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Harlandale's Visionary

How Robert Jaklich Rebuilt A Struggling School District

by Chad Peters, Sports Information Coordinator

A virtual shrine to the recent work of Robert Jaklich, a table overflowing with decorations sits in the lobby leading to the Harlandale Independent School District (ISD) Superintendent’s Office in San Antonio.

There are countless awards, plaques, newspaper clippings—even an oversized check written to Harlandale in the amount of $100,000.

Every child, every classroom, every day

But you’d have to look elsewhere in the room to see what truly captures Jaklich’s eye. Dotting the upper part of three walls are photos of Harlandale students. The theme carries into Jaklich’s office, where 11 more photos of jubilant students hang proudly.

Back in the lobby is a message that brings it all together. “Every child, every classroom, every day,” reads the passage, painted prominently on a wall adjacent to all the photography.

This is what drives the St. Mary’s alumnus in his daily pursuit to make Harlandale ISD the state’s top school district. “You see that picture right there of that young man holding up his index finger?” Jaklich (B.A. ’81) says. “He’s saying, ‘Sir, don’t ever forget: I’m your No. 1 responsibility.’

“Our kids have to be our No. 1 priority.”

Suddenly, Harlandale knows all about being “No. 1.” Despite ranking as the most property-poor school district in the city—and 22nd in the state—Harlandale ISD has become one the top school districts in Texas under Jaklich’s careful supervision.

In May, Harlandale ISD won H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Award, effectively being named the state’s top large school district. With it came a trophy and that oversized $100,000 check (the real one was quickly deposited), both of which now reside on that table in the lobby leading to Jaklich’s office.

Community’s belief in education propels district to excellence

In addition, Harlandale was recently named the top school district in San Antonio by Education Resource Group, and ranked No. 4 in the state with regard to finances, academic accountability, and success and achievement; it was chosen for Generation TX, an initiative aimed to improve college-readiness; the district was voted one of the top workplaces in San Antonio—the city’s only school district to make the list; and it is also a recognized district, with 18 of its 19 schools considered recognized or exemplary.

“Out of 1,025 school districts in Texas and we’re number one?” Jaklich said. “What a compliment to our community for their belief in education.”

Three years ago, little of this seemed possible.

Jaklich, a native of Racine, Wis., who played basketball on scholarship at St. Mary’s, took over as the Interim Superintendent in 2008 before being appointed Superintendent months later, inheriting a school district that was practically on the verge of collapse.

Around the time Jaklich took over, Harlandale had to trim $3.9 million from its budget, close down an elementary school and cut 100 positions. In an effort to make up for its lost money, the district sought a referendum to increase property taxes, which failed badly when put to vote.

With only $4 million left in the district’s savings account—when it was recommended to have $20 million available in reserve—the end appeared in sight for Harlandale.

“We were facing two options,” Jaklich said. “The Texas Education Agency could take over the school district or Harlandale could consolidate with another school district.”

Jaklich was unwilling to let either scenario come to fruition.

“These were the challenges we were facing,” he said. “There was no money in the fund balance and look what could happen. We had to discover why we were where we were.”

Three year ‘battle plan’ put into action

Knowing this wasn’t a battle he could win alone, Jaklich came up with a threeyear plan that centered on re-engaging the Harlandale community. He spread the district’s message to churches, spoke at community meetings and watched as the community took charge of the initiative.

“Military Drive is the road that splits the district’s two major high schools, Harlandale and McCollum,” said Jaklich, whose exuberance for education is matched only by his innovation in the field. “Our students marched down Military Drive, arm in arm in a rally that showed the community how important it was to save our schools.”

With Jaklich’s enthusiasm and convincing collaborative style, the next bond election passed by an overwhelming margin, which effectively freed up $8.2 million for Harlandale ISD overnight. Through better bookkeeping practices, Jaklich found nearly $15 million more that was made available to the district, all but erasing its once-bleak outlook.

“We went from $4 million in the fund balance to having $23.2 million today,” he said.

Jaklich immediately made sure such resources were put back into the district.

Harlandale ISD’s football field received new turf and the track was resurfaced. The cracked tennis courts were redone, and a new band hall and field house for the schools should be completed by next year.

“As a superintendent, what is my responsibility?” Jaklich said. “Absolutely we’ve got to uphold our community’s trust every single day. That’s why our commitment to every child, every classroom, every day is strongly followed. That’s why you’re going to see the pictures of our kids on the wall.

“We can’t forget where we come from.” Whenever Jaklich meets with board members, community members or parents, he likes to bring them to his office where such photos are so plainly visible.

“I want them to see the pictures of the kids on our wall and know that if this decision is best for the kids, absolutely we’re going to support it,” he said. “Our kids have to be No. 1.”

And ensuring Harlandale’s students reached that distinction wasn’t easy.

Building for the district’s future

Wanting every child to walk into the classroom on an even playing field, Jaklich has taken numerous steps to revamp the district’s pre-kindergarten program. The district recently completed its first-ever library, built 25 more pre-K classrooms through the help of a bond and restructured how its entire pre-K program was run. It even built a partnership with Avánce San Antonio, an organization that specializes in teaching parents how to support and educate their children.

“Parents are the experts in newbornthrough- age-three child care and we’re the experts in teaching,” Jaklich said. “Put those together and it makes a perfect combination.”

Harlandale also launched Professional Learning Communities—or PLCs—to help teachers collaborate and share ideas among themselves. Through the program, teachers have a planning period where they meet with other teachers in their core area to share classroom successes and build lesson plans. This idea is then carried over into “switcheroos,” where teachers who specialize in a certain lesson plan will sometimes teach that particular session to another teacher’s class.

“How amazing is all this for a school district that just three years ago was struggling for its life?” Jaklich said. “Now look at us today.”

With a single glance around his office, Jaklich does just that daily.