By Eleni Himaras
reporter@ltview.com
The Lake Travis Board of Trustees’ meeting last Thursday had the heartfelt ring of last month’s graduation ceremony as the board and staff bid a fond farewell to Bob Hart.

Hart, a 21-year employee of the school district, retired as Assistant Superintendent for Business and Financial Services.
“About a month or two, I told Bob the board might do something for him, and he said, ‘Well I’m not coming,’” Superintendent Dr. Rocky Kirk said of the district’s modest financial guru. But he did come to the meeting, and each member of the board got to share a few parting memories and thank yous.
“On behalf of the administration, we certainly appreciate your service, which was always done with honor and integrity,” Kirk said.
Board President Susan Tolles spoke next, presenting Hart with a small glass statue thanking him for his service.
“If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives,” she said, quoting Robert South. “He has given every part of himself to this district.”
Hart earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas A&M University and is a certified public accountant. Having a total of 28 years of experience in school finance, he worked at the Texas Education Agency and Del Valle ISD before starting with Lake Travis ISD in 1988.
His department manages the various funds and budgets for the District, which includes an operating budget of $80.3 million. Lake Travis ISD is one of only five districts in Texas to receive a “AA+” bond rating from Standard and Poor’s.
Jason Buddin thanked Hart for teaching him so much over the years and Mayo Davidson thanked him for his friendship and service.
“He’s just been a solid rock of a person,” said Alan Williams. “A lot of people didn’t want young people and their families to come in and you guys were the ones that won their confidence. It’s been an honor to work with you.”
Hart, in turn thanked the staff for their friendship and work over the years.
“As board members, you do your job out of the goodness of your hearts,” he said. “The rewards that you all feel are what make you the people that you are.”
The meeting was also a night of welcome for Hart’s replacement, Johnny Hill, and the newly named Director of Transportation, Rhonda Davis.