Valued Hornet Community,
We are approaching the end of our first nine-week grading period as we all welcome the fall season. This month, I would like to focus on key upcoming dates, updates regarding the work of our Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee, and the upcoming November election.
After a busy start to the school year, I know students and families are looking forward to fall break. Several days of the student fall break are staff workdays, including Tuesday, Oct. 13, a designated parent/teacher conference day as required by the recent 89th Texas Legislature. Parents are a child's first and most important teachers, and I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to sit down with your child's teachers and collaborate for their success.
Excitement is building for Homecoming week, a tradition of welcoming back former students and staff to celebrate our district’s achievements and reflect on the past. The annual Homecoming parade kicks off community activities at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, followed by the football game at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. The Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, with the AHS Student Council Homecoming Dance that evening. We are excited to celebrate with current and former Azle Hornets!
In November 2023, this community trusted us with voter approval of a bond to address student capacity and learning spaces for pre-K through eighth grades, based on enrollment projections for the next 10-plus years. That bond, focused on changes in our grade-level configuration and equity across campuses, was delivered on time and in budget. Projects included capacity at both junior high campuses for sixth through eighth grades, which included a new Azle Junior High and additions to Forte Junior High, renovations to all elementary campuses to accommodate for pre-K through fifth grades, a new maintenance facility, and renovations to the Azle ISD Police Department. Looking forward, facility needs remain at Azle High School.
Identifying those needs is the charge of the Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee. The group of more than 75 members includes taxpayers representing a broad range of our community, parents, staff and neighbors, along with 10 AHS students who bring valuable perspectives and experiences to the planning process.
The committee will study facility data and school finance as well as personally tour facilities as it works toward the development of potential projects. It is important to us that any bond recommendation from the committee is made by people who live here and have a genuine interest in the future of our district.
To learn more, including presentations and meeting summaries, visit the committee page on our website, azleisd.net/page/long-range-facilities-planning-committee.
In keeping with our Azle ISD culture of voting, here is a reminder of key dates for the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. Early voting runs from Oct. 19-30, and Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. I encourage everyone to make a plan to vote.
We are Azle
Todd Smith
