Pay approved for threat closure; attendance just short of mark
School board members this past week approved an initiative allowing homeschool students to compete alongside Taylor Independent School District pupils in UIL events for the 2026-27 school year.
Senate Bill 401, or the University Interscholastic League Equal Access Program, was passed by the 89th Legislature last year and paves the way for homeschool students in accredited, eligible programs to participate in UIL activities through their local school districts.
Also during the July 20 meeting, trustees approved compensation for staffers affected by an unspecified campus threat earlier this month, and learned attendance during the 2025-26 academic year fell short — but not by much.
Meanwhile, Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen said the district would opt in to SB 401 for the coming academic cycle and reevaluate participation the following year.
District UIL competitions include athletics, fine arts and academic activities.
The initiative is intended to expand opportunities for students while broadening participation across programs, a district spokesman said.
“There is a list of accredited homeschool programs and those are the ones that can participate,” said Daniella Ogundare, director of the Taylor Opportunity Center. “I know that some families think the kids just sit at home and the parents may or may not be teaching them and then they’re able to participate. No, it’s not that.”
In addition to participating in accredited programs, Ogundare said homeschool students must meet grade-level proficiency requirements, which are the same eligibility standards required of public- school students.
Board approves pay for emergency closure School district leaders approved paying staffers for an emergency closure July 2 after an anonymous social-media threat put facilities on “secure” status. Some staff members were given the option to leave early and work from home; others with critical functions, such as payroll, stayed at their desks until tasks were complete.
Trustees approved full pay for employees who opted to leave, and premium pay was authorized for those who remained working through the emergency.
Though school was not in session, staff and students were brought into the building, and business continued as usual, officials said.
No threat was detected by the police.
Attendance up, not quite to goal Ogundare, who is also in charge of the district’s at-risk program, told trustees that five of the district’s six schools met their attendance goals for the 2025-26 school year. While the schools did not meet the districtwide goal, the overall attendance average of almost 94% is an improvement over the previous year.
Ogundare said she was confident the district could meet its attendance goals for the 2026-27 year.
Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year was 2,900, officials said.
The district reported more than 80 students were sent to a truancy court last year for excessive absences.
Truancy cases are heard by Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Rhonda Redden.
Ogundare said Redden has asked the district to streamline its systems to file truancy problems faster, so the justice of the peace can work out solutions early enough to make a difference for the student.
Ogundare has set a meeting with the attendance clerk to see how paperwork can be turned in sooner.
State disbursements to school districts are based on daily attendance reports.
The next school board meeting is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Taylor ISD boardroom at 3101 N. Main St.
