Board Brief - 10.19.26

A quorum of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board of Trustees met for a Regular Board Meeting on October 19, 2026, at 6:30 PM at the PBTISD Administration Building. The following items were presented, discussed, acted upon, or approved.

Austin Elementary students River Ramirez and Azriel Rojas led this month's Pledge of Allegiance and Texas Pledge.

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

View the full recognition presentation

PBTISD recognized 24 students for earning one of the top scores on the beginning-of-year IXL Math Diagnostic Exam for their grade level.

PHS FFA members Brady Townsend, Kenneth Sparkman, and Payton Kington presented an informative presentation as the Agricultural Advocacy Leadership Development Event (LDE). The presentation is designed to educate the general public and consumers on important agricultural issues.

PBTISD's three Master Trustees; AlexAndrea Zamarripa (Class of 2024), Amanda Kington (Class of 2025), and Becky Gonzales (Class of 2026), were formally recognized by the Texas Association of School Boards for their completion of the Leadership TASB program.

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: Bric Turner, Assistant Superintendent of Operations

The state's school financial accountability rating system, known as the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), ensures that Texas public schools are held accountable for the quality of their financial management practices. The system is designed to encourage Texas public schools to manage their financial resources better, providing the maximum allocation possible for direct instructional purposes. School districts must distribute the financial management report at a public hearing within two months of receiving the FIRST Report.

View the report here.

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 here.

Presenter: Bric Turner, Assistant Superintendent of Operations

PBTISD engaged an independent auditor to conduct the state-required efficiency audit in preparation for the November 2026 Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE). The audit evaluates the district’s fiscal management, operational efficiency, and use of financial resources to promote transparency and accountability. View the efficiency audit, or view the presentation.

Items Approved 5-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, Portillo

Nays: None

View Minutes.

View Minutes.

The Board is required to approve the District’s professional development plan annually. The 2026-2027 Comprehensive Professional Development Plan was reviewed and approved by the District Education Improvement Committee (DEIC) on September 30, 2026, and meets all requirements.

Board Policy BQ Legal states, “A board shall ensure that a district improvement plan and improvement plans for each campus are developed, reviewed, and revised annually to improve the performance of all students.” These plans are to be approved annually and are required, at a minimum, to be mutually supportive and support state goals and objectives under Education Code Chapter 4.

The Volunteer Handbook welcomes parents, guardians, and community partners to support campus activities and clarifies expectations that keep students safe while strengthening family–school partnerships. The handbook outlines volunteer conduct and management standards, including check-in and visible badging, confidentiality, appropriate boundaries with students, prohibition on discipline/medication administration, adherence to TEA food rules and FMNV regulations, and routing media inquiries through campus administration/Communications.

The Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS) is the appraisal system for classroom teachers. The Commissioner recommends it as the appraisal system for classroom teachers. All PBTISD Appraisers are certified in T-TESS.

The proposed interlocal agreement between PBTISD and Reeves County replaces a previous memorandum of agreement for emergency evacuation transportation. The agreement establishes procedures for requesting, providing, and reimbursing transportation assistance during declared disasters and will remain in effect through August 31, 2029, unless terminated earlier.

The proposed partnership with Sam Houston State University’s College of Education will provide practicum and internship opportunities within PBTISD for candidates pursuing advanced certifications in educational leadership and specialized support roles. The university will provide supervision and training, while the district will jointly approve placements and ensure candidates meet district requirements. The agreement will remain in effect through June 1, 2031, with options for renewal.

PBTISD currently utilizes Bluebonnet Learning Math in grades K–8 and Algebra I, with improvements observed in student engagement, instructional rigor, and teacher preparation. Following a review of curriculum resources and student performance, the district’s curriculum team and high school math teachers recommend expanding Bluebonnet Learning to Algebra II and Geometry for the 2026–2027 school year.

At the last regular board meeting before a trustee election or the end of the board training cycle, the board president must announce whether each trustee has met, exceeded, or is deficient in their required continuing education hours. This announcement fulfills a State Board of Education requirement and emphasizes that completing training is a fundamental responsibility of trustees. The board minutes must reflect each trustee’s training status, and if any trustee is deficient, the minutes must be posted on the district website within ten business days and remain until the requirement is met. View the full report of board continuing education.

Approved 5-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, Portillo

Nays: None

The proposed 2027–2028 calendar was reviewed by the DEIC and shared with stakeholders for feedback, with survey results to be presented at the Board meeting. The Board approved the 2027-2028 Instructional Calendar. View the 2027-2028 Academic Calendar.

Approved 5-0

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, Portillo

Nays: None

Student Outcome Goal 2: The percentage of 3rd-grade students who score “meets” grade level or above on STAAR Math will increase from 28% in August 2022 to 43% by August 2027. (August 2026 Goal = 40%)

• GPM 2.1 - The percentage of kindergarten students who score at or above grade level on the IXL Math Level Up Diagnostic will increase from 93% in May 2026 to 95% in May 2031.
• GPM 2.2 - The percentage of first-grade students who score at or above grade level on the IXL Math Level Up Diagnostic will increase from 78% in May 2026 to 88% in May 2031.
• GPM 2.3 - The percentage of second-grade students who score at or above grade level on the IXL Math Level Up Diagnostic will increase from 73% in May 2026 to 83% in May 2031.

View the presentation.

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, Portillo

• CPM 3a The yearly FIRST report and rating will remain at a superior rating from August 2025 to August 2027.
  
  

View the presentation.

Approved 5-0; Board is in compliance

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, Portillo

Nays: None

Board Constraint #3 -The board shall not make decisions based upon adult conveniences over student needs.

Approved 5-0;

Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, 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 principles of the LSG model.

8:41 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).

• 9.A. Discuss Personnel Matters
• 9.B.Deliberate on the employment and proposed two-year administrative contracts of recommended employees
• 9.C. Deliberate on the employment and proposed contracts of recommended teachers/coaches for dual-assignment contracts

NOTE: Trustee Sam Anchondo left the meeting at 8:41 PM and did not participate in Executive Session. The following items will be based on a vote of the remaining four present board members.

9:05 PM

10.A. Consider and possible action to approve two-year contracts for the recommended employees

• Approved 4-0
• Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Portillo
• Nays: None
  
  

• Approved 4-0
• Yeas: Zamarripa, Kington, Gonzales, Portillo
• Nays: None

• 11.A. Date for the next meeting
  • Regular Meeting - Monday, November 16, 2026
• 11.B. Request items for the next agenda

The Board adjourned at 9:06 PM on October 19, 2026.

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