Waco Independent School District is moving ahead with a plan to add up to eight new classrooms for Head Start programs at a North Waco facility to be operated by a Waco nonprofit.
The Waco ISD board voted Thursday to pursue negotiations with the Equal Opportunities Advancement Corp. to add Head Start programs for preschoolers at what is now the Brazos Early Head Start facility at 3005 Edna Ave.
The former school campus already serves about 24 infant and toddler-aged children of Waco ISD students through EOAC’s Early Head Start program. EOAC also operates two Head Start classes at West Avenue and South Waco elementary schools.
The move comes as the Waco ISD board prepares to vote March 30 on a contract with charter school chain Third Future Schools to take over South Waco and Dean Highland elementary schools. The Third Future contract could keep those struggling schools from triggering a state takeover of Waco ISD. The board is set to make the decision at a 5 p.m. special meeting March 30 at the Waco High School cafeteria.
With both the Third Future and EOAC partnerships, Waco ISD could gain additional state per-student funding by turning over campuses to a third-party operator under Senate Bill 1882.
“This would help (EOAC), because they can raise their salaries as well, right?” Superintendent Tiffany Spicer said at Thursday’s board meeting. “So it’s a win-win on both sides.
“But again, you have to build a partnership and then follow all the TEA guidance to make this happen and have an opportunity for our district, but also for them, and then our students that are right here in our district.”
Waco ISD officials have not provided financial projections for the early learning center.
Taking school online
Also Thursday, the board agreed to pursue a new virtual school option starting in the fall. Under new state legislation, the district would receive funding through average daily attendance for students enrolled in the virtual school. Waco ISD officials are considering a “turnkey” partnership in which a third-party partner would oversee the day-to-day operations.
“They would oversee their human resources and staffing,” said Waco ISD Deputy Superintendent Melissa King-Knowles.
“They would also have management over their special education student enrollment, managing technology equipment, they would manage their own state reporting and their enrollment. However, the benefit for us is that all of that is retained by us.”
Senate Bill 569 repealed the Texas Virtual School Network but provides state funding for districts with hybrid and virtual learning opportunities. Waco ISD officials are considering a full-time virtual program.
Trustee Taylor Bledsoe asked if the same curriculum would be used for the virtual school.
“Because they are their own school, they would have their own curriculum,” King-Knowles answered.
Trustee Jim Patton asked whether virtual students would count in classifying schools for University Interscholastic League competitions such as sports, music and academics.
“That would make me think that their number would count toward a UIL 4A, 5A, 6A, kind of thing I’m picturing, because this sounds exciting,” Patton said.
For example, he wondered whether an online-only student could try out for cheerleader or band as long as she is within Waco ISD’s physical boundaries.
“Right now they would not, however, that is something that would be on the table as we go forward, right?” King-Knowles said.
Board applicants
Thursday was also the deadline for applicants to finish the term of at-large Trustee Keith Guillory, who is moving to Houston for a fire department leadership position. The board did not discuss the process Thursday, but it is scheduled to interview candidates April 7-8 and swear in a new board member April 23.
The five candidates are as follows:
- Kelly Lawson, Methodist Children’s Home senior director for advancement
- Peaches Henry, Waco NAACP president and English professor at McLennan Community College
- Marlayna Massey, Duncan Scholars director at the Waco Foundation
- Brian Ginsburg, owner of W Promotions
- Everett Phipps, a partner at Insurors of Texas.
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