COPPERAS COVE – Monday, trustees heard a series of presentations updating the board on a variety of programs in Copperas Cove ISD.
During Monday’s regular September meeting of the CCISD Board of Trustees, board members heard reports on the English as a Second Language program, the implementation of P-Tech into the district and an internal salary review.
“It’s important that our board and community know where we are on projects like this,” said Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins. “These presentations help ensure our entire community is aware of the direction we are moving in as a district, both with new programs and in changes to existing efforts.”
The P-Tech report follows the district’s recent approval to begin a Pathways to Technology program in CCISD’s award-winning Career & Technical Education department.
CCISD is currently in the planning year, with the first cohort expected to join in Health Science, Welding and Teaching & Training programs next year. The district is anticipating 50 students in its inaugural P-Tech cohort.
“In modern education, our focus is on developing the next workforce generation,” Dr. Hawkins said. “We know that two-thirds of our students are not interested in getting a bachelor’s degree. They want to get into good-paying jobs and get started in their careers once they walk across the stage with their high school diploma. This P-Tech initiative will not only provide them with real-world industry experience here at home, but it will strengthen the local workforce, as well.”
CCISD’s P-Tech program will work alongside the traditional CTE department to expand no-cost opportunities for college programs. Since restructuring the leadership in CCISD’s CTE department, dual-credit opportunities in career programs have expanded greatly from one teacher credentialed to teach 77 students these classes for college credit, to 20 teachers credentialed serving more than 900 students.
The addition of P-Tech will expand access to collegiate programs relevant to the more than 50 industry certifications available in Copperas Cove, the most in Central Texas.
After the presentation, trustees approved a Dual Enrollment Agreement for the P-Tech Academy with Lamar State College Orange. More information on CCISD’s CTE programs can be found on the district website.
Trustees also heard a presentation on an internal salary review from Dr. Hawkins, which outlined the progress CCISD has made on staff compensation. The study focused on employees who have remained in the same position for the past three years, evaluating their salaries based on years of experience, education, where relevant, and credentials.
The study showed that there was $5.71 million added to staff salaries from the 2024-25 school year to the 2025-26 school year. In the current 2026-27 school year, there was an additional $2.4 million of staff salaries, totaling more than $8.1 million of increased staff salaries in the past 19 months among employees who have remained in their same position since the start of the 2024-25 employment year.
“There has been a lot of conversation in the community surrounding staff salaries, even following our board’s vote in the spring to provide a 3% raise at the midpoint for every non-teaching team member,” Dr. Hawkins said. “Our board and I understand the importance of the facts and I wanted to ensure our community has a transparent picture of what has happened with staff pay. Our staff deserves to be paid as much as we can possibly afford to pay them, and our Team of 8 consistently works to ensure we keep the very best employees in Bulldawg Nation.”
In the report, Dr. Hawkins outlined 10 team members in auxiliary or paraprofessional positions in the district who received as much as a 27% raise to align them properly with their market, which is based on experience and credentials.
A deeper explanation of the report made to the board Monday can be found in the Sept. 9 episode of the Take 2 with Hawk podcast.
Additionally, trustees heard an accountability report on the Emergent Bilingual program in CCISD and how it continues to impact students.
This report outlined how bilingual students are served across the district, the number of enrolled bilingual students and how CCISD works to ensure teachers working with these students have all of the needed certifications to make a real, positive impact on their students.
Additionally, trustees approved the adoption of designated Nonbusiness Days as required by the Texas Public Information Act, as well as an updated list of library books for purchase. They also approved the renewal of the Home Builders Institute Pre-Apprenticeship Certificate Training License Agreement for CCISD CTE.
The board also approved a $29,065.35 donation from Fan Pledge, LLC to the Copperas Cove High School Pride of Cove Band, as well as a list of purchases over $50,000:
- 30 Smart Charging Carts from Prime Systems - $51,327.90 from budgeted funds
- Renewal of Unemployment Compensation, Workers’ Compensation, Auto, Cyber, Property and School Liability Insurance Coverage with the Texas Association of School Boards Risk Management Fund - $1,270,050.00 from budgeted funds
- Renewal of subscriptions for Districtwide Time & Absence Management and Hiring Licenses/Personnel Records/Contracts - $81,080.30 from budgeted funds
- Purchase of a Cimarron livestock trailer from National Trailer Source - $69,908.82 from budgeted funds
- Renewal of Educational/Residential Service Contract with Autism Treatment Center - $463,157.00 from budgeted funds
The board is next scheduled to hold a financial oversight workshop on Thurs., Oct. 1. This workshop will begin at 5 p.m. The board will then hold its Special Called/Workshop Meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 13.
Agendas for each meeting are posted outside the District Service & Training Center on South Main Street three business days prior to each meeting. Once posted, they can be viewed online at www.CCISD.com/SchoolBoard.