Rich Sena, a trustee for the Boerne Independent School District, has announced his campaign for re-election, citing his commitment to the district's 11,200 students and a proven record of fiscal responsibility during a period of rapid community expansion. Sena, a first-generation American and long-serving board member, shared his platform in a recent interview on the nonpartisan civic education platform Vote Like a Texan.
Having served multiple terms and worked with three superintendents, Sena emphasized the value of his institutional knowledge. "It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve our community as a trustee," Sena stated. He described a deep personal commitment to student success, viewing all district children as his own. Boerne ISD is an A-rated district, a distinction held by only 31 of over 1200 districts in Texas and making it the only district in the San Antonio area with more than 1,000 students to consistently achieve this rating. This academic excellence is supported by community involvement, strong governance, and a focus on teacher development.
A cornerstone of Sena's tenure has been fiscal stewardship. The district has realized significant taxpayer savings through proactive financial management. Sena detailed the early payoff of bonds from 1999 and 2002, coupled with refinancing at lower interest rates. These actions, along with 2022 bond projects coming in under budget, have resulted in over $85 million in savings for the community. Sena also championed the successful effort to eliminate the Robin Hood recapture system, 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.
Under Sena's guidance, the district has also launched innovative academic programs. The Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program enables students to graduate high school with an associate's degree, providing a substantial head start on higher education and saving families thousands of dollars. "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. Looking forward, he anticipates managing modest growth to preserve the district's culture while continuing to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) options. The district aims to maintain its 95% College, Career, Military Ready (CCMR) rate, which is well above the state average.
Sena has actively advocated for teachers, testifying in Austin for retention funding and supporting local initiatives for competitive wages. His re-election campaign centers on continuing this track record of balancing academic innovation, support for educators, and prudent financial management as Boerne continues to grow. The full interview discussing these achievements is available on the Vote Like a Texan YouTube Channel.
