Southwest Community Association

Southwest Independent School District (SWISD) Board

Nov 16, 2004

All school districts have school boards. Members of those boards are residents of the district and are elected by the voters of the district to maintain local control. School board members are also supposed to represent the residents of the district, equally.
The hired professionals of the district do NOT have to live in the district and, therefore, don?’t have to live with the results of their decisions or pay taxes to support their decisions. Many school districts REQUIRE senior staff and others to live in the district. SWISD does not. Most of SWISD?’s senior administrators do NOT live in the district; there are very few who do. That?’s why it is even more critical that SWISD residents know who their school board members are; know how to contact them; and know when the meetings are. Any SWISD parent or taxpayer can ask the SWISD board to answer any questions?—and expect to get thorough, timely answers; whether it is a question about how a school staff member treated your child to why the district made certain decisions. If you do not get thorough, timely answers, the only way you can change attitudes of the board and administration, is to elect different people to the board. (Because SWISD is not a single-member district, you can expect a board election the first Saturday of each May.) Perhaps YOU will consider running for SWISD board next May.
Over the past three years, each of the current board members have indicated they have no problem with people calling them at home?—to ask questions. (All agreed they would consider calls appropriate up to 9 PM.) Current board members phone numbers are: President Mike Frazier?—622-3266; Carolyn Fields?—622-4202; Keith Byrom?—622-3604; Juan Martinez?—678-9683; Sylvester Vasquez?—670-4202; Ida Sudolcan?– last # disconnected; & Raul Guzman?—current # unknown.
The SWISD Board meets the 3rd Tue of each month (all year round) at 6 PM, at the Central Office, 11914 Dragon Lane. Prior to the meeting, citizens can sign up to speak for 5 minutes on any topic. They will be called to speak at the start of the meeting.
SWISD school taxes currently consume about 52% of your property taxes (more than the City and County combined). You should get to know your board members and learn what the board is up to. After all, YOU ARE PAYING FOR IT.