Rau leaving WISD

Wimberley Independent School District Chief Financial Officer Randall Rau will have his last day on Thursday April 18 after spending 16 years with the district. Then on Monday April 22, he will start his new job as CFO for the Hays Consolidated Independent School District.

Rau has had two stints with the Wimberley ISD. His first time working for the district was in 2001. His first day was September 11. He left in 2007 only to return in two years later. Now he starts a new section of his career.

“We have a great working relationship,” Wimberley ISD Superintendent Dwain York said of Rau. “We go back many years, and we really hate to lose him. It surprised me that he wasn’t even looking for the job, but I know it was a career move. He’s helping with the interview process to fill his position by coming up with questions to ask and trying to make the move seamless.”

So Rau will soon be off to work for Hays.

“They (Hays CISD) need me for the fiscal year, the end of June. Their CFO had already left and was at a new district. They were only available on Thursdays and Fridays to help. I had known (the previous CFO) from my nine years working for Austin ISD. She told me to apply for the job. I wasn’t looking at all. I didn’t apply, than she called again,” Rau said.

He thought the job opportunity was over when he received a call from Hays. He thought it was a call to inform him the district had gone in a different direction.

It wasn’t.

They were asking if they could talk to his superintendent, as he checked “no” on his job application when it requested to talk to current employer. He asked if he could contact Superintendent Dwain York first.

“I called Dwain, and it caught him off guard. I told him I don’t want him to worry. I was pleasantly surprised. He knows the folks (at Hays CISD), and we can make the transition smooth.” Rau will have approximately 20 people as his staff at the much larger school district.

Rau didn’t always seem himself as the type of person who would one day crunch numbers as the CFO.

After getting out of high school, more education was the farthest thing from his mind. He joined the Marines but hurt his back on a rope climb.

“I got to the top and soon was falling and landed on my back,” Rau said.

He got a medical discharge and proceeded back home to Hallettsville. He had taken a few courses before going into the service, “but I didn’t do to well.” But this time he dove in headfirst.

“I was motivated to study,” Rau said. “I received a 4.0 in college Algebra. I was on the fast track. I got out in three years and worked for dad.”

He worked part time, lived with his mom and dad and met his wife Brenda, who will remain working at WISD.

Over his career with WISD, Rau has helped pass three bonds, two with no tax increase, and helped the district get a new school. He also has helped the district navigate the intricacies of Robin Hood, a state funding mechanism that has required Wimberley to pay millions of tax dollars over the last few decades. But, in his eyes, the crowning achievement is leaving Wimberley ISD on strong financial footing.

“I was able to build the fund balance up again,” Rau said. “I am proud to get it to this point. We had to do something, and we could do it,” he said.

Starting in 2009 the fund balance was about $200,000. Now it is at a much healthier $6.5 million.

Rau loved his time here, and he hopes to work for about fifteen more years. Working for education in the Texas Retirement System, it is important to achieve more years and income for retirement. There are also more benefits from the new job.

“I don’t have to move,” Rau said. “I love the area. And not many times do you get the chance to change jobs at a better opportunity and salary… I’ll wake up Monday morning and just drive a different way.”