As a district, we must focus on ensuring our students and staff come to safe schools. Historically, the Board of Education has made that a true priority. Without a safe, secure environment, our students can't learn.

They maintain a visible yet understated presence, acting proactively rather than reactively. Students need to feel like they can approach them, or any other staff member, with security concerns. I think we do a good job of making students feel comfortable. That goes a long way toward preventing trouble before it starts.

The focus of this program is students with disabilities and how these schools have met or exceeded state standards for overall test performance.

Schools like Grove City, Brigham Young, and Hillsdale are some of our more popular schools. Their students are usually of very high caliber.

We have been contacted by several member schools that already have enrolled students from Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi displaced by the storm,

We have two schools with high numbers of disadvantages students. Now, the state mandates a 22-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio in the classroom, but what we do right now is have a 19-to-1 student ratio from pre-kindergarten to third grade at those (economically disadvantaged) campuses. The third grade is when they start TAKS and reading. We want to make sure we have those kids prepared for their future. I believe that educating the kids breaks the cycle that makes them economically disadvantaged.