FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth ISD leaders are back to the drawing board when it comes to the plans for the future of the district.
School Board Members had a lot of questions Tuesday about the district's 5-year strategic plan. That plan laid out a path to improving test scores, addressing declining enrollment, facilities use, and educational goals. But when brought up for a vote the school board did not decide in the Superintendent's favor.
"Motion fails 2 to 5, I do not know what our next steps are for the school district," said one of the board members.
Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Dr. Angelica Ramsey is in her second year. She calls the Strategic Plan "ONE, Where Heart Work Happens." A plan she started in her first year and says is turning the district in the right direction.
"We are not where we want to be," said Dr. Ramsey, "But the pace and growth we are doing well, especially compared to the other large urban."
The board said they heard from parents who felt left out of the strategic plan.
Fort Worth ISD Parent Ken Kuhl attended Tuesday's school board meeting and was not the kind of parent sitting on the sideline either.
He has a daughter entering junior high school this year. Kuhl is active in his daughter's education to help assure her success. He has served as a Regional Director for Leadership ISD, where he works to develop community, business, and education leaders into informed and equity-focused public education advocates. He's a passionate advocate for improving educational outcomes for all students, and his commitment has led him to hold various leadership positions within the PTA and participate in the Leadership ISD's Civic Voices Fellowship.
Kuhl has also testified on education issues in the Texas Senate, presented at Fort Worth ISD's Racial Equity Summit, and sits on Fort Worth ISD's Community Oversight Committee.
He has been waiting to hear the strategic plan. As a parent who monitors the teaching and learning process, the no vote was a relief so he could have more input.
"There 's been listening sessions, online surveys," Kuhl said, "For parents like me to reach out to my trustee and say what about this and what about this in these goals and plan before they vote on it."
Dr. Ramsey says although there is no strategic plan in place the district is ready for the first day of school on August 13.
Either way, she and her team will work with school board members on the FWISD's future.
"We will wait for direction from the board to see what their next steps are," said Dr. Angelica Ramsey.