The Hempstead ISD Board of Trustees met on Monday, December 15, 2025.
During the board meeting, Hempstead ISD Superintendent Herbert O’Neil provided his monthly Superintendent’s Report and celebrated the December Students, Campus Teachers, and Support Staff of the Month.
Hempstead Middle School Student Council students led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Pledge to the Texas Flag.
Hempstead ISD CFO, Amy Carter, started the monthly meeting with a Public Hearing, which gave an overview of the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) Report. The Texas Education Agency has issued FIRST ratings to public school districts for the past 23 years to assess the quality of their financial management and reporting. The system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to better manage their financial resources to provide the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes.
The rating is based on 21 indicators that include results of the annual external audit, debt management, fund balance, and administrative cost ratio, among other financial indicators. Hempstead ISD received a Superior Rating, supporting the district's continued commitment to effective financial management.
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: Ronaldo Rendon
Pre-K 4: Leylany Labba
Hempstead Elementary School
K: Yohanna Ortega
1st: Camila Flores
2nd: Sebastian Garcia
3rd: Emily Pfifer
4th: Luis De'Lafuente
5th: Noah Arroyo
Hempstead Middle School
6th: Eliyah Mayes
7th: Mariah Jessie
8th: Jose Lozano-Gonzalez
Hempstead High School
9th: Abram Silva
10th: Alyssa Lindsey
11th: Andrew Manzano
12th: Jose Licea
Employees Recognized
Hempstead Early Childhood Center
December HECC Teacher of the Month - Ninfa Ramirez Sanchez
December HECC Support Staff of the Month - Quintasia Ketchum
Hempstead Elementary School
December HES Teachers of the Month - Martha Arrendo
December HES Support Staff of the Month - Hilda Martinez
Hempstead Middle School
December HMS Teachers of the Month - Skyler Maley
December HMS Support Staff of the Month - Alma Harvey
Hempstead High School
December HHS Teacher of the Month - Kristen Payne
December Support Staff of the Month - LaTanya Mosley
Operations Employee of the Month
Eduardo Ventura, Maintenance & Operations
Induction of New Officer
During the meeting, Officer Santaria McEwen was introduced and officially sworn in as a police officer for Hempstead ISD.
Superintendent’s Higher Heights Award
Each month, Superintendent O’Neil selects someone who has made a significant difference or contribution to Hempstead ISD. The award is available to employees, community members, businesses, volunteers, and students.
This month, the Superintendent's Higher Heights Award recipient is Hempstead High School junior, Derrick Reed.
Read more about Derrick and his impact on his campus and across the district.
Information Items
Bond 2024 Updates: A Bond 2024 update was provided by project managers from Gallagher Construction during the meeting.
New Construction:
New Early Childhood Center
Received Building Permit
Piers are complete.
Ongoing utility work.
Additions and Renovations:
The elementary school project
Elementary School Scope
PBK is finalizing the Design Documents.
Middle School Scope
Working on Permits with the City.
High School Scope
Working on Permits with the City.
District Improvement:
HVAC
Tellepsen is currently pricing the 75% CD set
Athletics:
100% Complete
Trustees Approve Action Items
The Hempstead ISD Trustees approved the following action items:
Approved Budget Amendment # 2.
Approved the Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2025.
Approved Resolution for Annual Review and Adoption of Investment Policy (CDA-Local).
Approved TASB Policy Update 126 pertaining to the following Local Policies:
BE(LOCAL): BOARD MEETINGS; BED(LOCAL): BOARD MEETINGS — PUBLIC PARTICIPATION; CJ(LOCAL): CONTRACTED SERVICES; CJA(LOCAL): CONTRACTED SERVICES — BACKGROUND CHECKS AND REQUIRED REPORTING; CLE(LOCAL): BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT - REQUIRED DISPLAYS; CQB(LOCAL): TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES - CYBERSECURITY; CQD(LOCAL): TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES - ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE; CSA(LOCAL): FACILITY STANDARDS - SAFETY AND SECURITY; CV(LOCAL): FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION; DBD(LOCAL): EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS — CONFLICT OF INTEREST; DEC(LOCAL): COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS — LEAVES AND ABSENCES; DFBB(LOCAL): TERM CONTRACTS - NONRENEWAL; DGBA(LOCAL): PERSONNEL-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS - EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES; DH(LOCAL): EMPLOYEE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT; EEP(LOCAL): INSTRUCTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - LESSON PLANS; EFA(LOCAL): INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES - INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; EHBAF(LOCAL): SPECIAL EDUCATION - VIDEO/AUDIO MONITORING; EIA(LOCAL): ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT - GRADING/PROGRESS REPORTS TO PARENTS; FA(LOCAL): PARENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; FEF(LOCAL): ATTENDANCE - RELEASED TIME; FFAC(LOCAL): WELLNESS AND HEALTH SERVICES — MEDICAL TREATMENT; FFB(LOCAL): STUDENT WELFARE - CRISIS INTERVENTION; FFF(LOCAL): STUDENT WELFARE - STUDENT SAFETY; FFG(LOCAL): STUDENT WELFARE - CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; FNG(LOCAL): STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES - STUDENT AND PARENT COMPLAINTS/GRIEVANCES; FO(LOCAL): STUDENT DISCIPLINE; GF(LOCAL): PUBLIC COMPLAINTS; GKA(LOCAL): COMMUNITY RELATIONS — CONDUCT ON SCHOOL PREMISES
The January Board meeting will be held on Monday, January 20, and will begin at 6 p.m. in the Hempstead ISD Administration Building Board Room.