CUBE Annual Award-Best Practices

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Fort Worth Independent School District
Board members: William H. Koehler, President
                               Christene C. Moss
                               Camille Rodriguez  
Superintendent:  Melody A. Johnson

Houston Independent School District
Board Members: Arthur M. Gaines, Secretary,
                               Harvin C. Moore, First Vice President
                               Manuel Rodríguez, President

Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Board Members: Agustin Barrera, Chair
                               Ana Rivas Logan
                               Solomon C. Stinson        
Superintendent:  Rudolph F. Crew

The three boards that were selected as finalists have seen big changes over the last five years--none of which was easy. In Miami, for example, the board adopted seven educational compacts and used collaboration to help bring everyone in the community into the school equation. They have a police academy, a parent academy, and utilize private funding to help their schools improve. Board members and the administration have to address their needs differently.

In Houston, which looked to Miami for guidance with the parent academy, they have a governance plan that has been in place since 1990 that focuses on student achievement and improving the district overall. Their number one priority is student safety and to help students achieve. Their monitoring system helps them to focus on growth within the district and ties everything together with their beliefs and visions as a district. All employees, including the superintendent are on a one year contract that must be renewed each year. There are no guarantees of a job, unless progress is evident.

While in Ft. Worth, parents were surveyed and told the board that they wanted the achievement gap eliminated. Parents then became involved in the business community as well and created a rule which states that students under the age of 18 cannot work unless they are enrolled in school full time. This raised the question of the involvement of business in school systems. Dr. Crew from Miami responded and said, “You have to give the business community a reason to invest and give them a good opportunity. They don’t invest in a system that is broken.” A question regarding how these boards work together came to the panel and Ft. Worth’s response was echoed by the other boards. “Relationships are critical. We try to do two retreats a year to build relationships and try to get together with other board members one-on-one as often as possible.”

What CUBE attendees said about this session:

  • "Sharing the successful practices of these school districts was a good session for all of us."
  • "Overall, great information was shared.  Philanthropy efforts and parent programs were most important."

 


 

 
 
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