End of Year Newsletter

May Board Meetings Recap – and Celebrations

From the Desk of Dr. Julia McMains, Superintendent

Celebrations:

This has been an incredible year and I cannot tell you how proud I am to be a part of the amazing CISD team! This weekend our Theatrical Design Students participated in the State competition. We had more students than any other 3A high school in the state of Texas participating and Canadian High School won the 3A Second Place Theatre Team Award!!!! We also had students at the State Academic UIL competition and as always was Canadian well-represented.

Theatre:

  • 4th Place Set Design Lilly Bradford
  • 5th Hair and Makeup Carlie Renfro
  • 3rd Marketing Ethan Gerhardt
  • 2nd Place Group Design Mattilynn Abraham (Costume Design)
  • Mirabelle Brown (Marketing Design)
  • Martin Baker (Set Design)
  • London Nicholson (Hair & Makeup Design)

Academic UIL:

Elyse Beck-5th Place Social Studies & Tate Wilhelm-5th Place Computer Science

I also had the privilege of attending Kindergarten Graduation. As always Canadian Elementary had a great ceremony and I loved hearing about what our students want to be when they grow up–several want to be TEACHERS!!!!!! This is a testament to the impact our staff makes on the lives of children!

May 8: Swearing In & Team of 8 Training

On May 8, the Board of Trustees held a special meeting to canvass the May election results. Returning trustee Brian Bartlett and new members Tatum Pennington and Kent Sisco were officially sworn in. The Board then reorganized its leadership, electing Rudy Godino as President, Heath Mitchell as Vice President, and Brian Bartlett as Secretary.

Immediately afterward, trustees participated in the annual Team of 8 training, a requirement that ensures strong governance and collaboration between the Board and Superintendent. This year’s training was led by Nathan Maxwell from Region 16.

May 13: Celebrating Student Excellence

The regular board meeting on May 13 began with well-deserved celebrations of student achievement. The Board recognized:

  • Baker Top Cats
  • State Track qualifiers
  • All-State Band musicians
  • Solo & Ensemble honorees
  • UIL Academic State Qualifiers
  • Recipients of the Principal’s Award for Service to the Community

These outstanding students exemplify the pride and excellence of Canadian ISD, and appreciation was expressed for the staff and families who support them along the way.

District Reports & Updates

Enrollment & Attendance

Enrollment remains steady at 752 students. The attendance rate for the sixth six weeks is 95.7%.

Compensation and Benefits Comparison

The Board reviewed the results of a recent compensation and benefits survey that compared Canadian ISD to eight similar districts: Childress, Dumas, Highland Park, Panhandle, Perryton, PSP, Spearman, and Stratford. Key takeaways included:

  • Health Insurance Contributions: Canadian ISD contributes $434 per month toward employee health insurance—more than most districts in the comparison group. Contributions among the other districts ranged from $275 to $400, with only Highland Park contributing more at $500.
  • Master’s Degree Stipends: Canadian ISD offers a $1,500 annual stipend for teachers with a Master’s degree. This is higher than the $1,000 offered by four districts and matches two others. Only one district offers more ($3,000), and none offer additional stipends for degrees beyond a Master’s.
  • One-Time Payments or Incentives:
  1. Six districts do not offer any one-time or retention payments.
  2. One offers a $500 one-time payment.
  3. One provides a $2,000 retention payment for employees who complete the school year.
  4. Canadian ISD provided a one-time payment of 2% of total salary (including stipends), plus $500. No other district provided this type of incentive.

This comparison provides helpful insight as the district considers how to continue attracting and retaining top talent while being fiscally responsible.

Higgins Property & Facilities Update

Significant progress was reported in clarifying deed records for the former Higgins campus. The last remaining member of the Baptist Church Board was located, allowing historical records to be aligned. This step clears the way for a formal hearing and potential sale of the property, with proceeds expected to support ambulance services in Lipscomb County.

Additional facilities updates included needed repairs to a sewer drain and surrounding concrete near the Ag classrooms, along with rising costs and maintenance concerns related to transportation equipment and diesel exhaust fluid (DEF).

Board Action Items

The Board took action on several important items, including:

✔️ Approving a low attendance waiver request to TEA

✔️ Approving a settlement agreement with Xcel Energy for damages from the February 2024 wildfires

✔️ Approving a tax collection agreement with the Hemphill County Tax Assessor/Collector

✔️ Reappointing Andy Orrell as CISD’s representative to the Hemphill County Appraisal Board

✔️ Certifying instructional materials for the 2025–2026 school year

✔️ Delegating authority to the Superintendent to issue employment contracts through August 31, 2025

✔️ Approving budget amendments

Additional Updates

A legislative update was provided, recent staff resignations were acknowledged, and upcoming meeting dates were reviewed.

Thank you for staying connected and engaged with Canadian ISD. Together, we are building a strong future for our students and our community.

Dr. Julia McMains

Superintendent, Canadian ISD