PGISD approves new servers, deal to offer ArtSmart program

Pleasant Grove Independent School District trustees approved the purchase of new campus servers along with an amendment in the 2017-18 budget to include the purchase of large-screen jumbotrons at the high school.

According to Superintendent Jason Smith, the four servers, which will cost $47,759, are up to 12 years old and don’t have the capacity the district needs to back up everything.

“We’re moving toward a cloud environment. More and more things are going to be in the cloud and won’t be on the servers,” he said. “However, we do back up everything on a daily basis…we have things that have to be backed up in-house and we do that on our own servers. The servers we have, they are outdated.”

In other business, trustees passed a budget amendment to cover payment of media boards for $89,563 and $20,988 for electrical and installation cost. The equipment, which will be placed in the cafeteria and practice gym at the high school, was approved with Career and Technical Education funds included in the 2016-17 budget. However, the equipment did not arrive until after Aug. 31, Smith said, so the payment must come from the 2017-18 budget.

Trustees heard a presentation on the district improvement plan, with Smith pointing out a few changes from last year.

“One of the things we wanted to add this year is the expectation of every child mastering,” he said. “If you look through you’ll see how we embedded that in this. You’ll see that we added a comprehensive needs assessment to our district plan as well. It’s one of the things you will see us continue to do. We’re just making a few changes as we move forward with out plan.”

The board also approved an agreement with the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council to provide the ArtSmart program for elementary and intermediate school students. The program, which will also give teacher professional development through a collective partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center, will cost $13,500.

Smith also reported that September’s average daily attendance is 2,118, compared with 2127 in 2016.