Parents, coaches and community groups press MISD trustees on school performance, First Tee lease and special‑education site changes
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Summary
At the Feb. 25 Midland ISD board meeting community members urged trustees to protect the First Tee facility, called for transparency on joining Texans for Excellence in Education and pressed for attention to low‑performing campuses and special‑education campus moves.
Dozens of Midland residents and program leaders used the Feb. 25 public comment period to press the Midland Independent School District Board of Trustees on school quality, community programs and special‑education placements.
Several speakers described First Tee West Texas — the nonprofit that operates a golf facility at the Audrey Gill Sports Complex — as a vital and low‑cost youth program and urged the board to consider the program’s community value before altering the facility or lease. Layton Brown said the organization raised more than $2.3 million to build the course and another $650,000 to renovate an associated clubhouse and estimated annual upkeep at roughly $750,000. Chris Hubbard, First Tee West Texas board president, said First Tee serves students across 10 counties and that the facility currently supports more than 100 MISD athletes and is integrated into elementary PE curriculum. Hubbard asked trustees to "consider the merits of the First Tee program as well as its benefit to MISD" as the board reviews decisions related to the Audrey Gill site.
Several speakers also urged trustees to be cautious about changing the district’s professional association. Amber Davidson, a PTA leader, and Jane Wolf, a longtime community volunteer, voiced concerns about a proposal on the agenda to explore membership in Texans for Excellence in Education (TEE) as an alternative to the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB). Wolf reminded trustees that TASB has been the statewide association for decades and urged the board to maintain institutional memory; Davidson asked for town‑hall conversations before any membership change and raised questions about insurance and costs.
Community advocates and business leaders pressed the board on persistent academic underperformance. Melissa Ware, director of education and workforce development for the Permian Strategic Partnership, told trustees that "more than 11,000 students, that's 1 in 4, attend a school that has received a D or F rating from the Texas Education Agency" and urged immediate, strategic interventions, including partnering with high‑performing school operators.
Parents and advocates also voiced specific concerns about Encore Academy, a program the speakers said serves medically fragile and intellectually disabled students. A parent identified as Reagan told trustees that Encore students had experienced long staffing and program challenges this year and argued that planned moves to new sites must preserve existing ADA‑compliant bathrooms, kitchen space and laundry facilities. Linda (operations staff) explained a proposed temporary relocation plan to Coleman High School portables and said staff believe that site offers comparable space for programming and more immediate access to campus resources (nurse, counselor and culinary lab).
Why it matters: Public comments reflected three recurring themes — preserving low‑cost youth programming, ensuring transparent and evidence‑based governance choices, and protecting specialized services for students with disabilities. Trustees heard detailed, sometimes emotional, appeals from parents and nonprofit leaders and indicated staff follow‑up would be required on facilities and program continuity.
What speakers said (selected excerpts) - Layton Brown (First Tee): "While true, yes, the cash consideration permitted MISD is a mere dollar. The overall value of MISD access to the multimillion‑dollar ... facility with an annual upkeep of over $750,000." - Chris Hubbard (First Tee West Texas): "First Tee is a national youth development nonprofit ... We served over 400 kids in our green grass programs in 2024 and are currently integrated into the PE curriculum at all the MISD elementary schools." - Melissa Ware (Permian Strategic Partnership): "In Midland ISD, more than 11,000 students, that's 1 in 4, attend a school that has received a D or F rating from the Texas Education Agency." - Reagan (parent, Encore Academy): "These students need unencumbered access to bathrooms for diaper and toilet training. They need access to washer and dryers to address goals throughout the day."
Next steps: Trustees asked staff to document relocation plans for Encore students, to provide cost and program continuity details related to the Audrey Gill site and to schedule further community engagement (trustees and staff referred to follow‑up meetings and potential town halls on association membership).