Princeton ISD Board Notes for 11-27-23 trustee meeting

Board members canvas trustee election results

Following the Nov. 7 election involving two places up for grabs on the PISD Board of Trustees, school board members officially canvassed the results during a recent special meeting prior to the Thanksgiving break.

Total votes:

Starla Sharpe....................1,063

Cyndi Darland......................997

Chad Jones..........................905

Melissa Ait Belaid................489

Two trustees take oath of office for new terms

The PISD school board canvassed results from the recent election, and Cyndi Darland and Starla Sharpe were sworn in to office during the Monday trustee meeting. Both Mrs. Darland and Mrs. Sharpe will serve 3-year terms.

The swearing-in ceremony followed the regular board meeting, and then trustees elected new officers for the coming year.

They are:

Board president: Cyndi Darland

Vice president: Duane Kelly

Secretary: Julia Schmoker

Bradlee Hamming, the son of Travis and Cynthia Hamming, was recognized at the board meeting. PISD Executive Director of Elementary Education Rachel Nicks presented him with a frame featuring his designed card, and PISD board President Cyndi Darland gave him a box of cookies from Tiff's Treats. Bradlee also received a box of his own cards to send out before Christmas.

Godwin 2nd-grade student wins district card contest

Godwin Elementary 2nd-grade student Bradlee Hamming was recognized during the school board meeting as the winner who designed the district's annual Christmas card for this year.

"This is one of my absolute favorite traditions for our district," said Rachel Nicks, Executive Director of Elementary Education. "We really enjoy that our students make the cards."

According to Mrs. Nicks, who organized the contest to pick the winning card, each elementary campus and the early childhood center invited students in Pre-K through 2nd grade to participate in the art contest.

"We do this at the beginning of the school year so there is plenty of time to select the design and get them printed," Mrs. Nicks said. "We like to call this Christmas in August."

Schools chose the top piece of artwork for their campus. The artwork from those students was then sent to the staff at the administration office to be judged. After the initial round of voting, two cards had enough votes to be a finalist before Bradlee's was chosen as the winning artwork.

"We had great participation for this contest, and it was hard to choose," Mrs. Nicks said. "But I think Bradlee's card had everything that everyone was looking for in a Christmas card. We really love this tradition."

PISD recognizes outgoing trustee for his service

After serving as a trustee for the last six years on the Princeton ISD school board, Chad Jones was recognized at Monday's board meeting.

Superintendent Donald McIntyre thanked Mr. Jones for his service on the PISD board, who was elected to the board in 2017 and served two 3-year terms.

Mr. Jones said he is looking forward to being active with his children's involvements in PISD, including FFA and athletics.

Prior to his school board tenure, Mr. Jones gave of his time for the school district by serving on the Long-Range Planning Committee, as well numerous site-based improvement committees at the district and campus level.

Board approves new playground for Godwin

The PISD school board approved new playground equipment for Godwin Elementary.

"It's important for our students to be active, and recess is a perfect opportunity for that," Superintendent Donald McIntyre said. "This action will provide a refresh for the Godwin playground and give students a bright, colorful place for that activity."

Additional SROs approved for new school year

PISD trustees approved hiring up to three additional School Resource Officers for the 2024-2025 school year.

In an effort to provide a safe campus environment for all students and staff, PISD employs a marshal for every school and partners with the Princeton Police Department to also provide SROs for added security. There are currently three police officers working with the district, so this would expand the SRO program to six. These officers are typically assigned to a secondary campus, but they respond where needed and frequently visit elementary schools.

By approving additional SROs now, it enables the city to hire and train officers so they are ready to be on campuses by the first day of school.

Crews broke ground at the site of the district's second early childhood center at 8500 County Road 392. This campus, which will also include a district daycare, will open for the 2025-2026 school year.

Trustees OK land site, hear construction update

The school board finalized the purchase of a land site to accommodate two new campuses in the southern portion of Princeton ISD.

The property is located along County Road 400 at the intersection with the eventual extension of Cypress Bend Parkway. Roadways in this development are approved, but most only exist on paper at this point. This 41-acre site is situated between Beauchamp Boulevard and Simpson Road just north of Princeton Fire Station No. 3.

The site is tentatively planned for Middle School No. 4 and Elementary School No. 9, which were approved by voters in the May bond election. The middle school will be named for Tom Banschbach, while the elementary name will honor Joyce Carrell. These two schools will mark the second and third campuses funded through the 2023 bond package, with the first being the district's second early childhood center, which is now underway.

A representative of Claycomb Associates Architects updated trustees on the four current construction projects, since ground was broken on Perkins ECC earlier this month.

All projects, which also include Green and James elementary schools and the Lovelady expansion, are on schedule for completion in time for the 2024-2025 school year, while Perkins is in the early stages of site preparation. It will house half of the district's Pre-K program and open in 2025.