Two outstanding Central Texas school boards have been chosen by a select Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) committee as Regional School Boards of the Year. As regional honorees, Waco ISD’s (WISD) Board of Trustees, representing districts with more than 1,000 students, and Aquilla ISD’s (AISD) Board of Trustees, representing districts with less than 1,000 students, will compete for the Texas Honor School Boards coordinated by TASA. This award marks the second time the AISD Board has been chosen, first earning the distinguished title in 2014.
“We commend each of these school boards for their outstanding leadership and dedication to improving the quality of education in their school districts,” said Dr. Jerry Maze, executive director of Education Service Center (ESC) Region 12. “We are proud to recognize them for their strong commitment to their schools, students and community.”
Waco ISD Board of Trustees oversees education for nearly 15,000 students on 26 campuses in Central Texas. Enrollment is 87 percent economically disadvantaged, and 77 percent of students are considered “at-risk.” The district now provides 15 elementaries and 11 secondary campuses, three of which are magnet schools. In addition, the district utilizes a “school within a school” concept for its Gifted and Talented academy, an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and a Career & Technology Academy.
Trustees recently guided the district through a Tax Ratification Election (TRE) that provided more than $8 million to support early childhood and literacy instruction and to help enrollment in a dual credit program increase by 140 percent. Recent STAAR results show significant improvement in the district’s reading and math scores for 5th- and 8th-grade students.
Additional support for student success includes partnerships with institutions of higher education and community agencies. Nine campuses serve as professional development sites through partnerships with Tarleton State and Baylor University. The Homeless Outreach Department partners with the Baylor School of Social Work, using graduate interns to help district seniors coded as “Unaccompanied.” Statewide, fewer than 25 percent of seniors who are homeless graduate from high school, but last year Waco ISD celebrated the graduation of 100 percent of its homeless seniors.
To prepare students for college and/or a career, the district offers the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy (GWAMA) and the Greater Waco Advanced Healthcare Academy (GWAHCA). The academies provide high school juniors and seniors with advanced technical training that provides a direct path to employment within the community. GWAMA and GWAHCA are successful thanks to unique partnerships with area manufacturing and healthcare providers. The academies, dual credit options and the addition of career and technology classes at the high school enable students to find a career or university path that is right for them.
One strength of the WISD Board is its commitment to efficiently represent its constituencies and stand as a community-based Board. Through a number of formal feedback channels, the Board and administration are able to respond to urgent needs and the changing educational environments. One example is the creation of Community Transformation Committee meetings. The Board invited parents, partners, community members and other stakeholders to a series of public meetings to provide valuable input to help under-performing campuses.
“Waco ISD’s progress over the past several years is really a direct result of the support we have received from the community,” said Board President Pat Atkins. “Initiatives like Prosper Waco and the investment made by the voters in last year’s tax ratification election have allowed the school Board, and the district as a whole, to better serve the needs of our students.”
Aquilla ISD Board of Trustees oversees education at Aquilla ISD, a rural school district in north central Texas with nearly 300 students in its K-12 setting. The Board encourages effective instructional management within the school by maintaining an active role in the curriculum and instructional philosophies at the district.
The Board and school staff are proud of their efforts to consistently pursue exemplary ratings from yearly STAAR testing through an increased focus on academics, via a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Most recently, the district received 100 percent passing rates in end of course algebra, biology and U.S. History. As part of this focus, the district is expanding their fine arts, music and art programs and continuing to acquire current technology for use in classrooms. The Board and leadership are assuring that students are prepared for a higher education.
With the approval of a bond, the Board has overseen improvements for existing classrooms and the construction of a new gym, library and a weight room. The district has also completed phase three of the Agriculture/CATE Complex. Students are experiencing state-of-the-art facilities in buildings that are new or less than 10 years old.
Most recently, the district acquired the oldest remaining building in Aquilla. It was originally the Aquilla Methodist Church, dating back to the late 1800s. With the Board’s approval, the building was restored and will open this fall as the Aquilla Alumni Center, which will house special functions, alumni events and monthly Board meetings. It will also house the office of the Aquilla Scholarship Foundation, which has raised over $100,000 in scholarships students over the past 10 years. This restored historical building will also house the newly formed Aquilla Education Foundation Office.
The Board focuses on the provision of financial support for the school system through conservative expenditures that do not compromise the quality of education services. The trustees have sought alternative funding through grant opportunities to support student achievement, especially for at-risk or struggling students. Aquilla ISD earned the 2015 Silver Leadership Circle Award from the Texas Comptroller’s office for the Board’s commitment to financial transparency.
All the Board’s decisions come back to the mission of Aquilla ISD which is to “educate each individual within his/her capabilities in a manner that will develop each person to his/her maximum potential and will thus prepare students for the successful pursuit of their life's goals.” The trustees believe that a commitment to excellence and a focus on incorporating cutting-edge instructional methods into the classroom will allow a small school like Aquilla to continue to thrive.
"I've never met a more dedicated group of individuals that have been selected to serve our district and our community,” Dr. David Edison, superintendent for AISD said. “They understand the role of a Board, do everything first class and simply love kids. A community could not ask for a better school Board. Great things are happening at Aquilla ISD, and I'm honored and privileged to be part of that excitement.”
As ESC Region 12 School Boards of the Year, the Waco and Aquilla ISD Board of Trustees will be in the running to be named a 2016 Texas Honor Board, one of which is chosen as Texas’ Outstanding School Board. All regional and honor Boards will be recognized at the TASA/TASB
About Texas School Board of the Year
The Texas Association of School Administrators created the School Board Awards Program in 1971 to recognize school Boards whose dedication and ethical service have made a positive impact on the school children of Texas. The awards program allows each regional selection committee to submit up to two nominations for state competition, one from districts with less than 1,000 students and one from districts with more than 1,000 students. The criteria emphasize evidence of support for educational performance improvement and school transformation initiatives.