Rich Sena, a trustee for the Boerne Independent School District, has announced his campaign for re-election, citing his focus on fiscal responsibility and academic excellence as the district navigates rapid growth. Sena, a first-generation American, shared his platform in a recent interview on the nonpartisan civic education platform Vote Like a Texan. Boerne ISD is an A-rated district, one of only 31 out of over 1,200 in Texas to consistently achieve this rating, and the only one in the San Antonio area with more than 1,000 students.
Sena, who has served multiple terms and worked with three superintendents, attributes this success to community support, strong governance, and a focus on developing teaching staff. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve our community as a trustee," Sena stated, emphasizing his dedication to the district's 11,200 students. A key achievement under Sena's tenure has been significant financial savings for taxpayers. Through proactive bond refinancing and early debt payoff, the district has realized over $85 million in savings. "We paid off the 99 bond... the 02 bond... and we refinanced at a lower rate," Sena detailed.
Furthermore, the 2022 bond projects have come in under budget, demonstrating continued fiscal prudence. Sena also championed the successful fight to eliminate the Robin Hood tax, which previously diverted over $120 million from Boerne ISD to the state, ensuring local tax dollars now remain within the community. Academically, Sena highlighted the implementation of the P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) program, which allows students to graduate high school with an associate's degree. "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.
The district maintains a 95% College, Career, Military Ready (CCMR) rate, well above the state average, with a continued focus on expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) options. Sena has actively advocated for teachers, testifying in Austin for retention allotments and supporting local initiatives for competitive wages. He notes the district operates efficiently despite receiving $3,000 less per student than the state average. Looking ahead, Sena anticipates managing modest growth to integrate newcomers while preserving the district's unique culture and academic standards. The full interview discussing these achievements is available on the Vote Like a Texan YouTube Channel.
