Whereas, having collectively served as elected Clear Creek ISD school board members with more than 100 years of combined service and spanning almost three decades of board service, we, the undersigned, have a unique perspective and appreciation for the district’s mission, history and aspirations as well as the issues that our district has faced and will face as CCISD’s teachers and staff educate our region’s most precious resource, our children, and prepare them for their futures as productive and engaged citizens; and

Whereas, our dedication to CCISD is grounded on our firm commitment to public education that ensures a well-educated citizenry and that was explicitly recognized as essential by our nation’s and our state’s founding fathers; and

Whereas, our nation is founded on trust, respect, and democratic values: “… (W)hen we are at our best, we also trust in each other. Trust is fundamental, reciprocal and, ideally, pervasive. If it is present, anything is possible. If it is absent, nothing is possible. The best leaders trust their followers with the truth, and you know what happens as a result? Their followers trust them back. With that bond, they can do big, hard things together, changing the world for the better1;” and

Whereas, our core educational value has been expressed by Thomas Jefferson2, who said, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty;” and

Whereas, we support the Texas Constitution, Article 73, which states, “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools;” and

Whereas, our support for CCISD is inspired by the district’s sustained record of excellence, innovation, and success educating all students; stability through responsible governance and accountable management; and earned support from informed citizens who understand that education is equally a public good that benefits our economy and quality of life and an individual benefit that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to contribute to society; and

Whereas, we recognize that CCISD is facing a confluence of challenges, including, but not limited to, the aftermath of a global pandemic and its effects on education; a fixed funding scheme that does not recognize the increasing cost of education; the educational challenges resulting from virtual learning and learning loss; teacher and staff recruitment and retention; shifting state mandates; political and partisan divisiveness; school safety and security; mental health of children and staff; threats to local control of public education; and economic uncertainties.

Be It Therefore Resolved that we fully and enthusiastically support the vision, mission and strategic plan adopted by the CCISD Board of Trustees as well as CCISD’s teachers, staff and administration as they fulfill their vital responsibilities on behalf of the district’s students and the region’s economy and quality of life.

 

References:

1. George P. Schultz, (Cabinet member in Nixon and Reagan administrations) “The 10 Most Important Things I’ve Learned About Trust,” Washington Post, December 13, 2020
2. Thomas Jefferson letter to James Madison, 1787.
3. State of Texas Constitution, Article VII: Education

Prepared: December 16, 2020
Revised: March 10, 2022, April 4, 2023