Town Hall meetings – in person and on Zoom – have been set and sparsely attended to date, but others are planned as the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) embarks – yet again – on parceling out some failing school campus administration to third party providers.
Following years of failing under the direction of BISD leadership, the Smith Middle School and Jones-Clark Elementary campuses were handed over to the administration of Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) to prevent takeover from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in years past, beginning in 2019.
Now that the grace period for PLA to bring the campuses up to passing standard has passed, and the agency has failed, BISD is searching for a new provider.
BISD meetings are currently geared toward installing new leadership at Smith and Jones-Clark by Third Future Schools for the 2023-24 school year, according to an announcement from the district.
Future stakeholder meetings to detail the change will be held at 6 p.m. via Zoom on April 25, May 16, June 6 and June 27.
In person meetings will be held at 6 p.m. on May 16 at Jones-Clark Elementary, and June 27 at Smith Middle School.
BISD administrators say Third Future has a proven track record of boosting student outcomes.
“PLA and its team have worked hard to advance student performance at both campuses,” a BISD announcement on March 8 attributed to the outgoing campus management team. For the most recent TEA School Report Cards available, both PLA-managed campuses in Beaumont received “Not Rated” or failing, scores. “Although achievements in campus culture and some gains in academics have occurred, Jones-Clark and Smith continue to need additional improvement. The state statute regarding accountability does not provide PLA or BISD additional relief, despite COVID-19 and the challenges of school turnaround in the midst of a pandemic.”
Recent STAAR test results show PLA students far behind their peers both at the district and state level. At Jones-Clark, STAAR performance rates in 2022 for all subjects garnered just 27% at grade level – or almost at grade level.
By comparison, in BISD, 50% of students either tested at grade level or almost grade level; and in the state, 74% were on target or almost.
At Smith in 2022, roughly 25% of the student population scored at or near grade level, among all subject matters.
“Because the turnaround timeline for PLA has expired, BISD is recommending the Board of Trustees approve transitioning the campuses to the only TEA authorized turnaround organization – Third Future Schools (TFS),”
BISD administration recommended. TFS executives include a former Dallas area superintendent and former TEA staffer.
“If approved, TFS will assume operation of Jones-Clark and Smith for the 2023-2024 school year, with the expectation that the campuses return to BISD in the 2026-2027 school year with a B+ rating.”