The Quitman ISD School Board lost Dr. Jeremy Smith but gained Shauna Attaway on Monday night.

Smith, who had served as the QISD school board president for several years, did not seek reelection, and Attaway was the lone candidate for the post.

“It’s time for me to move on,” he said. “I want you guys to stay strong and carry on what we have, because we’ve worked really hard to get where we’re at, and we have a wonderful district – wonderful teachers, wonderful children…. I’m excited to see what’s going to happen.”

Following a time of appreciation for Smith, Raymond Peek was nominated for board president and elected unanimously. Royce Patterson, whose board membership was also renewed Monday night, is the board’s new vice president, and Vanessa Simpkins is the new secretary.

Michael Hipps was also sworn into the board again.

The board unanimously approved hiring Jason Goodson, a Mineola resident, as an assistant principal for the 2024-25 school year. Assistant Junior High Principal Ashley Day spoke highly of the candidate, saying that the search committee recommended him on the basis of “his rapport with the committee itself… interact(ion) with teachers, with students,” and the fact that Goodson is “just a true champion for students, for kids.”

The board was also graced by pledges from high school students Alexus Richey, QISD valedictorian, and Kennedi Elmore, salutatorian. QISD High School Principal Jeffery Tittle spoke well of the students, saying that despite their competitive positions at the top of their class, the girls are best friends and will be attending college at Texas A&M together in the fall. 

The board unanimously approved several purchases to be made over the summer, including a new cooler with a thick, insulated roof, which will be built on the back of the high school; 120 digital copies of a new science curriculum for the high school, which Tittle believes will boost “math and literacy” for biology, chemistry, and physics; and concrete located at various places around the campuses and Bud Moody stadium. Superintendent Chris Mason was also approved to take action on making these purchases, so that they can all be finished before volleyball season begins.

Mason presented a proposal to repaint the QISD gym from floor to ceiling, including the bleachers, handrails, walls and ceiling. Under the proposal, which was passed unanimously, the ceiling will be painted black, the walls will be gray on bottom and blue on top, and some of the lights near the bleachers will be replaced with LED lights to make the gym feel bigger. While the board questioned the black ceiling at first, they approved it in the end, saying that it “(would) look better” and not show dirt as easily as white paint.

Carr Construction received May’s Top Dog award for “going above and beyond” to serve the Quitman ISD community.

Mason mentioned that they expect to have the results of the STAAR test by June 11.