Rafael Castillo

The meeting primarily focused on recognizing the Memorial High School football team for their exceptionally successful season, where they achieved a 14-1 record and unified the community. Board members and administrators praised the team's spirit, preparation, and positive impact. Specific recognition was given to players who have already signed college scholarships. Board members also offered advice to the graduating seniors about maintaining discipline, continuing their pursuit of goals in college, and leaning on their support systems.

The meeting featured staff reports from the Superintendent, Dr. Mark Ptery, who noted a very good start to the school year. A significant portion of the discussion involved Principal Dr. Angel Murphy's presentation on the Memorial High School turnaround plan, which was previously approved. Key elements of the plan discussed included enhancing foundational practices based on the effective schools framework, partnering with Texas Instructional Leadership (TIL) to foster continuous improvement in areas like objective-driven daily lesson plans, data-driven instruction, and fostering a compelling vision. Dr. Murphy passionately detailed efforts to change the culture and climate at Memorial High School, encouraging student buy-in through concepts like 'tighten up' and emphasizing the need for staff commitment. Board members commended Dr. Murphy's recent award and expressed strong support for the turnaround initiatives, noting positive observable changes in student behavior and community perception, while also stressing the importance of academics as the core focus.

This document outlines the Port Arthur Independent School District's wellness plan, designed to implement policy FFA (LOCAL) and comply with federal requirements for a school wellness policy. The plan establishes goals for nutrition promotion, nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities. It aims to promote student health, reduce childhood obesity, foster healthy eating behaviors, encourage physical activity, and create a supportive environment for student and employee wellness, with a focus on stakeholder involvement and continuous evaluation.

This document is identified as the Strategic Plan for the Port Arthur Independent School District. The provided content does not detail specific strategic pillars, goals, or intended outcomes of the plan.

The meeting included a presentation by the Starlets from Sam Houston Elementary School, showcasing their dance and flag team performances. The board members expressed their appreciation for the students' hard work and talent. Additionally, Mr. Ricardo Celis, representing the Port Arthur City Council of PTAs, discussed the importance of collaboration between schools and parents, the mission and vision of the PTA, and goals for the year, including establishing a PTA in every school and promoting scholarships.