Porter's priorities

 We need a second high school now. Lake Travis ISD gained 1,763 students in the past 5 years making it one of the fastest growing ISDs in the region. LTHS is overcrowded with over 3600 students. 

Classroom size exceeds 30:1 student:teacher ratio (16:1 is the national average). Cafeteria lines are too long for students to get food in a timely manner, and many have to sit on the floor without ample seating. This directly impacts our students' education negatively. 

Neighboring Eanes ISD ranks #1 in the state and #2 in the country. LTISD was a close second place in academic ranking just 3 years ago. What changed? Lake Travis' massive population growth which continues to explode. 

Our overcrowded high school has plummeted LTISD's state ranking to 80th place. The correlation couldn't be more clear.  We must make a second high school our top priority.

It's time to make LTISD synonymous again with stellar rigor, academic performance and high ranking. To set a bold new standard in academic excellence in Texas.

In 2013, LTISD ranked 7th in the state and was neck and neck for 1st in Austin, just behind EANES. Its abysmal 80th place state ranking must be addressed. In addition to building a new school, adding an International Baccalaureate (IB) program will elevate our academic rigor as will a dual language program beginning in Kindergarten. And we must provide better support to our SPED students. 

Teachers and faculty must feel valued, supported and rewarded for their hard work. We must do all that we can to attract and retain great teachers. The stellar leadership we desire for our schools must be reflected in our school board. We won't achieve progress with the same failed processes of the past. 

I formed CORE LT2, a Coalition of Responsible Education—a group of parents for a second high school. I engaged with parents in our district to identify key issues in our overcrowded high school. What new programs and offerings you'd like to see in our new high school (and in our elementary and middle schools.) 

I elevated the issue of a new high school in our community. The land for the new high school has been purchased. Why are we left guessing on its progress or if any progress is even being made? It's time to stop just talking about overcrowding and solve the problem with action. 

Parents in the community need to be kept abreast by our school board of what's happening and we need your continued input as part of a collaborative process—with the building of a new high school and all matters that impact our children's education. And Board members need to truly represent their constituents. 

We need better oversight of district spending to ensure that funds for our schools are being utilized in the best possible way. For example, the air purification devices purchased by the district to reduce COVID spread cost $500,000. They were placed in large areas but these units were only designed for small rooms with less than 10 people.  (And some devices weren't even plugged in.) 

With greater oversight, the district could have better used that money on devices that would have more effectively reduced the spread of COVID.  Another example of poor financial oversight is the expensive charging towers in the high school and middle schools that are rarely used.  

The state of Texas gives the district limited funds.  I plan to use my operational background to ensure these funds are used as effectively as possible to improve the learning and working environment for are students and staff.

The current School Board is responsible for how the Board responds to parent and community emails.  A choice was made that the Board is not allowed to respond to those emails. The Board does not have to function that way. 

I will advocate for a Board that lets parents know they've been heard and are considering their concerns and suggestions. I will also offer more opportunities for dialogue between board members and the community outside of board meetings.

Let's work towards unifying our community where we can find common ground. Board members who are open to dialogue can better bridge connection and diffuse the contentiousness we've all witnessed in the past two years.

Too often district and school board decisions are made behind closed doors. They're frequently reactive and made without community input. Parents are left in the dark and the rumor mill works overtime in such instances.

In a world where parents can get a concerning text or photo from their child in real time, it's critical parents receive accurate, factual information from the district in a very timely manner.  This was the case in the recent gun violence scare.  Even if final decisions have not been made, it is important parents know the district is aware of urgent matters and is swiftly taking appropriate action. 

Schools can play a role in reminding parents to ensure their firearms are locked up safely at home. And a focus on mental health support in schools can help identify and prevent at-risk behavior.