Board of Trustees

Welcome from the La Porte ISD School Board

We hope you find this information about the La Porte Independent School District's Board of Trustees helpful. Although the State of Texas implements educational policies as prescribed by law, the local school board has been delegated much of the responsibility for educating the youth of this state. Locally elected school boards are political subdivisions carrying out a state function and have significant latitude in governing the schools while following state and federal laws.

Our school board epitomizes representative and participatory government - citizens elected from the community making decisions about educational programs based upon community needs, values and expectations. Not only does the board reflect the public desires, it translates the needs of students into policies, plans and goals that will be supported by the community.

Each individual in our community offers a unique view into our community's diverse needs and interests. We encourage you to attend our regular meetings to share your views and insights. Public participation and open lines of communication are critical in providing the kind of education we all want for the children in our 7,000-plus student school district.

David Janda - President
Position 5 (2021-24)

Dee Anne Thomson
Vice President
Position 7 (2019-22)

Russell Schoppe
Secretary
Position 1 (2020-23)

Jeff Martin - Trustee
Position 4 (2021-24)

Chris Murdocuk — Chris Murdock - Trustee
Position 3 (2020-23)

Kathy Green -Trustee
Position 2 (2020-23)

Board Agendas and Minutes

Role of the Board

Parents and other community members exercise their voice in public education control through the election of the board of trustees. Board members are guardians of the public trust and, through the policies that they make, are ultimately responsible for the success or failure of local public education. The board serves as the advocate for educational excellence for the community's youth and puts those interests first. The policies school boards make dictate the standards and philosophy by which schools are run and the criteria used to evaluate whether they are being run well. In addition, board members act only as a whole and do not act on an individual basis. One of the board's responsibilities is not to respond individually, but to insure that the school district is responding.

The key roles and responsibilities are summarized as to:

To select and employ a Superintendent to serve as the chief administrator of the district;
To approve an annual budget and a tax rate that ensures the District's ability to maintain financial stability;
To add, revise or delete policies that guide District actions as recommended by the Texas Association of School Board's Policy Service and in line with actions of the Texas Legislature;
To develop a mission statement with goals that will ensure the educational success of every student in the District;
To communicate the District's vision and direction to the community.

Board Policy Online

Board Continuing Education

All school board members are required to participate yearly in a three-tiered type of continuing education as required by the Texas Administrative Code 19 TAC 61.1. for a total of 10 clock hours for new Board members and 5 hours for experienced members.

The first tier is an orientation to the Texas Education Code which is an overview of Texas school law. All members are required to take the updated session each year.

The second tier concerns a team-building session for the Board members and the superintendent only. This establishes the environment for working as a team to cohesively determine the annual budget, update and revise policy, set the tax rate, acquire and sell property, approve curriculum programs and other items necessary for the efficient operation of the school district. This session also defines the parameter of the duties of the Board and the superintendent as determined by law.

The third tier requires other sessions/workshops for the continual updating and educating of members on recent legislation, school law basics, school district finance, ins and outs of the Texas Open Meetings Act, ethics, employee compensation matters, and other relevant issues designed to assist members in making upcoming decisions affecting the district.

All instruction is required to be given by persons registered with the Texas Education Agency and who must be authorities of the subject. Workshops are conducted throughout the year sponsored by the Texas Education Agency, Region IV Education Service Center, and the Texas School Board Association. Continuing education hours earned are required to be reported each year in the minutes of the Board meeting scheduled prior to the annual (Board of Trustees) election.

Overview of Continuing Education Requirements for School Board Members

TASB Continuing Education Credit Report

Board Meeting Calendar

Conflict of Interest Statements

Addressing the Board

Citizen presence and participation are encouraged at board meetings. In La Porte, you must complete a request to speak to the board before the meeting commences.

According to Board Policy and/or the Texas Open Meetings Act:

Presentations may be up to five (5) minutes in length; persons needing to address the Board through a translator may have up to ten (10)
Complaints concerning employees or students may not be identified by name, inference, or implication as prohibited by the Texas Open Meetings Act.
The Board may not discuss, deliberate, or make any decisions regarding the presentation. Such action is prohibited under the Texas Open Meetings Act.
Questions addressed to the Board may be answered in writing or, if appropriate, placed on a subsequent Agenda.
Complaints and concern for which other resolution channels are provided shall be directed through those

Concern Resolution

Where Can You Go With a Question or Concern?

The first essential step is to go to the immediate source and establish the facts. Please follow the steps below. The staff and administration are concerned and want to resolve problems in the most expedient manner possible.

First Step	Teacher	Questions or concerns regarding instructional practices in your child's classroom should first be directed to his/her classroom teacher during a scheduled meeting or via a telephone conversation.
Second Step	Building Principal	If more information is needed or you still have questions and/or concerns, a discussion should be scheduled with your child's principal.
Third Step	Program Director Special Education Buildings/Grounds Transportation Community Education	If further information is needed or if questions or concerns are not resolved at the principal level, a contact should be made with the appropriate director.
Fourth Step	Deputy Superintendent Administration	If questions still persist after contacting the appropriate director, please direct your concerns to an Associate Superintendent.
Fifth Step	Superintendent	A conference with the Superintendent of Schools is most appropriately made if questions or concerns have not been adequately addressed at earlier levels.
Sixth Step	Board of Education	The last level of contact with the district about a question or concern is the Board of Education. Please notify the Superintendent's Office if you plan to appeal directly to the Board. An agenda item entitled "Public Participation" will allow you a five-minute presentation to the Board.

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