Rich Sena, a trustee for the Boerne Independent School District, has announced his campaign for re-election, emphasizing his commitment to fiscal stewardship and educational excellence during a period of significant community growth. In an interview on the Vote Like a Texan platform, Sena outlined his priorities for the district, which serves approximately 11,200 students.
Sena, who has served multiple terms and worked with three superintendents, stressed the importance of institutional knowledge in guiding the district. Boerne ISD maintains an A-rating from the state, a distinction held by only 31 of over 1,200 Texas school districts and the only one in the San Antonio area with more than 1,000 students. This achievement is attributed to community support, strong governance, and a focus on teacher development.
A key initiative under Sena's tenure has been the implementation of the P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program. This allows students to graduate high school with an associate's degree, potentially saving families thousands of dollars in future college costs. "Our kids can get these associate's degrees... they're halfway through the college experience, saving them and their family thousands of dollars," Sena explained during the interview, which is available on the Vote Like a Texan website.
Fiscal responsibility has been a cornerstone of Sena's service. He detailed how the district has achieved over $85 million in taxpayer savings through proactive bond refinancing and early debt payoff, including retiring bonds from 1999 and 2002. Furthermore, projects from the 2022 bond have been completed under budget. Sena also championed the successful effort to eliminate the Robin Hood tax, which had previously diverted over $120 million from Boerne ISD to the state, ensuring local tax dollars now remain within the community.
Advocacy for teachers has been another focus, with Sena testifying in Austin for retention allotments and supporting local initiatives for competitive wages. Despite receiving approximately $3,000 less per student than the state average, the district ensures efficient use of resources. Looking ahead, Sena anticipates managing modest growth to preserve the district's culture while expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) options. The goal is to maintain the district's 95% College, Career, Military Ready (CCMR) rate, which exceeds the state average.
The district's approach to growth and fiscal management, as discussed by Sena, highlights the importance of experienced leadership in sustaining educational quality and financial health for taxpayers. His re-election bid centers on continuing these efforts to support student achievement and community investment.
