[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6147087,"mediaKeyId","5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34","parentId",5522127,"title","Port Arthur ISD presents bond reimbursement resolution after voter-approved $300 million bond; refinancing item discussed","audioSeconds",128,"startMs",284000,"endMs",412000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34&start=284&end=412","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34/thumbnail_284000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6147087/Texas/Port-Arthur-ISD-presents-bond-reimbursement-resolution-after-voter-approved-300-million-bond-refinancing-item-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147087-6e7b2f26e098a3e8c47b6fa96965c636/orig.mp4?Expires=1777158286&Signature=OAJxUBmodxRShblWsOqOmq3fklNRwITA9U6s5YF2D2778dMH-C-HIAKA0z5ZID1X~l2Ptcchmap7Z6MWPKD7MHdr8LvlhS4oj1JFO9O1-TWkn~dPnASB0A9XfOItd7xibhn0Ga3FZy6MPXQsv1BFZCLV6u1qZvF6EbBPSwBTWl3CZZ~kLOU6Dr54g9TnjV34CvT3Rw07DmN2CS6pVJ1NFDqpP~mQwM6wzmQAxnw0Hp3x1ZRMgXIzRAi0MfS83R~KWOsHV9TY6L2A9uRrKFeCB9CCTzpEJc808D4iSVV09MzMQ~qhUL8EBNMH6RFswxh9suc25u72bdX0LtzT92cxOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Port Arthur ISD","date","2025-08-01T12:16:39.333Z","article","Superintendent Dr. Porterby asked the Port Arthur ISD Board to approve a reimbursement resolution enabling the district to reimburse pre-issuance expenses from the proceeds of a district unlimited tax bond that voters approved for projects including a new middle school and a new stadium.

“We are asking for the approval of reimbursement resolution for proposed issuance of district unlimited tax bond,” Dr. Porterby said, thanking the community for passing what he described as a $300,000,000 bond for a new middle school and a new stadium.

Dr. Porterby also said the agenda included an authorization related to bond issuance and a refinancing item. He said staff expected to pursue refinancing that would allow the district to pay down past bonds and “help our taxpayers lower their taxes.” In the transcript he said, “I think it's gonna be ... $10,000,000 on refinancing,” language that indicates an estimate rather than a final figure.

The superintendent noted a district financial representative, “Mr. Greer,” was present to answer questions. The transcript shows the bond matters were on the agenda and presented for board consideration but does not include a discrete recorded vote on the reimbursement resolution or refinancing in the provided excerpt; the consent agenda and other routine items were approved by voice vote later in the meeting.

If the board adopts a reimbursement resolution, the document typically allows the district to treat qualifying capital expenditures paid before bond sale as reimbursable from bond proceeds after issuance; confirmation of final amounts, the structure of any refinancing, and related legal findings should be sought in the official board packet or supporting documents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Port Arthur ISD School Board Meeting - July 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Dr. Porterby presented a reimbursement resolution for a voter-approved district unlimited tax bond and discussed a refinancing item the district says could lower taxpayers' bills.","taxTitle","PORT ARTHUR ISD, School Districts, Texas","taxId",38352,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147081,"Port Arthur ISD board approves certified teacher hires and several administrative appointments by voice vote",61,2122000,2183000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34&start=2122&end=2183","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34/thumbnail_2122000.jpg","/articles/6147081/Texas/Port-Arthur-ISD-board-approves-certified-teacher-hires-and-several-administrative-appointments-by-voice-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147081-487d802ab7f6556b2dd84b7ccd1feb3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1777158286&Signature=iJib8Ax66obO~hkXwsijPIO2leOc7KWSzFWOs46KarP1sHpq0Tm9ppjAq-okDDjy5AK7sY6ybkII6exarNWrbtY-cHelckxnsTkK22mbWiUJONfOjzahDZOG2CcyoaJHuWofmSG7AW9mLVBIm8QD5THeGlD1-8zU7qTj6OtdTxSr-LEbWqQ7Z4oR5S4mnsOJwLAHSi~9I5hcS3~P8JHLaKVP2t9uDfTZkXjk0pzWJNBsS~kWbBNUDkV6yezfjvaT5kGYFVyTPYtp7RTqWa4fJh2oEHQpcCwkmyRqLlZLkFz2sfEwMoiraJ6VZyEIFRMSBDUXxTAl2ivuABl5BHCVuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees approved routine personnel items by voice vote during the meeting.

A motion to approve the list of certified teachers was moved by Trustee Johnny Brown and seconded by Trustee Diane Brown. President Johnson called for the ayes; the minutes record the motion carried by voice vote.

Superintendent Dr. Porterby recommended the employment of Dr. Shalanda Randa Randall Feiler as principal of Adams Elementary and the transfer of Alfredo Jimenez to Terrell Elementary, both effective immediately as stated in the transcript. The motion to approve the principal appointment was moved by Vice President North Easton and seconded by Trustee Gilwood; President Johnson called for the ayes and no opposition was recorded in the supplied excerpt.

The board also approved the employment of Dr. Maya Turner as coordinator for assessment and instructional support. That motion was moved by Trustee Getwood and seconded by the vice president, and the vote was recorded as in favor with no opposition noted in the excerpt.

Additional personnel actions included approvals recorded on the consent agenda (items 1 through 24), moved by Vice President Narcisse and seconded by Trustee Getwood; the board approved the consent agenda by voice vote. The transcript shows the standard board procedure: motions, seconds and voice approval without roll-call tallies in the supplied excerpt. For verification of effective dates and personnel contract details, consult the district’s official minutes and personnel files.","The Port Arthur ISD Board approved certified teacher hires and several administrative appointments, including Dr. Shalanda Randa Randall Feiler as principal of Adams Elementary and Dr. Maya Turner as coordinator for assessment and instructional support.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147091,"Port Arthur ISD proposes one-year ban on device possession and opt-out of charter participation during school day",80,157000,237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34&start=157&end=237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34/thumbnail_157000.jpg","/articles/6147091/Texas/Port-Arthur-ISD-proposes-one-year-ban-on-device-possession-and-opt-out-of-charter-participation-during-school-day","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147091-c1a65fe0e9dd4bae29623b4f0ad98040/orig.mp4?Expires=1777158286&Signature=H4P4-U0cBTNIUH34M~0CSU9fAoDM3kaAuuZliq09qPslvjvPJDBKi4EoAW4LX1sDcBqJqQK~sz7T0IZqMDdsqegA8OVk~clBUl9KzCDZcqHSOq4rXmq5ZQsiILynH9LP5O17BO~dlgen0uQ-h6mh1pEWWk-NdrfwatiDrXnxGPtkKsqsyjoZaLP3hTEcNdKmx9Rzk4Z2r0E7rkYbNgIJKqiRBr76PJ9fQawA5B3s8bLmoEKWHo2BNYpSEJ4WnaG-bG7WAy9RylF9KrfY0lAfMHjgXTVfcwlCwxAMfcvVryrewEbd~uUqXcV6e-7DMexu-LlsPRU6ouKocrYoHj1iSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Port Arthur ISD superintendent asked the board to consider two related policy changes during the meeting: opting out of allowing private charter school students to take part in ISD extracurricular activities and adopting a possession-and-usage ban on cellphones, smartwatches and tablets during the instructional day.

“...we are asking for several policies to be approved. The first policy is to opt out of private charter school students that are enrolled in private charter school coming to our school for extracurricular,” Superintendent Dr. Porterby said. He added that the opt-out is connected to a change enacted by the state in the prior legislative session.

On electronic devices, Dr. Porterby referred to state action and said the district is requesting a local policy on both possession and usage in classrooms: “The state has allowed us to ask for you to approve a policy of possession as well as usage. Possession means that a student would not be able to bring a cell phone, a smartwatch, or tablet to school along with the usage.”

Dr. Porterby said the district will work with parents when implementing the rule and described a one-year trial: “So we're going to do that for one year, and we're going to see how it works out. We're gonna work with our parents. We will call them. We will remind them. We're gonna remind our students.” The transcript indicates the district has been notifying families since early July.

A board member who identified themself as a member of Generation Z praised the possession approach as a compromise, saying the policy allows students to retain devices but not use them during school. That trustee urged parents to prepare students for the rule.

The transcript cites House Bill 1481 in connection with device rules and references the prior legislative session for the charter extracurricular entitlement; those were presented as legal context by the superintendent, but the transcript does not record a final board vote on these policies. The consent agenda and other routine items were approved later in the meeting, but the record here does not show a discrete, recorded vote adopting the device or charter opt-out policies.

Because the transcript contains inconsistent references to dates (speakers referenced both Aug. 12 and Aug. 13 in relation to the start of school), the effective start date of any adopted device policy is not specified in the supplied transcript and should be confirmed in the official agenda or minutes.","Superintendent Dr. Porterby presented two policy items for board consideration: an opt-out of allowing private charter students to participate in ISD extracurricular activities and a one-year policy banning possession and use of cellphones, smartwatches and tablets during the instructional day under House Bill 1481.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":92,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6147097,"Port Arthur ISD superintendent asks board to approve new teacher starting pay of $55,500, 3% increase for other staff",39,118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34&start=118&end=157","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5522127-e2deaff03209ed7e1711a08a706a8a34/thumbnail_118000.jpg","/articles/6147097/Texas/Port-Arthur-ISD-superintendent-asks-board-to-approve-new-teacher-starting-pay-of-55500-3-increase-for-other-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6147097-f2279a800e2f65ba0540cab241c3bfd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1777158286&Signature=ZJNctJmXhKMj2BIrvhyvjDKcwXoY288iue3ylq46C5MEAjvMCjSXZuSsCf8UxMBUGSWH8Vu5G~6pBK93sc27ezPoBw~UGvJ94MYFkUdLWVmk-gTqaSYbJDONpUot7nI0efy10j1fs0AJPH-5N-JpdVSh5bnvqVdsJXkdSb8oNWf0npPc3qSoyEl3Tjax~TJ8eHURkweaX4BM9YjuxMQDil8j4xDHgUobd2ZaoQWpF7sEMxFPYMHzUdtc0RwqNih1edGp2BL69ETvb2QEb5ys8PYBxdfe3Gtb3RnI0SqOsXP-xbPOznylVkYADW9nSd1f6FYlqasxpWUbxliRetIoHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Porterby told the Port Arthur ISD Board of Trustees that the district is asking the board to approve a new salary schedule that would set the starting teacher salary at $55,500 and provide a 3% raise for other staff.

Dr. Porterby said the state has provided funds to districts to support teacher pay increases and that the district is using local funds to move some raises earlier: “The state has given our teachers money. ... it started at the third year, but we decided to move it up from our own coffers for the first and second year,” Dr. Porterby said.

The superintendent characterized the proposal as a district decision to accelerate state-intended raises and said the schedule is one of several items on the board agenda that night. The transcript records the superintendent asking the board for approval but does not include a recorded motion or roll-call vote specifically for the salary schedule. Minutes and a consent agenda later were approved by voice vote, but the record does not tie a discrete vote to the salary schedule in the supplied transcript.

Board members who spoke later in the meeting praised recent hiring and district momentum, but the transcript does not record additional debate over the salary numbers themselves.

Dr. Porterby’s staff report also noted the district will return to normal working hours and will hold convocation on Aug. 4; the first day of school was referenced as Aug. 13 in the transcript.

The board packet or formal agenda materials were referenced generally; the salary schedule was presented as an item requiring board action but the transcript does not show a separate approval vote for the schedule itself.

Looking ahead, the superintendent asked trustees to act on the schedule at the meeting; any formal adoption or implementation date should be confirmed in the official minutes or agenda materials.","Superintendent Dr. Porterby told the Port Arthur ISD Board the district is proposing a $55,500 starting salary for new teachers and a 3% increase for other staff, funded in part by state allocations and district funds; the board was asked to approve the schedule but no formal vote on the schedule is recorded in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Port Arthur ISD presents bond reimbursement resolution after voter-approved $300 million bond; refinancing item discussed

Port Arthur ISD board approves certified teacher hires and several administrative appointments by voice vote

Port Arthur ISD proposes one-year ban on device possession and opt-out of charter participation during school day

Port Arthur ISD superintendent asks board to approve new teacher starting pay of $55,500, 3% increase for other staff