Beaumont — Beaumont ISD’s new superintendent is asking community leaders and business owners to help turn around a district facing widespread academic struggles and significant losses in state funding tied to attendance.
The city and the school district invited selected community stakeholders to hear Superintendent Sandi Massey’s vision, with “community connection” described as the theme. Those who attended said they were impressed with Massey’s plans to improve education in Beaumont public schools.
Massey is seeking support from dozens of community leaders and business owners, emphasizing that stronger schools benefit the broader community.
“To me, it does take a village. It takes us all working together, rowing the boat in the same direction,” Massey said.
Beaumont ISD’s challenges include 23 of 26 schools performing below grade level and attendance at about 89.1%, which translates into a loss of about $8.4 million in state aid.
City leaders said supporting Massey’s efforts is critical.
“The future of our city is dependent upon the future of our young people, our kids, our students. And so we have some challenges, of course, in terms of scoring, in terms of education. And so we’ve got to get this right. So our city depends on a successful student body, a successful youth,” Beaumont City Manager Chris Boone said.
Massey has been visiting classrooms almost daily and meeting with teachers and staff as she works to improve the district, while also calling on the community to help.
“There is not a district a school district that I can think of that can be successful without the support of the community. Emotional support you know moral support financial support is needed for any district to be successful,” said Shawn Webb-Locke, a business owner.
Webb-Locke said she is impressed with Massey’s vision and plans to help, and she hopes others will do the same.
“That we take ourselves out of the equation and think about the students because at the end of the day none of this is about us, it’s about them,” Webb-Locke said.
Massey is planning to bring in a deputy chief of schools to help with instruction, training and coaching, with the goal of ensuring students are receiving a quality education.
Beaumont ISD will also host a districtwide job fair Saturday, offering opportunities to explore career options across the district.
