Port Arthur Independent School District held an update for parents and families on Wednesday at its Administration Building. Topics included student learning, safety and the bond. The meeting was held with the Port Arthur City Council of PTAs and the Title 1 Parent and Family Engagement collaborative. Superintendent Dr. Mark Porterie and district staff answered questions from the audience.
Porterie said the district has made progress but that it takes time. He said STAAR scores show gains, and four campuses had double-digit gains on the test last year. He also said the football team is 8-1, with the last home game set for Friday. The James Gamble Classic will be held Nov. 20-21 with 18 teams, three of them from the area.
The district is using the Bluebonnet curriculum, which the Texas Education Agency created and the State Board of Education approved. Porterie said state funding is tied to the curriculum, but its future is unclear after leadership changes in state government following the general election. Porterie said the district has hired 116 certified teachers since April.