Board trustees hold regular meeting

By ARABELLA SERRATA
editor@sbnewspaper.com

The San Benito Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees held a regular board meeting on Oct. 9, 2024.

The meeting kicked off with the pledge of allegiance, delivered by Matthew Valdez. Railynn Lopez presented the innovation. Valdez and Lopez are students at La Encantada Elementary. Special recognition was given to the San Benito High School Flamenco group alongside a performance of Volare by Gipsy Kings. The San Benito group is the only school Flamenco group in Texas.

Mary Maney opened the public comments portion of the meeting. Maney asked the board for a $500 Christmas stipend for teachers, a mental health day and to approve the STEMS alumni association. She commended the board for repealing the voucher program that was discussed previously and for considering implementing ECG screenings for students. A brief recess was held.

Safety Director, Rene Flores presented a safety update. He announced that the first meeting for the School Safety Committee is on Oct. 17. The state-mandated district audit was in development with District One, and there were no findings for the intruder detection audits conducted in the past two years. He announced that the district’s Texas School Safety Center Emergency Plans were submitted, including a cyber-security plan. Digital maps for the district were said to be in development for distribution to law enforcement. The Raptor alert system was reviewed. This allows staff to trigger a lockdown, if needed.

He went on to add that Altertus software is installed on all district Microsoft computers and can send messages through text and email. Forced entry window film has been installed, and fencing is coming to completion as well. Eight campuses for minor corrections will be reviewed. The grant funding for these projects is valid until July 2025. Flores said six school guardians assist the campus police. Students are also taught the consequences of making false threats against the school.

Academic services on the agenda were approved. The clinical education affiliation agreement between San Benito CISD and Dr. Shridar Kotta was approved. This will allow students enrolled in the Medical Assistant Program at the senior level to receive experience with personnel and equipment. The understanding between San Benito CISD and the STEMS Alumni Association was approved. This will enhance the South Texas Engineering, Math and Science programs in the district. San Benito CISD approved their educational services to students who reside in Mesquite Treatment Center.

The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley [UTRGV] Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Environmental STEM Education for Students in the Rio Grande Valley and San Benito CISD agreed to the research partnership, in which the university will communicate with teachers for lesson plans that include bilingual strategies. The board approved the partnership between San Benito CISD and the Recovery Center of Cameron County. This will help students and their families who have been affected by substance abuse receive the help they need. The center will admit youth 13-17 years old and adults. San Benito CISD ACE program and Padre View A&M University partnered with the Juntos program to provide additional funds for the district. A class size exception for the 2024-2025 school year was approved. The premium edition of Eduphoria was approved for district-wide use. Eduphoria is an online tool that helps manage the curriculum and monitor student progress.

On the consent agenda for business and finance, cash account reports, tax collection reports and check disbursement reports were approved. A comparison of revenue and expenditures was approved. Quarterly investment reports, federal funds reports, and budget amendments were approved. Gifts and bequests, purchases over $50,000, award bid proposals, and pest control services were approved.

On the administration consent agenda, revisions to the 2024-2025 compensation plan and Texas Evaluation Support System Appraiser List were approved. ECG screenings, board minutes, and a change order for the Frank Roberts Canopy and Wall Project were approved.

On the action agenda, nominations for the Cameron Appraisal District Board of Directors occurred, and Antonio “Tony” Sigere was nominated. The School Voucher and Public spending issue was resolved by rejecting the vouchers.

The board went into a closed meeting to discuss employment, resignations, retirements, terminations, and a legal update on the Natatorium and Performing Arts Center. They were approved as discussed in a closed session. The meeting was adjourned.