The Montgomery Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved calling Proposition A, also known as a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) for Nov. 5, 2024. State law requires that school districts seek voter approval to raise their tax rate above a prescribed amount. Proposition A will allow MISD voters to approve or disapprove the tax rate adopted by the Board of Trustees.
The school district’s total tax rate consists of two parts: Maintenance & Operation (M&O) and Interest & Sinking (I&S). The M&O rate covers general expenses like salaries and instructional costs, while the I&S rate is used to pay off debt for district facilities.
As MISD faces a $4.3 million deficit for the 24-25 school year, Prop A stands to increase the M&O rate by $.0425 which stands to generate over $5.5 million dollars of new revenues to MISD this fiscal year.
The new Montgomery ISD tax rates for the 2024-25 fiscal year are .7169 (M&O) and .3743 (I&S) for a total of $1.0912 per $100 property valuation. Prior to the 24-25 tax rate adoption, Montgomery ISD has decreased its tax rate every year since 2019, including a $.1802 decrease for 2023.
“MISD is proud that we have decreased the tax rate every year since 2019, even after the passing of the 2022 Bond election. This includes last year’s historic tax decrease of over 18 cents last year and homeowners saw their homestead exemptions increase to $100,000,” Chief Financial Officer Ben Davidson said.
“During the 2022 bond campaign, MISD let voters know that a small tax increase may be necessary to support the measure,” Board Vice President Laurie Turner said. “However, due to increased property values, the I&S rate has not increased from the passing of the bond.”
Unlike a bond proposition where funds can only be used for facility construction, renovations, and other capital improvement projects, Prop A would generate revenues for the Maintenance and Operations budget. MISD has never called for a VATRE (Prop A).
“I want to thank our trustees for the considerable time and effort they’ve committed to arrive at this point – adopting a tax rate that allows our stakeholders to have a voice in the way the school district is funded,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “Prop A provides an opportunity for our community to exercise local control over our funding, something that this district has never done before.”
Prior to calling for Prop A, MISD conducted an efficiency audit that compares revenues and expenditures to 10 peer districts. The findings of the audit provided evidence that MISD receives $1,517 less per student than peer districts and MISD expenditures per student are $898 less than the peer districts.
“The audit findings reinforced what we already knew at MISD. We are already as lean as possible. We get less, and we spend less than other districts,” Board Secretary Eddie Winn said.
The State of Texas has not increased the basic allotment, the amount of money per student, for school districts since 2019, even with inflation at record highs. This puts constraints on the district’s buying power to continue providing a safe, supportive, and secure environment in Montgomery ISD.
“To be clear, our funding challenges are not limited to the lack of additional funding from the state,” Ruffin said. “Add to that inflation, rising special education costs, and unfunded mandates like HB3 that require districts to have an armed officer on all campuses. Providing officers on all campuses is something we will always commit to, but we received just $240,000 in our safety and security allotment last year, while our MISD Police Department payroll was over a million dollars. We have worked diligently to minimize our deficit without negatively impacting our student programs or our people.”
Of the estimated $5.5 million increase in revenues, 15% comes in the form of additional state aid. Prop A requires the state of Texas to also increase the amount of funding provided to MISD.
MISD has committed to focusing on these three funding priorities for Prop A:
Recruiting & Retaining High Quality Staff
Maintaining Student Programs
Safety & Security
“We are in the people business. Our people are what make MISD the Premier district that it is, and the incredible people within MISD have made an incredible impact on our community over the years,” Ruffin said. “Successful communities go hand in hand with successful school districts.”
Should Prop A pass, the estimated impact would be $8.85 per month for a home valued at $350,000, the average market value for a home in Montgomery ISD. Taxpayers that are over 65 with a homestead exemption have their school taxes frozen and would not see an increase in taxes due to Prop A.
“I am proud of the dedication and effort of this board,” Board President Dr. Matt Fuller said. “We are well-informed about the impact of Prop A and the operational costs facing Montgomery ISD. Dr. Ruffin and his team have provided us with a comprehensive overview, presenting all possible scenarios. It’s clear that MISD is not alone in facing financial challenges; many districts across Texas are in similar situations. In 2024, operating costs such as salaries, supplies, insurance, and fuel continue to rise, while state funding for school operations has not kept up—meaning we’re dealing with 2024 expenses but receiving 2019 funding.”
“We truly believe our stakeholders recognize, love, and value the impact Montgomery ISD has on our students and community,” Fuller said. “Our vote tonight to call for Prop A provides those stakeholders a chance to voice in November whether to increase the local revenues for MISD.”
More information about the Prop A projects, estimated impact, and voting locations will be available on the district website at go.misd.org/PropA.
To register to vote or to find out your registration status, call the Montgomery County Elections Department at 936-539-7843, or visit their website at https://elections.mctx.org/BBM.asp. The last day to register to vote in the November election is Monday, October 7.
Early voting begins Oct. 21 and ends Nov. 1, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
One of About 600 Schools and Districts in US and Canada to Receive Honor
Montgomery ISD’s Lincoln Elementary School was recently recognized by Solution Tree for its sustained success in raising student achievement. Lincoln’s successful implementation of the Professional Learning Communities at Work® concept was a contributing factor in the improved achievement of its students.
PLCs are schools where educators recognize the key to improved learning for students is on-going, job-embedded learning for the adults who serve those students. The three big ideas of a PLC call upon educators to:
Focus on learning
Build a collaborative culture
Create a results orientation
“Our teachers and support staff at Lincoln are incredibly honored by this recognition,” Lincoln Elementary Principal Kerri Ashlock said. “We are committed to working together and using a data-driven approach for educating each of our Lincoln students. Utilizing the PLC concept is a key component of our success.”
Schools are recognized based on criteria including demonstration of a commitment to PLC concepts, implementation of these concepts for at least three years, and clear evidence of improved student learning over that period. Once measurable results can be seen, the school must explain its practices, structures, and culture and submit its application for consideration by the PLC Review Committee.
“We are thrilled for Principal Ashlock and her team at Lincoln Elementary,” MISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “They have demonstrated a sustained commitment to working together to help our students achieve at high levels. They have invested in the culture of the school to reflect their commitment. We applaud their efforts and congratulate them for achieving this milestone at their campus.”
Recognized model PLC schools are listed on allthingsplc.info, where they share implementation strategies, structures, and performance with other educators interested in improving their schools. Tools for team collaboration, articles and research about PLCs, blog posts, and other related resources are also available on the site.
At a board workshop this week, MISD trustees reviewed changes to the student handbook for the 2024-2025 school year. As Montgomery ISD students return to school on Thursday, August 15, 2024, there will be a new policy regarding cell phone use on campuses.
“There is ample research available providing valuable insight into the challenges that cell phone use presents to students, teachers, and administrators. After spending the spring listening to teachers, parents, and students, it is clear that we are facing many of those same challenges in Montgomery ISD. Cell phones create a distraction that hinders student learning and academic performance, negatively impacts student discipline, leads to instances of academic dishonesty, and unfortunately provides opportunities for cyber bullying,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “It is our responsibility to ensure that our learning environments provide students and teachers with the best possible opportunity to succeed. Our classroom teachers need help competing with the distractions posed by cell phones, and we believe this policy is a step in the right direction toward reclaiming the learning environment.”
Students in Montgomery ISD will be allowed to have cell phones on campus. However, they are expected to be “away for the day” in backpacks, lockers, or vehicles and turned off to prevent distractions. The cell phone policy update applies to all classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeterias, and any other school property during the school day.
Teachers and school staff will monitor and enforce the policy. Students found in violation of the policy will face disciplinary consequences including phone confiscation, detention, and parental notification.
“As a board, we are confident the new guidelines will limit distractions and disruptions to the learning process, which are often caused by cell phone usage,” Montgomery ISD Board President Dr. Matt Fuller said. “This new expectation empowers our staff to focus on providing engaging instruction and provides academic and social benefits to our students.”
Parents are encouraged to contact the school office in case of emergencies or urgent matters. The school will promptly relay urgent messages to students and ensure they can contact their parent/guardian if needed.
“We understand that in today’s society, our ability to stay connected and communicate with our children provides an incredible sense of comfort for parents,” Ruffin said. “Our goal is to ensure effective lines of communication are available for parents and they feel more confident in the safety, security, and overall well-being of their child.”
This updated cell phone policy aligns with MISD’s 1:1 use of technology in the learning environment. In MISD, every student has access to a district-issued device; they can engage with technology and blended learning without needing their own device.
Parents will receive information about the policy change via email and are encouraged to talk with their children about the new guidelines before the start of school.
Trustees also heard updates to the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). DAEP is a program adopted by local policy for students in elementary through high school who violate the Student Code of Conduct and are removed from their regular classes and placed in a DAEP.
“DAEP was identified last spring as an area where we need to align our practices to better support our students and staff and ultimately promote an effective discipline management program,” Ruffin said. “Ensuring disciplinary consistency across Montgomery ISD schools is critical. This update will clarify the parameters of a DAEP placement and expectations for students and staff members.”
During a Montgomery Independent School District school board meeting, trustees adopted a $93 million budget for the 2024-2025 school year. MISD leadership anticipates a $4.3 million budget shortfall, which will be paid from the district’s reserves.
“Amidst this budget deficit, we have remained committed to protecting the people, programs, and services that make up the premier educational experience for our students. But at some point, something has to give,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “MISD has been negatively impacted by factors outside our control such as inflation, decreases in federal funding through Medicaid reimbursements, a stagnant level of funding provided by the State, and recapture payments we have been forced to send back to the State.”
The basic allotment, the amount of money the State provides per student, has not increased since 2019, while inflation has risen 22% during that same time period.
“We have met with our local representatives and legislators about the critical juncture ahead for public education funding heading into the next legislative session,” Ruffin said. “I am thankful that all remain committed to collaboratively working with us to address some of these critical challenges.”
Earlier this month, the district announced Limited Open Enrollment (LOE) for the 2024-25 school year at select campuses, to generate enrollment-based revenue from the State. Applications are being considered on a first-come, first-served basis to fill a very limited number of available spaces. Students admitted through LOE are responsible for their own transportation to and from school in Montgomery ISD and must provide documentation of past school attendance and discipline records. “There is only so much of our funding situation that we can control,” Chief Financial Officer Ben Davidson said. “The major driver of our state aid is student enrollment.”
“We knew the budget development process was going to be especially challenging for 2024-2025,” Davidson said. “We have been transparent with our staff, asking every campus and every department to carefully evaluate their spending as we prepared for the new school year. We have worked to renegotiate contracts in our favor and create operational efficiencies across the board. To reduce the budget allotted for substitutes, central office administrators with teaching certifications will be required to serve as substitute teachers once a month. Dr. Ruffin is committed to ensuring we are all in this together.”
“Because of our past fiscal responsibility, we have been able to absorb these shortfalls without allowing it to take away from the educational experience for our students, ultimately avoiding reductions in force, cutting important programs, or limiting our course offerings,” Ruffin said. “However, if something does not change, there are extremely difficult decisions that we will be forced to explore and consider.”
Montgomery ISD’s 2024-2025 budget includes a district compensation plan that provides raises for all employees. Individuals on the teacher hiring schedule will receive a $650 raise, and all other employees will receive a 1% salary increase from the midpoint of their position pay grade.
“I acknowledge that this compensation increase is not as significant as our employees were hoping,” Ruffin said. “I do hope it is understood that in the face of a deficit budget, our board made the decision to continue to support our people. I remain committed to doing all that is possible to provide the resources necessary to ensure an excellent work experience for our staff that results in a premier education for our students.”
CFO Ben Davidson pointed to several factors officials had to consider while drafting next year’s budget, including:
An existing $2.1 million structural deficit from the 2022-2023 school year
Anticipated increases in expenditures due to the opening of Creekside Elementary School
Increases to special education populations requiring additional staff
A $1.3 million reduction in revenue due to the statewide reduction in Medicaid reimbursements
“Adopting a deficit budget reinforces our commitment to transparency. It also ensures that from day 1 of our fiscal year we are extremely cognizant and vigilant about our operating expenses and budgetary decisions,” Davidson said. “This budget has been a team effort, and we appreciate the input from our employees and conscientious budget planning from our district leaders.”
Trustees hear updates on Bond 2022 projects, strategic plan refresh
At the June school board meeting, trustees approved the selection of Dr. Troy Collavo as the new principal at Montgomery High School.
Dr. Collavo has spent the last 10 years in Cy-Fair ISD, most recently serving as the associate principal at Cypress Springs High School for the last 2 years. He has also served as an assistant principal, teacher, and coach within Cy-Fair and Tomball ISD. Dr. Collavo received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at El Paso, where he was also an all-conference linebacker for the UTEP Miners football team. In 2021, he received his Doctorate in K-12 Professional Leadership from the University of Houston.
Dr. Collavo and his wife Haley have two children, Stella, age 7, and Owen, age 3; they are all excited to join the Montgomery ISD community.
Dr. Troy Collavo, Montgomery High School Principal
Dr. Collavo’s leadership style is centered on collaboration and data-driven decision making, He believes in working closely with the administrative team, teachers, students, and parents to foster a safe and inspiring learning environment. His dedication to student success is evident in his use of performance data to enhance instruction. He is a strong advocate for educators, ensuring they have the necessary support to provide an excellent school experience for all students.
“Montgomery High School will continue to be a community known for success in and out of the classroom, collaboration and friendship, and understanding that the future is the brightest for those who prepare,” Dr. Collavo said. “It is and will continue to be a place where students and staff are proud to be a Montgomery Bear.”
“Dr. Collavo is a servant leader who is humble, relatable, and personable which helps him build strong relationships with staff and students,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “At each phase of the interview process, it was clear that his commitment to listening to and supporting staff, ability to connect with students, willingness to be actively involved and engaged in the community, and his leadership experience make Dr. Collavo a great fit to lead MHS.”
The process to select the new leader for MHS included a series of interviews with district leaders and teachers from the school. Parents and staff members were also invited to participate in the search process by sharing their input via a principal’s characteristics survey.
Trustees also heard an update about the district’s strategic plan refresh.
In 2021, Montgomery ISD adopted the Pathway to Premier Strategic Plan. With the input of district stakeholders, the plan was a three-year adoption of performance objectives, KPIs, strategies and initiatives that supported the five goals of the district, in the areas of Academics, School Safety, Finance & Operations, Human Capital, and Communications.
At the beginning of 2024, MISD set out to refresh the strategic plan. Task Force Committees were again formed around each of the district’s five goals. Staff members, community members and parents volunteered to serve, and members of the original 2021 Task Forces were invited to return. Over the course of the spring semester, the task forces met several times to re-examine district functions and update district performance objectives, key performance indicators, initiatives, and strategies to ensure they are timely and relevant to the students and families MISD serves.
“With an emphasis on transparency and collaboration, the task forces evaluated what has been accomplished and what opportunities need to be explored as we move forward,” Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Innovation, Dr. Amy Busby said. “We are grateful for the thorough, thoughtful work of the task force members and excited to share the refreshed plan with our trustees and the MISD community.”
MISD will launch the new plan at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
Chief Facilities & Operations Officer Brad Mansfield shared an update about projects funded by the district’s 2022 bond.
Creekside Elementary, the district’s seventh PK-5 campus, and the Phase 2 addition at Lake Creek High School are both nearing completion, on-target to open for the 2024-2025 school year.
“We are very excited to share these bond-funded projects that our community made possible,” Mansfield said. “Students attending our new Creekside Elementary are going to love the safe, innovative learning environment that will be ready for them when we start school in August, and the expansion at Lake Creek is going to make a tremendous positive impact on our students and staff at that campus. We can’t wait for our students and families to see these new spaces.”
New energy efficient lighting and upgraded public announcement systems are being installed at Madeley Ranch, Stewart Creek, and Lone Star Elementary schools this summer. This is the first phase of renovations at these three campuses, with more planned for the summer of 2025. At Montgomery High School, first floor restrooms are being renovated along with several other areas throughout the school. Updated LED lighting is also being installed at MHS. At Keenan Elementary, new flooring is being installed in the hallways and throughout the classroom areas.
The board also approved the purchase of entry resistant security film to be installed at all campuses including the Aquatic Center. The security film is required by the Texas Education Agency and provides a layer of protection to building doors and windows for a prolonged period of time. It also protects students and staff inside the building from flying debris during severe weather events.
For the first time in school history, quadruplets have crossed the stage one after the other, flipped their tassels and said goodbye to Lake Creek High School. These Wells quads are four young ladies, each with their own plans and path ahead, and are the daughters of Keenan Elementary PE teacher, Coach Bobbi Jo Wells.
As mom reflected with her girls and was asked what the most surprising thing was about raising four babies at once, Coach Wells shared the same feelings that most moms are probably saying this week: the time just never slowed down.
“Every stage you think it’s never going to get here, and today we’re here!” said Coach Wells. “Yesterday we were dropping them off in kindergarten and we never thought that would happen. Then we started high school and now we’re here. I just want time to slow down.”
Left to right after Kinder graduation: McKinley, Kennedy, Madison and Taylor, Big Sister Reagan in back with mom and dad.Left to right: Madison, McKinley, Taylor and Kennedy… and yes, those are all president names.
The girls were named after presidents when mom was expecting. Pregnant with five babies, with a toddler in the home already by the name of Reagan, Coach Wells’ sister made the suggestion that they unite all the children with a name theme. At the time, mom was hosting a blog (perfectly titled Save the Wells) and took name suggestions from those following along to help them finalize their choices.
“There wasn’t a theme when we named Reagan,” said Wells, “but going with presidents really did make sense. Other suggestions on our blog were silly, like eeny, meany, miney, mo,” she laughed..
Coach Wells carried all five babies to 26 weeks, with their one son Carter passing the day they were born. Mom is most often seen wearing a dainty necklace with a C, keeping their brother with them always. The four sisters stayed in the hospital for two months before Madi and McKinley came home. A few weeks later, Bobbi Jo and Robby were able to bring Taylor home and Kennedy was the last to leave the hospital. Overall, the girls were in the hospital for an average of 77 days.
The family attends Oak Ridge Baptist Church and though they say it might seem like a hike, it’s their home and it’s their family. “Robby and I grew up going there and when we had the babies, they were our life source,” said Coach Wells. “They supported us and volunteered to help us with laundry, meals, holding and feeding babies. Our living room was grand central station and was always full of volunteers. They have loved us and our girls!”
Here they are at graduation, each girl with unique plans for the future. Madi and McKinley will head to Abilene Christian University in the fall, as the only two girls headed to the same place. These two have been roommates since they were the first to come home from the hospital, and even though mom tried to convince them not to be roommates in college, they finally all agreed that was silly. They get along well and they know it works. And it may be even easier in college, as it will only be two girls sharing a bathroom instead of four.
Madison plans to study Nutrition at ACU, with hopes of being a registered dietician. She has been a four-year member of the Lions basketball program and is also a member of National Honor Society at LCHS. She says her favorite Montgomery ISD teacher has been Mrs. Trero, sixth grade math teacher at Oak Hills JH. “It was my first year of junior high and she always made her classroom so welcoming. I always had someone to talk to and even now when I see her, I just feel like I’m still part of her class!”
McKinley plans to major in Speech Pathology at ACU and would like to be a speech pathologist in schools. She was a member of FCCLA and CCMA at Lake Creek HS and also completed the Ready, Set, Teach program where she most enjoyed getting to work with specialized learning students and found a passion for working with kids. She shared about two teachers that have made an impact during her time in MISD. Ms. McCurdy, her 6th grade science teacher and Coach Hochhauser, her algebra teacher at LCHS. “Ms. McCurdy loved us as her own kids and we loved hanging out in her classroom after school each day. She truly loved us like one of her own kids. Coach Hochhauser taught us during covid times when everyone had a mask on. He was literally always making us laugh and still to this day, when we go hang in his classroom, we never stop smiling. He’s just a great person!”
Taylor is a horse rider and plans to stay home a little longer, attending Lone Star College to get her basics out of the way while she continues her equine training. She has been involved in FFA through school and plans to study for a career in equine rehab and physical therapy and has a real passion for horses. She shared that her most influential teacher was Mrs. Robinson, Ag teacher at Lake Creek. “She was always pushing me out of my comfort zone and volun-telling me to do things. And everything she challenged me to do has made me better as a person. She pushed me to be an officer and that has made such a difference in the opportunities and memories I have made in the last year. She is such a great role model and I’m thankful for her!”
Kennedy will attend Mary Hardin Baylor in the fall, following in big sister Reagan’s footsteps. She will study Elementary Education, but says that teaching PE is not in her plans. She has been involved as an officer in FCCLA at Lake Creek and has also completed MISD’s Ready, Set, Teach program. She credits Ms. Alvarez as her most influential teacher. “I had Ms. Alvarez freshman through senior year. She was always so kind and gentle and understanding, and she’s just so gracious with the kids in her care. She’s just a great person and having her is what got me interested in going into education.”
While interviewing the girls and Coach Wells, they were asked as a group who was “the most’ in different categories. Answers were given with lots of smiles, so much laughter, and all in agreement on the responses.
Most mischievous: Taylor and mom added, “She’s just a little braver than the others.”
Who studies the most? Madi (the one in NHS)
Who studies the least? Taylor, to which mom added, “The horses take up a lot of time!”
Most athletic: Madi “She pursues it a little harder,” said mom. “They all played softball growing up, but after junior high they have each developed their own interests. Our rule was that they have to be involved in something and each girl found their own thing. Madi just loves the competition of sports the most.”.
Most competitive: Big sister Reagan
Who likes roller coasters most: Kennedy
Who is most likely to give you the most grandkids? Kennedy
Most creative: McKinley and Kennedy (both planning to work in schools)
Most likely to graduate early: Mom quickly answered with, “Hopefully everybody!” Madi is going in with 40 hours of dual credit and McKinley and Kennedy have 30. Taylor will work hard and is ready to get to the classes she enjoys.
Most like mom: Kennedy
Most like dad: “Madi, because dad is hilarious.” He has to be to have five daughters, right? “Even the dog is a girl!”
Who is closest to big sister Reagan: Nobody is “closer” but Reagan and Madi have the same sense of humor.
When asked how it felt growing up as quadruplets, one answer was quickly given that all four agreed with. “You always had a buddy and were never alone!” The girls were paired in homerooms in kindergarten and then in first and second grade the pairs were flipped to allow each girl to be with a different sister before switch classes began in third grade. Throughout high school, the girls shared that they’ve each had at least one class together and though they have different friend groups through their activities, there are a few friends they share since their elementary school days at Lone Star ES, when mom was their PE Coach.
Following the pattern of sharing as Legacy Seniors, the girls were asked what their favorite memory was of their time in MISD. All in agreement, playing in mom’s gym after school at Lone Star ES was a favorite. Playing kick ball and wall ball with other teachers’ kids after school, hiding in the supply closet and watching movies on the projector were some highlights of being on their mom’s campus. Also mentioned were field days and the entire year of fifth grade, being the last class to attend Montgomery ISD’s 5th grade campus.
The girls were on Coach Rader’s jump rope team, so they enjoyed having him in fifth grade and being his helpers in the gym. “They often say that fifth grade was their favorite,” said Coach Wells. “And then of course, they like to add that Coach Rader was their favorite PE teacher!”
New Principal announced for Stewart Creek Elementary
Two Montgomery ISD trustees were sworn into office during the board’s May 2024 regular monthly meeting. Montgomery County Judge Wayne Mack administered the oath of office to new trustees Paul E. Cameron IV and Lizzy Ivey, who were elected on May 4, 2024.
Cameron succeeds Trey Kirby in Position 4. Kirby has served on the board since 2015.
“I am honored to have been elected to serve as a member of the Montgomery ISD Board of Trustees,” Paul Cameron said. “I know my education, leadership experience and integrity will lend itself well to the current board and help build a brighter future for our children, teachers and Montgomery Independent School District. I am excited for this opportunity.”
Ivey succeeds Linda Porten in Position 5. Porten has served on the board since 2018.
“I am committed to serving our community with integrity, transparency, and dedication,” Ivey said. “I am eager to work with fellow board members. I intend to seek out and be guided by the input of our educators, parents and community members as we work through important issues that face the district.”
After the administration of the oaths of office, the trustees voted to elect the board leadership positions for the 2024-25 school year.Trustees selected Dr. Matt Fuller to serve as Board President. Laurie Turner will serve as Board Vice President and Eddie Winn will serve as Board Secretary.
“It is an honor to be selected to lead the Board,” Matt Fuller said. “As Board President, I look forward to working alongside my fellow trustees and Dr. Ruffin and continuing our commitment to investing in our people and offering a premier learning experience for all students in Montgomery ISD.”
Fuller succeeds Laurie Turner as Board President, who spent the past year as the Board’s leading officer.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation for Mrs. Turner’s service as Board President,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “Her dedication to our school district is unparalleled. As a former educator, she has a specific understanding of what it takes to work on a campus and support students in the classroom. She has a heart for teachers and staff, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside her in her capacity as a board trustee.”
“I also want to express my gratitude to Trey Kirby and Linda Porten for their service as MISD Trustees.” Ruffin said. “As two of our longest-tenured trustees, they have been instrumental in the success of our school district. They have been extremely generous with their time and talent and have worked tirelessly to make Montgomery ISD better for our students and staff members. We will honor all the work they have done and will carry on the standard of excellence they have set, always focused on making decisions to best serve the kids and families in Montgomery ISD.”
Dr. Ruffin and Trustee Laurie Turner with outgoing Trustee Linda PortenDr. Ruffin and Trustee Laurie Turner with outgoing Trustee Trey Kirby
Also during the meeting, trustees approved the recommendation of Tiffany Mathews as the new principal at Stewart Creek Elementary School.
“Mrs. Mathews brings to Stewart Creek almost two decades of experience as an educator at all levels K-12,” Ruffin said. We are confident she will continue the great efforts in place at the campus and use her years of experience to positively impact and support our Stewart Creek students, staff, and families. We are excited to welcome her to Montgomery ISD.”
In addition to serving as a classroom teacher in Alvin ISD, Mathews has an extensive background as an administrator, serving in leadership roles in Alvin, Conroe, Willis and Magnolia ISDs.
“Throughout my career, I have always prioritized a strong campus culture and building relationships with students and staff,” Mathews said. “Though I am new to Montgomery, I know it is a very special school district, and that Stewart Creek Elementary is an amazing school community that I cannot wait to be part of. I am so excited about the work we will do together.”
Mathews succeeds Michele Salter as Stewart Creek principal. Salter is retiring at the end of this school year, after 28-years in public education, 25 of those as an employee of Montgomery ISD.
“Mrs. Mathews is an expert in using student performance data to drive instruction and achievement. She is especially skilled in creating school cultures where data is used as a tool to help both teachers and students succeed,” Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, Carrie Fitzpatrick said. “We are confident that Mrs. Mathews’ experience and leadership style are going to be a great fit for the Stewart Creek community.”
The trustees also recognized Lake Creek High School senior Julie Moons for earning the title of UIL 5A State Champion in diving. Moons is a 4-Time All American and holds the school record with a score of 502.60. Moons is the first female diver to place first at district, regional and state competitions in the same year and is a member of the National Dive Team.
Additionally, trustees recognized the Montgomery High School MCJROTC Female Raiders Team. This group of dedicated young women placed first in each of their events at the recent MCJROTC Raiders National Competition.
The students sitting at the top of the class at both Montgomery and Lake Creek HS took a moment to reflect on their high school years and the time spent in Montgomery ISD. Of the four, two will be Aggies and two will be Longhorns, staying close to home, feeling prepared for what’s to come.
Brayden Adams, Lake Creek HS Valedictorian
Brayden Adams will be attending Texas A&M in the fall, with plans to major in Engineering. He has attended school in Montgomery ISD since seventh grade and says his experience in high school has been nothing short of great, full of great friends and wonderful memories. He is a member of Mu Alpha Theta, the Lake Creek robotics team and competes each year in Academic UIL. Competing in robotics to represent Lake Creek HS, Brayden and his team earned a trip to the Worlds Competition his junior year.
Brayden has actually attended Lake Creek HS for five years. When he transferred to MISD in seventh grade, Brayden was a year ahead in Math, so throughout his eighth-grade year, he took the bus to Lake Creek each morning for first period, and then would be bused to Oak Hills to continue his school day.
Brayden has always had an interest in technology and seeks to pursue a career in mechatronics or AI creation. A&M was his top choice and also the only school he applied to, knowing that the desire to be an Aggie was deep-rooted.
“My cousin went to A&M and had a great experience there,” Brayden said. “He shared his experience and was able to easily get a job right out of college, so knowing I wanted to do engineering, I just knew it would be a great place for me.”
When reflecting on his time in Montgomery ISD, Brayden shared that his experience in building relationships with his teachers made his success possible. He is thankful specifically for Mr. Moons, his robotics teacher and UIL coach, and also Mrs. Boyles, who he enjoyed so much that he took her for two different chemistry classes, claiming that she’s just an awesome teacher. From his experience coming to Lake Creek in eighth grade, he also shared a thank you to Mrs. Whitten, for helping him in that year with making connections and feeling like he belonged, even if it was just for one period a day.
Fun fact: Brayden also shared a shout out to his PreK teacher in Magnolia ISD, Mrs. Matthews. She taught him and also the Street twins, Carson and Sydney, who are also graduating in the Top 10 at Lake Creek, #3 and #5 respectively.
Brayden is the youngest of two kids, with a sister who graduated from Lake Creek in 2023 and is in flight school at OU. His father works in technology and Brayden works summers with him at Reynolds and Reynolds. His mother is a lifelong educator, teaching in The Woodlands, and when asked who has had the most influence in his education and success, he didn’t hesitate with his answer.
“My mom. She’s really a big reason why I’m here,” Brayden said. “When I was younger, she always played these educational videos, and she always pushed me to work hard and make good grades. She was my greatest encouragement.”
Brooklynn Lowe, Montgomery HS Valedictorian
Brooklynn Lowe will be attending The University of Texas, majoring in Biochemistry, with hopes of going to medical school and working in pediatrics. She is a Legacy Senior, attending Montgomery ISD schools since Kindergarten, including both Stewart Creek and Lone Star Elementary Schools. Brooklynn was a three-year Lady Bears basketball player, has competed in UIL Academics, is a member of Mu Alpha Theta and Club Interact, and is the president of National Honor Society at MHS. In addition to her school commitments, Brooklynn is a member of National Charity League and Young Life, and also works two jobs outside of school, all while maintaining the title of first in class since her junior year.
Brooklynn’s academic experience in high school has been a competitive one, in which she competed with twin brothers Lucas and Lane Hyman, great friends of hers, through each class and course selection made. She says it’s been worth all the work, challenging herself and having friends to encourage the effort.
“We were so competitive and I’m so glad that I had these two guys to push me and challenge me,” Brooklynn said. “I have all these experiences and skills, and memories with them, along with all these college credit hours. There is a way to balance it, but pushing myself was definitely worth it.”
When asked to reflect on her favorite teacher or educator, Brooklynn began to rattle off names of teachers that have made an impact, coming to the conclusion that there may just be too many to name. She shared that her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Morris, made her fall in love with reading. Also mentioned was Ms. Van Haverbeke, who was awesome and made them all pandas, with a panda chant she remembers doing every morning. She also remembers a class pet snake, which Brooklynn referred to as “awesome”. Coach Mitchell and Ms. Riney were also mentioned as making a huge impact and full praises were shared for Mrs. Sullivan.
“She’s just the best,” Brooklynn said of Mrs. Sullivan. “I’ve had her three times for AP Lang, AP Seminar and AP Research, and she’s also my NHS mentor. We spend a lot of time together and I’m so thankful for all she’s done for me!”
Brooklynn’s favorite high school memory includes traveling to Washington D.C. with NHS for the Lead Conference. She not only learned a lot, but had so much fun and decided that hanging out with teachers outside of school is pretty cool. She has also enjoyed the school’s homecoming traditions and shared that many memories of high school fall around that week of fun.
“There’s no regrets,” Brooklynn said. “The hard work was worth it and I’m thankful I found a way to balance the work and the fun by about my junior year. I worked so hard at the beginning and had to give things up along the way to get here, but it’s all been worth it!”
Grace Nichols, Lake Creek Salutatorian
Grace Nichols will be attending The University of Texas in the fall, with plans to major in Biochemistry. Grace is a Legacy Senior, having attended Montgomery ISD schools since Kindergarten. Grace earned the Salutatorian spot her senior year, demonstrating her desire to never quit working towards her goals. Grace loves science and wants to pursue a career in medical research.
In her years at Lake Creek, Grace has been in both the marching band playing flute and the jazz band playing saxophone. She hopes to continue playing the flute at The University of Texas. For the previous two years, Grace has been the drum major of Lake Creek’s Big Blue Band and also competes in UIL Academics. She is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Spanish Honor Society.
Grace chose to attend UT for the Tier 1 research program, and though she applied to smaller schools, after visiting them, she quickly realized that she was attracted to the schools that would offer more student activities and a larger student body.
“I’m not completely sure what I want to be when I finish school, but I love research and science,” Grace said. “I’d really like to go into a career developing new medicines and UT is the school that has a really great program for what I want to do.”
Grace enjoys hiking and is always reading. She says she is always at the library and is even considering applying to work there. As she reflects over the last four years, almost all her memories circle around her experience in band. Her best memory came this spring, when the marching band received all ones at UIL for the first time in school history.
“It was such a big accomplishment,” Grace said. “It was so validating and rewarding after all those hours of practicing, staying after school and working towards that as a team. We are a small marching band, so it’s a big accomplishment and just celebrating with everyone was my best memory!”
Grace shared that her favorite teacher of all time was Mrs. Cox, who taught her AP World and AP US History. Though she’s not pursuing a career in history, she says that Cox helped develop a real passion for history, so much so that now she researches and studies history in her free time. Grace also wanted to thank Mrs. Lorrance, her AP Lang teacher, for not just being a great teacher, but for just being very supportive, a teacher she could always go to for advice.
“And Mr. Boozer has been my band teacher since 6th grade,” Grace said. “He is near and dear to my heart, always making me feel so supported whenever I’d walk into the band hall. I really enjoyed my time learning music. Between him and Mr. Martinez, they have just made high school for me.”
Grace is an only child and shared that her parents are pretty thankful she chose to stay close to home when selecting her college. She’s excited to be a Longhorn and is thankful for the opportunities her parents have provided for her.
“My parents are so supportive and their motivation has gotten me to where I am,” Grace said. “I’m very grateful for their financial support and the way they motivated me to have good study habits. They have always supported everything I wanted to be involved in and they’re the reason I’m here.”
Lucas Hyman, Montgomery HS Salutatorian
Lucas Hyman will be attending Texas A&M University to study Biomedical Science, with plans to go to Medical School. He came to Montgomery ISD in fourth grade and has been an invested member of the student body and the community ever since. Lucas serves as president of UIL Academics, has competed at state in both Social Studies and ACADEC and is also a member of Mu Alpha Theta and National Honor Society. He ran cross country for the Bears earlier in high school, before that time was committed to outside volunteer efforts and activities.
Outside of school, Lucas works at a ranch in Huntsville and is also an active member of Young Life. He is the president of his neighborhood volunteer organization, Bentwater Volunteer Families, and also spends much of his time volunteering with Meals on Wheels, trying to start a club for that at MHS. He has also served as president of Lions Heart, a local volunteer organization for teen guys in Montgomery that does local work in our community.
“If you have an interest that you really care about, go focus on it.,” Lucas said. “Turn it into a project, make a charity or something. Don’t let other people tell you what your priorities should be or what’s most important during these four years. Lock in on what you’re truly passionate about and make a difference.”
Fun fact: Lucas is an identical twin and his brother Lane, ranked third in the class, started in first when they were freshmen. Lucas took over the top spot their sophomore year, before now Valedictorian Brooklynn Lowe stepped in front of both boys their junior year. The three are great friends, though very competitive, and Lucas admitted that he is in second by just a .008 difference in GPA.
When reflecting on teachers that have made an impact on his education, Lucas immediately named his fifth-grade teachers Miller and Wheat as his favorites from elementary school. He took a moment to reflect on high school, naming Mrs. Lawson, DeBrosse and Riney, claiming that were all just fabulous teachers. When the interview was shortly interrupted by MHS Principal, Mr. Noah Hollander, Lucas definitely had something to say about their campus leader.
“He’s the best!” Lucas said of Hollander. “He’s so involved. You see him at every event and his energy is pretty infectious. For a class of seniors who are generally pretty uninspired at pep rallies, he’s really gotten us going and calls us out to bring the energy up!”
The response that may tell you the most about Lucas Hyman was his answer to his favorite high school memory.
“Volunteering with NHS at Mission Possible field day.,” Lucas said. “We setup games for these special kids to play and I was at soccer all day. This one kid Logan kept coming back, hanging out with us all day. I really like getting to hang out with those kids one on one. Such a great day that just fills me up.”
When reflecting on his years in high school, Lucas did have advice that he wanted to share with any students coming up behind him.
“Try everything you can from day one,” Lucas said. “Get involved, branch out from the beginning, meet lots of people and learn a lot of different skills. There are so many clubs and groups in high school, that there’s no excuse not to have something to do.”
Dr. Mark Ruffin reflects on first 100 days as Superintendent
At the April school board meeting, trustees approved the selection of new principals at two Montgomery ISD campuses, and two new members of the district’s senior leadership team.
Jewel Tucker will be the new principal at Madeley Ranch Elementary and Julie Roth has been named principal at Montgomery Junior High School. Albert Rosales-Korrea will serve as Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Public Relations, and Brad Mansfield was named Chief Facilities and Operations Officer.
“Having served the past two years as the assistant principal at Madeley Ranch, we believe Mrs. Tucker’s experience and established relationships with staff and families will make for a smooth leadership transition,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “We are confident she will continue building the strong culture that is such a big part of the Madeley Ranch school community.”
Tucker brings to this position 15 years of experience as an educator. She has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Her work at Madeley Ranch has been recognized as outstanding, particularly in her ability to foster a collaborative school culture that sets high expectations for students and staff.
“I am thrilled by the opportunity to lead at Madeley Ranch Elementary and look forward to continuing to build on the foundation of excellence that is already in place at the school,” Tucker said. “I have loved serving Madeley Ranch and I’m so proud of what our students and staff have been able to accomplish. Having this opportunity to lead this amazing campus is truly an honor.”
Tucker succeeds Shelby Smith as Madeley Ranch principal. Smith, who has served in the role since 2018, was named principal at MISD’s new Creekside Elementary School in December 2023. Creekside Elementary, constructed as part of the district’s 2022 bond package, will open in August 2024.
“Mrs. Tucker’s leadership style and the culture she has helped to develop at Madeley Ranch made her an excellent candidate for this role,” MISD Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, Carrie Fitzpatrick said. “She is a leader with a servant’s heart and we are confident that under her guidance, Madeley Ranch teachers and students will continue to achieve excellence for years to come.”
New Montgomery Junior High principal, Julie Roth, currently serves as the associate principal at Montgomery High School.
“We are thrilled for Mrs. Roth to become the new leader at Montgomery Junior High and believe that her knowledge of what lies ahead for students at the high school level will greatly benefit staff and students at the junior high,” Ruffin said. “She is a skilled communicator and valued for her ability to partner with families to create excellent learning opportunities for every student.“
Roth brings to this position two decades of experience as an educator. She has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, student success coordinator and administrator. She has served at Montgomery High School since 2022.
“I am so excited for this opportunity to lead at Montgomery Junior High,” Roth said. “I love being part of this community and I am especially proud to be a Bear! Working at the high school has given me a real appreciation for the ways educators can help prepare kids for their next chapter, focusing on their development both as students and as young adults.”
Roth succeeds Angie Chapman as Montgomery Junior High principal. Chapman, a 26-year public education veteran, is retiring at the end of this school year.
“Mrs. Roth is a proven, well-respected leader in our district who consistently demonstrates a passion for seeing that all students learn,” Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Dr. Chris Summers said. “She will be able to make strong connections and develop meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families. I am excited about the future of Montgomery Junior High under her capable leadership.”
Albert Rosales-Korrea will be the district’s new Assistant Superintendent of Communications and Public Relations.
“With two decades experience in public relations and communication, Albert has built a reputation as an experienced and trusted spokesperson, an expert in communication and in building community partnerships,” Ruffin said. “He is skilled in planning and executing a district communications plan, managing and monitoring social media campaigns, and serving as the liaison for district communication. I am confident his experience will bring immediate value to the district’s communication efforts and our leadership team.”
Rosales-Korrea’s career spans a variety of fields, including education, medical, city government and business. His experience in public education includes service as the Chief Communications Officer for Centennial School District in Portland, Oregon and Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio. He also worked as the Multimedia and Bilingual Communication Coordinator for Spring ISD, Communications Officer for Hidalgo ISD, and the Multicultural Outreach Coordinator and Radio Producer for Austin ISD. Rosales-Korrea has also worked as an international communications consultant.
“As I step into the role of Assistant Superintendent of Communications, I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate closely with district leaders, students, families, and community,” Rosales-Korrea said. “Together with the talented communications team, we’ll embark on a journey of innovation, engagement, and inclusive storytelling, ensuring that every voice is heard and celebrated.”
Brad Mansfield will be the new Chief Facilities and Operations Officer.
“Brad brings to the role extensive experience as a leader in public education,” Ruffin said. “In addition to his background supporting and supervising transportation, maintenance, and child nutrition departments, he is skilled in collaborating with construction contractors on behalf of a school district. He also has considerable experience in school safety and security and served campuses as a principal and assistant principal. We believe the breadth of his experience in public education will serve MISD well as he takes on the role of Chief Facilities and Operations Officer, as a member of our district leadership team.”
Mansfield is a 26-year educator, with over two decades experience in a leadership capacity, primarily in Leander ISD and Liberty Hill ISD. Since 2021, he has served as the Executive Director of Student Services in Willis ISD.
“I am grateful and excited to join the Montgomery ISD team,” Mansfield said. “I look forward to working on building strong relationships with all stakeholders in this wonderful district. There is so much to be proud of in Montgomery ISD and so much to look forward to as we grow together.”
As part of the meeting, the MISD board took time to recognize the MISD Class of 2024 Valedictorians and Salutatorians. Principals from each high school shared accolades about each student and the wonderful ways their success has contributed to the culture on their campus.
From Montgomery High School, Brooklyn Lowe is the Valedictorian and Lucas Hyman is the Salutatorian. Lake Creek High School’s Valedictorian is Brayden Adams and the Salutatorian is Grace Nichols.
Front row, left to right: LCHS Principal Tim Williams, Brayden Adams, Grace Nichols, Brooklynn Lowe, Lucas Hyman and MHS Principal Noah Hollander
The board also recognized members of MISD’s Project Impact, a mentoring program that matches community members with MISD students to increase positive relationship building and support for students.
“We are so grateful for the support of our Project Impact mentors,” Trustee Linda Porten said. “They consistently invest their time to support the academic and emotional growth of the students participating in the program. MISD is fortunate to have these wonderful volunteers who help set our students up for success.”
The board also approved purchases for items included in the district’s 2022 bond referendum, including new playground equipment at Steward Creek Elementary, new lighting and technology upgrades at Stewart Creek, Madeley Ranch and Lone Star Elementaries, and a chiller upgrade at Oak Hills Junior High School.
Finally, Dr. Mark Ruffin shared a reflection of his first 100 days as MISD Superintendent. Since January, Dr. Ruffin has attended more than 100 meetings and events to learn about the people and culture of the school district. He also surveyed parents, students and staff members to get their input about MISD.
“The surveys were designed to dig a little deeper into the themes that emerged during my initial meetings,” Ruffin said. “The survey data supported the collective belief that MISD’s people are its most valuable asset, and that in the face of growth, our people want to maintain our small-town feel. Our larger community is incredibly supportive of the school district and wants to see our students succeed.”
Ruffin identified five key conclusions about MISD and specific growth opportunities in each of these areas: investing in MISD’s people, addressing funding challenges and opportunities, celebrating and growing MISD’s climate and culture, aligning academic opportunities for students districtwide, and focusing advocacy efforts with the support of MISD stakeholders.
“These will be the areas we will focus on moving forward,” Ruffin said. “While there are challenges, I am incredibly optimistic about the future of the district, and the opportunities we have to make a difference in the lives of our kids. I look forward to continuing to build relationships and working together to give our students a premier learning experience.”
Budget Development and Strategic Plan Refresh Updates Shared
Montgomery ISD leaders hosted a town hall meeting tonight, to provide updates about the district’s 2024-25 budget development process and the refresh of the MISD Pathway to Premier Strategic Plan.
“After four special called sessions of the 88th Texas Legislature, no new educational funding legislation was passed. With no additional funding provided by the state, not even a mechanism to account for historic levels of inflation, we knew it would be an extremely difficult fiscal year for MISD. Legislative actions did bring about welcomed changes for our stakeholders such as an increased homestead exemption and tax compression. But even as the MISD tax rate fell 18 cents last year, Montgomery ISD still finds ourselves significantly underfunded in comparison to districts around the state,” MISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Ruffin said. “All the higher costs our families are experiencing at places like the grocery store, the gas station, utilities for your home – school districts feel those increases too.”
In Montgomery ISD, 85 percent of the budget is allocated to staff salaries and benefits. The district receives funding from three sources: Local property tax, state revenue and federal dollars. Local property tax collections fund approximately 75 percent of the budget.
LOCAL FUNDING
Each year, the district adopts two tax rates, Maintenance & Operations (M&O) that funds salaries, supplies, utilities – all the things needed for day-to-day operations, and Interest & Sinking (I&S) that pays the debt on voter-approved bonds that fund facility construction and renovations, land acquisition, and buses.
Montgomery ISD’s tax rate adopted by the board for trustees for 2023-24 was a historic low, $1.0487 per $100 property valuation, an 18 cent decrease from the previous tax year.
The 2023-24 tax rate represented the largest decrease to the district’s rate since 2006 when all school district property tax rates in Texas were decreased by $0.50. Also, for 2023-24, no increase to the district’s I&S tax rate was necessary or adopted, despite the district communicating the need for a small increase as part of the 2022 bond program.
STATE FUNDING
MISD continues to be funded at a level significantly less than the state average. The gap between MISD per-student funding versus the state average has increased since 2016:
If Montgomery ISD was funded at the state average, $4,000 additional dollars per student x 10,000 students would translate to approximately $40M. This additional funding would allow the district to eliminate the salary gap between MISD employees and those in surrounding districts, reduce class sizes, increase course offerings, academic programs, and increase campus support and safety personnel.
RECAPTURE
For the 2022-2023 school year, MISD returned to the state over $3M in recapture. This system, often referred to as “Robin Hood” requires property-wealthy school districts like Montgomery ISD to give money back to the state to be redistributed to other districts.
Over the past ten years, MISD has paid almost $10M in recapture:
A question the district often hears is, “How can we keep our money in MISD?” The reduction in property tax rates and increase in homestead exemption should reduce the frequency of recapture for MISD. There are available funding options that would only become available through a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE). A VATRE is an election required by the state that asks voters to consider approving a modified tax rate to increase revenue for student programs and teacher and staff salaries.
Public school funding allows a district to access 8 “golden pennies.” Taxes collected through these pennies are not subject to recapture. Currently MISD is only accessing 5 golden pennies, meaning an additional 3 are available. Each additional golden penny equates to $1.38 million in additional funding. It is imperative to understand that this additional $4.1 million in funding, that would stay in Montgomery ISD, is only accessible through a tax rate election. MISD has never requested voters to consider approving a tax rate election. Therefore, this opportunity for LOCAL control of our funding has not been operationalized.
COMPENSATION
Even with the constrained budgets, MISD has worked to make improvements to teacher pay and now ranks no lower than fourth among neighboring districts. Campus staff salaries have improved as well, to 96% or more of market value.
LOOKING AHEAD
In the ongoing work to develop the 2024-25 school year budget, leaders are are working to reduce the district’s structural budget deficit. The budget priorities are staff compensation, school safety, ensuring excellent educational programs and enhanced professional development opportunities.
The district continues to explore ways to reduce expenses and increase revenue in the absence of any new funding from the state. MISD has strong legislative representation and will continue to work collaboratively with them to address funding. The district is also growing, which is better than the alternative.
The MISD Board of Trustees must formally adopt the 2024-25 budget prior the start of the start of the district’s July 1 fiscal year.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFRESH
Work is underway on the MISD “Pathway to Premier” Strategic Plan refresh. Task forces have been formed around the five district goals that were established in 2021:
Goal 1: Academic Achievement
Goal 2: School Safety
Goal 3: Finance & Operations
Goal 4: Human Capital
Goal 5: Communications & Customer Service
The task forces are comprised of MISD administrators, parents and community members. They have been working this spring to review and update the district’s current performance objectives, key performance indicators, and initiatives and strategies to ensure the strategic plan reflects the needs of MISD students and families. Task Force leaders will review feedback and recommend revisions to the current plan that will be reviewed by district leadership, then submitted for school board approval this summer.
The community is invited to review the district’s strategic plan progress and share feedback during this time of evaluation via the QR code below:
The MISD Premier Blog 