The Killeen Independent School District Board of Trustees approved several items related to student safety, instructional materials, and facility improvements during its April 28 meeting.
As part of required reporting under Senate Bill 546, the Board approved a determination that full implementation of three-point seat belts on all school buses is not feasible within the district’s current budget at this time. District data shows that about half of KISD buses are already equipped with three-point seat belts. The estimated cost to retrofit and replace remaining buses is $10.2 million.
The determination allows the district to meet state reporting requirements while continuing to evaluate funding options, including potential state support, before moving forward with full implementation. The district will submit the required report to the Texas Education Agency by the May 30 deadline.
Trustees also approved new high school math and science instructional materials for the 2026–2027 school year. The materials meet State Board of Education standards and were selected through a review process involving district curriculum staff and campus educators. The total cost is approximately $680,270.81 and will be funded for two years through the state Instructional Materials and Technology Allotment. The updated materials are intended to provide more consistent resources across campuses and support classroom instruction beginning next school year.
In other news, the Board also approved several facility projects as part of the district’s Strategic Facilities Plan. Each project followed a competitive proposal process, with district staff reviewing and ranking submissions.
The Ellison High School auditorium roof replacement project was awarded to Johnson Roofing, with a total project cost of approximately $1,020,392. Work is expected to be completed by August 2026 and will address damage from a previous hailstorm while ensuring the facility remains safe and operational for students and staff.
The Alice W. Douse Elementary School data center relocation project was awarded to HCS Inc., with a total cost of approximately $553,600. The project supports improvements to the district’s technology infrastructure, which is used daily to support instruction and campus operations. The project will also allow for the decommissioning of the KLSS facility, which is 83 years old.
The Board also approved Huckabee Architects and Langerman Engineering for the Palo Alto Middle School renovation project, with a total project budget of approximately $2,029,500. Gateway Middle School and Gateway High School programs are expected to relocate to the campus beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, with renovations taking place while the building is in use and phased to minimize disruption. The project will create more functional learning spaces within the existing facility and reduce reliance on portable classrooms. The project will also allow for the decommissioning of the existing Gateway facility, which is 64 years old.
For more information, visit www.killeenisd.org.