McAllen ISD trustees to vote on Senate Bill 11 on whether to permit time for prayer or reading religious materials
Law requires a recorded vote in public meeting
McAllen News, Edinburg TX News, McAllen ISD, board meeting, Senate Bill 11
Staff Report
McAllen, TX - The McAllen ISD Board of Trustees will take a record vote on Senate Bill 11, which gives district the option to permit students and staff time to pray or read religious materials during the Tuesday, Feb. 24, regular meeting.
Senate Bill 11
Texas Senate Bill 11 requires every public school district and open-enrollment charter school to formally vote on whether to adopt a policy creating a daily, school-organized period for prayer and reading the Bible or other religious texts. The bill doesn’t force districts to implement such a period, but it does force them to decide in a recorded vote and on a specific resolution text.
Each district/charter board must hold a recorded vote on a resolution to require every campus to offer a daily period for voluntary prayer and religious-text reading.
Participation is opt‑in: students and employees may only take part if a parent (for students) or the employee submits a signed consent form; consent can be revoked at any time.
The period cannot replace instructional time and cannot be broadcast over a PA system; it must be arranged so that those without consent are not in the room or within hearing.
Districts must hold their vote on whether to adopt such a policy by March 1, 2026), effectively forcing boards to go on record for or against the prayer-period policy.
UTRGV partnerships headline consent agenda
Among the consent items is consideration of Interlocal Cooperation Contract No. 2026-211 with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley for the Texas Prefreshman Engineering Program, known as TexPREP.
Trustees will also consider Memorandum of Understanding No. 2026-207 with UTRGV for the district’s dual credit program, as well as an amendment to Interlocal Cooperation Contract No. 2025-245 related to the GEAR UP program.
The items were submitted by Dr. Rosalba De Hoyos, associate superintendent for instructional services, and will be presented by Superintendent Dr. René Gutiérrez.
The board will additionally consider a request for proposal, No. 2024-1022 (Round 16), for career and technology education instructional supplies, materials, equipment and related services, and RFP No. 2024-1020 (Round 23) for professional development, site licenses and supplemental materials.
An amendment to Memorandum of Understanding No. 2026-183 for the K-12 Teacher Registered Apprenticeship Program is also on the consent agenda. The amendment would add Appendix A Employer Partner Agreement with 240 Certification and Edwell, Inc., according to agenda documents submitted by Chief Human Resources Officer Dr. Albert Canales.
Career technical education and summer school
Under instructional services items, trustees will receive a report regarding the district’s Career Technical Education Department. The report was submitted by De Hoyos and includes a board presentation.
Trustees will also discuss and possibly take action on 2026 summer school programs. The item was jointly submitted by De Hoyos and Jeanette Nino, associate superintendent for instructional leadership.
GWU apprenticeship partnership
Trustees will also consider Partnership Agreement No. 2026-235 with Western Governors University for a pilot apprenticeship pathway related to technical instruction.
Appraisal district nomination and minutes approval
Under board of trustees items, the board will consider nominating a candidate to serve on the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 term and approve a related resolution.
Trustees will also consider approval of minutes from the Feb. 10 regular board meeting and the Feb. 17 budget workshop.
Closed session items
The board may recess into closed session under Sections 551.071, 551.072, 551.074, 551.076 and 551.089 of the Texas Government Code to discuss human resources recommendations for the 2025-2026 school year, employee resignations and retirements, school safety and security, pending or potential litigation and possible real estate acquisition.
Upon reconvening in open session, trustees may take action on items discussed in closed session, including personnel recommendations and other matters.
Upcoming meetings
The district’s next scheduled meetings include Budget Workshop #2 on March 3 at 5:30 p.m., a School Safety and Security Committee meeting on March 10 at noon and a regular board meeting March 10 at 5:30 p.m. A board workshop focused on student recognition is scheduled for March 24 at McAllen High School Auditorium.
Source -- McAllen Independent School District.