The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, September 15.
During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil provided his monthly Superintendent’s Report. His report highlighted student learning, academic improvements, athletic wins, and Homecoming 2025. During the meeting, the September Students, Campus Teachers, and Support Staff of the Month were celebrated.
Hempstead Elementary School third-grade students from Maria Pantoja’s class led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Texas Flag.
Students Recognized
Each campus selects one student of the month from each grade level to be recognized for their excellence, efforts, and achievement in being outstanding students on campus.
Hempstead Early Childhood Center
Pre-K 3: Edrik Carter
Pre-K 4: Omar Figueroa Zarazua
Hempstead Elementary School
K: Adriel Trejo Espinoza
1st: Valeria Ortiz
2nd: Jay Knowles
3rd: Arisa Guen
4th: Robyn Knowles
5th: I'Yanna Hunter
Hempstead Middle School
6th: Alexandra Lindsey
7th: Gahel Alvarez
8th: Alan Lozano Calderon
Hempstead High School
9th: Hayleigh Torres
10th: Mary Miranda
11th: Brianna Padilla
12th: J'Leon Watts
Employees Recognized
Hempstead Early Childhood Center
September HECC Teacher of the Month - Abbigail Compean
September HECC Support Staff of the Month - Kathy Ivey
Hempstead Elementary School
September HES Teachers of the Month - Geraldine Williams
September HES Support Staff of the Month - Vanessa Carrizales
Hempstead Middle School
September HMS Teachers of the Month - Rosa Villalta
September HMS Support Staff of the Month - Marcus Sellers
Hempstead High School
September HHS Teacher of the Month - Karon Neal
September Support Staff of the Month - Ashley Calvillo
Operations Employee of the Month
Jesse Ruiz, Maintenance & Operations
Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award
Each month, Superintendent O’Neil selects someone who has made a significant difference or contribution to Hempstead ISD as the Superintendent’s Higher Heights award recipient.
This month, the award recipient is Joan Davis, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Special Education
Information Items
Several information items were presented during the meeting, including the Delinquent Tax Collections Report, the Strategic Plan Update for Goal 5, and Bond 2024 updates.
Chief of Staff and Chief Communications Officer, Valonia Walker, APR, provided Goal 5 strategic plan updates. Updates included the newly created Family and Community Resource webpages, Rooms updates, and a fall 2025 communications survey.
A Bond 2024 update was provided by project managers from Gallagher Construction during the meeting.
New Construction:
New Early Childhood Center
The site has been cleared
CMAR Job site trailers are being set up
City Council approved a permit to move forward with construction at the 9/15/25 City Council meeting.
Additions and Renovations
The elementary school project
Ongoing value engineering process
The middle school project
Reviewing GMP
The high school project
Reviewing GMP
District Improvement
HVAC scope is ongoing
Athletics
Waiting on the sound bar and the top of the scoreboard. Items were backordered.
Trustees Approve Action Items
The Hempstead ISD Trustees approved the following action items:
Approved a Resolution recognizing the Extracurricular Status of the Waller County Texas 4-H Organization for the 2025-2026 school year.
Approved an Adjunct Faculty Agreement with Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Cooperative Extension Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
Approved the 2025-2026 Compensation Plan and Stipend Schedule.
Approved Purchases Over $50,000.
Approved a resolution to provide for an additional penalty under sections 33.07, 33.08, and 33.11of the Tax Code
Approved amendment of the delinquent tax collection contract with Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins & Mott LLP.
The October Board meeting will be held on Monday, October 20, and will begin at 6 p.m. in the Hempstead ISD Administration Building Board Room.