Board Brief - 10.20.25

A quorum of the Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD Board of Trustees met for a Regular Board Meeting on October 20, 2025, 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 here.

Congratulations to the 27 students from across PBTISD who received the highest scores for their grade level on their IXL Math Diagnostic exam!

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)

• Xavier Rivera - Community Comment

Presenter: Marshall Harrison, 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.

Items approved 5-0

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco

Nays: None

View Minutes here.

Two main boards are associated with a Central Appraisal District (CAD) in Texas: the Board of Directors and the Appraisal Review Board (ARB). The primary difference is that the Board of Directors manages/sets the appraisal district's budget, oversees the Chief Appraiser, and appoints members to the ARB. PBTISD is currently represented by Bill Oglesby, Cookie Canon, Ysidro Renteria, Jr., Sam Lujan, and Becky Gonzales. All of them will be completing their current term, which ends on December 31, 2025. All representatives have confirmed they would like to complete another term. View resolution here.

The Board is required to approve the District’s professional development plan annually. The 2025-2026 Comprehensive Professional Development Plan was reviewed and approved by the District Education Improvement Committee (DEIC) on October 7, 2025, 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.

After reviewing data availability, the administration recommends adjusting the Board's recently approved monthly reporting schedule to ensure more timely and accurate updates.

• DC (LOCAL): Employment Practices
• FM (LOCAL): Student Activities

On October 10, Board President AlexAndrea Zamarripa and Superintendent Brent Jaco received notice from Clayton Snyder, Chief Appraiser of the CAD, that the CAD Board of Directors unanimously approved a resolution to purchase new office space. This item is presented for acknowledgment only.

Reeves County is working to establish a Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) to improve transportation infrastructure, enhance safety, and increase access to funding for local projects. At a recent joint-entity meeting, consultant David Garcia requested support for the RMA, which has already received backing from Senator Blanco, Representative Morales, and several local entities. Administration recommended the Board approve a letter of support, to be signed by the superintendent on behalf of the district.

PBTISD has met with KROLL, LLC, a third-party representative of Project Thomas, regarding a major proposed economic development project. As one of five national finalists, this project could bring substantial benefits to the district and broader community. Following legal and consultant review, the administration recommended that the Board approve a non-binding Letter of Intent signaling the district’s preliminary support under Chapter 403 of the Texas Government Code.

Approved 5-0

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco

Nays: None

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 here.

Approved 5-0

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco

Nays: None

Approved 5-0

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, Anchondo, McKinney, Orosco

Nays: None

With the district’s commitment to a four-day instructional week for at least three years, only one calendar option was developed. The proposed 2026–2027 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 2026-2027 Instructional Calendar.

View the presentation here.

**At 7:29 PM, Trustee Sam Anchondo exited the meeting and did not return. The following agenda items will be based on a vote of the remaining four present board members.**

Approved 4-0;

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, McKinney, Orosco

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%)
• The District is transitioning our benchmark assessment from NWEA MAP-Growth to the IXL Level Up Diagnostic. New baseline data for Goal Progress Measures 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 will be collected at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

View the presentation here.

Approved 4-0;

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, McKinney, Orosco

Nays: None

• Constraint Progress Measure #3A—The yearly FIRST report and rating will remain superior from August 2025 to August 2027.

• As presented during the public hearing this evening, the district received a superior rating on the 2024-2025 FIRST report.

Approved 4-0; Board is non-compliant

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, McKinney, Orosco

Nays: None

• Board Constraint 3: The board shall not make decisions based upon adult conveniences over student needs

Approved 4-0;

Yeas: Kington, Gonzales, McKinney, Orosco

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.

The Board did not enter into 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).

• 11.A. Date for next meeting - November 17, 2025

• 11.B. Request items for the next agenda

The Board adjourned at 8:06 PM on October 20, 2025.

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