During the Royal ISD Board of Trustees July 19 meeting, the board unanimously accepted the resignation of Position 1 Trustee Joseph Campos. They also heard a briefing regarding a proposed $99.5 million bond election and approved an interlocal agreement with the city of Pattison to repair a playground to establish a city park.

“Basically, the city of Pattison is providing the funds, but we’re providing the facility,” Board President Michael Glover said.

The contract, which narrowly passed with a three-vote majority, was a point of contention as some trustees felt the location chosen to develop into a park, the playground at the Royal ISD Administration Building, was not necessarily where the district would want the facility. While a clear majority approved the agreement, a final tally was unclear at the event because Glover chastised two trustees for abstaining from the vote due to a lack of clarity in the motion. He then tried to re-open the vote on the issue, which was objected to by Position 7 Trustee Rose Jones and Position 6 Trustee Elton Foster. The vote subsequently changed to only Glover voting against the agreement.

According to OSBA, an organization that helps establish rules for school board meetings, a previously acted upon agenda item may not be opened back up for a new vote.

Campos’ resignation created an opening for the district's Position 1 trustee seat. Glover explained that the board had multiple options to fill the role via appointment. Either board members could nominate eligible individuals in the district or they could accept applications for the position and follow a subsequent application process, per the board’s legal counsel.

Position 5 Trustee Melissa Woods said she would prefer to have a special election to let the people decide how the position was filled.

Glover and Foster both cited precedence for appointment by the board and the board subsequently approved the application process in a five to one vote with Woods voting against the measure.

The board also heard from members of the Royal ISD Community Advisory Committee regarding that group’s recommendation that the district move forward with the $99.5 million bond election this fall. Committee members said that, after touring each of the district’s campuses, it became apparent to them that major renovations and possibly campus replacements were necessary to serve Royal’s student body.

If approved by the board at their next meeting to be placed on the November 2021 ballot and subsequently passed by voters, the bond would provide funding for a new preschool and junior high school as well as renovations for the Early Childhood Center, Royal Elementary, the transportation center and the STEM Academy. Some of the renovations would be to keep the old buildings in operation while new facilities were constructed while others would improve the facilities for ongoing use by an expanding student body.

Committee Member John Hovas said he was shocked at the condition of the schools and it was clear to him that the conditions needed to be improved upon for students.

“I know most of you guys here on the board,” Hovas said. “I was shocked to see the condition of the schools. I couldn’t believe it. … I wouldn’t allow my kids to go to the junior high or STEM (Academy).”