The latest accountability scores from the Texas Education Agency are out, and the Dumas Independent School District (DISD) showed improvement over last year with the overall district still receiving a B, but up four points from an 81 to an 85.

Three individual DISD schools received the coveted A score: Dumas North Elementary with a 90, Dumas High School with a 95, and North Plains Opportunity Center also with a 95.  Dumas North received an A last year, while the other two had B’s.

Dumas South Elementary dropped a bit from an A last year to a B at 86.

Last year’s two problem schools, Cactus Elementary, which scored an F, and Dumas Jr. High, which ended up with a D, showed growth over the past year, increasing their scores by 10 points to a D for Cactus and a C for Dumas Jr. High.  DISD Superintendent Caynan Strickland said Monday evening during the regular meeting of the DISD Board of Trustees that he was happy with the improvement so far, but work to continue the progress would continue.

The unhappy note was Dumas Intermediate School, which after years of receiving B’s, fell to a C largely because of a drop in the category “closing the gaps” (which measures how much gaps in performance among different ethnic and other groups in a school are reduced) from a B last year to an F at 55.

The score puts the school in the bottom 5 percent of Texas schools for that category and it will automatically receive assistance from the state in crafting and implementing a recovery plan.  Strickland said Monday that meetings were already taking place to begin the work of bringing the score back up.

The scores cover the 2025-2026 academic year and are based on student performance on State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) tests taken in the spring, among other things.

On the topic of the school board, officials of Region 16 Education Service Center recently announced that they had named the DISD Board of Trustees the 2026 School Board of the Year for the region, which includes the Panhandle.

“The leadership team at Dumas ISD has truly earned the distinction of 2026 School Board of the Year,” said Tanya Larkin, Ed.D, Region 16 Executive Director in a press release announcing the award.  “With forward-thinking guidance and an unwavering devotion to high standards, this board serves as a model of excellence for our region.”

Each year, education service centers across the state nominate a board for their region.  The honor is then presented by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).  Winners at the regional level are eligible to be “named one of five Texas Honor Boards, one of which is chosen as Texas’ Outstanding School Board.”

TASA created the awards program in 1971 to “recognize those school boards that have demonstrated outstanding dedication and rendered ethical service to the children of Texas.”

Monty Hysinger, who recently retired as DISD Superintendent, has worked closely with the board members and reacted to the award:  “We are incredibly proud to see our school board recognized as "Board of the Year" by Region 16.  It is a well-deserved honor for a group of folks who truly pour their hearts into this district.”

Asked what he thought the board’s biggest achievements were, he responded,  “If I had to point out their biggest achievements, it all comes back to their "kids first" mentality.  Every decision they make is rooted in what is best for our students.  Beyond that, they have shown fantastic stewardship of district funds and facilities.  They make sure we are taking good care of our resources and giving our students the best possible environments to learn in.

They are also incredibly supportive of our administration and teaching staff.  It's clear this board genuinely loves our community and the school district.  They are always willing to listen, roll up their sleeves, and put forth their best efforts.  What really sets them apart is their commitment to continuous learning; they always strive to build upon their knowledge, both as individual trustees and as a unified Board.

We are mighty proud of the work they do, and this recognition is a testament to their dedication to Dumas ISD.”

Making up the current DISD Board of Trustees are Chris Johnson, president; Jill Williams, vice president; Alfredo Medrano Jr., secretary; as well as members Jay Davis, Joe Rivera, Brandon Cox, and Brent Clark.