Socorro ISD trustees and district leaders spent the May 19 workshop laying out how the board and superintendent should divide responsibilities and how that split should guide future decisions.

Consultant Ben Mackey told trustees “this team is the most important relationship that is in this district,” and urged them to set clear goals, “establish limitations” and monitor progress so staff can align to district priorities. He described governance as setting vision and values and monitoring outcomes and described the superintendent’s role as managing day‑to‑day execution.

The discussion repeatedly returned to a simple framing: the board should “tell them where to go” and “tell them not to violate things that y’all hold dear.” Trustee Dusty Woodcraft and others said distinguishing lanes reduces confusion for staff, families and the public. Interim Superintendent Daniel Vasquez and consultants urged clarity because vague goals “open yourself up for shortcuts” and make it hard to measure progress.

Trustees worked in small groups to list board behaviors that most closely correlate with improved student outcomes: establishing student‑outcome goals, active collaboration/listening tours, frequent progress measurement, and civility in deliberation. Mackey said the district should focus governance around three functions — set goals, establish guardrails/constraints, and regularly monitor progress — and then let the superintendent align operations to those priorities.

Board members asked for practical next steps. Mackey and district staff said the board will hold a formal priority‑setting workshop in June to draft up to five district goals and accompanying “constraints” (also called guardrails or values) that the superintendent will implement and administrators will use to align budgets and programs. Trustees were reminded those choices will affect how the superintendent and staff allocate time and resources.

Trustees, the interim superintendent and outside consultants emphasized a team approach: the board owns vision and oversight; the superintendent and administration own implementation and reporting. The workshop closed with trustees asked to bring their proposed top five goals and top five values to the June session so the board can begin converting discussion into monitorable priorities.