Liberty ISD Celebrates School Board Recognition Month
Liberty ISD Board of Trustees are Front Row: Malcolm Goudeau, Lance Lawrence and Lloyd Griffith. Back Row: Julie Hebert, D-Ann Berry, Barbie Kelly and Rachel Odell.
LIBERTY — As January unfolds, Liberty Independent School District is honored to recognize the invaluable contributions of our dedicated school board members during School Board Recognition Month.
The LISD School Board plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of our community. Their unwavering commitment to excellence in education, tireless advocacy for students and collaborative efforts to ensure a nurturing learning environment make them true champions of education.
Superintendent Dusty McGee expressed deep gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the school board members, stating, “Our school board members are the backbone of our educational system. Their leadership, vision, and commitment to student success are evident in every decision they make. We are immensely fortunate to have such dedicated individuals guiding our district.”
School districts are facing a critical challenge as they grapple with needs while navigating the financial strain resulting from the state’s failure to fully fund education, or even restore it to where it was once funded in 2019. LISD has been able to provide a quality education to its students despite financial restraints imposed by the state on school finance.
The School Board has had to make difficult decisions regarding infrastructure and student needs while being mindful of the financial limitations of the District. There has even been talk that the Texas legislature could recapture general funds saved by school districts if they don’t spend the money. General funds can only be utilized on capital outlay projects, such as infrastructure, and Liberty ISD’s Board wants to ensure that the money is spent on student needs.
LISD’s School Board seeks to create a safe and conducive learning environment. While the state may not see the need or impact of these learning environments, Liberty ISD does and remains committed to engaging in every aspect necessary.
LISD School Board Members have led remarkable achievements and initiatives that have had a lasting impact on the education and well-being of our students.
Initiatives that the school board has worked towards include addressing long-standing drainage issues at Liberty High School as well as acquiring a building located at 2103 N. Main St., formerly the Texas First Bank Building, that will be renovated and serve as the District’s Administration Building. The acquisition of this building is one example of the District living within its means and using its fund balance, which again can only be used on infrastructure. As the District continues to grow, this addition will allow the current administration building to be used for much needed office space for technology, curriculum and instruction, and student support. Those individuals are currently housed in individual rooms throughout the campuses thus taking up much needed classroom space that could be used for students in the future.
The school board is also working toward finding a solution to replacing roofs at Liberty Middle School and Liberty High School, which are well past their end of life, without having to raise property taxes. LISD School Board Members have completed these achievements and initiatives while eliminating a nearly 2-million-dollar deficit, balancing the budget, and continuing their dedication to raises for the Liberty ISD staff.
Board members serving LISD are: Lance Lawrence, Malcolm Goudeau, Rachel Odell, D-Ann Berry, Barbie Kelly, Lloyd Griffith and Julie Hebert.
The community is invited to join LISD in expressing appreciation for the selfless service of our school board members. Whether through social media, written notes, or other gestures of gratitude, let us take this opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the positive influence our school board has on the future of our students.