Mineral Wells Area News

Reporting By Gary Norman |Mineral Wells Area News

The Mineral Wells Independent School District Board of Trustees met in a regularly scheduled session on Monday, January 12, 2026, to consider a range of agenda items including School Board Recognition Month, financial and academic performance reports, approval of five-year performance goals, rescheduling the March 2026 board meeting, the purchase of Chromebook tablets, updates to Pre-K transportation policy, and changes to the superintendent’s contract.

School Board Recognition Month

In recognition of School Board Recognition Month, Lamar Elementary Principal Rhonda Mack presented each board member with a gift box on behalf of Mineral Wells ISD staff.

“Behind every magical moment in our schools is a board that believes, frequents, and leads. Your leadership turns vision and challenges into possibilities,” Mack said.

Superintendent David Tarver followed with a formal proclamation honoring the board and officially proclaiming January as School Board Recognition Month.

Superintendent’s Report

During his report, Tarver stated district enrollment remains steady at approximately 3,230 students, with attendance averaging between 94% and 95%.

Financial Integrity Rating

Chief Financial Officer Paul Hearn presented the Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) report for the 2023–2024 school year. The district received an “A” rating for superior achievement, scoring 94 out of 100 possible points across 20 financial management indicators.

Texas Academic Performance Report

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Angie Myrick presented the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) for the 2024–2025 school year. Myrick explained that the TAPR, produced annually by the Texas Education Agency, provides a comprehensive snapshot of student performance, graduation outcomes, discipline data, and other accountability measures.

“While the TAPR is a compliance report, it also gives us a chance to plan. It lets us know where we are doing well, where we are not, and where we need to improve,” Myrick said.

Mineral Wells ISD received a “B” accountability rating from the agency. Myrick noted the district is striving toward an “A” rating, but added that a “B is not too bad.” She also reported the district received special recognition in science due to increased performance in fifth grade, eighth grade, and high school biology, along with a post-secondary readiness distinction. Myrick said those gains reflect a sustained focus on career, college, and military readiness at the high school level. The full TAPR will be posted on the district’s website.

House Bill 3 Performance Goals

Myrick also reviewed progress toward performance goals required under Texas House Bill 3, which mandates districts establish five-year targets for early childhood reading and math, as well as college, career, and military readiness.

Currently, 50% of Mineral Wells ISD students in the third-grade indicator group are meeting grade-level standards in reading and math. The district set a goal to increase that figure to 75% by 2030. Myrick noted state testing protocols will change in 2028, but districts are still required to establish five-year benchmarks.

She added the district currently exceeds the state “A” standard for college, career, and military readiness, reporting a 91% rate compared to the 90% threshold.

“We look like we are still in good shape, but we have to do a lot of work to maintain that 90,” Myrick said.

The board unanimously approved the five-year performance goals.

Technology Purchase

Director of Technology Justin Lascsak presented a proposal to purchase 225 Chromebook tablets for Pre-K students at Lamar Elementary at a cost of $73,445.50. Lascsak said the purchase completes the tablet refresh for the campus. The board approved the purchase.

Board Meeting Date Change

Trustees approved rescheduling the March 2026 board meeting from March 9 to March 16 to avoid a conflict with spring break.

Pre-K Transportation Policy Update

The board also approved an update to an internal policy regarding transportation for Pre-K students. When the district previously operated two half-day Pre-K sessions, parents were required to provide mid-day transportation. With the transition to a full-day Pre-K program, the updated policy removes that requirement.

Superintendent’s Contract

The board approved a one-year extension to Superintendent David Tarver’s contract, maintaining a three-year term, along with a 10% salary increase. Tarver said the action was unexpected and expressed appreciation to the board.

When asked about goals for the coming year, Tarver pointed to ongoing state-level changes.

“It’s always just constant evaluation of where we are and what we are trying to do and ensuring that we are ready for the changes that are in front of us,” Tarver said. “We definitely don’t want to be adjusting in the moment. We want to be preparing ahead of time… We have very high goals for ourselves. When you look at our school district as a whole, we have a lot of good people doing a lot of hard work, and you see the result in the ‘B’ rating. We are very proud of that, but you can’t be complacent either. You’ve got to keep moving forward.”

The full agenda and supporting documents for the meeting are available through the district’s BoardBook Premier system.