TEXARKANA, Texas - Construction on Pleasant Grove Independent School District's new Margaret Fischer Davis Elementary School is close to its expected schedule, despite weather delays.
During the district's regular board of trustees meeting Thursday, PGISD Superintendent Chad Pirtle said the project's general contractor, Nabholz Construction, has been erecting steel in the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten areas and working on the electrical and plumbing details in the administration area and the cafeteria. He added that the company plans to place gravel in the north driveway and pour concrete in the first-grade pod by the end of next week.
The district broke ground in April on the school, which is located on 12.054 acres at Christus Drive and Galleria Oaks. The $14.4 million project, funded through a $19.9 million bond voters approved in 2018, is expected to be complete by July 3, 2020.
In other business, Derick Sibley, the district's director of finance, told the board that as of Nov. 30, the district's general fund revenue is $9.8 million with an estimated total revenue of $20.8 million. He also said general expenditures are $5 million with a budget of $19.3 million. Tax collections are $8.2 million, or 62% of the $13 million tax levy. The district's cash position is $17.4 million in bank accounts and $17.2 in investments for a total of $34.6 million. Available bond funds are $15.9 million.
Place 1's Mark Addington was also sworn into office. He was unopposed for the canceled Nov. 5 election and was elected to the board in May 2007.
Trustees also approved the district and campus improvement plans, which must be reviewed annually and support state goals and objectives under Texas Education Code Chapter 4.
Goals for Pleasant Grove Elementary include increasing academic achievement for all students, while closing the gap between student populations in the areas of math and English language arts and reading; increase student, teacher, parent and community engagement to 90% through communication and participation; and provide a healthy, safe, physical and emotional environment which is conducive to learning, while fostering a partnership between home and school.
The plan for the intermediate school includes increasing academic achievement for all students while closing the gap between student populations on the state-mandated STAAR test in the areas of reading/language arts, math and science; increasing parent and family engagement to 90% through informing and engaging students, teachers, parents and the community regarding the educational priorities, process, initiatives and challenges of the campus; and maintaining a program to ensure the safety, security and health of all students and staff.
The plan for Pleasant Grove Middle School includes the school providing an exemplary instructional program for all students to enhance achievement, access and equity, which will increase each student's academic performance by 3%; engaging parents, community organizations, local businesses, civic organizations and educational entities as educational stakeholders; and meeting the safety and security needs of students and staff including the teaching and encouraging of positive school-wide behavior with a goal of no safety violations.
The high school's goals are providing a well-planned and intentional instructional program for all students to enhance achievements, access and equity; providing learning opportunities which prepares students for the future and help them to realize their personal and educational potential; and provide a safe, drug-free and orderly learning environment.
The next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, in the Central Services, 8500 N. Kings Highway, Texarkana, Texas.