TEXARKANA, Texas - During the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Texarkana Independent School District's new superintendent of schools, Dr. Doug Brubaker, reviewed his entry plan.
The plan is based on the book "The First 90 Days: Proven Strategies for Getting Up to Speed Faster and Smarter," by Michael D. Watkins.
"Research on organizational effectiveness indicates that new leaders transition more quickly and effectively when they use entry plans," Brubaker said. "Guided by an entry plan, leaders set a positive tone, clarify expectations, build trust and establish positive working relationships. Creating these positive conditions helps to keep the focus of the district on meeting the needs of students and builds momentum for positive change."
The superintendent's entry plan is a document that features various activities in which Brubaker will be engaged through his first 90 days.
The activities fall within three phases - transition phase, entry phase and planning phase - and are designed to meet the following objectives:
- Establish an effective and collaborative relationship with the TISD Board of Trustees
- Develop an understanding of the strengths, growth areas, challenges and opportunities within TISD
- Build relationships with students, parents, staff, members of the community, local leaders and state officials
- Align efforts of the administrative team to identify and address most urgent and important priorities; assess readiness for process to develop new long-term strategic plan.
"I look forward to working with TISD staff, students, parents and community stakeholders this spring to fine-tune this plan, complete it and by doing so develop a better understanding of this outstanding school district and the community that it serves," he said.
COVID-19 leave
In other news from the meeting, the board approved a resolution regarding extended sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act expired on Dec. 31. This resolution allows the district to provide additional paid leave for an employee diagnosed with COVID-19 or required to self-quarantine by a federal, state or local order; when advised by a health care provider; or when experiencing symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis.
Employees will also be eligible to use accrued leave. Extended pandemic sick leave will be limited to a total of eight days between Jan. 1 and June 30 and will be available only to employees who have not used eight or more days of EPSL prior to Jan. 1.
After the use of the extended pandemic sick leave, the employee would be required to access accrued leave, if it is available.
The board also held a public hearing on the Texas Academic Performance Reports, approved an order calling for a trustee election on May 1 and adopted an annual tuition rate for eligible students.
Incumbents Bill Kimbro, representing District 1, and Paul Miller, representing District 6 at-large, will seek re-election for their respective positions.
The annual tuition rate is set based upon the adjusted allotment the district expects to receive from the state in the 2021-22 school year. For the 2021-22 year, the rate will be $5,893 per student.