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Southwest ISD trustees review new dashboard tracking staffing, attendance, academics and budget
Summary
Trustees heard a "team of eight" training and a new district dashboard showing progress on four strategic priorities, including teacher retention, academic performance, fiscal health and campus safety; officials flagged attendance trends, special education costs and uncertainty over state funding.
The Southwest ISD Board of Trustees reviewed a newly developed performance dashboard and discussed districtwide goals for retaining staff, improving academics, optimizing finances and fostering safe schools.
Superintendent Doctor Ball said the dashboard will let trustees “monitor this and the board could have access to see this on a regular basis,” and staff proposed using the tool at brown-bag briefings next school year.
The presentation grouped work under four strategic priorities: retain, recruit and develop talent; improve academic performance; optimize fiscal and operational effectiveness; and foster a safe and supportive environment. Senior staff walked trustees through measures, recent checkpoints and campus-level results.
Human-resources staff reported the employee survey had 88% participation this year, above the district’s target. On teacher retention, staff said 84.6% of teachers with fewer than four years’ experience indicated they expected to return next year, though final contract decisions are not due until July.
Attendance—tied to state funding—remains a focus. Officials described a district goal of raising average daily attendance from 91.8% to 92.8% and said the district was at roughly 91.9% through the fifth six-week reporting period. Staff noted a dip in January tied to external events and said they were pursuing TEA waivers for specific days at affected campuses.
On academics, curriculum leaders outlined steps taken this year: new benchmark and checkpoint assessments, purchases of state-approved instructional materials for reading and math, expanded training and a plan to increase fidelity across campuses. Staff said map- and benchmark-based growth data will be available in early June for an end-of-year report.
District finance staff told trustees the district is working to reduce a projected general-fund shortfall. Officials described a multi-step savings plan and said the district is targeting roughly $4 million in savings but currently faces an estimated $12 million deficit that they hope to reduce toward $7–9 million through savings, budget adjustments and any additional state revenue.
Finance staff also warned trustees that pending state proposals could change the district’s fiscal picture: one recently circulated Senate proposal would direct most new money to classroom teacher raises and leave out other employee groups and some benefit costs, a change staff said could increase local budget pressure even if teachers receive raises.
Trustees asked for campus-level dashboards, for the district to share employee-survey results by campus, and for more detailed revenue projections once the Legislature finalizes its decisions. Staff said they will return with updated data at upcoming meetings and intend to use the dashboard for regular reporting to the board.
