Waco Independent School District aims to negotiate a contract by late March with Third Future Schools to run two struggling schools after the school board voted unanimously Thursday to enable the partnership.
Starting in the next school year, the Colorado-based firm would take control of South Waco and Dean Highland elementary schools. Both have failed state accountability ratings for several years, threatening to trigger a state takeover of Waco.
The partnership would create an in-district charter system, shielding the district from takeover risks for two years. Starting in the fall, Third Future would be in charge of staffing, hiring and services.
Existing campus leadership and staff could apply to the charter firm to remain or be placed in other Waco ISD positions. The cost of the partnership has not yet been determined.
Board members Thursday called the move difficult but necessary.
“Sometimes we’ve got to make hard decisions that impact a lot of people and a lot of kids,” said Waco ISD Trustee Taylor Bledsoe. “And we don’t do that lightly, and ultimately, we’re going to make our decision tonight in hopes of what we think is in the best interest of this school district long term.”
Under the state’s A-F accountability system, a single campus with five consecutive failing grades can trigger a state takeover of the whole district.
South Waco has had five consecutive F ratings while Dean Highland has three. The in-district charter partnership would allow the district to buy time and focus on its other campuses.
G.W. Carver Middle School also has three F ratings but it was not included in the charter school partnership. District officials said they are focusing on interventions in the early grades.
“We believe we can close academic gaps most effectively,” Waco ISD officials said in an email to The Waco Bridge on Thursday. “We chose the elementary level because early intervention is the solution for long-term student success.”
Trustees at Thursday’s meeting expressed frustration at the limited options the district has.
“I like to look ahead and look forward to the future of, how do we not have problems or play this game of Whack-a-Mole?” Trustee Arash Abnoussi said. “Because I sometimes know we feel like we try to fix the system. There’s something else (that) comes up.”
Waco ISD staff said they will present cost estimates and potential funding options to the board in March. Principals and teachers receive support from the office of school leadership, curriculum and learning departments, Spicer said during Thursday’s board meeting.
Multiple board members thanked staff at the two elementary schools, including principals Amy Atnip of South Waco and Janice Whiting of Dean Highland.
“I just want to thank you guys for your work, and we’ll continue to support in whatever way we can,” Trustee Jeremy Davis said. “Definitely don’t take this as a sign that we didn’t support, or we didn’t think you were doing a great job. I think the circumstances of where we are as a district kind of forced our hand on this decision to make this decision.
“But we just want you guys to know that we love you and we appreciate the work that you did and we see the work that you did.”
Trustee Jim Patton teared up after speaking about the staff, families and students that will be affected. “My heart is – it’s heavy,” Patton said.
“This is a hard decision,” Patton said. “Not only are we making a decision for these two campuses, we are making a decision for their families and for the teachers and, and staff that have given their blood, sweat and tears.”
Senate Bill 1882 allows Texas school districts to form partnerships with an open-enrollment charter, institutions of higher education, non-profits and government entities, according to the TEA.
“This is not what we wanted for their families, for their students,” Patton said. “And moving toward a decision through (SB) 1882, it is our hope that the additional support that will come to this – should this vote occur – will make a dramatic impact for the best. That’s for those families, that’s for those kiddos, that the teachers and staff will find validation for their hard work.”
Waco ISD previously partnered with Transformation Waco in 2018 to oversee five struggling schools, with mixed success. The district ended the partnership with Transformation Waco in 2024, but the nonprofit has continued, providing services to students and operating the city of Waco’s new STEAM center.
Transformation Waco did not apply to Waco ISD’s most recent call for charter operators.
Trustee Angelo Ochoa thanked Superintendent Tiffany Spicer for her thoughtfulness in making this decision.
“I know it’s not an easy decision on your part, but I do know and we notice how much time and thought and emotion you put into this.”
In other business Thursday, the board:
- Voted to cancel board elections for the May 2 local elections because there are no contested races.
- Opted not to allow a dedicated prayer time at schools. Texas Senate Bill 11 requires boards to approve or reject such a policy by March 1.
- Heard a report from Spicer about the district’s plans to expand advanced academics at G.W. Carver and Cesar Chavez middle schools. Spicer said those schools would offer a research class similar to those at ATLAS Academy at Tennyson Middle School.
