January 11 Northwest ISD Board Notes
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The Northwest Independent School District Board of Trustees met Monday, Jan. 11, during a regularly-scheduled meeting. This is a recap of the major actions and reports from the meeting. To see every item discussed or voted on, click here.
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District leaders presented a plan to trustees to reduce the 2021-2022 budget by $17.5 million in an effort to make up a $9 million revenue shortfall from the state and rising costs due to student growth.
Cost-saving initiatives under consideration include changes in operational departments, program reductions, changes to employee health insurance, and reducing campus and department budgets across the district. The plan would increase student to teacher staffing ratios in first to fourth grade to 24:1 and increase secondary student to teacher staffing ratios to 25 to 30:1. The staffing ratios for other grade levels would remain the same — 20:1 in prekindergarten classes, 22:1 in kindergarten classes and 25:1 in fifth grade classes. By increasing the staffing ratios, it gives the district an opportunity to be more efficient, but it doesn't mean that all classes will have those exact ratios.
Despite the addition of more than 3,000 students, the district will keep about $500 less per student in 2021-2022 school year than from 2018-2019.
To see the entire Budget Workshop report, click here.
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Trustees approve partnership with Tarrant County College for Early College High School
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The board voted unanimously to grant permission for the district to apply for an Early College High School designation from the Texas Education Agency, the next step to transition Steele Accelerated High School to an Early College High School beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year.
Through a partnership with Tarrant County College, students in the Early College High School would have the chance to pursue — at no cost to the student — both a high school diploma and an associate degree or two years of college credit toward a bachelor's degree.
The program must be approved by the Texas Education Agency, but last night's vote was the next step in the process.
Steele Accelerated High School currently serves 232 students in a small learning community where some students are focused on achieving an associate's degree, their core 42 college credit hours or participate in a small high school setting. The campus also houses the Collegiate Academy, Cosmetology Academy, Rise and Horizons programs and non-academy students.
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Campuses honor trustees for School Board Recognition Month
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Trustees were honored as part of School Board Recognition Month with student artwork, inventions and messages from campuses within the Northwest High School feeder pattern. Gifts included items created by students, including clay sculptures, ceramic coasters, 3D printed cell phone holders, artwork and more.
In addition, each trustee's favorite childhood book will be donated in their honor to an elementary school in the Northwest High School feeder pattern. The books will be dedicated to the trustee who loved it as a child, honoring their legacy by helping develop a love of reading among NISD students.
Campuses feeding into the district's two other comprehensive high schools will have the opportunity to celebrate trustees in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.
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Board hears report from Long Range Planning Committee
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The committee is slated to meet again on Jan. 14. Click here to view presentations and notes from LRPC meetings.
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Reports, discussions addressed by board
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District leadership presented the following subjects to the board as a report or discussion:
- Texas Association of School Boards Local Policy updates.
- October and November financial reports.
To view reports or discussion presentations from board meetings, click here.
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In other action, the board
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- Held a public hearing regarding the Texas Academic Performance Report.
- Approved amendments to the 2020-2021 operating budget.
- Reviewed mid-year progress on the District Improvement Plan.
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Trustees recognized Bill Barnes, who received the E.L. Gaylean Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Texas Retired Teachers Association. Mr. Barnes was an educator and principal for more than 37 years. In 2008, he founded the Northwest Retired School Employees Association.
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The Northwest ISD Education Foundation recognized Jeanna Ratnayake, Tim Tran and Chef Anthony Moore from Aramark for their long-standing partnership with the foundation and the district. Aramark is an annual NEF donor, giving more than $9,000 of in-kind services each year, and providing financial support for all NEF events.
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The district recognized Lisa and Mark Morton with Haslet Community Outreach for their invaluable support to a variety of district COVID-19 efforts, including the Snack Pack program that delivered more than 1,200 snack packs to student's porches each week during the period of Remote Learning last spring and throughout the summer months.
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The district also recognized Liz Hubbard with Feeding Wise Kids in absence. Feeding Wise Kids donated thousands of prepared snack packs during the course of Remote Learning last spring and throughout the summer. They continue to serve to this day.
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Northwest Independent School District
Phone: 817-215-0000 • Fax: 817-215-0170
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