Copperas Cove trustees approve second vote extending Dr. Brent Hawkins' contract

The Copperas Cove ISD Board of Trustees approved Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins’ updated employment contract in a 5-2 vote that raises his annual salary to $273,000 and extends his term through the 2031 school year. Trustees Jeff Gorres and John Gallen voted against the action when the item returned to the agenda Feb. 3.

The Feb. 3 approval followed an earlier board action in January that multiple accounts described as a unanimous vote to extend Hawkins’ contract. District communications, however, clarified the procedural gap: "District Communications Director Kurtis Quillin clarified that although trustees voted January 20 to extend Hawkins’ contract following his evaluation, no contract was executed at that time in response to a request for a copy of the contract approved at the January 20 meeting." The Cove Leader-Press reported the Feb. 3 vote and the $273,000 salary figure; the January hiring terms show Hawkins was originally brought on in January 2025 at $241,255 a year with a contract through January 2028.

Trustee Jeff Gorres told the Cove Leader-Press he did not understand why the contract item was brought back to the board. "To be honest with you, I have no idea why it was brought back up," Gorres said. He added his opposition was not a rebuke of Hawkins' performance: "My disagreement has absolutely no reflection on Dr. Hawkins. I highly advocated for him, aggressively advocated for him." Gorres also said he visited Hawkins’ former district and community of Livingston and spoke with people who knew him professionally and personally.

The district release announcing the January action also covered Bond 2025 planning. Trustees unanimously selected Berry & Clay as Construction Manager At Risk to oversee the district’s projected facility work tied to the bond. The district cites $154.5 million in renovations intended to modernize campuses and said the CMAR selection was made "due to its ability to provide a substantial savings to the Copperas Cove taxpayer, while providing quality work to ensure a safe, modern learning environment once projects are completed." In that release Hawkins said, "Our goal with the recently-approved bond projects was to stretch these voter-approved dollars as far as possible in order to provide the greatest positive impact to CCISD students possible" and added, "The proposal the trustees have approved will help us maximize the $154.5 million in renovations aimed at ensuring a modern learning environment for every Bulldawg, and we look forward to a great partnership with Berry & Clay."

For residents, the vote finalizes a contract that increases superintendent compensation by about $31,745 annually, roughly a 13.2 percent bump from Hawkins’ starting 2025 salary. It also cements district leadership through the bulk of the Bond 2025 rollout and construction procurements. Expect the board to publish meeting packets and contract documents in upcoming materials if residents seek line-by-line details of the agreement and the timetable for the $154.5 million in renovations.