Calhoun County ISD board extends superintendent contract through 2028, approves personnel hires

The Calhoun County Independent School District Board of Trustees voted June 16 to extend Superintendent Evan Cardwell’s contract through Aug. 31, 2028, and approved administration recommendations to hire a principal and two assistant principals. The vote to extend Cardwell’s contract passed 4-1-1; Cynthia Alford abstained and Dominic Robles voted no. Other personnel approvals were unanimous. Why it matters: The superintendent’s contract extension secures district leadership through 2028 and the personnel votes fill school leadership roles that take effect for the 2025–26 year. In closed session under Texas Government Code 551.074, trustees considered employment, evaluations and contracts for district employees before reconvening and taking action. Most personnel motions were approved on unanimous votes after the board returned to open session at 8:57 p.m. The board accepted administration recommendations concerning instructional personnel and other staff. Trustees then approved the employment contract for the principal at Hope High School and accepted contracts for assistant principals at Calhoun High School and Jackson Roosevelt Elementary School. The superintendent’s contract extension motion was moved by Lori Leal, seconded by Tyler McAfee and carried 4-1-1 (AYES: Gaskamp, Leal, McAfee, Shrader; NAY: Robles; ABSTAIN: Alford). The board recorded the personnel recommendation vote (AYES: Alford, Gaskamp, Leal, McAfee, Robles, Shrader) for the other employment items. The meeting opened at 5:30 p.m.; the board entered closed session at 6:46 p.m. and reconvened at 8:57 p.m. No specifics of individual employment contracts or salaries were disclosed in the open minutes; the record states the board accepted the administration’s recommendations (see attached personnel list in the official minutes).