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Chapter 1
DISTRICT ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT

This chapter describes the organization and management of the Elgin Independent School District (EISD) in the following areas:

A. Management, Planning and Site-Based Decision Making
B. External and Internal Communication
C. Community and Parental Involvement

The organization and management of a school district involves cooperation between elected members of the Board of Trustees and staff of the district. The board's role is to set goals and objectives to be achieved by the district in both instructional and operational areas, determine the policies by which the district will be governed, approve the plans to implement those policies, provide the funding sources necessary to carry out the plans and evaluate the results.

The staff is responsible for managing the day-to-day implementation of the plans approved by the board and to recommend modifications necessary to ensure the most effective operation of all district programs and functions. To undertake this management role, the superintendent, as the chief executive officer of the district, recommends the level of staffing and amount of resources necessary to run the operations and to accomplish the goals and objectives set forth by the board.

BACKGROUND

Elgin ISD has the responsibility to provide public education for all the students who live within the 169 square miles of the district. The district provides these educational opportunities through its four schools and one alternative school. In 1998-99, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) rated EISD Academically Acceptable. The September 1999 enrollment was 2,638 students. The district is served by Regional Education Service Center 13 (Region 13), which is located in Austin.

Each Texas school district is governed by an elected board of trustees that governs and oversees the management of the schools. School board members are elected by district residents either at-large, districtwide or from single-member districts covering only a portion of the school district.

Each board derives its legal status from the Texas Constitution and the Texas Legislature. The board must function in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes, controlling court decisions and applicable regulations pursuant to state and federal law. Under Section 11.151 of the Texas Education Code, each board has specific statutory powers and duties, including:

  • Governing and overseeing the management of the public schools in the district;
  • Adopting such rules, regulations and bylaws as the board may deem proper;
  • Approving a district-developed plan for site-based decision making and provide for its implementation;
  • Levying and collecting taxes and issuing bonds;
  • Selecting tax officials, as appropriate to the district's need;
  • Preparing, adopting and filing a budget for the next succeeding fiscal year, and filing a report of disbursements and receipts for the preceding fiscal year;
  • Having district fiscal accounts audited at district expense by a Texas certified or public accountant holding a permit from the Texas State Board of Public Accountancy following the close of each fiscal year;
  • Publishing an annual report describing the district's educational performance, including campus performance objectives and the progress of each campus toward these objectives;
  • Receiving bequests and donations or other money coming legally into its hands in the name of the district;
  • Selecting a depository for district funds;
  • Ordering elections, canvassing the returns, declaring results and issuing certificates of election as required by law;
  • Disposing of property no longer necessary for the operation of the school district;
  • Acquiring and holding real and personal property in the name of the district; and
  • Holding all powers and duties not specifically delegated by statute to TEA or the State Board of Education.

The EISD board consists of seven members elected by single-member districts for three-year terms (Exhibit 1-1).

Elections are held each year on the first Saturday in May.

Exhibit 1-1
EISD Board Members
August 2000
Board
Member 		Board
Position 		Term
Expires 		Occupation
Harry Grett President May 2001 Consultant
Roy Reyna Vice-President May 2002 Texas Department of Public Safety
Dorothy McCarther Secretary May 2002 Private business owner
Rosanna Abreo Member May 2001 Texas Department of Public Safety
Gary Null Parliamentarian May 2003 Outside sales representative
Robert Mauk, Jr. Member May 2003 Retired/wrecker service operator
David Graham Member May 2001 Private business owner
Source: EISD superintendent.

The board meets monthly on the third Monday at 7:00 p.m. in the Elgin High School library. Following the installation of new members each year, officers are elected by the board.

EISD is managed by a superintendent and senior staff members who report to the superintendent. As specified by Section 11.201 of the Texas Education Code, the superintendent is primarily responsible for:

  • Administrative responsibility for the planning, operation, supervision and evaluation of the educational programs, services and facilities of the district and for annual performance appraisals of the staff;
  • Administrative authority and responsibility for the assignment and evaluation of all district personnel;
  • Termination or suspension of staff members or the non-renewal of staff members' term contracts;
  • Day-to-day management of district operations;
  • Preparation of district budgets;
  • Preparation of policy recommendations for the board and administration of the implementation of adopted policies;
  • Development of appropriate administrative regulations to implement board policies;
  • Leadership in attainment of student performance; and
  • Organization of the district's central administration.

Exhibit 1-2 presents EISD's current organization.

Exhibit 1-2
EISD Organization for 2000-01
Exhibit-1-2

Source: EISD superintendent.

TEA intervened at one point in the mid-1990s and assigned a monitor to the district when it was slow to hire a superintendent. At the time, the board was attempting to manage the district, and one school in EISD was rated low-performing. The district has faced many challenges over time.

EISD selected peer district for comparative purposes based upon certain similarities in student enrollment, student performance and community and student demographics. The districts chosen were Bastrop, Del Valle, Leander, Manor and Taylor.