The new Kingsville Independent School District vision statement approved by the board members is ambitious with extremely high expectations.

The new KISD vision statement is: “The vision of the Kingsville Independent School District is to become the best district in the United States.”

The new mission statement approved is: “The mission of the Kingsville Independent School District is to graduate responsible and productive citizens who are college and career ready.”

Both statements were approved at the regular school board meeting held Tuesday.

Trustee Annabelle Garza asked H.M. King High students, members of the newly created Teen Advisory Board members what their thoughts were concerning the new vision statement.

“The ‘best’ in the U.S. I consider far reaching for the district. but it is a concise mission stated for the district to know,” said Nathan Westbrook.

Overall Westbrook and others seemed to be comfortable with the new vision and mission statements.

Larry E. Garza, KISD board president, said these statements were going to make believers of us, and trustee Joe Trevino said the goals were ambitious.

“We are looking at the Baldridge criteria and will begin to be the best in what teachers, parents and students want,” said Emilio Castro, KISD superintendent.

He realized that this was a bold, audacious statement, but he said that all parents want the best education for their children.

Prior to introducing this agenda item, Jennifer Kent, Chief Academic Officer explained the background information on the new mission and vision statements.

“As KISD continues in its transformational efforts, the need for a more concise and clearer mission and vision has become evident. Though numerous stakeholder meetings that included central and campus administrators, teachers, parents, community members and students, we present to the Board for consideration a new mission and vision that will lead us in our quest for excellence,” Kent stated.

School officials also said that all KISD employees would be able to know and share the mission and vision statements with others.