Communicating with the Leander ISD School Board

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Board of Trustees: (Front row left to right) Grace S. Barber-Jordan, M.Ed., Secretary; Pamela Waggoner, President; Lisa Mallory
(Back row left to right) Don Hisle; Aaron Johnson; Will Streit; Russell Bundy, Vice President

Communicating with the LISD School Board

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees is elected at-large by LISD parents and community members to represent them in governing and setting policy for the school district. As public representatives, the LISD Board of Trustees’ goal is to make decisions for the good of the greatest number of students. Community input is welcomed.

The Leander ISD school board provides a number of opportunities for community input:

The LISD Board of Trustees meets twice each month – once in the northern half of the 200 square-mile district, the other in the southern half – with a “Citizens Comments” period provided at each school board meeting. Citizen Comments are limited to three minutes per person, and are usually held at or near 7:00 p.m. at each meeting.

All Board Meeting agendas are posted at the LISD Administrative Offices and on the Leander ISD website 72 hours prior to each meeting.

Parents and community members may contact both the full Leander ISD Board and the Superintendent in a single e-mail via LISD’s Governance Team e-mail account. Communications to the LISD Governance Team are sent to the Board of Trustees members and the Superintendent of Schools. When possible, the School/Community Relations Office will respond to the patron with additional information regarding their concern or request. Board members also receive copies of all responses to patrons.

Issues with Specific LISD Employees

Parents and community members wishing to contact the school board regarding a specific school, teacher or child, are encouraged to begin at the level closest to the concern. The Board encourages students and parents to discuss their concerns and complaints through informal conferences with the appropriate teacher, principal, or other campus administrator. Concerns should be expressed as soon as possible to allow early resolution at the lowest possible administrative level.

Step One: Contact the teacher, coach, guidance counselor, etc.

Step Two: Contact the principal (If you have a school-wide concern, this becomes step one.)

Step Three: Contact the District office responsible for the area of concern:

Curriculum & Instruction 570-0200

Special Education, 570-0300

Student Services (student discipline issues, etc.), 570-0150

Business & Operations, 570-0400 (Child Nutrition Services, 570-0670; Transportation, 570-0700)

Step Four: Contact the Superintendent of Schools or designee, 570-0005

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If an informal conference regarding a complaint fails to reach the outcome requested by the student or parent, the student or parent may initiate the formal process described in policies FNG Local and FNG Legal, and file a written complaint form.

Even after initiating the formal complaint process, students and parents are encouraged to seek informal resolution of their concerns. A student or parent whose concerns are resolved may withdraw a formal complaint at any time.

Neither the Board nor any District employee shall unlawfully retaliate against any student or parent for bringing a concern or complaint.

Other Issues

Citizens wishing to express themselves regarding school district policy, boundaries, finances, or other responsibilities of the Board which have not been placed on a regular agenda are encouraged to use one or more of these alternatives.

Contact the appropriate school department.

Speak at the Citizens Comments period held during each school board meeting.

E-mail the Leander ISD Governance Team. Letters to the LISD Governance Team are sent to the Board of Trustees members and the Superintendent of Schools. When possible, the School/Community Relations Office will respond to the patron with additional information regarding their concern or request. Board members also receive copies of all responses to patrons.

Write letters to Board members c/o Leander ISD Board of Trustees, P.O. Box 218, Leander, Texas 78646.

Board members discourage citizens from providing anonymous information in any form, and, in general, will not act upon it.