Ribbon cutting — San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Fred Perez, left, joins NINOS, Inc. Head Start Executive Director David Kowalski during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the steps of the Early Learning Center at Fred Booth Global Leadership Academy. They were joined by SBCISD administrators and elementary school staff and administrators on Monday, August 4. (Courtesy photo/Albert Villegas)
By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
With the start of the 2025-26 school year, the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District will begin educating small children ages 3 to 4 in a building they and their loved ones can call their own, the Early Learning Center (ELC) at Fred Booth Global Leadership Academy.
This historic building, which has been renovated several times, according to San Benito CISD, dates back to the early 1900s, initially serving as a community education center. The building is situated across from the bigger campus, which houses students in grades Pre-K through 5.
Educators here will work in collaboration with the NINOS, Inc. Head Start program, which serves not just San Benito, but Cameron and Willacy counties, too.
As parents and guardians walked into the building on Monday, Aug. 4, they were greeted by school staff and administrators, including Principal Gabrielle Ocumarez.
“You’re able to meet teachers today, and one thing I want to share with you is that this is an early learning facility,” Ocumarez said. “We’re going to hone in on the Pre-K 3 learners, and we have four different classrooms, all for three-year-olds. We want to make sure they master all their skills so they can be ready for Pre-K 4.”
It was all part of a day that included a ribbon cutting at the main entrance of the campus, which is gated and has a secure outdoor play area.
NINOS, Inc. Head Start Executive Director David Kowalski has served families in both counties, including San Benito students, for 22 years, and is excited about the new venture at Fred Booth ES.
“NINOS is a non-profit organization that runs Head Start in Cameron and Willacy counties, and for San Benito, this is a full-blown collaboration that will serve just three-year-olds,” Kowalski said. “To accommodate the Fred Booth ELC, children who would have normally used up two classrooms at Frank Roberts ES are now here.”
There will be a minimum of 60 students attending with a max of 68, Kowalksi said.
The student-teacher ratio will be around 15 to 1, he added.
“The community is better served because they’re going to have fewer children per classroom,” Kowalski said.
SBCISD Director of Elementary Instructional Implementation Dilia Cornett, who was in attendance for the ribbon cutting, said ideally it’s best to educate children at the earliest age possible.
“Being able to partner with Head Start allows the school district to reach more students and allow them to learn,” Cornett said. “In the past, a student would have gone half a day to SBCISD and half a day at Head Start, but now we are sharing our resources and our community’s three-year-olds will benefit.”
According to the HAR.com website, 97 percent of Fred Booth ES students are Hispanic, with two percent being White. A teacher at the school averages around 12 years of experience.
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