West Texas school districts save PHS camping trip. Art Del Barrio’s article 📰
Pasadena High School Environmental Science students recently traveled to Big Bend National Park in west Texas for a camping trip sponsored by the Environmental Youth Coalition. Environmental Science teacher Ricky Ferguson was driving the bus carrying twelve students on Interstate 10 between Ozona and Fort Stockton when a fan belt ruptured.
Stranded on the side of the road In the middle deep west Texas, sponsors sprung into action and notified Pasadena High School which in turn notified the PISD Transportation Department.
What happened next should make you appreciate west Texas hospitality.
In less than an hour, students were picked up and the bus was towed to a shop in Fort Stockton for repairs.
How did this happen if they were so far away?
The Crockett County Consolidated Common School District , Fort Stockton and Fort Stockton ISD communities stepped in to help save the day.
Police Officers and EMS from Fort Stockton contacted the Crockett County CCSD Transportation department. Without hesitation they provided a school bus to pick up all the kids. They also contacted Fort Stockton ISD who let Pasadena High School borrow a school bus for the weekend while the Pasadena ISD bus was repaired.
“They went above and beyond to ensure that we could continue with our plans and show our students the beauty of Big Bend National Park and the strength of a community,” said Pasadena High School Assistant Principal Steven Friend.
Friend added that without the collaborative effort from the west Texas partners in education, the trip would have been a total flop.
“We wanted to take a moment to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the amazing people at Crockett County CCSD, Fort Stockton ISD and the first responders,” added Friend.
A heartfelt exchange of messages from both Pasadena High School and Fort Stockton ISD ended with a message from Fort Stockton ISD Superintendent Dr. Gabriel Zamora, CSM, “We all chose a profession where it is our duty to serve. We are proud to have played a role in helping you and your students.”
A trip into the wilderness ended with many more valuable lessons than intended., including: be helpful, be kind, be humble, and be selfless. You never know when you may be in need of assistance.