KISD receives TASB survey, honors students

Kerrville Independent School District Board of Trustees  members  and KISD Superintendent Dr. Brent Ringo heard plans for expanding the district’s Pre-K program, received the results of a Texas Association of School Board’s employee workplace survey, and honored a host of students and staff at its regular meeting Monday night.

Pre-K expansion

Heather Engstrom, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, told trustees that the plans for expanding the district’s pre-kinder- garten program for 3 and 4-year-olds has been in the works for several years.

Engstrom said the goals of the expansion are to reach more pre-K children, provide a service to the community, build a strong academic foundation for students, provide for better knowledge of the students and families and encourage enrollment in KISD schools.

Engstrom said the pre-K program began in 2017 when the availability of local daycare became an issue.

Students currently enrolled in the KISD pre-K program are accepted based on meeting mostly economic qualifications set by the State of Texas. However, the proposed program will allow for non-qualifying families to enroll their 3 and 4-year-olds in a tuition-based program.

The expansion is in the planning stages and the subject was on the agenda as an information item only. More details will be forthcoming in a future meeting.

Engstrom said the next steps in the planning stage are to create a plan of action to educate the community on the opportunity, devise an enrollment process and facilitate a plan of action for transportation for the newly enrolled students.

Employee Workplace Survey

Shelby Balser, assistant superintendent of administration and human resources, provided details of the completed TASB Employee Workplace Survey.

Balser said 87 percent of the district’s 601 employees participated in the survey.

Of the employees who responded to the survey 17 percent have worked for KISD for 16 years or more, 16 percent have been on the job for 10-15 years and the largest percent (30 percent) of staff have worked for the district between four and nine years. The remaining surveys were completed by employees who have worked for the district up to three years.

The survey revealed the Top Five Factors that contribute to job satisfaction are the following:

• Compensation and benefits, 61 percent;

• Relationship with coworkers, 51 percent;

• Work that is meaningful, 50 percent;

• Respectful treatment of all employees, 49 percent;

• Trust between employees and supervisors, 47 percent.

These factors and their percentages were almost identical to the 2022-23 survey, Balser said.

Within the survey, Balser said KISD employees provided the following accolades:

• Campus or team provides for a good culture or morale;

• Retention bonus is helpful;

• Employees feel valued and appreciated;

• Central administration is supportive.

The survey also outlined complaints, which were:

• 84 employees said base pay is low or not competitive when compared to surrounding areas;

• 30 employees said the code of conduct and student discipline lack effective consequences;

• 23 employees said campus or team has insufficient staffing or work assignment;

• 18 employees said campus or team has poor culture or low morale

• 17 employees said a supervisor is unsupportive.

Balser said the results will be reviewed by campus and department, with a plan of action to be created to improve in the areas of both strengths and weaknesses.

KISD Inspire Award

Kerrville ISD trustees recognized Sharon Harris and Jenny Hendricks as this month’s recipients of the “Kerrville ISD Inspire Award.”

The award is presented to two staff members each month who are selected based on nominations by peers.

Harris serves as the principal’s secretary at Tom Daniels Elementary and received multiple nominations.

“Sharon is the heart of Tom Daniels! She loves all the kids and supports parents in a positive manner every day. She goes above and beyond to help teachers, staff, and kids,” one nomination said.

Harris received praise for her work with the students, supporting campus activities and the many extra hours she devotes to work that benefits the school.

“Mrs. Harris inspires me to give 110 percent and to do my best each and every day,” another nomination said.

Hendricks is an ESL teacher at Hal Peterson Middle School and was praised for her enthusiasm and hard work, including organizing the first-ever TELPAS Bootcamp designed to assist students in preparing for STAAR Testing.

“Jenny Hendricks planned the experience, recruited teachers, and solicited community support for gift cards to encourage the students’ participation. Forty students showed up on a Saturday morning to receive the help thanks to Jenny’s vision and passion to help support our Emergent Bilingual students,” one supporter wrote in her nomination form.

Hendricks was described as kind, thoughtful and caring to her coworkers and students.

“Kerrville is blessed to have such an amazing person working with our students,” another nominating person said.

Recognitions

KISD Board members recognized and honored a host of students and staff for accomplishments and achievements, including:

• Elementary University Scholastic League Academics competitors representing KISD and placing high in contests in Math Sense, Ready Writing and Storytelling;

• Tally Elementary Robotics team, which included fourth and fifth graders for the first time;

• Tivy High School Robotics team members;

• Hal Peterson Middle School seventh grade girls track athletes, who brought home a district title;

• Hal Peterson Middle School eighth grade boys track athletes, who shared a championship at the district track meet with Boerne South after earning the same amount of points;

• Tivy High School Principal Rick Sralla introduced student Cole Braaten as being named a National Merit Scholar semifinalist;

• KISD Chief Financial Officer Jarrett Jachade was honored for being named a “Transparency Star” by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar for achieving excellence in financial transparency;

• Leadership KISD 2023-24 Cohort members were thanked for their service and participation and honored with a certificate and pin. Those members are Caleb Boone, Jennifer Borecky, Allison Bueche, Pete Calderon, Deanna Caraway, Courtney Compton, Marta Diffen, Stephany Herman, Xavier Loredo, Kim Meismer, Tabor McMillan, Zach Riffett and Tammye Riley.

• Trustee Curtis Finley, who will be stepping down in May, was honored for his many years of service. Finley was appointed to the KISD Board in 2016, and has served continuously since. Finley told the board and staff it has been an honor to serve and praised the heart and dedication of the administration and staff at all levels.

Other business

• Jachade provided a financial report, saying tax collections are on track, expenses are coming in at less than budgeted so far this year, plus he still anticipates having to submit a deficit budget for the 2024-25 school year. Jachade added that he recently attended an Education Service Center, Region 20 meeting at which attendees were polled on whether they anticipated having to adopt a deficit budget next year. Jachade said 90 percent of those at the meeting raised their hand. There are nearly 100 school districts and charter schools within the Region 20 area.

Consent agenda

With one vote, trustees approved the following items under the consent agenda:

• Minutes from Kerrville Board of Trustees March 25 regular meeting;

• Easements to Hill Country Telephone Cooperative at Tivy High School and Tom Daniels Elementary for construction and maintenance placing of aerial strand, fiber optic cable and anchors;

• Elimination of tuition for students residing outside of the district, but attending Kerrville ISD schools;

• Corrective action plan for the Head Start audit required for meeting compliance performance measures;

• Upcoming events calendar.