in leadership at every level. We have spent the past several years intentionally developing a strong bench of talent within our district leaders who understand our culture, our values, and our expectations. We are proud of the people we have been developing and confident in our ability to move forward with capable, passionate, and visionary individuals ready to step into these roles.

Please see the Superintendent’s Report for full details on our new principal appointments. We are excited to announce the following leaders:

Shatina Lewis:          Principal, Carroll Senior High School (CSHS)
Patrick Holladay:      Principal, Carroll High School (CHS)
Stephanie Martin:     Principal, Carroll Middle School (CMS)
Nicole Williams:        Principal, Johnson Elementary School (JES)

Carroll Middle School will also welcome Austin Robinson, Dawson Middle School’s 2024–25 Teacher of the Year, as its new Assistant Principal.

We look forward to the continued success and growth these leaders will bring to our campuses.

Special Election called for Board Trustee, Place 3:
The Board voted unanimously to hold a special election in November to replace the seat vacated by Dudley Jordan a few months ago. This vote reflects the Board’s belief in transparency, community engagement, and upholding the democratic process in filling school board vacancies.

We stand by the principle that representation should be determined by the community, not appointed by the Board.

It is also important to note that the individual elected in November will only serve 6-months completing the remainder of the current Place 3 term. Trustee Places 1 through 3 will be up for re-election in May 2026, with each position serving a full 3-year term.

Go Dragons!

Cam Bryan
President, Carroll ISD Board of Trustees

Important Highlights from the May 19 Regular Board Meeting

Dragon Community,

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank you for your continued engagement and support of Carroll ISD. As part of Monday night’s Regular Board Meeting, I’d like to share several important updates from the evening.

Committee Reports: Trustees provided updates on multiple action teams, including Special Programs and Communications & Marketing. We are proud of the incredible work being done to enhance stakeholder satisfaction, teacher retention, and student outcomes in ELAR and math. On the communications front, we launched the Good & Green video series, expanded the podcast library, welcomed 12 new sponsors, and strengthened our advocacy efforts—together reaching record levels of community participation.
BRAC Tiger Team: Trustees and district stakeholders continue to explore local revenue solutions and prepare for potential state-level funding changes. With a focus on sustainability, we’re planning for all possible outcomes to protect the excellence our community expects.
Legislative Update: Trustee Bottom provided a critical update on House Bill 2. While the original bill included a meaningful increase to the basic allotment and funding for teacher pay and special education, recent Senate changes have slashed the basic allotment from $395 to just $55 per student. Local control has been further restricted through rigid earmarks. This is a pivotal moment for public education funding in Texas—and we need your voice.

▶ Visit TakeActionDragons.com to send a pre-written (and customizable) email to lawmakers.
▶ So far, 4,800 emails have been sent—but that pales in comparison to the 20,000 sent during previous advocacy efforts.
▶ Let’s raise our voices together again. It’s one click. One minute. Big impact.

Recognition & Gratitude: On behalf of the entire Board, thank you to all who have shared feedback with us in recent weeks. Whether in support or concern, your voice matters and helps guide our decision-making. While we cannot discuss individual personnel matters in public meetings, your input strengthens our commitment to transparency and accountability. I want to especially thank the Carroll Education Foundation for their generous gift benefiting all classroom teachers this year. Full details were sent out earlier today to our staff.

We also extend heartfelt congratulations to our 2024–2025 Teachers of the Year, Employees of the Year, and School Resource Officer of the Year, who were celebrated last Thursday at the Fine Arts Complex. These dedicated professionals exemplify what it means to serve with passion, care, and excellence.

As always, we appreciate your partnership and commitment to Dragon Nation.

Go Dragons!

Cam Bryan
President, Carroll ISD Board of Trustees

April 14, 2025: Special Board Workshop [President's Report]

CISD Board President Cameron Bryan addresses the community regarding taking action on SB 686.

Dear Dragon Community,

On behalf of the Carroll ISD Board of Trustees, I want to thank you for your continued engagement in standing up for our schools and the values that make Southlake such a strong, united community.

Earlier this spring, your voices were heard loud and clear through Take Action Dragons. In response to House Bill 2764, which aims to increase transparency and accountability in the state’s recapture system, our community showed up in force—sending more than 1400 emails to legislators. Your advocacy made a difference and continues to demonstrate the power of a united school community working for what’s right.

Today, I’m writing to bring your attention to another deeply important issue: Senate Bill 686, which has now moved to the Texas House after passing the Senate. This bill mandates open enrollment across all Texas public school districts, requiring those with available space to accept out-of-district students. While the intent may be to expand educational access, the consequences for districts like Carroll ISD are serious and far-reaching.

As outlined in my official statement to the community during last night’s Special Board Workshop, SB 686 threatens the very foundation of our district's identity by stripping away local control, diminishing the unique educational experience we offer, and placing additional strain on our resources. It also risks devaluing property within our community by diluting what makes CISD—and Southlake—so desirable.

I urge you to take a moment to review both the video and full text of my April 14th President’s Report, and most importantly, to act once again by letting our state leaders know where you stand.

Thank you for standing with us to preserve the excellence, independence, and values of Carroll ISD. Together, we are stronger.

Cameron Bryan
President, Carroll ISD Board of Trustees
Place 4 Trustee

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