The Italy ISD School Board of Trustees held a special meeting Monday afternoon and conducted two interviews for interim superintendent.

Before the regularly scheduled meeting began Monday night, trustees unanimously named Henry Lind as interim superintendent.

Paul Cockerham, board president, said Lind had been superintendent seven years in Cranfills Gap in Bosque County. He has also served as interim at several school districts around the state.

Following the announcement, the board convened into regular session.

Lee Joffre, high school principal, read a letter of thanks from the administration of the Milford ISD. They thanked the administration, faculty, staff and students for their help with the Milford evacuation to Italy last week. The note said the district provided them with everything they needed and said they did a great job getting students released to their parents in record time.

Following, the Gladiator Regiment Band was recognized for capturing Area Finals in October.

Jesus Perez, band director, said he hoped this was the first of many area finals the band reaches.

Sarah Levy, freshmen, performed on the flute for the gathering. Perez said regional tryouts are coming up for band students.

As a surprise to Perez and David Graves, assistant band director, Reagan Adams and Noah Ramirez presented the pair with tickets to the upcoming Dallas Cowboy game. Stephanie Viatar, band booster president, gave Amber Droll, flag corps instructor, a coupon for a day at the spa.

In other business, Charles Tindol addressed the trustees about the athletic facilities.

He discussed the possibilities of adding turf to the football field and possibly turning the football field and adding a running track since the current field does not allow room for six to eight track lanes. He also talked of a big room being added for practice during inclement weather. He said was involved in one school district that added turf, running track and a large room in the Early ISD. He said a preliminary estimate would be between $3.5 and $3.8 million.

Tindol said several teams perform on the current field – junior high, junior varsity, high school — and often ends up in poor shape for the IYAA teams on Saturday if it has rained.

Barry Bassett, superintendent, said an architectural firm has been to the school and is drawing up designs and projected costs for upgrading the band program, agricultural program as well as athletics.

Cheryl Owen, board member, said this is the ninth year she has been on the board and said people were talking about the field when she began. She said there are other things that the board needs to look at and prioritize.

Larry Eubanks, board member, said the turf could be added, the field turned and room left for a running track to be added at a later date. He also noted that they have not checked with the elementary principal to see what needs they might have at Stafford.

Tindol jokingly said he loves his job and didn’t want the trustees to think he was demanding these possibilities. He said, however, that he has heard from school board members and citizens in the community about these types of updates for the athletic department.

In old business, trustees voted to postpone a vote for the Ellis Appraisal Board of Directors.

The board also unanimously approved the consent agenda.

Cockerham reminded everyone about the meeting Thursday when TASB will seek community involvement in the search for the new superintendent.

Mark Stiles, board member, was not present at the meeting.