In an effort to improve compensation and benefits for staff, the Weatherford ISD Board of Trustees approved a one-time stipend at its meeting on Monday, Nov. 17.
All eligible full-time employees will receive $500 and part-time employees will receive $250 totaling $591,000. The payments will be made on or about Dec. 15.
“Just in time for Christmas,” Superintendent Beau Rees said.
The stipend is a measure to recognize staff commitment and will be funded from one-time sources and not increase the district’s obligations, Lori Boswell, Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations, reiterated.
Additionally at the meeting, Tison Middle School presented a Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP) after that campus was graded a “C” under the Texas Education Agency’s A-F Accountability System for its overall low performance results.
Tison Principal Shane Smith, who took over in June 2024, told trustees that he and his staff will be “aggressively monitored” while they work to improve that rating.
“I take ownership of where we are and where we’re going to be,” he said. “I walk hand-in-hand with teachers and staff.”
Federal and state law requires campuses that receive a low rating to develop the TIP to address and outline strategies to increase student achievement and have a “measurable” goal to close achievement gaps.
Tison’s plan uses data-driven dashboards where students can track their progress and “see” where they need improvement. In some cases, Smith said, students are happy with the work they’ve done but some are disappointed they haven’t done better but admittedly know why.
“The feedback has been phenomenal,” he said.
District staff are working with the school’s personnel to review data, identify priorities and help to develop specific strategies. Assistant Superintendent Marie Hernandez said the plan’s focus is to provide professional development for teachers and strengthen instruction.
“You can see a difference already,” she said.
Quarterly progress updates will be provided to the board and plans to ensure parental and community engagement are also included.
“We are all in this together,” Hernandez said.
Board Secretary Adam Feriend asked about what happens once the rating improves and how to sustain it. Smith answered honestly that it’s a matter of staying vigilant and not letting their feet off the gas.
“We learned the hard way that we have to be intentional and stay committed to it,” he said.
Also at the meeting:
Trustees heard a campus report from Seguin Elementary.
Canvassed the returns and declared the results of the bond election held on Nov. 4, noting that all three propositions failed to pass. Board president Mike Guest said that the district will continue to “put our heads down and do the work to provide the best instruction for students.”
Approved new high school course offerings for the 2026-2027 school year. The new classes include dual-credit college plane trigonometry, dual credit college pre-calculus, internetworking, and cybersecurity.
WISD meets next at 6 p.m. on Dec. 8.
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