PG school board revotes its last agenda

TEXARKANA, Texas — Pleasant Grove Independent School District’s Board of Trustees held a special virtual meeting Friday, with an agenda almost the same as that of their April 9 virtual meeting. Trustees said the special meeting was held out of an abundance of caution after concerns were raised about the legality of the posting for the April 9 meeting.

The Gazette had questioned whether the first meeting was legally posted.

During the special meeting, the board voted to purchase interactive flat-panel monitors for the new elementary school at a cost of $126,645 and to implement Phase 2 of the district’s technology upgrade, which will put in data and wireless coverage at the CTE Building and the elementary for $185,845.

Trustees also voted to contract with Wilf & Henderson for the 2020 audit and to continue the food services contract with Chartwell’s.

In other business, the board approved several waivers related to the cornonavirus, including one to waive missed class days due to the governor’s school closure mandate, a waiver for teacher testing and another to provide pay for staff during the closure. Trustees also voted to allow Superintendent Chad Pirtle to accept coronavirus-related waivers as they are offered instead of requiring the board to vote on them before acceptance.

The board approved the hiring of Ashley Barker as the new principal of Pleasant Grove Middle School. She is currently serving as assistant principal at Pleasant Grove High School and she will begin her new role in July. She will replace Linda Erie, who will retire in June.

Barker has served 12 years with the district, teaching third and fifth grades and serving as assistant principal at PG Elementary and also at the Intermediate campus. She began her career teaching third and fourth grade at New Boston ISD.

Barker graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies. In 2008, she earned a master of science degree in education administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

She and her husband Chris Barker, who serves as a trustee on the PGISD school board and abstained from the hiring vote, have one son, Easton.