West ISD 2017 Strategic Planning Team Work

Building Futures... Together!

Back in the fall of 2017, the West Independent School District (ISD) Board of Trustees and Leadership Team held several planning sessions and discussions about the future of the school district. With the completion of the new West Middle and High School campus, the district's attention turned to other areas of need. Topics included student and community growth projections, facility needs, teaching and learning initiatives, technology implementation, staffing, state and federal accountability mandates, and budget needs. Through this work, goals and actions statements were crafted, but West ISD believed the vision needed to be shared and discussed with a much larger cross section of the community of West.

On October 2, 2017, letters were mailed to over 100 staff, parents, community members, and business leaders calling for their membership on the new West ISD Strategic Planning Team (SPT). Membership was even open on a volunteer basis for any interested stakeholders. The goal of this team was to help draft an action plan with recommendations to our Board for consideration and approval in several areas across West ISD. From discussing how we envisioned educating our youngest learners at Grades Prekindergarten through Grade 5 to completing the vision of our new Athletic Complex to discussing options for tuition-free dual credit at West High School to brainstorming ways to improve existing or infuse new teaching and learning strategies, West ISD desired to discuss any and all ways to help insure West ISD was the school district of choice for all current and new families.

The district believed the strategic planning process was the way to go. Strategic Planning helped (1). Maintain focus on our vision, mission, and goals, (2). Ensure effective use of resources, (3). Provide additional opportunities to interact with and educate our many stakeholders, (4). Use a formal process for developing and analyzing a plan (including fiscal impacts), (5). Provide support for West ISD as an integral part of the community, (6). Document district improvements, and (7). Provide the “why” about every piece of the plan.

The West ISD Strategic Planning Team met four times during the months of October and November 2017. The breakout session topics included:

Tuition-Free Dual Credit Program Partnerships
T-STEM Designation and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Strand Planning
New Athletic Complex Planning
New West Elementary School Planning
21st Century Teaching and Learning Initiatives
Staff Compensation, Retention, and Wellness Planning
School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Initiatives

Via a SPT vote, 35 action statements were approved for review by the West ISD Board of Trustees. On Wednesday, November 8, 2017, SPT spokespersons, Jason Janek and Rose Kolar, presented all 35 action statements to the Board during the November Regular Called Meeting. The presentation included the following:

During the Special Called Board Meeting on Wednesday, November 15, 2017, the Board approved all 35 action statements for implementation as soon as possible. During this Special Called Board Meeting, the Board also approved three SPT Resolution Action Items. The three items were: (1). Interlocal Purchasing Method for the procurement of the new track at West Middle/High School; (2). Interlocal Purchasing Method for the procurement of the new turf (inside the track) at West Middle/High School; and (3). Request for Proposal (RFP) Purchasing Method for the work at the 1967 Gymnasium to turn the facility into the new West ISD Maintenance and Operations site; including parking, driveways, bay doors, and concrete.

During the Wednesday, December 13, 2017, Regular Board Meeting, the Board approved the relocation of Trojan Field to the West Middle/High School campus and a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Construction of a new West Elementary School; specifically seeking possible architects to assist with the design and construction of the new campus. Over the course of several Board Meetings, the Board met with a Bond Attorney, heard several Bond timelines and proposals, approved an architect, and approved a final Bond Election plan. The wheels were now in motion for a possible new West Elementary School in West.

For additional information, please contact David Truitt, Superintendent, at (254) 981-2000.