CCISD is in the process of searching for its next superintendent; Smith’s last day in the district is Dec. 31. He is the longest-serving superintendent in district history, having been in the position since 2008.
Smith will replace Guy Sconzo at FGSC, who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year, per the release.
“[Smith has] been in the trenches with us as a superintendent at two fast growth districts over the past two decades,” said Doug Killian, FGSC president and superintendent of Pflugerville ISD, in the release. “The breadth and depth of Dr. Smith’s experience locally and at the State Capitol is a tremendous asset to FGSC and our member districts.”
Of all new students enrolled in Texas public schools each year, the vast majority are concentrated in roughly 75 of the state’s more than 1,200 public school districts, per the release. These fast-growth schools tend to be located in areas of the state with rapid economic expansion and significant increases in population.
CCISD falls in this fast-growth category: League City saw a population increase of more than 20% over the last decade. The city has more than 107,000 residents, and officials estimate it is halfway built-out.
FGSC educates and advocates for investment in the state’s fastest-growing school districts to deliver high-quality education for students, per the release. Joining the coalition provides Smith with a unique opportunity to apply his knowledge and experience at a statewide level, he said in the release.
Increasing state funding for new facilities to ensure fast-growth districts can meet the needs of their community is still a challenge, despite the progress made with House Bill 3, Smith added. The challenge is further exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, but fast-growth districts are nonetheless working to prepare students for the future, he said in the release.
“Our districts are an integral part of Texas’ larger economy, creating and sustaining jobs, driving construction and infrastructure investment and attracting additional business relocation and expansions,” Smith said in the release. “It will be a privilege to ... bring additional learnings and experience from our work at Clear Creek as we navigate the challenges posed by COVID-19 on our schools, our students, our faculty and our facilities.”
