Board Brief - 01.21.25
A quorum of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board of Trustees met for a Regular Board Meeting on January 21, 2025, at 6:30 PM at Austin Elementary. The following items were presented, discussed, acted upon, or approved.
3. Recognitions
Strategy III, Result 1: Showcase students and staff throughout the District.
PBTISD School Board Recognition Month
The month of January is School Board Recognition Month! Our Board of Trustees is committed to providing Leadership For Tomorrows Texas, ensuring every student has the tools they need to succeed. Learn more about the role of a School Board in Texas: https://trst.in/1DMO8R
Student Progress for December 2024 End-of-Course Retest
We are excited to share progress of our December 2024 End-of-Course (EOC) retesters at Pecos High School. These assessments are critical milestones in our students' academic journeys and necessary for them to be eligible for graduation. This December, there were 31 students have now passed all their needed EOCs: 8 sophomores, 9 juniors, and 14 seniors. All of whom are now on-track to the graduation stage!
4. Public Comment
Individuals who wish to participate during the portion of the meeting designated for public comment shall sign up with the presiding officer or designee before the meeting begins as specified in the Board's procedures on public comment. BED(LOCAL)
- Penny Terry - Staff Comment
- Denesia Arroyo - Staff Comment
5. Reports
5.A. Bond and Capital Projects Report
Presenter: Tim Gilbert, Director of Bond and Capital Projects
PBTISD is building! The report provided the Board with a comprehensive overview of the current status of the 2023 bond and capital projects across the district. View the report here.
6. Approval of Consent Agenda Items
Items approved 5-0
6.A. Minutes - Regular Board Meeting December 16, 2024
View Minutes here.
6.B. Financial Budget Update
6.C. Approve Quarterly Investment Report
6.D. Purchases exceeding $50,000
- Whitley Penn Audit Engagement Letter for FY25
- Battelle for Kids Agreement
6.E. Approve Child Nutrition to General Fund Budget Amendment
In December 2024, the PBTISD Child Nutrition Department underwent the Texas Department of Agriculture's (TDA) required audit. These audits are conducted every five years as a state/federal requirement. The Audit recommended reallocating funds from Concessions and Catering and the Discovery School to the General Fund. Both recommendations will align with audit requirements and enhance the overall transparency of the Child Nutrition Department.
6.F. Approve Bid for Sale of Surplus Portable Classroom Buildings
Board Policy CI (LEGAL) outlines the trustees may, in any appropriate manner, dispose of property that is no longer necessary for the operation of the district. Board Policy CBD outlines the appropriate manner of disposing of surplus property. The administration notified the public in the Pecos Enterprise on December 18th and 26th, publishing notice to the general public in the newspaper on two separate dates. The selected bidder will be responsible for all costs associated with moving the portable buildings and will have them moved on or before the end of February 2025.
6.G. Approve Early Resignation Plan
As we plan for the 2025-2026 school year, knowing the number and type of vacancies is essential in proactively planning for staffing our schools and departments for the next school year. Providing an incentive for staff to make an early decision will allow hiring managers to search for and fill vacancies. Early resignation incentives do not encourage individuals to resign, but instead, they encourage those who are going to resign to do so early so hiring managers can search for top talent as soon as possible.
Staff can expect more information to be distributed by Human Resources in the coming weeks.
6.H. Approve Returning Employee Incentive Stipend
To encourage employees to return to PBTISD and perform at a high level in supporting students by providing a one-time retention payment for all employees in the amount of four percent (4%) based on the average teacher salary outlined in the 2025-2026 Teacher Salary Schedule for teachers and four percent (4%) at the 2025-2026 Compensation Plan midpoint job classification for all other employees; with a minimum floor of $1,750.00. This stipend is for staff returning for the 2025-2026 school year and will paid out at the beginning of the school year.
6.I. Approve PBTISD Employee/Tenant Lease Agreement
The administration reviews our lease agreement yearly and works closely with legal counsel to ensure it is up-to-date with legislative changes and other associated requirements. We also review the lease agreement to ensure that district property is protected and taken care of. We recently had some challenges with current employees/tenants and wanted to add language to the lease agreement to better protect the district’s assets.
6.J. Approve TEA Waiver for Low Attendance Day on September 10, 2024
On September 10, 2024, multiple school districts across the Permian Basin received “432” threats of violence from social media, raising concerns among parents, students, and staff. On this day, PBTISD experienced a daily attendance of over 25%, different from its usual average. Districts or campuses can request a waiver to excuse any instructional days from ADA and FSP funding calculations with attendance at least 10 percentage points below the district or applicable campus's overall average attendance last school year due to inclement weather, health, or safety-related issues.
6.L. Approve Addendum with Taxing Entities for After-school Childcare at the Discovery School
PBTISD employees and participating entities have expressed interest in partnering with the district’s daycare to provide after-school childcare for students in grades PK-5.
Consent Agenda Items Pulled for Discussion
6.K. Approve changes to the 2024-2025 Compensation Plan - Academic Achievement Incentive Pay
Pulled by Trustee Portillo. The Trustees amended the Incentive Pay to include special education teachers. The item was approved 5-0.
In October, the Board approved additions to the compensation plan that provided incentive pay to teachers and interventionists based on the STAAR / EOC performance or STAAR growth of students on their rosters. This change is related to incentive pay for EOC performance in high school. Incentivizing all End-of-Course Exams on the performance scale provides consistency regardless of the End-of-Course Exam, or the time of year the test is taken.
7. Action Items
7.A. Consider and possible action to approve the Bluebonnet Learning Curriculum
Approved 5-0
House Bill 105 (88th Legislative Session) tasked TEA with developing state-owned instructional resources subject to approval by the State Board of Education. On November 22, 2024, the SBOE approved Bluebonnet Learning (K-5 Reading and K-Algebra I Math) as the state’s curriculum resource. Bluebonnet Learning provides a scope and sequence that can be adapted to accommodate a four-day school week.
7.B. Consider and possible action to approve Student Outcome Goal Progress Measure 4.1 (9th Grade Credit at Semester) and 4.2 (December EOC Scores)
Approved 5-0
Student Outcome Goal 4: The percentage of students who graduate within four years will
increase from 90.3% to 95% by August 2027. (Class of 2024 Goal = 93.1% / Class of 2025
Goal = 94.1%)
- Goal Progress Measure 4.1: The percentage of freshmen who earn 6.5 credits or more by the end of their freshman cohort school year will increase from 79% to 94% by June 2027. (Goal for June 2025 = 88%)
- Goal Progress Measure 4.2: The percentage of students who score at the “Approaches” level or above on at least three End of Course Exams by the beginning of their junior cohort school year will increase from 79% to 94% by August 2027. (Goal for August 2025 = 88%)
View the presentation here.
7.C. Consider and possible action to approve Superintendent Constraint Progress Measure 3A
Approved 5-0
Superintendent Constraint #3 - The Superintendent shall not allow irresponsible financial practices.
- Constraint Progress Measure 3a - Material findings in yearly financial audits will remain zero (0) from January 2023 to January 2025.
7.D. Consider and possible action to report compliance or non-compliance of Board Constraint 2
Approved 5-0; Board is in compliance.
Board Constraint #2 -The board shall not be involved in day-to-day operations
7.E. Consider and possible action to approve the Lone Star Governance Quarterly Tracker for October, November, and December 2024
Approved 5-0
The Board adopted a resolution in Spring 2022 to implement the TEA Lone Star Governance (LSG) model. LSG aims to provide a continuous improvement model for governing teams—school boards in collaboration with the superintendent—focusing on one primary objective: improving student outcomes. The LSG Quarterly Progress Tracker is a tool used by school boards to self-evaluate their level of implementation and commitment to the principles of the LSG model.
8. Executive Session
7:48 PM
EXECUTIVE SESSION may be called for the purposes permitted by the Texas Open Meeting Act, Texas Government Code Section 551.001 through 551.146, Section 551.071 Consultation with Attorney, Section 551.072 Real Property, 551.074 Personnel Matters (Appointment, Employment, Evaluation, Reassignment, Duties, Discipline, Dismissal, Complaint)
- 8.A. Discuss Personnel Matters
- 8.B. Discuss Intruder Detection Audit
9. Reconvene to Open Session
9:10 PM
Adjournment
The Board adjourned at 9:11 PM on January 21, 2025.
Future Meeting Dates:
- Regular Meeting - Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at Austin Elementary
This newsletter aligns with Strategy III: We will broaden and strengthen partnerships with staff, families, and communities through transparency and effective communication.