Belton Independent School District leaders on Nov. 17 detailed a turnaround plan for Southwest Elementary that district staff said responds to consecutive low accountability ratings and will begin phased implementation in January.

Gabby Nino, the district’s assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, told the Board of Trustees the campus earned an overall score of 59 in 2024–25 — an F under the state system — and that recent changes in state accountability mean the district must consider multi‑year performance when planning interventions. "In the 2022–23 school year, the campus did have a rating of an F with a score of a 59, overall score," Nino said, summarizing the campus history that triggered the turnaround requirement.

District staff described a needs‑assessment process that identified three highest‑leverage focus areas: strong leadership and planning; high‑quality instructional materials and assessment; and effective instruction. To address those areas, the plan includes professional learning for campus leaders (the district uses a "Get Better Faster" cycle for teacher feedback), strengthened fidelity of curriculum implementation and faster classroom assessment cycles so teachers can reteach and adjust instruction within short windows.

Nino said the campus has built a daily 50‑minute "win time" during which teachers flex students across classrooms for targeted instruction and that teacher teams now meet weekly to review assessment data. To monitor progress, the district developed a one‑page, measurable monitoring tool and will conduct quarterly district support checks after each district assessment window.

The plan also calls for targeted family outreach and barrier removal to support extended learning time. "Our goal is to start in January when we return from break," Nino said. She said staff are working to identify transportation and snack logistics and will reach out to families to ensure students can stay later for structured academic support. The district also committed to ensuring every student who needs a mentor will be connected to one, with the campus providing individualized needs so district staff can recruit appropriate volunteers.

Trustees asked about immediate implementation and community engagement; several thanked the campus team for the thorough plan and noted the work will be about execution and measurement. The public hearing portion for the turnaround plan was opened and closed with no speakers for the hearing.

Action: the board considered school improvement plans for multiple campuses, including Southwest Elementary, and recorded approval for the set of improvement plans during the meeting.