January 24, 2025 - The Comal ISD Board of Trustees meeting had a few special touches in honor of School Board Appreciation Month on January 23 including colorful posters created by students from across the district which lined the walls of the board room, student performances and gift presentations.
Each January, across the State of Texas, School districts and communities honor the community volunteers who serve on their local school boards. The 2025 School Board Recognition theme is: Leadership for Tomorrow’s Texas.
In Texas, school board members are elected by community members who trust them to do what's best for students. This connection ensures that board members are accountable to local voters, attuned to the needs of their communities, and dedicated to a brighter future.
The Comal ISD board room is decorated with messages from students across the district to say, ‘thank you,’ for all that the trustees do for the students, staff and community.
The meeting began with presentation of colors from the Canyon High School Air Force JROTC under the direction of Lt. Col. Timothy Biltz; singing of the National Anthem by students from the Indian Springs Elementary School choir under the direction of music teacher Venessa Sloan; recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by the 2025 Comal Shake Champion Quira Anders, fourth-grade student from Goodwin Frazier Elementary; and the Texas Pledge by2024Comal Speaks Champion Katie Freeman, an eighth-grade student from Smithson Valley Middle School.
The trustees were treated to two special performances as well. Smithson Valley High School theater students Antonio Agraz, Jaia Kellett and Ella Winkler showcased ‘Suddenly Seymour’ under the direction of theater teacher Tony Hanke, and a trumpet quartet from Davenport High School played featuring students Caleb Atkins, Eli Bliss, Nathaniel Irving and Landon Scheck under the direction of DHS Director of Bands Jeffrey Keyes.
The celebration was topped off with the presentation of a few special gifts designed by students in various Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes.
- From Pieper High School, construction and culinary students joined forces to create charcuterie boards with delectable food pairings. Thanks to teachers Omar Garza, Sam Arrieta and Toni Borthyre.
- From Smithson Valley High School, construction and graphic design students also joined forces to create one-of-a-kind coasters made of black walnut and engraved for each of trustee. Thanks to teachers Joseph Percevecz and Nikki Rudloff.
- From Canyon High School, floral design students created beautiful floral arrangements with roses, carnations, blue thistle and delphinium. Thanks to teacher Kaylee Musgrove.
- From Davenport High School, graphic design students created magnets and decals of campuses which each board of trustee represents from student sketches. Thanks to teacher Zachary DeLane.
- From Mountain Valley Middle School, construction students created pens for each trustee. Thanks to teacher David Gould.
- Finally, from the district’s Winter Art Show, an art piece titled “Texas” was chosen as one of the Superintendent’s Excellence Award for Art. The artist Smithson Valley High School student Kallie Barnett presented each trustee a signed copy of her colorful piece.
Photo Descriptions
-Students from the Indian Springs Choir
-Presentation of colors by the Canyon High School Air Force JROTC.
-Trumpet quartet from Davenport High School band.
-Theater students from Smithson Valley High School performance.
-Pieper High School gift presentation.
-Smithson Valley High School gift presentation.
-Canyon High School gift presentation.
-Davenport High School gift presentation.
-Mountain Valley Middle School gift presentation.
-Smithson Valley High School art student gift presentation.
-Board of Trustees reaction to art gift.