Erika Oster promoted to principal of Lakeview Elementary School
Erika Oster, current assistant principal at Lakeview Elementary School, will lead the campus next year following trustee approval of her promotion to principal.
Mrs. Oster has spent her 21-year educational career in Northwest ISD. She has worked at Lakeview since 2014, first as a gifted and talented specialist before becoming the school’s assistant principal.
Prior to her time at Lakeview, she taught fifth grade at Justin Elementary School, seventh grade at Gene Pike Middle School, fourth and sixth grades and Hatfield Intermediate School (now Hatfield Elementary School) and third grade at Roanoke Elementary School. She has a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Texas at Arlington and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Texas Woman’s University.
Mrs. Oster has been instrumental during her time in Northwest ISD as an instructional leader and curriculum writer. She replaces Mary Seltzer, Ed.D., who was named Northwest ISD’s director of student services. Mrs. Oster will begin her transition into her new role this spring.
Chrisa Oakley named principal of Cox Elementary School
Trustees approved Chrisa Oakley, current assistant principal of Justin Elementary School, as the next principal of Cox Elementary School.
Mrs. Oakley joined Northwest ISD in 2008 as a first-grade teacher at Roanoke Elementary School and later served as a campus instructional teacher and an intervention specialist. She has helped lead Justin Elementary School as an assistant principal since 2017.
Mrs. Oakley has a master’s of education degree in administration from Lamar University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Lubbock Christian University. She has specializations and certifications in reading recovery and coaching for results, as well as the National Institution of School Leadership.
She replaces Kim Becan, who was most recently named Northwest ISD’s executive director of elementary education. Mrs. Oakley will begin her transition into her new role this spring.
Thomas Osborne Jr. named executive director of construction
Thomas Osborne Jr., an architecture and construction professional with more than 25 years of experience, will oversee building projects across Northwest ISD as the district’s new executive director of construction.
Mr. Osborne brings his more than 25 years of architecture and construction experience from Texas-based firms Architects Phelps/Wood, SHW Group and Perkins+Will, where he has a history of managing school district projects through all phases of design and construction. Most recently, he has led YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas as the vice president of properties and facilities.
Mr. Osborne graduated from Kansas State University with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. He is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the American Institute of Architects. He brings a variety of experience managing design and construction for public schools as well as projects in the health care, commercial and corporate fields. Additionally, he has a passion for youth leadership and has volunteered with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership organization.
As Northwest ISD’s executive director of construction, he will oversee construction of all Northwest ISD buildings, projects and energy management efforts. He will begin his new role this spring.
Construction update provides info on facilities
The district’s facilities team provided trustees with an update on planned and under-construction projects, which are in the works across the district.
Highlights included:
- Planning continuing for Northwest High School’s CTE improvements, performing arts center renovations, and a new fieldhouse for softball and baseball
- Planning continuing for an expansion at Eaton High School, which will add a new three-story classroom wing to the campus, similar to existing classroom space
- Middle school fine arts additions and/or renovations taking place across the district
- Work progressing on the new Byron Nelson High School academic wing and athletic fieldhouse as well as the additions at Sendera Ranch and Thompson elementary schools
Scope of district aquatic center approved
Construction of the voter-approved district aquatic center can begin in the coming months following trustee approval of the scope of the facility.
The facility, approved by voters through the 2017 bond package, will feature three primary areas for student-athletes: a competition pool, a practice pool and an athletic training area. Through a partnership with Texas Health Resources, areas for sports medicine and rehabilitation are also planned for the facility.
By partnering with THR, district health sciences students will earn real-world training through clinical rotations in the sports medicine and rehabilitation area of the facility. Additionally, the district is looking at programming for the facility potentially including water safety and swim lessons for younger students; training and rehab opportunities for students, staff and community members; and other community opportunities.
Staff medical premiums approved
Trustees approved changes to the district’s 2019-20 medical premiums, which will leave the most popular plan at the same rate while increasing premiums for other plans.
Because 2018-19 medical plan expenditures (costs for health-related matters covered by these plans) are outpacing their revenues (funding for the plans), the premiums for most plans will increase to offset the total costs. All plans except for the employee-only coverage level of the high deductible plan (the plan used by the majority of staff members) will see increased premiums.
The district will email additional information about next year’s medical plans to staff soon. Later this spring, the district will consider options for the 2019-20 employee compensation plan. Employee compensation includes salary and district contributions toward insurance.
Aramark contract renewed, meal prices set
Aramark will continue as Northwest ISD’s food service provider following trustee approval of its contract renewal. Additionally, trustees approved meal prices for 2019-20.
While breakfast costs will remain consistent with 2018-19, lunch costs for students not on a reduced-cost meal plan will increase by 5 cents per meal. At the elementary level, the cost will go from $2.30 to $2.35, and the secondary-level cost will go from $2.65 to $2.70. Adult meal costs will increase by a similar amount.
In other action, the board
- Recognized Carrie Sharer, winner of the most recent GEM Award for customer service.
- Recognized Adams Middle School students who graduated from the Fort Worth Police Department Teen Academy.
- Recognized Community Life Church for serving as an Adopt-A-School partner of Justin Elementary School.
