Bonham, Texas - A regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of Bonham ISD was held on December 15, 2025, at the Bonham ISD Administration Center. Board President Chance Roberts called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. All board members were present. Pledges to the US and Texas flags were led by third graders.
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Warrior Talk
Sean Floyd enjoyed all of the photos in the principals’ reports, especially the kids dressed up like turkeys. Carlous Gilstrap praised the students who made all district. Kenzie McCraw noted that there is lots of basketball participation and many students staying in the weight room after school to get stronger and better. LaTonia Arris praised Connor Haggard for making Academic All State. She was also was pleased with the construction progress at LH Rather Junior High and the high school tennis courts. Arris also praised Operation Christmas Project, getting athletic banners updated and One Act play. She was also pleased to see that a Bonham alumni taught first aid and CPR and there has been lots of hands on learning across the district. Jason Fox said he echoed all of the positive comments already mentioned and he wanted to brag on the high school culinary class. Roberts agreed with all that was mentioned too.
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Employee and Student Recognition:
Finley Oates Student of the Month is Raelynn Stewart. She is a third grader who has been in Bonham schools since pre-k. She loves to learn and science is her favorite subject. She also enjoys being creative and art. Teachers describe her as an excellent student who is a delight to have in class and a hard worker.
IW Evans Student of the Month is Ghanshyam Shah. He is a 5th grader who has been in Bonham since pre-k. He loves creating and reading in his free time. His favorite subjects are reading and math. He also enjoys travel to Nepal. He wants to be electrical engineer when grows up. Several teachers described him as extraordinary student.
LH Rather Student of the Month is Levi Richards. He is a 7th grader who has been in Bonham schools since fourth grade. One teacher described him as one who embodies the spirit of our school. He is a servant leader in the classroom and on the field. He plays football and wants to be a welder when he grows up.
BHS Seniors of the Month are Sarah Story and Cullen Frazier. Story has been in Bonham since fifth grade and participates in band, robotics and debate. Future plans include becoming a speech therapist and going to Texas Women’s University. Teachers describe her as warm, funny and inclusive.
Frazier has been in Bonham schools since fourth grade and participates in band, cross country, track, National Honor Society and UIL academics. Future plans include going to college and studying physics. Teachers describe him as a quiet leader, hardworking students and one who is looked up to by his peers.
Employee of the Month is Judy Lewis. Jason Busby described her as the “mom of transportation and maintenance” and “we couldn’t do it without her.”
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Public Comment: none
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Board approved the Consent Agenda, including meeting minutes and financial reports.
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Superintendent Reports. Dr. Lance Hamlin announced that IW Evans won the best attendance award again. The district is currently above the district wide attendance goal. Enrollment is currently at 1935. He encouraged everyone to vote for Mr. Sims, a LH Rather teacher who was nominated by a student for the Life Changer of the Year Award.
LaTonia Arris asked a question about all the grants the school has received from the MW and Fair Miller Foundation. Each campus applies for funding based on needs of students. One principal explained how her campus uses the funds to help students in need.
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Board accepted an information item of the Bonham ISD Delinquent Tax Collection Report for November 2025. Lisa Reece came and presented a verbal and written presentation to the board. In 2023, the district levied $14.5 million in taxes, the majority of which was paid by time her company got involved. Only 3.2% of taxes were not paid, but that was about $463,000. So far, they have collected 70% of the delinquent taxes, which makes it a record collection year. She reviewed their services which includes soft collections which includes phone calls and letters as well as address updates and working out payment plans. Their services include hard collections which included 80 cases from 2023 that went to litigation and only 3 tax sales, which are the final attempt to collect the taxes. In 2024, the taxes were $15.7 million. Again, most taxes were paid and only 3.3% were delinquent. Her company has already collected 58% of the 2024 delinquent taxes already.
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Board approved the Local Policy Update 126. Hamlin reviewed changes and questions that board had last month when they had their first reading of the policy updates. Corporal punishment has been taken out, as recommended by TASB. There was discussion about the DAEP appeal process.
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Board took no action for FCAD Nomination for vacancy of Board Member for Term 1-1-2026 thru 12-31-2027. Roberts pointed out that two representatives the school wanted were already elected on to the board. Roberts and other school board members asked numerous people to serve on the FCAD board but could not find anyone else to nominate.
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Board approved the Targeted Improvement Plan for Finley Oates. Written report was given to the board in advance. Principal Karli Fowler reviewed goals for the campus over next three years and current strategies. She noted that there are no brand-new teachers at Finley Oates this year and teachers have been very open to the training and coaching being provided and the new curriculum.
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Board set the next regular Board Meeting to be on January 12 at 6 pm.
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Board went into Executive Session at 6:50 pm. Pursuant to Texas Government Code section § 551.074, board discussion included personnel matters pertaining to evaluations, duties, terminations, replacements, reassignments, hiring, and additions to the staff.
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The Board returned to Open Session at 7:07 pm. Board approved Stephanie Jimenez as the new Assistant Superintendent. She comes to Bonham from Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD.
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Board went back into Executive Session at 7:09 pm. Pursuant to Government Code § 551.083, board planned to discuss and possibly conduct a Board Self-Evaluation. Board also planned to discuss Athletics. Pursuant to Texas Government Code §551.072 (Deliberation Regarding Real Property), the Board planned to deliberate on the potential acquisition of real property and consider granting the Superintendent authority to engage in negotiations for possible land acquisition.
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In open session, the board approved granting the Superintendent authority to engage in negotiations for possible land acquisition.
