September 27 Northwest ISD Board Notes |
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The Northwest Independent School District Board of Trustees met Monday, September 27, 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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Board accepts Dr. Warren’s intent to retire |
Board members accepted a retirement letter from Dr. Ryder Warren, superintendent of schools, which will see the district’s leader end his career with Northwest ISD at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.
Dr. Warren joined Northwest ISD in 2016 after serving as superintendent of Midland ISD, Marble Falls ISD, Crane ISD and Thornale ISD. Under his watch, the district has championed initiatives that empower students to achieve personal success. During his tenure, the district has focused on key academic areas such as literacy as well as college, career, military and life readiness.
With Dr. Warren’s retirement effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, trustees will soon begin a search for the next superintendent of Northwest ISD. A tentative timeline includes selecting a search firm at an upcoming board meeting before interviewing applicants in the second semester. A lone finalist will be named in the spring, with a state-mandated 21-day waiting period to follow before that person is officially hired.
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Purchase contract approved for site of new Hatfield Elementary |
Trustees approved the district’s plan to enter into a contract to purchase land in the Trails of Elizabeth Creek development. This land will be used for the Hatfield Elementary School replacement campus.
Specifically, the site is located on roughly 15 acres of land south of State Highway 114 and to the west of Chaplin Drive. With the approval, work will soon begin on the new Hatfield Elementary School, slated to open at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
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Student councils provide reports to board |
Student council leaders Madeleine Haak; Eaton High School, Ryder Fine; Byron Nelson High School, Lisabriela Calleros; Eaton High School and Parker Younger, Steele Accelerated High School
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Student council leaders from each of Northwest ISD’s four high schools – Byron Nelson, Eaton, Northwest and Steele – provided a joint report to board members about needs for their campus and the district as a whole.
Through their presentation, council leaders focused on three key points of a unified vision: increasing communication between high schools, raising mental health awareness and increasing school spirit after the COVID pandemic subsides.
Several significant STUCO-led events are also on the horizon, with a major focus on mental health awareness and support. Councils will continue to work toward their goals at a district planning meeting on November 3.
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District Improvement Plan presented, discussed |
Trustees heard from district leadership about the District Improvement Plan for the current school year, an annual step to ensure the district and its schools continuously improve to meet the needs of students.
The District Improvement Plan largely mirrors the Superintendent’s Performance Objectives, with the two working hand in hand to drive district and school leadership decisions and actions. The plan addresses objectives based on three district goals:
- Students will achieve success through meaningful learning experiences, innovative pathways and personalized opportunities.
- Northwest ISD will recruit, value and retain an exceptional staff to create a rewarding learning environment.
- Northwest ISD will create and foster an environment where all stakeholders are engaged in the transformational work of the NISD family.
To read the full proposed District Improvement Plan, click here.
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2021-2022 Superintendent’s Performance Objectives and Measures approved |
Following discussion at their prior meeting, trustees approved performance objectives, targets and measures as proposed by Dr. Warren for the 2021-2022 school year.
This year, performance objectives cover seven topics: literacy; academic progress; college, career, military and life readiness; equity and diversity; faculty and staff support; financial reform; and safety and security.
Each objective has associated measures to monitor performances and gauge success. To read the full objectives, click here.
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Reports, discussions addressed by board |
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District leadership presented the following to the board as a report or discussion item:
- Professional Learning District Effectiveness Report
- August Financial Report
- Safety and Wellness Report
To view all reports or discussion presentations from board meetings, click here.
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In other action, the board |
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- Approved Joeris General Contractors to renovate and provide parking lot improvements at the Northwest ISD West Operations Facility, which serves as home to a large portion of the district bus fleet.
- Approved members for the 2021-2022 School Health Advisory Committee.
- Approved class-size waivers for certain grade levels following recommendations from the District Education Improvement Council and district administration. This will allow some elementary classrooms to maintain a higher student-to-teacher ratio instead of splitting the class.
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Northwest Independent School District
Phone: 817-215-0000 • Fax: 817-215-0170
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