Food-line facelifts planned at 4 AISD campuses
In other action items, board approves 2025-2026 school calendar
The Athens ISD Board of Trustees on Tuesday night moved forward with plans to update the food service lines at four district campuses. For that purpose, board members approved a budget amendment of $550,000, which has accumulated over several years within the district’s child nutrition fund balance.
The monies will be used to update food service lines at Athens Middle School and all three elementary campuses. Of that amount, just under $500,000 is earmarked for Kirby Restaurant and Chemical Supply for the purchase and installation of equipment, such as serving counters, electric hot/cold food well units, cold shelves and cash register stands. The remaining allotted funds are to be used as/if needed for any related work during the updating process.
Work at the elementary campuses is tentatively scheduled during the district’s spring break in March, while work at the middle school will take place in June.
In other action, board members:
approved the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year (see below), which closely resembles the current calendar. Spring break 2026 will fall the week of March 15;
adopted the Texas Education Agency-developed open education resources curriculum, known as Bluebonnet Learning. This mathematics curriculum is designed for grades K-8 and algebra 1;
approved the implementation of a locally developed assessment to be used for credit by examination for Spanish courses; and
approved a resolution allowing the district to pay wages to all working AISD employees who were scheduled to work during the weather-related school closure on Jan. 9, as well as any additional weather-related closures that may occur during the remainder of the current school year.
January is School Board Recognition Month, and members of the board were recognized for their vital work as trustees. Board members volunteer their time without pay to serve the school community.
“I don’t know that we’ve ever had a stronger board than we do right now,” said Superintendent Dr. Janie Sims. “We’re very fortunate as a district to have this kind of leadership.”
Members of the AISD board of trustees are President Alicea Elliott, Vice President Eugene Buford, Secretary Freddie Paul, Tilo Galvan, Gina Hunter, Kelley Lee and Margaret Richardson.
