Attendance boundaries for 2019-20 discussed
Trustees heard from Tim McClure, assistant superintendent for facilities, regarding the recommended 2019-20 attendance boundary changes, as proposed by the district’s attendance boundary committee.
As a growing district, Northwest ISD regularly adjusts attendance boundaries before upcoming school years to create boundaries for new schools and manage population growth in existing school zones. Lance Thompson Elementary School is slated to open in August, necessitating the creation of its attendance zone, and other school attendance zones are proposed for adjustments to meet population growth patterns.
This committee – composed of Northwest ISD families and staff from every district school, with additional members for each school proposed for boundary changes – recommended the proposals following several meetings and feedback from the community. That feedback, solicited through the Thoughtexchange online discussion process and Facebook Live presentation, provided the committee with guidance for what the community views as the most important factors in rezoning.
To see the proposed 2019-20 attendance boundaries, click here. A recent Facebook Live video chat discussing the changes can be seen here. Trustees will vote on 2019-20 attendance zones at an upcoming board meeting.
Budget process for 2019-20 update provided
District financial staff updated trustees on continued work regarding the 2019-20 budget, including proposed staffing increases to meet the needs of an expected increase of 5 percent to the district’s enrollment.
Northwest ISD’s overall enrollment is expected to grow by an additional 1,208 students next school year (to 25,324 students), and the district will also open a new campus, Lance Thompson Elementary. Funding for new staff positions to keep class sizes consistent and provide resources is expected to be generated partially through the enrollment growth. The district is currently looking at staffing requests to determine staffing levels for the 2019-20 school year. Examples of some of those requests include more special education staff and student service facilitators.
Drainage work at OLC approved following funding agreement
Trustees approved Northstar Builders as the contractor to work on drainage improvements at the district’s Outdoor Learning Center. The approval comes following a funding agreement with Stantec, architect and designer of the OLC, for the improvements.
The work will remedy flooding issues, improve road maintenance and help provide students with meaningful learning experiences when they visit the facility.
In other action, the board
- Recognized the district’s 2019-20 budget cover art winner, Autumn Kizakivch of Northwest High School.
- Recognized Jason Sanders, coordinator of instructional technology, for being named the Technology Administrator of the Year by TCEA.
- Recognized Bell’s Book Nest, an Adopt-A-School partner with Prairie View Elementary School.
- Recognized Sunbelt Rentals, an Adopt-A-School partner with Eaton High School.
- Recognized DFW Marriott Hotel at Champions Circle, an Adopt-A-School partner with Hatfield Elementary School.
- Accepted a $5,000 donation from BNSF to the district’s CTE programs for an engineering design and development capstone reveal event on May 3.
- Accepted a $4,000 donation from the Northwest ISD Education Foundation to the Culinary Arts Academy for financial support to students completing entry-level culinary certificates, alleviating tuition costs with partner El Centro College.
- Watched a video by the district’s CTE ambassadors about the unique CTE opportunities available in Northwest ISD.
- Approved the district’s 2018-22 strategic framework – including beliefs, vision, mission and strategic goals. The board annually reviews the framework during its lifespan.
- Approved an easement with CoServ for electrical utilities to provide power to the school.
- Heard from the communications department for its annual effectiveness report.
