Southwest ISD Board Update
February
FEBRUARY 16 MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT PUBLIC HEARING
June Ibarra is currently a 4th grader at Medio Creek Elementary School and is a shining example of leadership and excellence on and off campus. June participates in the Ambassador program where her leadership is cultivated, and she is often seen practicing this leadership in her visits with younger children, working after school bus duty, and in various leadership opportunities that she takes on in stride. Her leadership is also demonstrated in her academic successes. She is the top of her class and mentors other students as well. June would like to work with younger children when she grows up but isn’t sure if it will be in teaching or in other services. June is a shining example of Gator Greatness.
Jordan Vinaja is described as an outstanding student at McAuliffe Middle School. Jordan is currently an 8th-grade student. He has maintained straight A’s all year long and is in honors classes. He is also a proud member of the Mighty Rocket Band and the choir program. Jordan has a heart of gold. He helps all teachers and the custodians clean up after classes and lunch. He greets all students and staff with the warmest smile. Jordan possesses superb musical talent, unfailing kindness, and maturity beyond his years. His teachers describe him as a joy to teach and learn from. He is highly respectful and kind. He truly models the Rocket Way!
Sarahi Fernandez Leon is currently a senior at Southwest High School. Sarahi serves as a captain of the girls soccer team, is vice-president of her senior class, a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, and currently ranks at the top of her graduating class. Sarahi has taken multiple dual credit courses and currently participates in the Alamo Academy Health Science program, taking classes at San Antonio College. Sarahi currently holds the record for most goals scored in girls soccer, hitting 100 goals on January 20th and counting. All of her hard work is paying off as she will have the opportunity to play soccer at the next level and continue her education at St. Mary's University.
FRIEND OF SOUTHWEST
Katt Slagle is the Vice-President of Community Labs. Community Labs SA is a non-profit organization that creates COVID-19 Safety Zones throughout San Antonio. Community Labs provides timely PCR COVID-19 testing at multiple sites across the community. In addition, Community Labs provides weekly testing at more than 300+ school campuses and businesses, with SWISD being one of those districts.
Ms. Slagle was instrumental in helping to set up the partnership with Community Labs back in the fall of 2020. Since its inception, with a few pilot schools in November of 2020, it has grown to include all Southwest ISD campuses. Over the last 16 months, Community Labs has conducted more than 120,000 COVID-19 tests for students and staff. This partnership has helped SWISD navigate the sometimes challenging times during the pandemic. Therefore, the District would like to award Ms. Slagle the SWISD Friend of the Community Award. A leaf will be placed on the tree in the boardroom to honor her contributions to our community. In addition, she is receiving a replica of the award to keep. The SWISD community is forever indebted to Ms. Katt Slagle and Community Labs and is incredibly thankful.
Presentations
Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS 4), Paraprofessionals Grant
Executive Director of Human Resources Will Baker gave an overview of the Texas COVID Learning Acceleraton Supports (TCLAS) grant. The $84,000 grant provides reimbursement funding to instructional paraprofessionals seeking to become teachers. Under this “Grow Our Own” Program, the district will have funds to provide support to up to five paraprofessionals in the '22-23 school year and the '23-24 school year to finish their bachelor’s degree and/or pursue a teaching certification. Those receiving the grant must have already completed 75 hours of undergraduate work, be able to complete their degree and/or certification within two years, and commit to working for the district for three years after the completion of the program.
Paraprofessionals needing to complete their degree and certification will receive $18,000
over two years and those needing certification only will receive $7,500 over the two
years.
Growth and Facilities Planning Committee
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Brandon Crisp gave a presentation on the Growth and Facilities Planning Committee. The purpose of the committee is to recommend options/actions to District leadership and the School Board in the following areas:
- New and existing facilities, technology infrastructure, educational environment, etc.
- District Growth
- Short term plans to address: Growth, efficient and effective use of facilities & transportation
- Long range plans to address: Growth, efficient and effective use of facilities & transportation
The committee, which is made up of 46 community members and district leaders, will then communicate information to the local school area residents. It’s expected that the committee will reach decisions by consensus. When consensus is not possible, a simple majority vote of those voting members present shall carry any matter. Each voting member shall have one vote. The goal of the SWGP is to meet at least twice per year and it may increase the frequency of meetings to quarterly during times of above normal construction or during pending student attendance zoning needs. The next SWGP meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2022.
Items Approved
The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Texas A&M University - San Antonio, clinical teachers’ salary, and mentor stipends to meet the intent of TCLAS 5.The District received $75,000 in funds under the Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports (TCLAS) grant to help fund salaries for full year clinical teachers who agree to stay with the district for three years after the completion of their degrees and certification. Under this program, the district will also receive funds to provide their mentor teachers with a stipend. Upon completion of a Memorandum of Understanding with our cooperating Educator Preparation Program – Texas A&M - San Antonio, the District will be able to pay these student teachers $20,000 as part time employees of the District. In return the District will be able to use these students to act in other support roles when they are not completing their student teaching responsibilities. Mentor teachers will receive a $5,000 stipend in return for extra work coordinating with the EPP and for attending trainings.
Reclassification of Clinic Clerks
The Board of Trustees approved raising the pay grade for clinic clerks from two to four.The current clinic clerks are designated as a pay grade two on the Clerical/Technical Job
Classification system. However, in order to hold these positions clinic clerks must have
and maintain specialized trainings and certifications beyond a high school diploma.
These trainings/certifications include: vision and hearing testing certification, unlicensed
diabetic care training, CPR certification, and first aid training. In examining their job
descriptions in comparison to other clerical/technical positions, the District administrators
determined that the clinic clerk position aligns to a pay grade 4 classification.
Sun Valley Elementary Site Renovation Project
The Board approved Civil Engineering Consultants (CEC) to provide engineering services for the Sun Valley Elementary site renovation project for a contract amount of $82,750. The site is need of repairs due to the soil movement on site causing drainage issues around the building making for unsafe conditions and water intrusion into the building. CEC was the engineer on the Sun Valley Elementary project when it was built in 2006 and already has all of the topographic information to start the design of this project, which will also in turn cost the District less money on the project.
Southwest Independent School District
Website: www.swisd.net
Location: Southwest Independent School District, TX, USA
Phone: 210-622-4300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWISDsatx
Twitter: @swisd