Pasadena ISD general counsel outlines sweeping TASB Policy Update 01/26 and next steps for local adoption

Pasadena, Texas — General counsel Jody Kennermer told the Pasadena Independent School District Board of Trustees on Feb. 19 that TASB Policy Update 01/26 is the largest update TASB has produced and will require a broad set of local policy adjustments. Kennermer said the update affects 143 legal policies and 28 local policies and is driven by roughly 15 bills enacted at the state level.

"This is the largest policy update localized policy update that TASB has issued from their policy service department period ever," Kennermer said, summarizing the scope and noting that Senate Bill 12 and House Bill 2 are among the measures prompting many changes. She said Senate Bill 12 alone drives changes to 10 local policies and House Bill 2 drives changes to three.

Why it matters: Kennermer said the changes primarily affect policy code sections dealing with personnel, instruction and students (sections D, E and F). Trustees were told to expect required changes to meeting procedures (posting deadlines and recorded voting), new public-comment placement at the start of meetings, vendor- and DEI-related prohibitions in procurement policy, mandatory reporting and background-check clarifications, new cybersecurity incident-notification requirements, and a new district policy addressing AI training and audits.

Key specifics explained by counsel include:

- Grievance and hearing procedures: updates to DGBA, FNG and GF will change timelines, require the district to hear complaints even when procedural errors occurred, and clarify withdrawal rules for hearing officers. Kennermer said these changes mostly align with current district grievance practices but will tighten some timelines.

- Child-abuse reporting: counsel said educator reporting timeframes are being set to 24 hours from reasonable belief; the transcript referenced prior ranges ("20 or 48 hours") while stating the new 24-hour requirement.

- Personnel and leave: DBD will limit prohibited moonlighting for administrators, with narrow exceptions allowed by board approval; DEC will add a definition of daily rate of pay; and changes to FML usage may affect how paid leave and FML run concurrently for pregnancy, birth and adoption.

- Special education: EHBAF expands the definition of special-education settings so locations used more than half the day for services may now qualify for video/recording requirements or parent-request rights.

- Procurement and facilities: competitive purchasing thresholds under CV were noted to rise from $50,000 to $100,000, and CSA clarifies designation and labeling of private and multiuse spaces.

- AI and cybersecurity: a new policy (CQDC) will address AI training and audits; Kennermer said the district will coordinate with TEA and Texas Cyber Command as those agencies publish implementing guidance.

Trustees asked questions about the volume of changes and implementation. One trustee said the packet contained a large amount of material and expressed surprise at the speed of changes; Kennermer said staff had alerted principals in advance and offered to answer more detailed questions before the next board meeting.

What’s next: Kennermer told trustees the district will bring a formal proposal at the next regular board meeting for possible action on local policy changes and that staff will provide opportunities for more in-depth review. No vote on policy adoption occurred at the Feb. 19 special session.