The Hudson Independent School District (ISD) recently announced a perfect financial accountability score while also introducing a new policy aimed at supporting students’ safe reintegration into classrooms after mental health treatment. During a Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Assistant Superintendent Barrett Lankford revealed that the district achieved a score of 100, marking a “Superior” rating from the Texas Education Agency. This distinction is the highest awarded and reflects the district’s strong performance across 21 financial indicators, including compliance with audits and administrative spending.
Superintendent Scott Martindale emphasized the district’s robust fiscal health, noting that Hudson ISD maintains 232 days of cash on hand and an impressively low administrative cost ratio of 0.07. “There’s a very small percentage that is still scoring 100,” he remarked. “So to have a hundred is really something great to have — there are very few districts in the state of Texas that have that.”
New Policy for Student Reintegration
In addition to the financial report, the board discussed a proposed policy aimed at enhancing the safety of students returning from residential or mental health facilities. School Psychologist Alyssa Grissom presented the initiative, which seeks to address the challenges faced by students who reenter classrooms without proper medical documentation. Grissom pointed out that these circumstances can lead to gaps in safety and communication between families and school staff.
The new policy would mandate that students provide a doctor’s release or discharge summary before returning to class, allowing up to 72 hours for staff to review the information. “The advantages of the 72-hour rule are that if a student is going to have a relapse after being discharged, it’s typically within the first 48 hours,” Grissom explained. “This also allows parents to ensure their child’s medications are adjusted and provided to our nurses for review prior to their return.”
Capital Projects and Student Engagement
The Board of Trustees also approved funding of $1.68 million for various capital projects, utilizing the district’s fund balance. The approved projects include the acquisition of two new school buses, one specially adapted bus, HVAC replacements at the high school, upgrades to the network and phone systems, roof replacements for both the high school and band hall, and repairs to fencing and drainage systems.
Highlighting the district’s commitment to innovation in education, students from W.H. Bonner Elementary participated in the meeting by presenting their Progressive Learning projects. They showcased their work created using Canva, illustrating how teachers are fostering creativity through digital learning tools.
The board also received updates regarding digital learning programs and the district’s Emergent Bilingual/ESL progress report, which indicated strong performance among students who have recently exited language services. This comprehensive approach underscores Hudson ISD’s dedication to both financial integrity and the well-being of its students, positioning the district as a leader in educational excellence in Texas.
