Deer Park ISD discusses high‑school scheduling, student FTE funding and logistics for potential state tournament trip
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Summary
Board clarified expectations that high‑school students attend six periods per day while noting off‑campus options, reviewed FTE funding implications, and discussed logistics, cost and liability for a possible booster‑organized fan bus if girls' basketball reaches state.
Deer Park ISD board members clarified academic scheduling expectations for high‑school students and discussed athletic logistics after the girls' basketball team advanced toward a possible state championship.
A staff presenter reviewed high‑school scheduling: students are expected to attend six periods per day as the regular school‑day expectation even if juniors and seniors take off‑campus options such as Skill Center programs, Running Start, 0‑hour classes or work‑based learning. The presenter said off‑campus options can change a student's fractional FTE and that state funding is allocated per FTE; she said a full 1.0 FTE student generates roughly "$10,000" in state allocation when students participate in Skill Center or Running Start (phrase used in the meeting). The board emphasized that the district counts attendance and FTE as part of state funding calculations.
On athletics, the board discussed a booster request to organize a fan bus should the girls' basketball team qualify for the state championship in Yakima. The meeting noted logistics and liability constraints: the game would likely be Saturday evening with team qualification confirmed the Friday before; a quoted round‑trip distance to Yakima was "475 miles" and the presenter provided a ballpark cost estimate of about $1,700 for a charter and driver. Board members emphasized supervisory, chaperone and student‑conduct responsibilities if the district sponsored a transport option and noted driver availability shortages make district sponsorship unlikely for weekday travel; one speaker said a trip would likely return around 2 a.m. and stressed liability concerns.
Board members encouraged boosters and families to organize travel independently or to coordinate privately, while staff said the district could help connect families and boosters but cautioned against the district formally sponsoring or operating a fan bus because of legal and supervisory obligations.
The board also noted that STCU has offered to donate a new gym scoreboard that would include advertising; staff said similar donations previously supported the football, baseball and softball fields. Contract and advertising terms were described as being worked on.
Ending: The board asked staff to provide cost and logistical information if the need becomes immediate and encouraged boosters and families to coordinate travel; the district did not commit to sponsoring or funding a fan bus.