Board Brief - 01.20.26

A quorum of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board of Trustees met for a Regular Board Meeting on January 20, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Austin Elementary. The following items were presented, discussed, acted upon, or approved.

Strategy III, Result 1: Showcase students and staff throughout the District.

View the full recognition presentation

The month of January is School Board Recognition Month! Our Board of Trustees is committed to providing Leadership For Tomorrow's 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

PBTISD launched the Teacher Apprenticeship Program to grow the next generation of educators from within the Pecos community. The program provides aspiring teachers the opportunity to begin their careers in PBTISD while earning their college degree. Cohort 1 comprises of 12 apprentices.

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)

• No public comments

Presenter: Tim Gilbert, Director of Bond and Capital Projects

The report will provide the Board with a comprehensive overview of the current status of the 2023 bond and capital projects across the district. View the report.

Items approved 7-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco, and Portillo

Nays: None

View Minutes here.

A quarterly investment report is provided to the board each quarter during the fiscal year (September 1-August 31). This report provides an overview of investments for the first quarter (September 1-November 30).

To support a smooth transition in the Business Office, the district is updating financial account access to ensure operational continuity. Bric Turner will be added as an authorized representative on all district accounts, while Marshall Harrison will be removed amid his retirement. Board resolutions are required for this change across WTNB, Lonestar, and Texas FIT, enabling Turner to manage financial transactions for both operations and construction.

Under Section 2256.005(e) of the Public Funds Investment Act, the Board is required to review and adopt the District’s investment policy and strategies annually. While this review was completed in September 2025, Marshall Harrison's retirement now needs an update to the designation of Investment Officers. The resolution reflects this change, naming Brent Jaco, Bric Turner, and Dawn Wyatt as the new Investment Officers for PBTISD.

In September 2024, the Board approved moving to four-year terms and aligning trustee elections with the November general election in even-numbered years. This agenda item further updates the election process by designating each trustee seat with a position number, as allowed under Texas Education Code §11.058.

This agenda item anticipated the Board approval of agenda item 6F by adopting a resolution and order designating trustee positions by number and providing for the election of trustees by numbered position (place).

As we plan for the 2026-2027 school year, knowing the number and type of vacancies is essential to proactively staffing our schools and departments. 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; 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 from Human Resources in the coming weeks.

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 2026-2027 Teacher Salary Schedule for teachers and four percent (4%) at the 2026-2027 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 2026-2027 school year and will be paid out at the beginning of the school year.

Mental health issues in PBTISD are challenging due to limited access to resources, mental health professionals, and support systems. To address these issues, PBTISD relies on school counselors, telehealth services, mental health apps, and local community partnerships. This MOU would allow PBTISD to refer students needing Behavioral Health Services to Reeves Regional Health for support.

House Bill 3033, effective September 1, 2023, requires school boards to designate up to 10 days that the district may consider non-business days under the Texas Public Information Act (“PIA”). The PIA requires governmental entities to respond to requests for information within 10 business days, or 15 business days if the request involves withholding from the Attorney General.

Approved 7-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco, and Portillo

Nays: None

The design and development of the new Competition Gym began in June 2024. Package 5 covers all aspects of the construction needed for the new Pecos High School Competition Gym. View the presentation.

Approved 7-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco, and Portillo

Nays: None

Student Outcome Goal Progress Measures 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 measure the percentage of students who score at or above grade level on the IXL Reading Level Up Diagnostic. This is our first year with this diagnostic instrument, so the data collected at the end of the year will serve as our baseline moving forward.

• Student Outcome Goal 1: The percentage of 3rd-grade students who score meets grade level or above on STAAR Reading will increase from 32% in August 2022 to 52% by August 2027.
• August 2025 Goal = 44%
• August 2025 Actual = 36%
• August 2026 Goal = 47%
  
  

View the presentation.

• CPM 1b - Each campus and the district will have a fully established Threat Assessment Team that is 100% (fully) trained from June 2025 to June 2027.

Approved 7-0; Board is compliant

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, McKinney, Anchondo, Orosco, and Portillo

Nays: None

• Board Constraint #2 - The board shall not be involved in day-to-day operations.

Approved 7-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, McKinney, Anchondo, Orosco, and Portillo

Nays: None

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 LSG model's principles.

The Board did not enter Executive Session at this meeting.

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).

• 10.A. Date for next meeting - Tuesday, February 17, 2026

• 10.B. Request items for the next agenda

The Board adjourned at 8:23 PM on January 20, 2026.

This newsletter aligns with Strategy III: We will broaden and strengthen partnerships with staff, families, and communities through transparency and effective communication.