Pampa ISD school board unanimously approve grade-level school configuration

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The Pampa Independent School District Board of Trustees met on Monday evening for their first regularly-scheduled meeting of 2022.

During the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the grade-level school configuration to take effect in the 2023-24 school year.

“In the December meeting there was a lot of questions in the community,” PISD Superintendent Hugh Piatt said. “We went out and did research on other school districts doing grade-level schools and even Hereford, who was a grade-level school and went back to neighborhood schools,” Piatt said.

“We presented Seminole, Borger and Perryton, all of who are doing very well. Part of our strategic plan is we are going to look at unifying K-12 programs. We had (Athletic Director) Cody Robinson present, (Choir Director) Briana Montgomery, a teacher and Troy McClendon (who’s been on all four elementary campuses) present information. We also had (Chief Financial Office) Todd Hubbart, (Human Resources) Dr. Abigayle Barton and Abby Hancock present. They all gave their perspectives.”

Eventually Richard Qualls made the motion and the Board voted 7-0 to approve the action.

Piatt said the decision to start in 2023-24 gives the District time to plan the logistics to put the move into motion.

“We’re going to form a lot of committes like a transportation committee, a booster club committee, a curriculum committee, etc.” Piatt said. “It’ll be trying to put enough people such as parents and community members and ISD folks to make the best plan possible. The best part is we have roughly 18 months to get committees together and plans in place to do it the best we can.”

Piatt added that having the varied opinions will allow for better plans to mitigate concerns and create a smooth transition.

Earlier in the meeting, there were several comments from the public in favor and against the action.

The Board also received the District’s Texas Academic Performance Report from Abby Hancock, the District Executive Director of Curriculum and Assessment.

“With Covid, a lot of scores and campuses in the District are not designated because the 2020 STAAR was cancelled,” Piatt said. “The term they used was ‘not rated’ due to the State of Disaster. Nobody received accountability ratings. But we did get some data back from the 2021 scores. Our drop wasn’t as big as the state, but about the same as the region.”

Piatt said there is still a lot of data the district doesn’t have but some of the highlights included graduation rates being higher than state average, the College, Career, Military, Readiness is higher than the state average for 2019-20 graduates and SAT scores for Class of 2020 is higher than the state and region averages.

The Board also approved the following:

Consent agenda

• Board minutes: December 6, 2021

• Monthly financial reports

• Quarterly investment and financial reports

• TASB Policy Update 118

• Renewal of Pampa ISD District of Innovation Plan

• Revisions to policy FM(LOCAL): Student Activities

• Sale of delinquent tax property

• Inter-local purchasing agreement with West Texas Cooperative through Region 17 Service Center

• E-rate funding

• Fundraising projects for PISD Swim Team

• Renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between Pampa ISD and Pampa Regional Medical Center for mutual aid in the event of a disaster

Action items:

• Revisions to 2021-22 Academic Calendar. Added a work day for teachers on Feb. 18, professional development day on April 14, half-day on May 26 and a teacher work day on May 27.

• Submission of calendar waivers for the 2022-23 Pampa ISD Academic Calendar.

• 2022-23 Pampa ISD Academic Calendar.

• 2022-23 Pampa High School Course Catalog.

• Early Resignation Incentive Plan.