Plano Independent School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-18
Meeting: Work Session - Aug 18 2026
Scheduled: August 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
The Plano Independent School District Board of Trustees is scheduled for a work session centered on four reports: the 2022 Bond Program, district accountability results, College Board results, and the first part of the proposed 2026–2027 District Improvement Plan. The agenda also provides for public comment on posted agenda items and a closed session for consultation with the Board’s attorneys.
Key Items on the Agenda
2022 Bond Program Update
Administration is scheduled to update trustees on the status of projects funded through the 2022 Bond. The packet describes the program as being implemented in five phases over five years, with construction activity progressing in four phases.
- Phase 1 — Near Completion: 33 projects are reported complete, with remaining long-duration projects continuing through 2029.
- Phase 2 — Advancing: 21 projects are reported complete, with remaining work focused on transportation, service center, and kitchen renovations.
- Phase 3 — Active Construction: 29 projects are underway, including HVAC, kitchen, safety, compliance, playground, and athletic improvements.
- Phase 4 — In Design: Planning and design are continuing for the next group of projects.
- Phase 5 — Planning: Programming and early planning are underway for the final phase.
The packet includes detailed updates on major campus renovations and replacements. Williams High School Phase 2 carries a $63,115,283 construction contract and is scheduled for completion in January 2027. The new Haggard Middle School carries an $86,612,925 construction contract; the packet describes the new building as near completion, while demolition of the existing building and construction of the new track remain on a separate timeline.
Plano Senior High School's major renovation has a $233,732,780 Package 2 construction contract and a scheduled completion of February 2029. The project includes extensive campus renovations and additions, including athletic facilities, kitchen, cafeteria, library, safety and security improvements, and a new Building C. The packet notes that a change order adding building connectors was previously approved by the Board in February 2026.
Other major projects highlighted include:
- Career & Technical Education Center: $76,128,866 construction contract; scheduled for October 2026 substantial completion.
- Plano West Senior High School Renovation: $93,808,546 construction contract; scheduled for completion in October 2027.
- Plano East Senior High School Renovation: $58,426,926 construction contract; scheduled for completion in January 2027.
- Transportation Fueling Station: $4,262,000 construction contract; expected completion in May 2027.
- Shepard Elementary School Classroom Renovation: $5,214,284 construction contract; scheduled for completion in December 2026.
- Wells Elementary School Kitchen Upgrade: $6,196,251 construction contract; scheduled for completion in November 2026.
- Schimelpfenig Middle School Systems & Compliance: $10,249,970 construction contract; anticipated completion in August 2027.
The update also covers smaller HVAC, systems, Job Order Contracting, playground, synthetic-track, and demolition projects. The packet reports that demolition of the former Davis, Forman, and Armstrong campuses is complete and that the District has finalized the sale and turnover of those sites to the City.
2025–2026 Accountability Update
Administration is scheduled to present Plano ISD's 2025–2026 Texas Education Agency accountability rating and supporting STAAR, PSAT, SAT, Advanced Placement, and College, Career, and Military Readiness data.
The packet reports an overall district accountability score of 85 for 2025–2026, compared with 82 for 2024–2025 and 83 for 2023–2024. District materials characterize the 2026 score as the highest overall score since the state's new accountability system was established in 2022.
For 2026 campus ratings, the packet reports:
- 33% of campuses received an A.
- 73% received a B or above.
- 93% received a C or above.
- 7% received a D.
- No campuses received an F.
The presentation also states that both campuses receiving F ratings in 2025 improved in 2026, with one moving to a C and the other to a B.
College, Career, and Military Readiness
The accountability presentation reports preliminary CCMR data showing total credit for CCMR criteria increasing from 76% for the 2025 accountability year, based on 2024 graduates, to 87% for 2026, based on 2025 graduates. The packet projects 93% for the following year's measure and notes that preliminary figures are subject to change.
Administration also plans to describe a 2026–2027 District Support Team model for campuses needing targeted assistance. Five differentiated groups are proposed around multiple accountability domains, relative performance, academic growth, closing achievement gaps, and campuses emerging from a C rating.
New Teacher Recognition Program
The accountability report introduces a proposed “100% Club” for 2026–2027 to recognize teachers whose classes or caseloads meet defined student-performance benchmarks.
Potential pathways include 100% of assigned students meeting specified STAAR/EOC thresholds, AP students earning scores of 3 or higher, students meeting annual MAP growth targets, students advancing a state-assessment performance category or maintaining Masters status, and students passing applicable industry-based certification exams. The criteria apply to classes, courses, or caseloads with at least five assigned students.
College Board Results
Administration is scheduled to separately present the 2025–2026 College Board Report, covering Advanced Placement, PSAT, and SAT results and comparisons with state and global test takers.
The packet's AP materials report approximately 5,815 students in AP classes and 13,695 tests administered for 2026. Another accountability table reports 5,813 AP students, 13,958 AP exams, and 11,778 exams earning scores of 3, 4, or 5; because the packet contains differing figures across its presentations, those numbers should be understood in the context of the individual reports rather than treated as directly interchangeable.
2026–2027 District Improvement Plan
Draft Goals for Board Review
Administration is scheduled to present Part I of the draft 2026–2027 District Improvement Plan. The packet explains that policies BQ(LEGAL) and BQ(LOCAL) require annual development, review, and revision of the plan, while House Bill 3 requires Board goals addressing early literacy, mathematics, and college, career, and military readiness.
The presentation organizes proposed annual goals around the District's five strategic-plan pillars. These are draft goals at this stage; the packet identifies later review by the District Based Improvement Committee and subsequent formal Board approval as future steps.
Teaching and Learning
Draft goals include achieving at least one year of academic growth across grade levels, increasing the share of students performing on grade level in math and reading, and improving STAAR performance among students receiving accelerated instruction under HB 1416.
Strategies described in the packet include more consistent Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions, individualized plans for students below specified performance levels, expanded progress monitoring, Math Rocks at elementary campuses, additional support for special education and bilingual students, and greater family engagement around early literacy and mathematics.
The draft Board and superintendent goals also address third-grade reading and mathematics and CCMR. Proposed five-year targets are presented by student group through 2029.
Life Ready
The draft plan proposes a goal for 91% of Plano ISD graduates to earn at least one CCMR criterion by the end of 2026–2027.
Other proposed goals would:
- Establish an individualized CCMR plan for every student in grades 9–12, with 100% of those plans monitored.
- Increase student progress through aligned Career and Technical Education programs of study and industry-based certifications.
- Expand participation in school-sponsored extracurricular activities and programs.
- Embed PSAT, SAT, and TSIA preparation and advising more consistently into secondary-school systems.
Talent Acquisition, Support, and Growth
The draft plan proposes reducing the number of vacancies remaining on the first day of school through a broader recruitment, development, and retention strategy. Proposed approaches include stronger partnerships with educator-preparation programs and alternative-certification providers and a standardized candidate-selection process.
Other draft goals call for expanding Plano ISD's internal leadership pipeline and creating a coordinated professional-learning system for employee onboarding and continued development.
Safety, Wellness, and Community Engagement
The packet proposes several goals under this strategic pillar:
- Reduce discipline incidents by strengthening behavioral, attendance, and student-support systems.
- Embed the District's Code of Civility into interactions, decision-making, and customer service.
- Convert 3%–5% of marketing-generated leads into enrolled students during 2026–2027 using targeted campaigns, follow-up procedures, and customer-relationship-management tracking.
- By April 2027, simplify district website navigation and fully implement an accessibility training plan for staff responsible for online content.
- Improve the accuracy and use of volunteer data through consistent use of the Voly system.
Partnerships and Strategic Resource Management
A major draft financial goal is to restore structural fiscal balance within three years through a phased, Board-approved deficit-reduction plan. The proposed strategy calls for defined annual targets, protection of instructional priorities, long-range facilities planning, program evaluation based partly on cost-effectiveness and return on investment, school-funding advocacy, and enrollment and attendance strategies.
Other draft goals would expand business and community partnerships coordinated through the Plano ISD Education Foundation and deploy technology intended to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency, including a modern data warehouse and standardized electronic facility-access controls.
Financial Context
The packet includes the District's adopted original 2026–2027 budget as a required attachment. For the General Fund, it lists $634,640,628 in revenues and other resources and $691,640,628 in expenditures. After $12.2 million in net other financing sources and uses, the budget shows a $44.8 million net operating deficit.
The largest General Fund expenditure categories shown include:
- Instruction: $340,787,515
- Intergovernmental charges: $132,542,743
- Maintenance and operations: $55,584,002
- School leadership: $32,042,080
- Guidance and counseling: $27,191,072
- Transportation: $20,611,069
The Debt Service Fund lists $195,429,534 in revenues and the same amount in expenditures, while Food and Nutrition Services lists $30,928,809 in both revenues and expenditures.
A required Taxpayer Impact Statement compares the adopted 2025 tax rate with a proposed 2026 rate based on the proposed 2026–2027 budget.
For a median-valued taxable homestead, the packet presents:
Tax YearMedian Taxable HomesteadTax Rate per $100Estimated Tax Bill2025$397,6791.03955$4,1342026$395,6831.03275 proposed$4,086The packet identifies 1.03275 per $100 of taxable value as the proposed 2026 tax rate, rather than an adopted rate.
Public comment is scheduled near the beginning of the work session and is limited to subjects on the posted agenda. The packet states that individuals generally must register online between 8:00 a.m. and one hour before the meeting begins, subject to any meeting-specific adjustments.
The agenda also provides for a closed session for consultation with the Board's attorneys under Texas Government Code Section 551.071 concerning legal advice, including pending or contemplated litigation where applicable.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- District Improvement Plan: The goals presented are drafts. The packet identifies District Based Improvement Committee review, finalization of strategies and action steps, and later formal Board approval of District and Campus Improvement Plan goals as next steps.
- Fiscal balance: The proposed three-year structural-balance goal comes against a 2026–2027 adopted General Fund budget showing a $44.8 million net operating deficit.
- Accountability strategy: Trustees are expected to receive both the latest accountability results and the administration's proposed differentiated support structure for campuses in 2026–2027.
- Bond construction: The update spans projects ranging from work expected to conclude in 2026 to the Plano Senior High School renovation scheduled through February 2029.
- Student readiness: CCMR, individual high-school planning, CTE pathways, industry certifications, AP performance, and college-readiness testing appear across multiple reports and proposed improvement goals.
