Board of Trustees
Our school board is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can achieve academic excellence and personal growth in a safe and supportive setting.
As elected representatives of our community, we are committed to making informed decisions that shape the future of our schools. Our responsibilities include:
- Policy Development: Crafting and implementing policies that promote high educational standards and equity.
- Budget Oversight: Ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support student learning and well-being.
- Superintendent Supervision: Collaborating with and providing oversight for the Superintendent to ensure the district's strategic goals are met.
- Curriculum and Instruction: Evaluating and approving curricula that meet the diverse needs of our students and prepare them for future success.
- Facilities Management: Overseeing the maintenance and improvement of school facilities to provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
- Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from parents, students, teachers, and community members to foster a collaborative educational community.
Our mission is to support every student in reaching their full potential by prioritizing safety, equity, and excellence in all our decisions. We invite you to explore our initiatives, participate in our meetings, and join us in our dedication to student success and safety.
Our school board is dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can achieve academic excellence and personal growth in a safe and supportive setting.
As elected representatives of our community, we are committed to making informed decisions that shape the future of our schools. Our responsibilities include:
- Policy Development: Crafting and implementing policies that promote high educational standards and equity.
- Budget Oversight: Ensuring that financial resources are allocated efficiently and effectively to support student learning and well-being.
- Superintendent Supervision: Collaborating with and providing oversight for the Superintendent to ensure the district's strategic goals are met.
- Curriculum and Instruction: Evaluating and approving curricula that meet the diverse needs of our students and prepare them for future success.
- Facilities Management: Overseeing the maintenance and improvement of school facilities to provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
- Community Engagement: Encouraging active participation from parents, students, teachers, and community members to foster a collaborative educational community.
Our mission is to support every student in reaching their full potential by prioritizing safety, equity, and excellence in all our decisions. We invite you to explore our initiatives, participate in our meetings, and join us in our dedication to student success and safety.
The Bells ISD Board of Trustees consists of seven board members who are elected by the general public. Board members serve overlapping three-year terms and elections for board seats are conducted annually each May. Once elections are finalized the Board elects a president, vice-president and secretary for one-year terms.
Together, with the superintendent of schools, this TEAM of 8 works hard to make decisions that are in the best interest of all students in Bells ISD.
In the interest of transparency and in compliance with state records requirements, we provide access to the Draft Board Minutes from our most recent meeting.
Please note that these minutes are currently in "draft" form and remain pending official approval by the Board of Trustees. Formal approval typically occurs during the next regularly scheduled meeting. Once approved, the draft version will be replaced by the final, official minutes in our archives.
Our Board members don’t just serve; they study. To lead effectively, each member completes annually mandated training that keeps them at the forefront of educational governance and legal compliance. This professional development includes core areas such as school finance and budgeting, ethics and conflict of interest, school safety protocols, and student achievement data analysis. By staying current on legislative updates and modern cybersecurity, your Board ensures that Bells ISD is governed with expertise, transparency, and a steadfast focus on student success.
The Bells ISD Board of Trustees Election for two, three-year at-large terms will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Bells City Hall, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with early voting being conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from April 21, 2026 to April 24, 2026, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on April 27th and 28th, 2025. The early voting clerk’s mailing address will be:
Grayson County Early Voting Clerk
115 W. Houston Street
Sherman, Texas 75090
See the election documents below.
The seats that are open for this May's election are currently held by Stephanie Nettles and ET Pettit.
Notice of Deadline to File an Application for a Place on the Ballot
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In the interest of transparency and in compliance with state records requirements, we provide access to the Draft Board Minutes from our most recent meeting.
Please note that these minutes are currently in "draft" form and remain pending official approval by the Board of Trustees. Formal approval typically occurs during the next regularly scheduled meeting. Once approved, the draft version will be replaced by the final, official minutes in our archives.
-
Our Board members don’t just serve; they study. To lead effectively, each member completes annually mandated training that keeps them at the forefront of educational governance and legal compliance. This professional development includes core areas such as school finance and budgeting, ethics and conflict of interest, school safety protocols, and student achievement data analysis. By staying current on legislative updates and modern cybersecurity, your Board ensures that Bells ISD is governed with expertise, transparency, and a steadfast focus on student success.
-
The Bells ISD Board of Trustees Election for two, three-year at-large terms will be held Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Bells City Hall, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with early voting being conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., from April 21, 2026 to April 24, 2026, and from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on April 27th and 28th, 2025. The early voting clerk’s mailing address will be:
Grayson County Early Voting Clerk
115 W. Houston Street
Sherman, Texas 75090
See the election documents below.
The seats that are open for this May's election are currently held by Stephanie Nettles and ET Pettit.
Notice of Deadline to File an Application for a Place on the Ballot
Meet the Board Members
Matt Stephens, President
Dr. Dava Washburn, Vice President
Lonnie Carter, Secretary
Jeremy Moore
Cole Kimberling
Stephanie Nettles
E.T. Pettit