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Huntsville ISD trustees adopt shorter vision, updated mission and five goals for 2025–26
Summary
The Huntsville Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved a revised vision statement, a shorter mission statement and updated measurable goals for 2025–26 after a staff-led workshop and board discussion.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas — The Huntsville Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously adopted revised vision and mission statements and a new set of district goals for the 2025–26 school year following a staff recommendation and a board workshop.
District Superintendent Dr. Shepherd recommended the changes after a team-of-eight workshop facilitated by consultant Dr. Danny LaVette and asked the board to approve “our newly revised vision and mission statements” and to eliminate a separate list of belief statements that had been posted on the district website.
The new official vision statement formalizes language that staff and the community have used informally since 2018: building champions every day. The recommended mission, presented by Dr. Shepherd, focuses the district’s purpose and reads in board materials as a concise statement that ties to the vision: Huntsville ISD is building champions by partnering with our community for student success.
Board members and staff said the shorter, more memorable vision and mission are intended to replace an older, more expansive set of belief statements and to make expectations clearer for families and employees. Dr. Shepherd said the district would rely on a “clear vision, mission, and goals” rather than a long laundry list of beliefs.
The board also approved a set of five measurable goals with revised objectives: academic performance (unchanged because it is driven by House Bill 3 accountability targets), school safety (with updated language about the district emergency operations plan and legal mandates), community engagement (formerly “involvement,” with streamlined objectives and a broader list of programs), stewardship of resources (including long-range facilities planning tied to the 2021 bond), and a new, simplified staff goal — “the district will recruit and retain exceptional staff” — that adds recruitment language and consolidates objectives for training and retention.
Trustee comments emphasized buy-in across programs. Trustee JT (surname not provided in the transcript) urged that “we've got to build champions in every grama,” using the board’s language to press staff and colleagues to lift performance across athletics, special education, career and technical education and other programs. Other trustees said the workshop process was productive and praised the shorter wording for clarity. The board moved and seconded the motion (motion made by Miss Swatcher; second by Miss Hendrick) and approved the recommendation by voice/raise of hands with no opposition; one trustee (Miss Owens) was absent for travel.
The revisions will appear in board materials and on district communications. Administration’s recommendation also asked the board to remove the separate belief statements from published materials and to adopt the condensed vision, mission and the five goals to guide district planning and communications.
Board action: motion to adopt the 2025–26 vision, mission and goals (motion by Miss Swatcher; second by Miss Hendrick); outcome: passed by board vote (no opposing votes recorded; one member absent).
