June 2021
Board Approves Hiring of Lakewood Elementary Principal
The Belton ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Christy Chandler as the next principal at Lakewood Elementary at its regular June meeting.

Chandler has served as a campus principal for 10 years, most recently at Deering Elementary School in Pflugerville ISD. Her 20 years of education experience also includes time as a classroom teacher, instructional coach and assistant principal at the elementary level.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Edward’s University and a Masters of Education from Texas State University. Her husband, Clint, is a Belton native and graduate of Belton High School.

Chandler replaces Becky Musil who retired this month after 28 years in education.
Student Showcase -
Belton High School Cheerleaders
Members of the Belton High School varsity and junior varsity cheerleader squads performed routines and cheers before the start of the meeting. The group included freshmen Addison Crouse, Avery Rivera, Briley Campbell, Jaslyn Davis, Julie He, Kimora Davis and Zariya Turner Hopkins; sophomores Addison Dunahoo, Gabby Rodriguez, Loren Lazott, Sharon Turner and Taylin Rynkowski; junior Mia Ureste; and seniors Alex Cipolla, Camdyn Carothers, Ireland Cory and Kailyn Bond. The teams are coached by Marcia Russell and Kristin Hennage (varsity) and Emily Cook (junior varsity).
Compensation Plan Approved for 2021-2022 School Year

Trustees approved a compensation plan for the 2021-2022 school year that will provide teachers, nurses and librarians a $1,200 increase in pay, making a new starting salary for a beginner teacher $51,400. All other staff will receive a 2% increase based on the midpoint of their salary range. The bilingual stipend will also be increased to $6,000 based on a comparative market analysis.
Board Recognition -
UIL Track State Qualifiers
Lake Belton High School rising junior Layloni Watson placed seventh at the UIL state track and field meet after running a personal best of 15:77 in the 100 meter hurdles. During the season, Layloni set five Bronco records in the 100 meter hurdles, 4x200 relay, 300 meter hurdles and the long and triple jumps. LBHS track coaches are Callie Cameron, Kaylie Krenek and Brandin Byrd.

Also recognized was Noah Newman, a Belton High School rising senior, who placed 8th at the UIL state track and field meet after running the 300 meter hurdles in 38.85 seconds. Noah, who began running hurdles in 7th grade, had a great junior year season with personal bests of 14.97 seconds in the 110 hurdles and a 38.27 seconds finish in the 300 meter hurdles at regionals. BHS’s head track coach is Bobby Fowler.
Board Recognition -
UIL Golf State Qualifiers
In its inaugural season, Lake Belton High School’s golf team advanced six athletes to the 4A state golf tournament at the Plum Creek Golf Course in Kyle, Texas. 

Although the state tournament was shortened because of rain, sophomore Tiffany Lange finished 23rd out of 72 participants shooting a 124. The boys team included sophomores Chandler Cook (12th place), Colby Connor (24th place), Chase Passentino-Slone (47th place), Hayden Nix (68th place) and freshman James Bond (49th place). The team finished sixth out of 12 teams. LBHS golf is coached by William Sims.

Belton High School senior Dallas Hankamer made his second appearance at the 6A state golf tournament in May at Legacy Hills in Georgetown. He finished with a two-day total of 151 (73-78) in his last tournament as a Tiger. Jim Hellums is the head boys golf coach at BHS.
Tiger Baseball Field to be Named in Honor of Former Coach David Tidwell

The Board also approved the renaming of Belton High School’s baseball field to Tidwell Field after David Tidwell, a former coach and teacher with the district for 29 years. Tidwell was inducted into the Texas High School baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2017. The district will plan a dedication ceremony during a 2022 varsity baseball game.
Board Recognition -
THSCA Academic All-State Recipients
Belton High School is celebrating 60 student-athletes who were named to Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State teams. To be nominated, seniors must be in good standing with their team, of good moral character and have an overall GPA of 92 or above. Class rank and SAT/ACT test scores are also taken into consideration. 

This year’s recipients include:  

Cross Country: Abigail Cargile, Jackson Hebers, Madison Farwell and Shire Snell (first team); Caroline Moehlenbrock, Abigail Davis, Cade Wenberg, Chase Perry, Evie Nix, Grace Pohl, Katelyn Chrisman, Michael Eckert, Rachel Mahan, Rylyn Reyes and Shelby Littlefield (second team); and Brandt Menzie and Jordan Martinson (honorable mention).

Volleyball includes: Isabel Holguin, Rachel Bledsoe, Campbell Burnett, Sydney Sell and McKayla Seeliger (second team).

Football: Kanyn Utley and Daniel Torres (first team), Riley Tabat, Jason Bonnett, Thomas Bowman and Joseph Knox (second team); and Nathan Hunt and Justin Simmons (honorable mention).

Basketball: Luke Bramlett, Nylah Modeste and Campbell Burnett (second team) and Karina Fisher (honorable mention).

Girls soccer: Madison Farwell, Evie Nix, Abigail Davis, Abigayle Ponder, Hana Erskine, Rachel Mahan (second team); and Rylyn Reyes and Sophie Elliott (honorable mention).

Girls powerlifting: Vanessa Ake (elite); Bryce Allen Bourland and Lauryn Scott (first team); and Raquelle Chandarlis (second team). 

Baseball: Brady Shadrick (first team); and Jason Bonnett (honorable mention).

Boys track: Brady Shadrick (first team); and Thomas Bowman, Riley Tabat, Trenton Whitworth and Cade Wenberg (second team).
Additionally, the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches recognized seniors Martin Bedolla, Charles Evans, Gautam Ghamande, Kobe Gillians, Cesar Rios-Torres, Shire Snell and Cade Wenberg for maintaining a 90 or higher GPA all four years of high school.
Board Committee Reports

Policy: The policy committee met on June 7 and reviewed revisions to the student handbook and EIC(LOCAL) and made plans to move forward with hiring the Texas Association of School Boards to help systematically review all Board policies.

Facilities: The facilities committee met on June 16 and heard an update on the progress of repairs to damage caused by the winter storm and updates on summer facility projects. The committee also discussed starting conversations with students and staff about bond needs.
Superintendent's Report

  • Dr. Smith thanked the administrative team for weathering a lot of change in the district this year, including opening two new campuses, switching to a block schedule, becoming a 1:1 technology district across all grades and embracing calendar adjustments, leadership changes and new supervision models.
  • He highlighted several campus events that have happened since the last Board meeting, like Miller Heights' Proud to Be an American Day, Lakewood's Old Glory Day and Lake Belton High School's student expo — all culminating in graduation celebrations at Tiger Field.
  • The district switched to Scenario 1 of the COVID-19 Response Plan on June 14.
Consent Agenda Highlights

  • Unaudited financial report for the month ending May 31, 2021
  • Gifts, grants and bequests
  • Budget Amendment #9 for 2021-2022
  • Expenditures over $50,000 (Communities in Schools, instructional materials, GoGuardian filtering and classroom management tool and Skyward renewal)
  • Supply, equipment and service bids (RFP for apparel, uniforms, accessories and supplies; RFP for signs, safety and ID products)

To review Belton ISD board meeting agendas and full packet materials, click here.