PEREZ
By ARABELLA SERRATA
Staff Writer
San Benito Consolidated Independent School District board of Trustees held a regular meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, marking the first board meeting of the new school year.
The board recognized students who achieved great feats during the summer. Six students from across the San Benito High Schools in the district were appointed as officers of SkillsUSA District 13. SkillsUSA is a Career and Technical Education organization, according to their website. The students recognized were Kayla Esparza, Jennifer Ruvalcaba, Jewels Nuncio, Sergio Naranjo, Aries Aguilar, and Abel Quintero.
The board continued to recognize students pinned with a Border Patrol Explorer Badge. Those students included Alfredo Perez, Keara Dominguez, and Jaylen Castillo. According to the document linked to the official agenda, the students participated in a two-week rigorous training program with the United States Border Patrol. These students surpassed the physical training.
Public comments were opened with a brief reminder of public comment rules. Mary Maney, a math teacher at San Benito High School, commended the collaboration among the staff and the efforts the SBCISD has made for their students. The board welcomed all members of the school district, including the students.
“I’m very excited that our halls are filled again with our students, and our teachers,” said Board President Orlando López.
Eva Perez, Executive Director for Communities in School of Cameron County [CIS], delivered the CIS presentation. According to Perez, CIS strives to prevent dropout students. Perez showed a graph depicting the District’s CIS services, including how many students in each school fall into each service. Perez said CIS provides students with supplies whenever they can, even if the student is not in the CIS program. The program ranges from elementary to high school and is available during summer. Emergency services are still available for students who transfer out of a CIS school district.
The Career and Technical Education Presentation was postponed due to the presenter and CTE director, Fernando Rosa, having a family emergency. It will be presented at a later meeting.
The board approved the Clinical Education Affiliation and Program Agreement between San Benito CISD and the South Texas Emergency Care Foundation. This will provide senior-level students enrolled in the Emergency Medical Services Program, as part of the Practicum of Health Science II high school course, the “educational experience utilizing the personnel, equipment, and facilities of STECF,” according to the official agreement.
Client Services Agreement for Welder Qualifications and Certifications between San Benito CISD and Testing Company Incorporated was approved. This will service students who wish to acquire the corresponding welding certification.
The Memorandum of Understanding between San Benito CISD and Region One ESC Health and Human Services Commission Early Childhood Intervention Services was approved. This will help children in between San Benito and Brownsville transfer to the SBCISD if needed.
A Memorandum of Understanding between San Benito CISD and The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley Hybrid College Corps was approved. This will provide students with college advisors. The agreement between the San Benito CISD and the College Board will provide the school with materials relating to their college readiness and success.
The cash account report for July 2024, providing a basic overview of the cash and investment balances, was approved. A report on the comparison of revenue and expenditures to budget was approved. A tax collection report and check dispersion report were approved. The gift/bequest was approved for the school district.
This will assist campuses with monetary items when needed. Budget amendments, the awarding of bid proposals, an auctioneer and Purchases over $50,000 were approved. Due to a change in superintendent personnel, the current superintendent must be added to the First Public Investment bank account. The addition of said personnel was approved. The board approved the administration soliciting proposals for Financial Advisor and Investment Advisor Services.
On the consent agenda for administration, revisions for the 2024-2025 compensation plan were approved. The Texas Teacher Evaluation Support System (T-TESS) Calendar, is meant to provide teachers with feedback promptly. The appraiser list for the calendar was also approved. San Benito CISD The University of Texas RGV and the Department of Organization & School Leadership agreement, allowing students to take courses and utilize other resources, was approved. Board minutes for meetings through the summer were approved.
The San Benito Industrial Foundation has matched the school board’s $50,000 to the superintendent’s scholarship. San Benito Industrial Foundation representatives did not attend the board meeting, but a message was relayed: “Dear members of the San Benito School District and School board, the San Benito Industrial Foundation is dedicated to establishing a scholarship in perpetuity to support our high school graduates who are often overlooked. Our vision is to ensure that students who may not always be ranked at the top, but who are truly in need, receive the financial support necessary to pursue their dreams.”
This year marked the second scholarship year from the Industrial Foundation.
The board went into closed meeting for Employment, Resignation(s), Retirement(s), and Termination(s), Discussion and Consideration of Superintendent Agreement/Contract, Level III Grievance of M.A., Level III Grievance of M.R., Discussion and Consideration of C-2023-DCL-03579; Manriquez v SBCISD, Legal Update on Natatorium and Performing Arts Center, and Discussion and consideration of Property LI.
The meeting reopened and the items were approved as discussed in the closed session. There was no action on item 11.3, Level III Grievance of M.A. There was also no action on item 11.4, Level III Grievance of M.R., item 11.6, Legal Update on Natatorium and Performing Arts Center, and item 11.7, Discussion and Consideration of Property LI. The meeting adjourned shortly after.
In a separate e-mail from the SBCISD Public Relations Department, it was made clear that the SBCISD Board of Trustees approved a two-year contract agreement with Alfredo Perez as the new Superintendent of Schools.
“The official approval was granted during the regular board meeting on August 13, 2024,” the email reads.
In July, Perez was named the lone finalist. The board of trustees followed the state-mandated period of 21 days to complete the vetting and negotiations for the contract.
Perez has been the Acting Superintendent of Schools since September 2023. Prior to his appointment in September, he served as the federal programs director, a campus principal, and an assistant principal with San Benito CISD. The Superintendent’s contract is available for viewing at www.sbcisd.net.
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