Wichita Falls ISD Superintendent Donny Lee provided an update on the district’s progress and the ongoing involvement of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) at a school board meeting on Monday.
This comes after an agreement was reached in early March to place the district under the watch of a TEA-appointed conservator due to low academic performance.
TEA Conservator Appointment and District Oversight
Since the district’s agreement with the TEA on March 5, which allowed Wichita Falls ISD to remain independent while under the watch of a conservator, Superintendent Lee addressed the current situation.
While there is still little information on who the conservator will be or when they will begin their monitoring, Lee emphasized that the conservator’s involvement will be based on the district’s performance.
“The more they know and the better we do, the less they’re here,” Lee stated. “They’re gonna start out just like anything and get their hands pretty dirty, be involved in things, see how systems work, see if systems are set up for success on each campus. And if they are, you won’t see them.”
TEA Intervention Triggered by Poor Performance
The TEA’s oversight follows the closure of Kirby Middle School in May 2024, a result of its underperformance. As part of the district’s restructuring, students from Kirby now attend the newly opened Hirschi Middle School.
The district was put on notice that state intervention could occur if improvements weren’t made, and TEA appointed a conservator as part of the process.
Superintendent Lee has been actively working with campus leaders to improve outcomes, with board members holding administrators accountable for measurable improvements in academic performance.
Accountability and Focus on Academic Results
During the board meeting, Lee acknowledged the specific challenges faced by Rider Middle School, which serves as a new campus combining students from McNiel Middle School.
Despite these challenges, Lee made it clear that results must improve across the district, particularly with the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) testing as the benchmark for success.
“We have to make academic progress. Language like, ‘We hope we get there’ has got to turn into, ‘We’re gonna get there, and here’s why we’re gonna get there,’” Lee said. He emphasized the need for concrete results and progress, not just optimism.
School Principals Address Accountability
At the meeting, Rider Middle School Interim Principal Jackie McCartney addressed the School Board, acknowledging that while they expect their STAAR scores to remain stable, the goal is clear: not to stagnate but to move forward.
The School Board members echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for measurable improvements and accountability in the coming year.
“Ever since we’ve really been here talking about the direction we’re going from an academic standpoint, the board understands more now than ever,” Lee said. “Their job as a board really centers around governance and ensuring academic improvement.”
Moving Forward: Results-Oriented Goals for Wichita Falls ISD
Superintendent Lee concluded by reinforcing the district’s main objective: academic improvement for every student every year.
As the district navigates these changes and strives to meet TEA’s expectations, the focus remains on ensuring that every student progresses academically and that the district holds itself accountable to its goal of continuous improvement.
