Laredo Independent School District

The LISD board room was prior to 1963 the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Laredo.

Laredo Independent School District is a public school district based in Laredo in Webb County, Texas (USA). The district serves the south central portion of Laredo. In 2009, LISD was rated "academically acceptable" by the Texas Education Agency.[1]

In September 2014, superintendent A. Marcus Nelson (born 1972), a native of San Antonio and a 1994 graduate of Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas, was named "Superintendent of the Year" by the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards at the annual convention of the two groups held in Dallas. Nelson, who took the Laredo position in August 2009, beat out four other contenders for the recognition.[2][3] With a salary of $206,000 annually, Nelson's contract expires in August 2020. He is the ninth highest paid superintendent in his Region 1 Education Service Center.[4]

Twelve LISD schools in 2014 fell short of minimum state standards and have been placed on the Public Education Grant list. These institutions include Martin High School, J. W. Nixon High School, and Cigarroa High School, as well as several middle and elementary schools. Five schools in the United Independent School District, also located in Webb County, fell short in standards, including Lyndon B. Johnson High School.[5]

In July 2013, LISD trustee Rick Garza proposed the return of corporal punishment into the code of student conduct. "I hear time and time again that the teachers are losing control of their classroom," Garza said.[6] Garza said current disciplinary methods are too lenient, exhaust district resources, and fail to control rowdy students. Superintendent Nelson said that paddling could be reinstituted by the board but would require parental consent and could not be used until a third offense. Nelson said the district will poll teachers anonymously to see if they support the return of the paddle. "We live in a litigious society ... They [parents] are looking for reasons to file litigation ...," Nelson added.[6]

On November 5, 2013, district voters in a low-turnout election handily approved a $47.17 million school bond issue to refinance previously issued revenue bonds. The tabulation was 1,944 (73.1%) in support to 716 (26.9%) in opposition.[7]

From 1947 to 1970, Laredo Community College, then known as Laredo Junior College, was during the tenures of its first two presidents, W. J. Adkins and Ray A. Laird, under the jurisdiction of LISD prior to becoming a separate governing and taxing body.

Schools

High Schools (Grades 9–12)

Middle Schools (Grades 6–8)

Elementary Schools (Grades PK–5)

Magnet Schools

Other Campuses

References

  1. ↑ "2009 Accountability Rating System". Texas Education Agency.
  2. ↑ Judith Rayo, "LISD chief honored at state education convention", Laredo Morning Times, September 27, 2014, p. 1
  3. ↑ "ACU Alumnus Marcus Nelson". alumniassociation.acu.edu. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Judith Rayo, "Nelson gets a raise: Superintendent's contract extended", Laredo Morning Times, January 14, 2015, p. 1
  5. ↑ Judith Rayo, "17 schools fall short", Laredo Morning Times, January 15, 2015, p. 1
  6. 1 2 JJ Velasquez, "Trustee wants paddle usage: Rick Garza eyes paddling as a discipline method", Laredo Morning Times, July 22, 2013, pp. 1, 12A
  7. ↑ "LISD, UISD school bonds pass as final voting results are released". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved November 6, 2013.

External links

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