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The NBISD Board of Trustees met on March 16, 2026 for a regular meeting.
Highlights of this meeting’s Agenda include:
- Report on State of Fine Arts for NBISD
- Report of Gifted and Talented Services and Advanced Academics
- Report on NBISD Transfer Process
- Report of National Defense Cadet Corps Program at Long Creek High School
- Report on Implementation of Updates to EFB (LOCAL) – Instructional Materials – Library Materials
- Report Of Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) Mid-Year Review 2025-2026
- Consider Approval of Order of Cancellation of New Braunfels ISD Election on May 2, 2026
Report on State of Fine Arts for NBISD
Dr. Marty Lenard, NBISD Director of Fine Arts, outlined the state of the Fine Arts Department. He introduced the fine arts coordinators for elementary and secondary, which is a new initiative this year. The coordinators are Lauren Bain – elementary music, Carl Schurz Elementary, Alex Kelly – elementary art, Carl Schurz Elementary, Megan Colon – secondary Unicorn feeder, New Braunfels High School, and Kyle Day – secondary Dragon feeder, Long Creek High School.
At Lone Star Early Childhood Center, students are introduced to the arts through a full-time music teacher who provides engaging, developmentally appropriate instruction that builds a strong foundation in creativity and musical exploration. At the elementary level, students benefit from dedicated fine arts instruction through one full-time art teacher and one full-time music teacher, giving them opportunities to develop both visual and performing arts skills. As students progress to secondary campuses, the district offers a comprehensive range of fine arts programs, including band, choir, dance, theatre, and visual arts, allowing students to explore their interests, build their talents, and participate in a variety of creative and performance opportunities.
The Fine Arts Department also has many community partnerships. Dr. Lenard has been working with the Mid-Texas Symphony, Greater New Braunfels Art Council, Art Haus, the McKenna Foundation, and the City of New Braunfels.
The NBISD Fine Arts Department has also been actively working on several capital improvement projects to support and enhance student programs across the district. These projects include new theatre lighting at New Braunfels Middle School, band trailers and new band uniforms for both Long Creek High School and New Braunfels High School, and upgrades to the theatre lighting and sound system at Oak Run Middle School. Additional improvements include the installation of a new dance floor and mirrors at Oak Run Middle School, new stage curtains at Memorial Elementary School, and new choral risers for Seele Elementary, Oak Run Middle School, and New Braunfels Middle School. These projects reflect the district’s continued investment in providing high-quality facilities and resources for fine arts students.
The district has also made significant progress through its Instrument Replacement Project. In 2022, an assessment revealed that 74 percent of the district’s instruments were beyond their expected life span. Since that time, NBISD has worked to close the gap through targeted one-time capital investments along with funding from the 2024 bond program, ensuring that students have access to quality instruments that support instruction and performance across the district’s music programs.
Looking ahead, the Fine Arts department will be hosting the NB Film Festival, which will be held May 3rd at the Brauntex Theatre. At New Braunfels High School, they have started the Stampede Dance Group, which does two-step dancing and look to expand programming such as singer-songwriter.
Report of Gifted and Talented Services and Advanced Academics
Gifted and Talented (G/T) services are guided by the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted/Talented Students, which requires districts to identify gifted learners and provide differentiated instruction, trained teachers, and ongoing program evaluation.
NBISD G/T Coordinator Veronica Arneson presented a report during the meeting. In NBISD, G/T services are offered in grades K–12 through classroom differentiation, pull-out instruction, and specialized grouping to help students develop advanced thinking, problem-solving, and independent learning skills.
At the secondary level, Advanced Academics opportunities include Advanced Placement (AP), Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses, allowing students to experience college-level coursework and earn college credit while in high school. This annual update provides the Board with information on G/T services and Advanced Academics participation, performance trends, and program improvements to ensure transparency and support continued alignment with college readiness pathways.
| K-2nd | 3rd-5th | 6th-8th | HS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District curriculum with G/T differentiation in the classroom | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| Appropriate grouping with G/T trained teacher | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| 1 hour of Pull-out services | √ | |||
| G/T group advisory 30 minutes daily | √ | |||
| Differentiation within advanced courses | √ |
District G/T Population
Region 20 average percentage of students identified is 7-8%
New Braunfels ISD provides Gifted and Talented (G/T) support across campuses through dedicated staff and structured service time. At the elementary level, four G/T teachers serve the district’s 10 campuses, providing approximately nine hours of specialized services every nine weeks. At the middle school level, 12 G/T Advisory teachers—two at each grade level—support students and provide approximately 13.5 hours of services every nine weeks, helping ensure that identified students receive continued enrichment and academic challenge as they progress through the program.
The slide below represents SAT testing bench marks for NBISD compared to other Texas Public Schools as well as the entire US. NBISD also increased the number of AP exams taken by 137 from 2024 to 2025.
| Grade Level | # of G/T Students | % of G/T Students |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 59 | 10 |
| 11 | 74 | 10.6 |
| 10 | 84 | 11.3 |
| 9 | 79 | 10 |
| 8 | 88 | 11.9 |
| 7 | 93 | 11.7 |
| 6 | 84 | 11.3 |
| 5 | 97 | 11.7 |
| 4 | 90 | 11.4 |
| 3 | 82 | 11.6 |
| 2 | 35 | 5.1 |
| 1 | 28 | 4.3 |
| K | 13 | 2 |
| Total Population | 906 | 9.4 |
Report on NBISD Transfer Process
At the Board meeting in February during the presentation on CREATE at County Line, it was requested that a report be made on the District Transfer Policy. Administration presented an overview of the current NBISD student transfer processes. The report details the transfer process for NBISD in accordance with local board policy and Texas Education Code 25.
Under the Texas Education Code (TEC), students are assigned to campuses based on their residential address within NBISD attendance zones; however, parents or guardians may apply for a transfer to another campus. Transfer requests are submitted through a Google Form where families may attach documentation supporting their request. Applications are reviewed and processed by the district, and approval is not automatic. Requests must demonstrate extenuating circumstances or include appropriate documentation and are also considered based on factors such as campus capacity, staffing, program availability, and discipline history. If a request is denied, parents or guardians may appeal to the Transfer Committee, which includes three voting members from various district departments and one administrator from the receiving campus.
There is limited open enrollment for NBISD schools. A transfer process may consist of an application process with parameters. Currently, there are 241 students who are enrolled in NBISD schools, but do not live in the boundaries. This process is also open to peace officers and military families. The limited open enrollment transfer process includes the following criteria:
- Attendance, Grades and Discipline
- Other student factors may also be considered
- District availability programs/building capacity/grade level/time of year
Another enrollment option for schools, but is not in NBISD is General open enrollment, which is rare in the area. It allows students to enroll in a school at any time during the year without specific enrollment windows. While districts may establish criteria for approving transfer requests, open enrollment provides greater flexibility for families seeking to attend a campus outside their assigned attendance zone. As part of the process, districts also retain the authority to revoke a transfer if established expectations or requirements are not maintained.
The Board of Trustees can select any of these options, if they choose.
Report of National Defense Cadet Corps Program at Long Creek High School
Long Creek High School is actively exploring the addition of a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) or National Defense Cadet Corps (NDCC) program. Both the Army and Air Force have expressed interest, and a site visit is planned to confirm that facilities can support the program.
If approved, the Army could post an instructor position as early as April 2026 and has requested a non-binding letter from the district indicating interest and potential financial support. First-year startup costs are estimated at approximately $360,000 for a program serving around 100 cadets, with costs expected to decrease significantly in subsequent years. The district will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Another update is planned to be brought to the board in May.
Report on Implementation of Updates to EFB (LOCAL) – Instructional Materials – Library Materials
NBISD is actively implementing updates to its library materials process in response to Senate Bill 13 (SB 13), which guides the review and selection of instructional and library materials.
In September 2025, district administration presented the updated EFB Local implementation processes at a school board meeting and posted an initial book order list for a 30-day public review, as required by SB 13. Questions raised by the community led the district to pause new book purchases until they reviewed the current library collection for SB 13 compliance and approved any new acquisitions. The initial book order list was removed from the Library Services website on September 29th, and the review process began in earnest, temporarily suspending library access for secondary students from October 14th to October 27th.
The internal review process uses a combination of internal and external tools and is led by NBISD librarians, a retired librarian, and the district’s Policy and Compliance Coordinator. Initially, 455 titles were placed under review and temporarily removed from secondary libraries. Each book is evaluated to determine whether it complies with SB 13, requires removal, or needs further review. Updates on the review process are continuously posted at nbisd.org/library-materials-under-review, ensuring transparency with families.
NBISD has also emphasized parental engagement throughout the process. Since August 2025, the Library Services website has provided information about parental controls and guidance for reviewing student library access. Families may also submit formal challenges on any library title through the Library Materials Challenge process, which is overseen by a committee of staff and parents.
Next steps for the district include completing the internal review of the current collection, following updated procedures for recommending the purchase or donation of new titles, and continuing to provide ongoing updates online. These efforts reflect NBISD’s commitment to maintaining a safe, supportive, and transparent learning environment for all students.
Report Of Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) Mid-Year Review 2025-2026
Each year of a five-year contract, Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE) provides a report highlighting the progress, growth, and successes achieved within the Child Nutrition Department as a result of NBISD’s partnership.
As of January, SFE had served 605,499 meals in the 2025-26 school year, which was an increase of 15,955 meals from the year prior. SFE offers several events throughout the years some of these include the Roving Chef Program, which Chef Jay cooks with students. This year, they have made house made pickles, granola and fruit parfaits, cinnamon roll bites and veggie stir fry. They also do taste testing, which have featured black bean burger zucchini fries and sweet potato fries. SFE has also held a farmers market event in which students can taste sugar snap peas, varieties of melons, heirloom tomatoes and other unique fruits and vegetables.
SFE has several exciting events planned to engage students and promote healthy eating. Flavor Fest will take place on March 18th at New Braunfels High School, highlighting creative and flavorful menu options. Throughout the spring, the department will also host a Farmer’s Market and Roving Chefs events, along with taste-testing opportunities that allow students to sample potential new menu items with a focus on fruits, vegetables, and regional cuisines. Additional activities include celebrations for National School Breakfast Week and Earth Day, both designed to encourage healthy habits and environmental awareness. To help guide future menu planning, a student survey will also be conducted in April and May 2026 to gather feedback for the upcoming school year.
Consider Approval of Order of Cancellation of New Braunfels ISD Election on May 2, 2026
The Board approved the order of cancellation for the NBISD Election for 2026. Single-Member District 2 and Single-Member District 4 positions are eligible for cancellation. The unopposed candidates will be declared elected and take their oath in May 2026 during the state prescribed canvassing period. Current Trustee Nancy York is the only candidate for the Single Member District 2 position, and current Trustee John Tucker is the only candidate for the Single Member District 4 position in the May 2, 2026, election.
Upcoming School Board Meetings
The next regular board meeting will be held on April 13th 6:00 pm. If you would like to make a public comment at an upcoming board meeting please fill out the request form.
Learn more about the New Braunfels ISD Board of Trustees on our website where you can find recordings and agendas from past board meetings.
