Silence filled the air at the Monday, June 22 Dublin ISD school board meeting as the district reluctantly decided to close Lion Cub Learning Academy.
Superintendent Melissa Summers explained to the school board the daycare had been losing money for years, however, additional COVID-related funds had helped ease the burden.
“It’s a big financial expense for the district, about $100,000,” she said.
In the upcoming school year, the daycare was expected to have five kids from district employees and about 14 kids from the community.
The daycare was started in 2016 by the district as an incentive for employees who might need daycare, and at that time was provided to them at no cost.
Since then, a cost had been assessed to district employees but much lower than other daycare centers.
“We would be better off putting that money elsewhere,” Summers said.
The daycare also employs about eight individuals and Summers said openings in the district for work were available to them if they chose so they did not lose their jobs.
“It’s heartbreaking,” School Board member Raymond Salinas said.
“I think our community and our district needs this but it’s just hard with COVID funds running out to balance that,” School Board member Anjelica Salyer said.
“$100,000 goes a long way. It’s with a heavy heart that I move that we close the daycare,” School Board member Pat Leatherwood.
Summers emphasized that they daycare workers had done a tremendous job and the decision was purely a financial one.
The building is also available to lease if someone else wanted to start a daycare or another business, Summers said.
Great news was heard for the district as the preliminary first round of 2026 STAAR and EOC testing was received. Dublin ISD scored higher than both the regional and state average in all 18 categories.
Summers explained the district had requested reevaluation on some essays they believe may have been incorrectly scored during the testing process (which utilized AI components for grading). However, the district expressed its gratitude for students and teachers hard work on the testing.
For the 2026 STAAR preliminary results for third through 8th grade include: 3rd grade RLA passing level: Dublin 82%, State 74%, Region 74% 3rd grade Math passing level: Dublin 90%, State 67% and Region 67% 4th grade RLA passing level: Dublin 86%, State 77% and Region 79% 4th grade math passing level: Dublin 82%, State 68% and Region 68% 5th grade RLA passing level: Dublin 92%, State 79% and Region 79% 5th grade math passing level: Dublin 95%, state 74%, region 74% 6th grade RLA passing level: Dublin 83%, state 74%, region 73% 6th grade math passing level: Dublin 81%, state 73%, region 74% 7th grade RLA passing level: Dublin 94%, state 76% and region 76% 7th grade math: Dublin 85%, state 49%, region 49% 8th grade RLA passing level: Dublin 96%, state 83%, region 83% 8th grade math: Dublin 82%, state 72%, region 72% 8th grade social studies: Dublin 82%, state 56%, region 57% 2026 EOC preliminary results include: Algebra I passing rate: Dublin 96%, state 82%, region 80% Biology passing rate: Dublin 96%, state 93%, region 94% English I passing rate: Dublin 89%, state 71%, region 71% English II passing rate: Dublin 85%, state 72%, region 72% U.S. History passing rate: Dublin 97%, state 93%, region 93% A round of applause was given after a closed executive session when Director of Curriculum and Instruction Trish Thornton was promoted to assistant superintendent. A story about Thornton will be featured in a future edition of The Dublin Citizen.
New hire contracts were also approved for the following individuals: Amanda Christman (ARD facilitator), Nahshon Collie (Junior High Math teacher), Phylicia Collie (Elementary School teacher), Stephanie Davis (Junior High Math teacher), Brandon Haught (Girls Athletic Coordinator and teacher), Nicole Lindsey (Elementary School teacher), Kimberly Moore (Intermediate ELAR), Reese Reynolds (Elementary Teacher), Perla Rico (teacher and coach) and Jennifer Stewart (Resource specialist at elementary and intermediate school).