Rich Sena, a trustee for the Boerne Independent School District, has announced his campaign for re-election, citing his commitment to fiscal stewardship and educational excellence as the district navigates rapid community growth. In an interview on the nonpartisan civic education platform Vote Like a Texan, Sena outlined his achievements and priorities for the district serving approximately 11,200 students.
Sena, who has served multiple terms and worked with three superintendents, emphasized his institutional knowledge and dedication. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve our community as a trustee," Sena stated. He described feeling a personal responsibility for all district students, noting that no amount of volunteer time feels adequate to support their dreams. Boerne ISD is an A-rated district, a distinction held by only 31 out of over 1,200 districts in Texas, and it is the only district in the San Antonio area with more than 1,000 students to consistently achieve this rating.
A significant portion of Sena's tenure has focused on fiscal responsibility. He detailed how the district has achieved over $85 million in taxpayer savings through proactive bond refinancing and early debt payoff. "We paid off the 99 bond... the 02 bond... and we refinanced at a lower rate," Sena explained. Furthermore, projects from the 2022 bond have come in under budget, demonstrating continued fiscal prudence. 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. He affirmed that local tax dollars now remain within the community, a critical achievement given the district receives approximately $3,000 less per student than the state average.
On the academic front, 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 said. Looking ahead, he anticipates manageable growth for the district and plans to continue focusing on Career and Technical Education (CTE) to expand academic options. The district aims to maintain its 95% College, Career, Military Ready (CCMR) rate, which is well above the state average. Sena has also actively advocated for teachers, testifying in Austin for retention allotments and supporting local initiatives for competitive wages.
The full interview with Rich Sena is available on the Vote Like a Texan YouTube Channel. His re-election campaign centers on preserving the district's unique culture and academic standards while integrating new residents and ensuring efficient use of resources.
