June 15, 2021
June 14 Northwest ISD Board Notes
The Northwest Independent School District Board of Trustees met Monday, June 14, during a regularly-scheduled meeting. This is a recap of the major actions and reports from the meeting. To see every item discussed or voted on, click here.
Lyndsie Smith named next principal of Nance Elementary School
Lyndsie Smith, an assistant principal at Kay Granger Elementary School, was named principal of Nance Elementary School at last night's school board meeting. Smith will begin transitioning to her new role this week, working alongside Principal Penny Bowles who retires at the end of June. 

“I am looking forward to this incredible opportunity to serve the Nance community,” Smith says, who describes herself as a servant leader who believes in teams working together to achieve their goals. “I wholeheartedly believe it takes a village and that our schools have to work in partnership with our families to best support our students.”

Smith has served Northwest ISD since 2005, working as an assistant principal for the past seven years and an elementary teacher for the first eight years. In addition, she has also served as an elementary GT specialist and a middle school coach. Prior to her work in Northwest ISD, she taught kindergarten in Irving ISD.
Board approves Phase 2 of renovations at Legacy Learning Center
Former Haslet Elementary
The board approved the Phase 2 portion of the new Legacy Learning Center construction project that will cover the renovations for the Rise and Horizon Programs, a Professional Development area, and additional office space.

Phase 1 construction at the Legacy Learning center—formally known as Haslet Elementary School— is now officially complete, and staff and students have moved into the facility as of March 15, 2021.

Northstar Builders Group, LLC has prepared the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for Phase 2 in the amount of $5.582 million. The total combined cost from Phase 1 and Phase 2 is approximately $10.287 million.

This amount was previously allocated with funds from the 2017 bond election.
Budget workshop looks at financial forecast
Trustees held a workshop as the 2021-2022 budget process continues, taking a look at the End of Year budget forecast, challenges stemming from the state’s House Bill 3 that overhauled school finance, and the state's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funds (ESSER) II and III, subgrant programs stemming from COVID-19.

Because of further state-mandated tax rate compression and a cap on growth in taxation, Northwest ISD will receive significantly less funding than if the state kept the current tax rate. Additionally, Northwest ISD will contribute a sizable and increased recapture payment (commonly referred to as a “Robin Hood” payment) to the state to distribute to other school districts.

"If you look at what was budgeted and what was spent, we are very, very proud of our campuses and staff," said Superintendent Dr. Ryder Warren. "Our staff and campus leadership stretched every dollar."

Northwest ISD will continue its budget process for the 2021-2022 school year at coming board meetings.
Reports, discussions addressed by board
District leadership presented the following to the board as a report or discussion item:

  • NISD's new Equity and Diversity Committee shared their set of Belief Statements with the Board.
  • Student Services Department district effectiveness report.
  • Special Education Department district effectiveness report.
  • NISD's financial report for the month ending on April 30, 2021.
  • 2021 Legislative Update.

To view all reports or discussion presentations from board meetings, click here.
In other action, the board
  • Approved amendments to the 2020-2021 operating budget.
  • Approved the 2021-2022 Superintendent's Performance Objectives.
  • Approved to accept gifts in the amount of $84,799.12 which provide a public purpose and meet the criteria for acceptance according to Board policy.
  • Approved a Clinical Affiliation Agreement (Occupational Therapy) between Texas
Woman’s University and Northwest ISD.
  • Approved an USC School/School District Placement interlocal agreement between University of Southern California and Northwest ISD.
  • Approved the water easement for the LeTara development.
  • Approved the Memorandum of Understanding with Mansfield ISD for third party testing services and with Tarrant County for the juvenile justice alternative educational programming (JJAEP).
  • Approved an agreement with USI Southwest, Inc. for property insurance from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.
Recognitions
Trustees recognized Mike Rodriguez, Jeremy Williamson, Brandon Edwards, and Kieshaa Rose from Briggs Equipment in Dallas who generously donated $5,000 to sponsor our very own Special Olympics team, the Northwest Navigators! They have also committed to serving as volunteers for all practices and competitions.
Trustees also recognized our community members who graduated from Leadership NISD, an exciting program that involves parents and community members in a year-long dialogue with the school district. Leadership NISD allows participants to go behind the scenes for an in-depth look at Northwest ISD. Monthly early-morning sessions focus on specific areas of the district, including operations, curriculum and instruction, support services, athletics, school finance, and more.
To view photos from Northwest ISD’s board meetings and other district and school events, visit the district Flickr account.