SCHOOL NEWS
Districts use virus plans
Saint Jo Independent School District experienced its first COVID-19 positive student one day before school began on Aug. 12.
Superintendent Curtis Eldridge said on Aug. 11 the district was notified of a lab confirmed positive test for a student and implemented the steps of the district plan.
“The parent was very supportive and sent it to us immediately. Fortunately, the student had not been in the building yet, just on the practice field and locker room. We called the health authority who was supportive, made sure everyone at practice and the coach knew and those area were cleaned, which we had done anyway. Parents of the football team members were contacted by phone and the rest (employees and parents) through email,” explained the superintendent.
Bowie and Nocona ISDs went through similar processes during the sports conditioning camps prior to the school starting where one coach and two students tested positive.
Eldridge said the process worked well as they followed the state regulations set forth by the Texas Education Agency. The district also consulted with the school attorney to drive template letters with the proper language.
While the district had not begun classes, the superintendent said the staff was thankful we approached it was quickly as we could.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News
Bowie Independent School Trustees continued work on the 2026-27 budget during its Aug. 17 meeting including the creation of a salary schedule and establishing a proposed tax rate.
The budget and 2026 proposed tax rate will be up for adoption in an early morning meeting at 7 a.m. on Aug. 31, just at the brink of the new fiscal year.
The salary schedule is based in large part on the Texas Association of School Board’s salary study commissioned by the district. Per the study teacher salaries are above the market median at most benchmarked years. They are most competitive at year 0 where they are 5% above the market median and least competitive at year five where they are 1% below the marked median.
District officials initiated the salary study to get more definitive information where its salaries fall and while some areas were in the range, other category of employees fell below the market. Trustees discussed the need to move auxiliary staff and custodial closer to the market level.
Superintendent Donna Hale and Finance Director Paula Peterson explained the new schedule will not be an across-the-board percentage increase, but focus on getting all employee pay scales closer to the market averages.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonnline.com
Bowie Independent School District Trustees began plowing through the 2026-27 budget at its first workshop on Aug. 3.
The center of discussion was presentation of the salary study commissioned by the district through the Texas Association of School Boards. Laura Wurman of TASB explained how the data was gathered and developed into recommendations for the district.
Purpose of the study is to assess competitive pay levels for common jobs. Wurman said they analyses market data to determine where the district is at risk and identified priorities for pay system improvements.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Diana Calderon will join the Bowie High School staff as assistant principal in the new school year.
She comes to Bowie from Lake Dallas Elementary School where she served as assistant principal since 2024. Her prior positions include administrator at Decatur High School from 2022-2024, and English as a second language director at Ponder High School and Middle School from 2017 to 2022.
Calderon’s educational background began with a bachelor of business management in 2007 from the University of Phoenix. She earned her master degree in bilingual education from Southern Methodist University in 2018 and a master’s in educational leadership also in 2018.
The educator is working on her doctorate of educational leadership.
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