A new principal and administrators were approved by the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees during their meeting Tuesday.
Abel Avila was named new principal for George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa. He was assistant principal of operations at Odessa High School.
Melissa Skinner was appointed executive director of leadership and Andrea Moreno-Hewitt was approved as executive director of curriculum and instruction.
Prior to OHS, Avila was an assistant principal at Wilson & Young Middle School and the principal at Stanton Middle School, the board recap said.
He taught science at New Tech for three years. Earlier May 16, ECISD leaders delivered the 2022-23 Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year award to Avila at OHS.
Skinner is the deputy superintendent in Cleveland (Texas) ISD. She brings nearly 30 years of experience to ECISD, including 21 years as an assistant principal, principal, and curriculum and school improvement roles that include chief academic officer and deputy superintendent, the recap said.
Trustees voted 4-0 to approve Moreno-Hewitt as executive director of curriculum and instruction. Dr. Moreno-Hewitt is currently the principal at Natalia (Texas) High School and Natalia Elementary School. She has five years of teaching experience, and a combined 17 years as a campus and district administrator, including three years as a curriculum director, and time as a bilingual/testing coordinator and a high school assistant principal, the recap said.
Results from the May 6 board of trustees election were approved and new members were sworn in including Wayne Woodall for Position 3, previously held by Donna Smith; Dawn Miller for Position 1; and incumbent Tammy Hawkins, Position 6.
Miller replaces Carol Gregg who did not run for reelection.
Robert Thayer, Position 7, will be sworn in at the next meeting. He defeated Dennis Jones.
Smith, trustee Delma Abalos, and Gregg were absent.
A change in the no pass-no play policy adding a minimum grade requirement was discussed during the Ector County ISD Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday.
Associate Superintendent of Student and School Support Alicia Syverson said the policy was silent on a minimum grade requirement.
Currently, a student can take a rigorous course, get a low grade and still play, Syverson said. They thought it might be time to look at the policy and consider adding a minimum grade requirement.
According to supplemental agenda material, students in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, or in an honors or dual credit course in English, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, economics, or a language other than English, shall be exempt from no pass, no play provisions if the student maintains at least a 60 average in the course.
The exemption shall also apply to dual credit courses, including elective courses, in English, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, economics, or a language other than English taught off campus, as well as a dual credit course taught on the high school campus by university or community college personnel when the student maintains at least a 60 average in the course.
The evaluation periods for eligibility shall be as follows:
- Grades of all students shall be checked at the end of the first six weeks of school.
- Grades of ineligible students shall be checked on a three-week basis following the first six weeks of school.
- Student eligibility status shall become effective seven days after the end of the grade evaluation period. The same rule shall apply if an incomplete (“I”) is on record. Students with an incomplete shall regain their eligibility when the “I” is replaced with a passing grade in the records office or the appropriate school personnel are notified.
Seven principals that will take part in leadership training from the Holdsworth Center were announced. They include Anthony Garcia, principal at Odessa High School; Blanton Elementary School Principal Kamye Smith; Raquel Rodriguez, principal of Ross Elementary; Margarita Acosta, principal at Cameron Elementary; Travis Principal Ale Garcia; Pease Principal Micah Arrott; and Wilson & Young Middle School Principal Jessica Redman.
The Holdsworth Center, founded by Charles Butt, is an education leadership development center focused on improving the quality of public schools for Texas students, its website said.
Javier Ruiz, president of the Ector County Chapter of TSATA, implored new and existing board members to continue to support employees and work with Superintendent Scott Muri.
Ruiz also encouraged them to work with Muri to pass a budget that is in the best interest of employees as they have all been impacted by inflation.
Normally at this time of year, Muri said the district is deep into the budget process. But they typically have more information from the state legislature than they do now. There have been some wild swings in proposed teacher raises, school safety allocations and vouchers. He encouraged everyone to contact their lawmakers to advocate for ECISD and other districts statewide.
“It’s millions of dollars in the balance, so that’s kind of what we’re dealing with. In the workshop in June, we will bring our best estimate,” Muri said.
He added that the state has a $32 billion surplus and investment in education is needed now more than ever.
Under special presentations, ECISD Board of Trustees’ graduation from Raise Your Hand Texas’ Trustee Advocacy program was recognized, as were the valedictorians and salutatorians from all the high schools.
In his opening comments, Muri thanked outgoing board member Dennis Jones, who was appointed to the school board in 2022, with the “Extra Mile” award.
Muri also talked about last Friday’s Teacher Incentive Allotment announcements. This year 258 ECISD teachers, representing 38 schools, earned $2.4 million in state incentives because of the academic growth of their students. It is a large increase from one year ago, the recap said.
