West ISD 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 our 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 from Mr.  Truitt, Superintendent, were mailed to 97 district 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 wanted to discuss any and all ways we could truly make West ISD the school district of choice for current and new families.  

Mr. Truitt 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:

• Monday, October 9, 2017: Strategic Planning Team Meeting #1, 6:30 PM in the West Middle/High School Band Hall
• Monday, October 16, 2017: Strategic Planning Team Meeting #2, 6:30 PM in the West Middle/High School Auditorium (Breakout Sessions: Tuition-Free Dual Credit [Grades 9-12], T-STEM Designation and Project Lead the Way Strands [Grade K-12], and Athletic Complex)
  • Monday, October 23, 2017: Tours of the 1923 and 1957 Buildings, Trojan Gym, and West ISD Athletic Complex, 6:30 PM, begin at the 1923 Building
  • Thursday, October 26, 2017: Tour of West Elementary School, 6:30 PM
• Monday, October 30, 2017: Strategic Planning Team Meeting #3, 6:30 PM in the West Middle/High School Auditorium (Breakout Sessions: Teaching and Learning Initiatives for Regular and Special Education and West Elementary School)
  • Thursday, November 2, 2017: Crafting of Resolution Work Session, 6:30 PM at the West ISD Administration Building
• Monday, November 6, 2017: Strategic Planning Team Meeting #4, 6:30 PM in the West Middle/High School Auditorium (Breakout Sessions: Staff Compensation, Retention, and Wellness and School Health Advisory Council [SHAC] Initiatives and Strategic Planning Team Resolution Vote on 35 Action Statements)

• Wednesday, November 8, 2017: Regular Board of Trustees Meeting - Presentation of the Strategic Planning Team Report and Resolution Action Statements, 6:30 PM at the West ISD Administration Building
  • Volunteer SPT Spokespersons: Jason Janek and Rose Kolar presented all 35 Action Statements. 

• Tuesday, November 14, 2017: Teen School Board Meeting - Presentation of the Strategic Planning Team Report and Resolution Action Statements, 12:30 PM in Room 321 at West Middle/High School
• Wednesday, November 15, 2017: Special Called Board of Trustees Meeting - Possible Approval of the Strategic Planning Team Report and Resolution Action Statements, 6:30 PM at the West ISD Administration Building

  • Update: The Board unanimously approved the plan and were very appreciative of the SPT’s work. 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; Listed work included Parking, Driveways, Bay Doors, and Concrete.

• Wednesday, December 13, 2017: Regular Board of Trustees Meeting - Possible Approval of 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, 6:30 PM at the West ISD Administration Building
  • Update: The Board unanimously approved the plan to relocate Trojan Field to the West Middle/High School campus and a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for work at West Elementary School; specifically seeking possible architects to assist with the design and construction of a new West Elementary School. 
• Tuesday, January 23, 2018: Team of Eight Training with Dan Wegmiller with Specialized Public Finance, Inc.
• Wednesday, February 7, 2018: Special Called Board of Trustees Meeting - Presented Bond Awareness News and Updates on the new West Elementary School Project 
  • The Board reviewed the results from the Community Bond Awareness Survey. 

• Monday, February 12, 2018: Special Called Board of Trustees Meeting - Possible Approval of an Architect for the new West Elementary School Project
  • Update: The Board unanimously approved PBK as the architect for the new West Elementary School Project.
• Tuesday, February 13, 2018: District Advisory Team Meeting, 4:15 PM at the West ISD Administration Building - Presentation on the SPT Action Statement Progression Table, District News, and the Proposed Bond Election for a new West Elementary School
• Tuesday, February 13, 2018: SPT Update Meeting, 6:30 PM at the West ISD Administration Building - Presentation on the SPT Action Statement Progression Table, District News, and the Proposed Bond Election for a new West Elementary School
• Wednesday, February 14, 2018: Regular Board of Trustees Meeting - Public Hearing for a Proposed Bond Election for May 2018 for the new West Elementary School Project and the Possible Approval to Call a Bond Election for May 2018 for a new West Elementary School.
  • Update: The Board unanimously approved to a Call a Bond Election for May 2018.
• Thursday, March 1, 2018: Special Called Board of Trustees Meeting - Possible approval to select a firm to provide services for the West ISD Athletic Turf, Track, and Relocation of Trojan Field Construction Project
  • Update: The Board unanimously approved Paragon to complete the West ISD Athletic Turf, Track, and Relocation of Trojan Field Construction Project.