The Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) Board of Trustees held a meeting this week that highlighted both the dedication of district employees and several major updates affecting students, facilities, and technology across the district. During the meeting, trustees recognized five staff members for actions that demonstrated courage and commitment beyond their regular responsibilities. The board also reviewed the district’s latest academic and financial ratings, approved major infrastructure projects, and adopted a curriculum program for middle and early high school students.
District Performance and Accountability Ratings
AISD administrators presented the district’s latest Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR), which summarizes academic performance and district demographics for the 2024–2025 school year.
According to the report, AISD received an overall “B” rating from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), with a score of 83. The report also provides a snapshot of the district’s student population and classroom environment.
The data shows that approximately 70.6 percent of AISD students are classified as economically disadvantaged. Demographically, the district’s student population is about 48 percent Hispanic, 33 percent White, 11 percent Black, 5 percent Asian, and 4 percent other racial or ethnic groups.
Classroom size statistics show AISD elementary schools averaging 18.6 students per class, which is slightly smaller than the state average of 19.8 students. Secondary school classrooms average 21.8 students per class, compared to a state average of about 18.45 students.
The district currently employs 4,039 staff members, including 2,028 teachers. Experience levels vary across the teaching workforce, with 32 percent of teachers having between 11 and 20 years of experience and 23 percent having between one and five years of experience.
Board members also discussed teacher education levels during the report review. Trustees noted that the percentage of AISD employees with master’s degrees is lower than the state average. Board leadership acknowledged that statewide teacher shortages have affected hiring and retention in many districts and indicated that future discussions may explore incentives to encourage more advanced degrees among staff.
Financial performance metrics for AISD also received strong marks.
The district earned a perfect score of 100 on the Texas Education Agency’s Public Educator Information Management Systems (PEIMS) Financial Standard Report for the 2023–2024 school year. Updated results for the 2024–2025 school year are expected to be released later this spring.
AISD also received a Superior Achievement rating with a score of 100 through the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST), which evaluates how school districts manage finances and comply with state requirements.
District administrators emphasized that these ratings reflect extensive work across multiple departments, including instruction, finance, and campus leadership.
New Cybersecurity Monitoring Partnership
Another major item on the board’s agenda involved strengthening the district’s cybersecurity protections.
Trustees approved an agreement allowing Angelo State University to provide cybersecurity monitoring through its Regional Security Operations Center (RSOC). The partnership will give AISD around-the-clock monitoring and threat detection for its digital systems.
Currently, the district relies on internal staff to monitor cybersecurity during school hours. The new service will expand coverage to a full 24-hour monitoring system capable of identifying and responding to threats outside of the normal school day.
District technology leaders explained that AISD already uses the same cybersecurity platform offered by Angelo State University, but the partnership will allow the district to redirect roughly $100,000 currently spent on the service to other needs.
The program is made possible through state funding approved during the 89th legislative session. House Bill 150 allocated resources to create regional cybersecurity centers across Texas that provide services to public entities such as municipalities and school districts at no cost.
District officials estimate that the onboarding and installation process will take approximately two to three months before the monitoring system becomes fully operational.
Facility Improvements Across Three Campuses
The board also approved several large facility improvement projects involving roof and HVAC replacements at multiple AISD campuses.
De Zavala Middle School will receive a full roof and HVAC replacement project costing about $3.6 million. Mesa Verde Elementary School will undergo a similar upgrade with a project cost of approximately $1.74 million.
In addition, Humphrey’s Highland Elementary School will receive roofing and HVAC replacements totaling about $2.15 million.
The combined cost of the three projects, including architectural and engineering fees, will total roughly $7.94 million. Funding will come from the district’s general operating budget and designated funds set aside for facility improvements.
District leaders noted that maintaining safe and efficient school buildings is a priority, particularly in aging facilities where roofing and climate systems require significant updates.
Board Approves Worth the Wait Curriculum
Trustees also approved the use of the Worth the Wait curriculum as AISD’s human sexuality education program for students in sixth through ninth grades.
The recommendation came from the district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), a group that includes parents, medical professionals, community members, district staff, and board representatives. The council currently consists of 31 members who review health-related programs and policies affecting students.
Participation in the program requires parental consent. Parents must sign an opt-in form for their children to take part in the lessons.
The curriculum covers a range of age-appropriate topics tailored to each grade level. Subjects include peer pressure, personality development, puberty education separated by gender, healthy relationships, social media influences, drug and alcohol awareness, dating relationships, and discussions about intimacy.
Additional topics addressed in the program include sexting, pornography, sexually transmitted infections, reproduction, pregnancy, birth control, consent, and teen dating violence.
District administrators explained that parents have been given the option to enroll their students in the program for the past two years, although the curriculum itself has been used in AISD for many years.
Staff Members Honored for Heroic Actions
The meeting opened with recognition of AISD staff members whose quick thinking and willingness to act helped protect others in potentially dangerous situations.
One of those recognized was Palo Duro High School teacher Raymond Leverett. The board presented Leverett with a certificate of commendation recognizing courageous and lifesaving efforts after he assisted a substitute teacher who was choking while on campus in October.
During the emergency, Leverett performed the Heimlich maneuver to remove a blockage that prevented the substitute teacher from breathing. His response restored the individual’s ability to breathe and allowed the substitute to receive further medical care afterward. District leaders and emergency officials described the response as calm, professional, and decisive, noting that the situation could have resulted in a fatal outcome without intervention.
Trustees also recognized four staff members from Olsen Park Elementary School for their actions during a grass fire near the campus earlier this year.
On Feb. 17, a fire ignited in an area close to the school and surrounding neighborhood. While emergency crews were still on their way, staff members Jennifer Morgan, Natalie Winborne, Cody Books, and Heather Chico began knocking on doors of nearby homes to warn residents and help ensure families evacuated safely.
Their actions helped alert neighbors to the danger and allowed residents to leave the area before the fire could spread. By the time firefighters arrived, the situation had been addressed without injuries or damage to homes. Each staff member received a letter of appreciation from the Amarillo Fire Department as well as a proclamation from the AISD Board of Trustees recognizing their heroic actions.
The recognition underscored the district’s emphasis on safety and community responsibility, highlighting how educators and school staff often serve as first responders in emergencies involving students, coworkers, and surrounding neighborhoods.
A Meeting Focused on Safety, Accountability, and Student Well-Being
Monday’s board meeting reflected several of the district’s key priorities: recognizing staff dedication, maintaining transparency about academic and financial performance, investing in facility improvements, strengthening cybersecurity protections, and supporting student health education.
From honoring educators who stepped in during emergencies to approving new initiatives designed to protect digital infrastructure and improve campus facilities, trustees addressed a wide range of issues affecting both students and staff across Amarillo ISD.
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