SAN ANTONIO – About 55,000 North East ISD students are heading back to class today, and the district’s new superintendent says his focus extends beyond what happens inside the classroom.

Anthony Jarrett begins his first full school year leading the district, which includes 67 campuses. He told News 4 San Antonio’s Mariza Mendoza that his priorities center around four key groups and responsibilities.

As far as my priorities, I would say I have four, to be quite honest with you. It’s students, staff, stakeholders and stewardship,” Jarrett said. “And those priorities do not work in isolation, but it’s the balance of the four in making decisions and how we behave as a system.

Jarrett takes over as North East ISD faces some of the same challenges confronting districts across the state, including declining enrollment and increased competition from charter and private schools, along with the state’s new education savings account program.

He said one way the district can compete is by offering programs and educational experiences that give families a reason to choose North East ISD.

“Once we get students into our schools, it’s actually delivering opportunities and access to high-level programs, educational experiences,” Jarrett said.

The district is also trying something new this year by opening its boundaries to students who don’t live within North East ISD. The move is designed to fill available seats as enrollment declines.

Jarrett stressed that students who live within the district will remain the first priority.

First role is to take care of the families and kiddos that live in our district,” Jarrett said. “And the second response is, if we have seats available, then it is open to other families that may be interested in joining the North East family.

Campus safety is another major focus this year. At secondary schools, Jarrett said district police officers are working to strengthen relationships with students and serve as mentors in addition to their law enforcement duties.

“We have to take down some of that guard that the uniform can portray and really show that person underneath,” Jarrett said.

The new school year also comes after North East ISD closed three campuses last year amid declining enrollment.

Despite those closures, the district has hired 320 new teachers for the new school year. Of those, 120 are beginning their first year in the profession.