Page 83 - 2025 GPISD Honor Board Application

08 PLACEMENT OF THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN SERVED BY THE SCHOOL

SYSTEM ABOVE PERSONAL OR POLITICAL MOTIVES

The GPISD Board of Trustees has shown a true commitment toward ensuring equity for all
students, parents and staff� In addition, the Board works diligently to remain impartial with
regards to critical district policies and procedures�

8.1 SUPPORT OF POTENTIALLY UNPOPULAR ACTIONS WHEN THOSE ACTIONS ARE CLEARLY TO THE
BENEFIT OF THE DISTRICT AND ITS CHILDREN

In an effort to improve the Special Education (SPED) program and to better meet the needs
of this growing population, District leaders determined it was necessary to end the practice
of only offering self-contained SPED programs on a few select campuses� This practice
required many identified students to be transferred to schools across the district rather than
being served on their home (zoned) campus� The overwhelming recommendation was for
the district to offer all services on each campus, allowing students to attend their home, or
zoned, school in the community where they live along with their general education and
mainstream SPED counterparts�

After careful review of district programs, funding and staffing, district administrators
developed a two-phase implementation plan to present to the Board� Although Phase 1
was completed last year with minor internal staffing moves, Phase 2, implemented this year,
required much more difficult decision making for district leaders and the Board� 86 students
(out of 234) in two programs would be impacted and asked to return to their home campus�
Additional staff was warranted based on the intensive needs of the new programs, but
funding was not available to create new full-time positions� The agonizing decision was
made to reduce staffing by 16 in other academic areas and reclassify these positions to the
SPED programs�

Several concerns were expressed
throughout the school community
regarding the reassignment of so many
staff positions and students� It was not
a popular nor convenient decision, but
it was the right thing to do in the best
interest of Galena Park ISD students�
District leaders formed a committee
to proactively address the concerns
and provided Board members
information throughout the process� In
the end, the initiative was successfully
implemented� Through transparency
and consistent communication, Board
Trustees were supportive and prepared
to address any community members BUILDING ON A
or employees who contacted them� LEGACY

Galena Park Independent School District | Building On A Legacy | Page 83