Trustees approve campus turnaround plans; public commenters urge higher bus pay and special-education cameras

Beaumont — Beaumont ISD trustees on June 24 approved campus turnaround plans for Veal (Phil) Price Elementary, Jones Clark, Smith Middle School and Beaumont United High School and heard public comments on several community concerns.

Turnaround plans: Assistant superintendent Dr. Papillon presented required turnaround plans that comply with the Texas Education Agency's effective schools framework. Principals from each campus outlined priorities including instructional coaching, weekly planning, targeted interventions and partnerships with external providers. After brief discussion trustees moved to approve the turnaround plans; the motion carried unanimously (6–0).

Public comments: During the public-comment period, longtime teacher and bus driver Sue Ellen Inner urged the board to raise bus-driver pay to $24 per hour and to use portions of the newly available support staff retention allotment to improve recruitment and retention for part-time student-facing staff. Parent Jennifer Moore requested the board require cameras in every special-needs classroom and asked the district to adopt a policy removing accused teachers from the classroom pending investigation; Moore said her child had been affected and that some incidents have been referred to the district police and DA.

Community recognition requests: Former student Parker Gerlafsson asked the board to name the Westbrook tennis courts for long-time coach Pat Thomas; trustees received the request and thanked speakers for their remarks.

What happens next: Principals and campus leaders said they will continue developing implementation steps for turnaround plans and requested staffing and coaching support. Staff said grant- and federal-fund allocations supporting implementation will be reported to the board in follow-ups.