Dear Graham ISD Community,
It’s been a busy two months so far in 2026 and there’s no sign of that letting up anytime soon. Graham ISD has a number of softball, track and baseball events scheduled during Spring Break, so be sure to check out our athletics calendar online.
Speaking of calendars, Trustees on Wednesday officially adopted the 2026-27 academic calendar. Thank you to all those who served on our Calendar Committee which was composed of teachers, staff, administrators, parents and community members. You can find a link to the adopted calendar and the information used to create the calendar further down in this month’s newsletter.
GISD was able to save taxpayers nearly $10,000 by canceling the May Trustee election. Congratulations to Trustees Brandon Joy, Place 6, and Kristina Pettus, Place 7, for seeking re-election. Because neither of these candidates drew an opponent in the May Trustee election, the Board of Trustees was able to cancel the election. Mr. Joy and Mrs. Pettus will continue to serve through their current term and will be sworn in to new three-year terms at our May meeting. We are grateful to have stability among our Board leadership and look forward to continuing to work with them.
Thank you to the Graham Public Education Foundation for funding two instructional coach positions for Graham ISD elementary schools starting in the 2026-27 school year. I am so thankful that we have a community that supports instruction and provides funding to help fuel Graham ISD’s strategic plan. Thank you to everyone who plays a role in supporting our students and staff.
Here’s wishing you and your family a restful, fun spring break! We look forward to seeing all of our staff and students back at school on Monday, March 16.
Committed to Excellence, Dr. Johnston |
On Wednesday evening, the Graham ISD Board of Trustees met for the regular monthly meeting. The Board officially approved the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar. The first day of school will be Aug. 12.
A Calendar Committee consisting of teachers, staff, administrators, parents, and community members met three times this spring to work on our proposed school calendar for 2026-2027. They studied the current calendar, set expectations for the 2026-2027 calendar based on Texas Education Agency requirements, and reviewed calendar data from area and regional school districts. The Trustees heard feedback from staff and addressed most of the concerns. Dr. Janel Madeley and Mr. Robert Loomis presented draft calendar concepts and survey data from staff and parents at the February 25 Board meeting.
GISD is extending student learning days from 157 to 164. This addition has extended teachers from 170 to 177 days. This is a district effort to get to the TEA minimum of 165 student learning days. In order to qualify for multiple Texas Education Agency (TEA) monetary grants, school districts must make an effort to move their school calendar to 165 days of student learning. GISD has taken a strong step in the recommended direction.
Additionally, based on feedback from our survey, the committee, and our students, you will see that 4-day weekends were added on those Mondays that are national holidays, when possible. The District will also analyze the TEA required number of minutes and plan to shorten the school days next year based on that number. More information will be forthcoming. |
In other business, the Board of Trustees: - Adopted updates for the following Local policies:
- Policy CE Local - Annual Operating Budget - Change of fiscal year to beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
- Policy EI Local - Academic Achievement - Addition of a section on Credentialing: The District shall award credit for a credentialed lower-level course in a language other than English (LOTE) on a pass/fail basis if a student completes the higher-level LOTE course with an overall grade of 70 or higher or earns credit for the higher-level LOTE course through credit by examination.
- Policy EIC Local - Academic Achievement: Class Ranking - Beginning with Class of 2028 (current sophomore class) Graham ISD would add a .5 weighted column for Dual Credit Academic Classes. Advanced Academic classes (AP, OnRamps courses, and identified Advanced Academic courses (Engineering and Biomedical Sciences) as approved by the Board of Trustees) would remain 1.0 weight.
- Heard a report on the 2026-27 Budget Planning Calendar from Chief Financial Officer Gary Browning;
- Heard a presentation on Results Driven Accountability by Chief Student Services Officer Joe Gordy;
- Heard an update on the Graham ISD Teacher Incentive Allotment by Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Janel Madeley;
- Approved the Certification of Provision of Instructional Materials for the 26-27 school year;
- Approved the Consent Agenda, which consisted of previous meeting minutes, an enrollment report, and financial reports; as part of the Consent Agenda, the Board accepted a donation from an anonymous donor through the Graham Lion’s Club to build an additional long jump pit on the south end of Newton Field. The pit would increase capacity for the long jump and triple jump events especially during the PK Relays; and
- Met in Closed Session as permitted by Texas law.
We would like to thank Graham Lions Club for the donation mentioned above for the long jump pit. We appreciate their continued support of Graham ISD.
The School Board’s next regular meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8. The Board does have a special session and workshop scheduled for Wednesday, March 25 beginning at 5:30 p.m. |
Trustees believe that the highlight of the monthly Board meetings is recognizing students and staff for their amazing individual and team accomplishments. At Wednesday evening’s meeting, Trustees took time to recognize members of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), Elementary Regional Science Fair winners and Bella Blues Drill Team Awards. |
FFA students honored included: - Romona Alejo - Greenhand Spanish Creed First District
- Lane Anderson - 2nd San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo
- Brayelyn Brown - 10th Texas Elite Showcase
- Wesley "Dayne" Dunnam - Calf Scramble winner FWSSR
- Drake Elliott - 6th San Angelo Livestock Show
- Maddy Erwin - 11th San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo
- Caden Joy - 3rd Place San Antonio Commercial Steers
- Laura Martin Guijarro - Sr. Spanish Creed 2nd District
- Rylee Moore - 10th San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo
- Kimber Pratt - Sr. Creed 2nd
- Jerry Sanders - Calf Scramble winner FWSSR
- Hattie Stephens - 1st San Angelo Livestock Show Heifer
- McCrae Trammell - 2nd place heifer Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
- Hadley Trammell - 2nd place heifer Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
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Also recognized were Graham elementary students involved in the Regional Science Fair: - Cohen Howard - 1st place for presentation and 3rd place overall in Life Science: Project Titled "Eww Germs"
- Kellen Brewer - 1st place for presentation and 3rd place overall in Physical Science: Project Titled: "Maglev Train"
- Rhett Johnson - 2nd place for presentation and 2nd place overall in Physical Science: Project Titled: "How to Test Electromagnets"
- Cooper Epperson - 2nd place for presentation and 2nd place overall in Engineering and Design: Project Titled: "The Science of Siege"
- Beck Lundgren - 1st Place Elementary Engineering Presentation, 1st Place Elementary Engineering Overall
- Julia Jenkins and Tatum Schmidt - 2nd Place Elementary Physical Science Presentation
- Isaiah Wells - 3rd Place Elementary Life Science Presentation
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The Board of Trustees also recognized the Bella Blues:
Bella Blues Drill Team Varsity Team Awards: - Adacyn Pleasant - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
- Makyla Bronfield - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
- Alecia Musgrave - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
- Jaci Andrews - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
- Calecen Gresham - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
- Sarah Kunkel - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
- Lena Stansell - 2nd Runner Up Hip Hop, 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 2nd Runner Up Pom & 4th Place Overall
Captain Awards: - Sarah Kunkel - Tied 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 1st Place Lyrical, 1st Place Novelty & Grand Champion (1st Place Overall)
- Calecen Gresham - Tied 2nd Runner Up Jazz, 1st Place Lyrical, 1st Place Novelty & Grand Champion (1st Place Overall)
JV Awards: - Grecia Flores - 2nd Runner Up JV Pom
- Emahlynn Martinez - 2nd Runner Up JV Pom
- Carmen Williams - 2nd Runner Up JV Pom
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During the March meeting, the Board of Trustees also recognized Grace York, GISD’s PCAT Bus Driver of the Year. |
The Board of Trustees met for a special session and team building workshop February 25. In addition to cancelling the May Trustee election, they also chose to join most school districts across the state and not adopt a resolution as part of Senate Bill 11 to designate a specific time in the day and place for student prayer.
Trustees affirmed that GISD students already have an absolute right to individually, voluntarily, and silently pray or meditate in school in a manner that does not disrupt the instructional or other activities of the school. By law, a person may not require or coerce a student to engage in or refrain from such prayer or meditation during any school activity.
SB11 lays out expectations for school district oversight and management of a policy, including obtaining parental permission to participate and ensuring that those without parental permission do not participate. Ultimately, most districts across the state decided not to adopt a resolution under the new law because the right to pray already exists and implementation of such a resolution requires significant campus oversight and compliance, as well as adding time to every school day.
During Wednesday’s special meeting the Board also heard an update on the draft 2026-27 academic calendar and survey results collected about the proposed calendar. The information included the positives and negatives of calendar feedback. The calendar was put together by the DEIC Calendar Committee which is composed of teachers, staff, administrators, parents and community members. The committee met on three occasions to focus on reviewing all aspects of the calendar.
Following discussion of the special meeting agenda items, the Board of Trustees and Superintendent took part in team building focused on the Role of the Team of 8 and Board/Superintendent Priority Goals. |
For Lady Blues Head Coach Casey Weil, it’s about so much more than the love of the sport. It’s about trust, pride, and fun. Weil’s dedication to his players, along with his years of service as a coach in the state of Texas, resulted in his election to The Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) Board of Directors on November 21, 2025. He was one of just four in the state elected to the board, which works hand-in-hand with the Texas High School Coaches Association and the Texas Girls Coaches Association to promote the development of high school soccer and opportunities for student athletes.
Coach Weil will begin his four-year term as a member of the board this spring.
“It's just a very proud moment for me as a coach to even be held at that standard by my peers,” he said. “It's an opportunity for me to learn more, have an input, and be an advocate for so many kids, not just here at Graham, but across the state of Texas.”
To read more about Coach Weil’s work in Graham and at the state level, click here. |
The Facility Planning Committee (FPC) met in early February to tour Graham Junior High School and to hear presentations from technology and athletics. The group also heard a presentation on the district’s operating budget, including the costs associated with staffing and operating a campus. Excluding the cost of classroom teachers, GISD spends about $664,000 to staff a campus and pay for water and utilities. In an effort to make sound fiscal decisions, the district must balance staff and student needs while also considering ways to address funding losses associated with declining enrollment.
The FPC heard a demographic presentation by Stuart Keogh of ZondaHome. GISD’s report showed a steady decline in enrollment over the last 10 years, and a continued projected decrease over the next 10 years. As part of this study, Zonda collected data about housing, student yield, birth rates, historical enrollment and the local job market. Once the data was collected, Zonda was able to form predictive data that will inform the future outlook for Graham ISD.
Graham ISD can expect an average decrease in enrollment of 243 students over the next 10 years with enrollment decreasing from 2,142 this year to 1,899 students in 2035. Drops in overall district enrollment negatively impact state funding because each student enrolled ensures GISD an average of about $9,000. If the decline in enrollment continues, a decrease of 243 students would mean approximately $2.18 million less in state funding during that time. In turn, if enrollment is declining, GISD must also consider reducing staffing costs through retirements and attrition. Click here to view the complete demographic report.
The FPC includes parents, students, employees, taxpayers and community leaders serving in an advisory capacity to the Board of Trustees. The group has been meeting monthly to study facility needs across the district.
The next FPC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at Graham High School. In addition to a walking tour of the campus, the group will hear additional program reports, and get a first look at the architect’s project cost estimates from the facility assessment. The meeting will begin 30 minutes earlier than usual to accommodate the building tour and agenda items. The meeting will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. |
If you ever have questions about any of the district’s ongoing safety protocols or procedures, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your campus principal.
Watch for #GrahamSafe announcements through the ParentSquare mobile app. Graham ISD strives to keep our school community members informed of campus occurrences such as notification of emergency drills, school closures and updates, or when law enforcement or emergency services are on our campuses. These messages are always labeled Graham Safe to draw your attention. Ensuring our parents are aware is vital in preparing our students to have a safe response in emergent situations.
Thank you to Chief Financial Officer Gary Browning for sharing the importance of our School Resource Officer’s role in safety in Graham ISD:
“Graham ISD ensures that the School Resource Officer (SRO) program will continue moving forward. School safety is the number one priority identified in the Graham ISD Strategic Plan developed in the spring of 2025. The SRO is critical in keeping our students and staff safe each and every day. Officer Davis does an outstanding job working with students, developing relationships and being proactive in preventing safety issues before they arise. He is a critical resource for our campuses and creates an important connection between the schools and law enforcement within the community. We look forward to working with the City of Graham on this program moving forward.” |
District Openings for 2026-2027 GISD - Elementary Curriculum Coordinator
- Elementary District Instructional Coach: Literacy/Social Studies (funded by GPEF)
- Elementary District Instructional Coach: Math/Science (funded by GPEF)
- Diagnostician
- Speech Language Pathologist
GHS - Counselor
- Teacher, Math (2)
- Teacher, CTE Computer Science
- Teacher, CTE Engineering
GJHS - Teacher, Social Studies/Boy’s Athletics
- Teacher, 4-8 Generalist/Boy’s Athletics
- Teacher, 4-8 Generalist/Girl’s Athletics
- Teacher, Math
- Paraprofessional, Special Ed. Inclusion
- Paraprofessional, General Education
Woodland - Teacher, 4th RLA (2)
- Teacher, 5th RLA
- Teacher, 4th Math
- Crestview
- Teacher, 1st Grade
- Pioneer
- Teacher, Kinder - Special Education
GISD Substitute Teacher Orientation Thursday, March 19 from 8:30 - 11 a.m. at the Graham Learning Center |
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Local Funding and Tax Rates Approximately 36% of Graham ISD’s total revenue results from local property taxes. Each year local revenue is driven by the adopted tax rates for M&O (Maintenance & Operations) and I&S (Interest & Sinking). M&O funds support everyday expenses like salaries, supplies and services that keep the district running. I&S funds are dedicated to repaying bonds for construction and major facility improvements.
Graham ISD’s current adopted tax rates are: |
The total adopted tax rates have decreased over the past eight years. The chart below shows the decrease in the tax rates during that time: |
Graham ISD works hard to be a good custodian of the local funds provided through property taxes by focusing on the academic goals and objectives established in the Graham ISD Strategic Plan. |
Thank you to the GPEF Board for voting unanimously to fund two District Elementary Instructional Coaches (Literacy/Social Studies & Math/Science) for an initial three-year period-beginning in the fall of 2026. Instructional Coaches will provide personalized, job-embedded support, and high-impact feedback by strengthening core instruction in math and literacy using high yield instructional strategies. |
Pioneer Family Math and Reading Night was a hit! Students and family members were engaged in all things math and literacy! |
Thank you to all our amazing parent and teacher volunteers who made Crestview Literacy Night a huge success on Monday night! We appreciate our parents and grandparents and their support of our schools! |
"Huge shoutout to our incredible high school boys (Jaden and Nik) who volunteered their time as coaches for our 5th and 6th grade basketball team (Thunder)!
Your leadership, patience, and dedication have truly made a difference. From the very first game to now, the growth in these young athletes has been amazing to watch. Their skills, confidence, teamwork, and understanding of the game have improved so much — and that’s because of the time and effort you poured into them.
You’ve not only helped them become better players, but you’ve also been role models they look up to. Thank you for showing up, encouraging them, and investing in their success both on and off the court. We are so proud of the work you’ve done and so grateful for the positive impact you’ve had on these boys!"
- Submitted by Robin Martin
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“Dawna is enthusiastic and always has a smile on her face. She welcomes students to school and to her class every day. She develops great relationships with her students and finds ways to make Biology fun! She is a great teacher that loves students and is a valued GHS teacher!”
- Submitted by Adam Anderson
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"Shout out to Avry, an incredible student who truly went above and beyond! While I was unloading my car for an event at the gym and making multiple trips, he stepped up without hesitation. He opened the door for me, put his own things away, and then came back to help carry in the rest of my supplies — all without being asked and without expecting anything in return.
It was so refreshing to see a young man take initiative simply to be kind and helpful. Your thoughtfulness and character did not go unnoticed. Thank you for setting such a great example!"
- Submitted by Shannon Weaver
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"We are proud to give a huge shout-out to Mr. Payne, an incredible 7th Grade Texas History teacher at GJHS!
Mr. Payne’s content knowledge is truly outstanding. From the Texas Revolution to Reconstruction and beyond, he brings history to life in a way that makes students think deeply and stay engaged. His passion for Texas history is evident every single day in his classroom. He breaks down complex events and ideas so students truly understand not just what happened, but why it matters. His enthusiasm for the subject creates a classroom where curiosity and critical thinking thrive. That combination of rigor and engagement is powerful — and our students are better because of it.
Thank you, Mr. Payne, for your dedication, your expertise, and your commitment to making our students successful. We are grateful for all you do!"
- Submitted by Audra Barrett
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“A big shout out to Yadira for the outstanding job she does at afternoon bus duty! Rain or shine she show up and makes sure that our students are accounted for and get on their buses safely. Thank you, Yadira, for showing up and ending our students' school day on a safe and positive note.”
- Submitted by Donna Gatlin
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Have a Graham ISD student or staff member that deserves a shoutout in an upcoming newsletter or social media post? Take a few moments to share information about the achievement or contribution the staff or student made and share photos if you have them using the form provided below. |
- Friday, March 6: GISD Closed, No School
- March 9-13: Spring Break, No School
- Monday, March 16: Classes Resume
- Wednesday, March 18: Facility Planning Committee Meeting
- Wednesday, March 25: School Board Workshop
- Thursday, March 26: Silver Steers & Lady Blues Club Meeting
- Wednesday, April 8: School Board Meeting
Check out the Online GISD Calendar for a more comprehensive list of upcoming academic, athletic, fine arts and extracurricular activities. |
Graham High School presents Masquerade Ball for Junior-Senior Prom! The event will take place on Saturday, April 18 from 7-11 p.m. at Graham Country Club. |
If you still would like to pay class dues for your student, please click below. |
Pay $20 Dues - Link Below Please note: user must have the Paypal app to access this payment form. |
QR Code to Pay $20 Dues Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up. |
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up. |
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up. |
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues Please note: user must have the PayPal app downloaded and QR code payments set up. |
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QR Code to Pay $20 Dues Please note: user must have the Venmo app downloaded. |
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Find your dream dress, shoes, and jewelry for prom! The four-day shopping event will take place March 4-7 at First United Methodist Church in Graham. See shopping times below and be sure to register! |
Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, March 26 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Graham Learning Center. This organization is open to community members who are 65 years and older and want to connect with Graham ISD! We look forward to seeing you in March! |
The last Graham Concert Association performance is next Sunday, March 8 with the University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band, which is a 20 member jazz orchestra. With seven Grammy Award® nominations spanning five decades and a discography of over eighty acclaimed recordings, the One O’Clock exemplifies exceptional musicianship—both individually and collectively. The ensemble presents dynamic concerts that highlight a diverse range of compositions and arrangements. For this performance they will offer all Graham ISD students a reduced ticket price of $5. Thank you so much for this deal for our Graham Steers & Lady Blues!
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Graham High School students designed a t-shirt in memory of Michelle Lowrey. All proceeds from the sales of the t-shirts will be donated to her memorial scholarship that begins in 2027. We will post the link next week on Facebook. |
Save the Date for the 6th Annual Community Resources Transition Expo and Career Fair! Community members are welcome to attend on Wednesday, March 25 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Learn more about resources and career opportunities in our area! |
400 Third Street | Graham, TX 76450 940-549-0595
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