April 7, 2025
As Board President of San Saba ISD, I wanted to take a moment to address a few questions and concerns the Board and SSISD Superintendent Mr. Owen have recently received about the upcoming bond election on May 3rd.
First and foremost, we are committed to open and honest communication. We want our community to know that we are an open book. Aside from private personnel matters or legal issues – which we are required by law to keep confidential – all other public-school information is available to the public. Our entire district budget, school policies, and curriculum materials are accessible for anyone who wants to review them.
And when it comes to the bond election, the exact same information which has been provided to our school board members is available to you. We believe you deserve all the facts to make an informed decision.
We recognize the importance of sharing accurate and timely information regarding a bond election. This is a task that takes a lot of time and requires specialized skills. That is why we decided to engage outside support to help us do it right. We hire experts such as architects, attorneys, or financial advisors for other important work, because at times we need outside help for tasks that require specific expertise. We intentionally keep our central office administration team small, so we can keep our resources focused where they matter most—on our students and their education!
We have also heard questions about why there has not been a large town hall meeting. Instead of one big event, Mr. Owen has been meeting with any small group who wants to learn more about the bond proposal. He has already met with several groups and is scheduling more. These smaller, more personal meetings allow for real conversations and a deeper understanding, something that is much harder to achieve in a large room with a microphone and limited time.
If you or your group would like to visit with Mr. Owen, he would be glad to meet with you. You can reach him at kowen@ san-saba.net or by calling (325)267-2731.
We are committed to making sure our community has the information needed to make an informed vote on May 3. To achieve this, we will continue to share information and make ourselves available to respond to your questions to ensure you are informed and engaged in this election.
Sincerely,
Kevin Shahan
San Saba ISD Board President
kshahan@san-saba.net