Board approves painting Pleasant Grove middle school

TEXARKANA, Texas — Pleasant Grove Independent School District Board of Trustees approved funding for aesthetic improvements at its middle school campus, as well as purchases a special education bus, in a regular meeting Thursday evening.

The first project is painting the exterior of the building. The lowest quote was $290,700, and it will take 17 weeks to complete. Two other quotes were received at $310,230 and one at $327,850.

The second project is to replace windows on the east and south side of the main building. This would extend on the east side from the cafeteria down to the front offices and down the south side of the building from the offices through the library.

The project would also include replacing the exterior doors on the south side of the building. The quote on this is $55,350. The total cost of both projects is projected at $346,050.

Superintendent Chad Pirtle said these improvements are more than necessary.

“The windows are not very pleasing, and the truth of it is it’s just not great,” he said. “And there’s a lot to paint out there. So, can it get done this summer? No, but we can get started on it this summer.”

The district’s current special education bus is 17 years old and experiencing several mechanical and other issues. Director of Finance Derick Sibley said he believes the purchase of a new special education bus with a wheelchair lift is necessary in order to maintain the district’s fleet of vehicles and keep them safe and operational.

The district will spend $92,800 of state and local special education funds for the bus, and it is being purchased through the BuyBoard Purchasing Cooperative.

The district will also be purchasing more than $150,000 worth of classroom resources and supplies for literacy instruction, which has been a big focus for administration over the past year.

“One of the worst things you can do is provide the quality of professional learning that we’re providing our teachers right now, but not give them the tools and resources they need to be able to implement with fidelity,” said Julie McClurg, director of learning services. “These are resources that will be in classrooms Pre-K through 12, so we’re coming to you now at this time to get this approved.”

In other news, the district hired Alisha Lowery to be the high school reading interventionist and Leah Sams to be the middle school assistant principal.

Pirtle said he believes the district has “hit home runs,” with its hires recently.