A PARTNERSHIP OF VISION AND COMMUNITY
MONIKA CASTILLO | PRINCIPAL
BRAD EWING | SENIOR ASSOSCIATE, DESIGN ARCHITECT
In the small remote West Texas town of Pecos, Texas, an amazing transformation is underway. The Pecos-Barstow-Toyah Independent School District (PBTISD) has embarked on an ambitious journey to redefine educational and community spaces for its students, staff, and wider community. Partnering with VLK, PBTISD has set a new standard for educational excellence in the region. Beginning in 2021, there has been an unwavering collaborative effort to rebuild the district, bringing innovative and impactful solutions to the community.
PBTISD has been confronted with several challenges for many years, including low academic scores, poor financial ratings, low morale, recurring leadership turnover and aging school facilities that hindered the quality of education being delivered. Spearheading the efforts to revitalize the district is Superintendent Brent Jaco, who assumed his role in the summer of 2020 and holds the record for the longest-serving superintendent at PBTISD the past two decades.
THE JOURNEY TO REVITALIZE THE DISTRICT BEGAN WITH A SHARED VISION THAT IS GROUNDED IN STUDENT SUCCESS AND DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY’S NEEDS.
It is about creating learning environments that accommodate the rapid changes in educational needs.
Spaces where technology isn’t just present, but integrated into the daily learning, where students not only gain knowledge, but are actively engaged in a culture of collaborative learning and real-world applications.
VLK, with a long record of transforming educational spaces, was entrusted to partner with PBTISD on the journey of this enormous task. Our team brought to the table not just architectural expertise, but also a commitment to understanding and integrating the community’s needs and aspirations into every facet of the design process. We implemented the VLK | LINK® process to align the community’s expectations with the district’s educational needs, that were defined in a long-range plan for future-readiness. The strategy began with a deep dialogue with district staff, students, and community to get a full understanding of the district’s educational goals, exploring instructional methodologies, the integration of current technology, and the development of student skills essential for success in the 21st century. In doing so, the community’s aspirations and needs became very evident.
Through the VLK | LINK® process, it was clear that to improve academic performance, the district’s first priority was on elementary grade realignment. Career and Technology Education (CTE) was also identified as a priority to broaden pathway opportunities for high school students. These projects were driven by a community steering committee tasked with prioritizing the district’s goals. Their efforts established the priorities for the 2021 bond election which, when approved by voters in an election, would fund much-needed construction projects. With three previously unsuccessful bond elections, both the district and the committee understood the challenge they were faced with. The district’s academic performance goals served as the rallying cry to gain support for the passage of the $178,000,000 bond in 2021, the largest bond in the history of PBTISD. The propositions in this bond included two elementary schools, the first phase of the high school replacement (CTE and Science Wing), and a district support center.
To implement the long-range plan, the phasing of the approved bond projects was evaluated. For the elementary schools to have a site to be built on and operate efficiently, the district’s support center would need to be constructed first, followed by the two elementary schools. The service center would allow for a centralized maintenance and food service facility that would support all district facilities, including the new elementary schools.
For the design of the elementary schools, VLK introduced PBT ISD to VLK | LAUNCH®, a design charrette that involved community members, educators, and students in the planning process. This approach ensured that the designs reflected a wide range of stakeholders’ educational expectations and goals. The resulting facilities offer flexible learning spaces, integration of state-of-the-art technology, environments that stimulate academic growth, and the restoration of a historical archway that was implemented into the vestibule of one of the new elementary schools to honor the community’s value of PBT’s history. VLK’s collaborative design process demonstrated the power of transparent communication and stakeholder involvement in achieving shared goals – and served as a testament for change in PBTISD.
IN A VERY BRIEF PERIOD, PBTISD EXPERIENCED A NOTABLE IMPROVEMENT IN ITS REPUTATION, CREDIBILITY, AND COMMUNITY TRUST.
Expanding the leadership team increased support for its educators while the district also improved its financial standings. With a healthy general fund, the district simultaneously addressed several other priority projects alongside ongoing bond projects. Since 2021, these accomplishments have included the replacement of a deteriorating Eagle Stadium, athletic facility improvements, repurposing the previous Pecos Kindergarten into a district day care, and the construction of 64 staff housing units.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS DEMONSTRATE THE DISTRICT’S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ITS STUDENTS, STAFF, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY.
With renewed trust, the district and its community gathered again at the end of 2022 to strategize for a second bond. The committee deliberated over project priorities and contemplated the amount of bond funding they believed the community would support. Ultimately, they voted on the remaining projects outlined in the long-range plan, at a value of $446,650,000. All propositions passed in the May 2023 election, including the remaining phases of the Pecos High School (PHS), comprehensive additions and renovations to Crockett Middle School, the replacement of PHS Natatorium, comprehensive additions and renovations to the transportation facility, and a professional development and parent support center. Every district facility is projected to be completed by the end of 2028.
The transformation of PBTISD demonstrates the potential of visionary planning, innovative design, and community engagement. Involving the community, educators, and students in the design of the facilities not only ensured that the design aligned with its goals and expectations, it provided everyone a voice on how education looks for PBTISD, now and in the future. It provided the community with a sense of ownership and a sense of accomplishment of what the community could achieve as they united for the commitment to the success of their students. As the district continues to reach for its goals, it has become very clear that in Pecos, the future is bright for PBTISD students, staff, and community – guided by partnership, innovation and unwavering commitment to the success of generations to come.
