Rae Smathers

The board meeting focused on the consideration and approval of a resolution to canvass the returns and declare the results of a bond election.

The board meeting included celebrations of Liberty Middle and High School band accomplishments. Key discussion items featured an annual update on the School Health Advisory Council, an announcement of board members' continuing education credit hours, and progress updates on various campus construction projects including the LHS Veneer Repair Project and the LES Annex 2 building. Action items included approval of a memorandum of understanding with Lamar Institute of Technology, adjustments to the school calendar, purchase of athletic equipment, construction change orders, and the establishment of fund balance commitments. Following an executive session, the board took action regarding personnel contracts and the repeal of a prior contract vote for a cooperative employee.

The Liberty Independent School District's Local District of Innovation Plan aims to enhance local control and educational outcomes by seeking exemptions from specific Texas Education Code provisions. It outlines four core goals: preparing students to meet or exceed 60x30 standards in reading, math, and post-secondary readiness (through dual credit, industry certification, or armed forces enrollment); providing excellent, accessible facilities; and increasing competitive performance and participation in academic and extracurricular activities. The plan details proposed exemptions related to instructional days, teacher certification, class size, probationary contracts, banking, inter-district transfers, and visitor removal, all designed to provide greater flexibility to meet student and community needs effectively.

This Certification Implementation Plan for Liberty ISD outlines a comprehensive, multi-phase strategy to achieve full certification compliance for all teachers in foundation curriculum courses by the 2029-2030 school year. The plan encompasses preparation through data auditing, stakeholder engagement, and target setting for a 25% annual reduction in uncertified teachers; implementation and monitoring, including mentorship programs, certification exam support, and recruitment pipeline development; and final compliance, focusing on reviewing exemptions, updating hiring policies, and publicly sharing outcomes.

This Family Engagement Plan aims to create a strong partnership between families, the school, and the community, focusing on empowering families for student success. The plan outlines six key goals: facilitating family-to-family support, establishing a network of community resources, increasing family participation in decision-making, equipping families with tools to enhance and extend learning, developing staff skills in evidence-based practices for family support, and continuously evaluating family engagement efforts for improvement.