Southwest ISD Board Update
April
April 18 Board Meeting Highlights
Student Recognition
Holly Shae Foster, a 4th-grade student at Kriewald School of the Arts, was recognized for publishing a book this year titled "Camp Misty Woods." The book is a tale about a girl who discovers adventure and friendship while attending a horse riding camp. Holly wrote the 35,000-word book in under four months, dedicating 100 to 2,000 words daily to her craft. Her hard work paid off, and her book is now available for purchase on Amazon. Holly has set a goal to write a new novel every year and plans to continue pursuing her passion for writing. Holly's book will be available in every SWISD elementary school library. Congratulations to Holly on this great accomplishment!
Southwest Elementary School has named Zoe Serrano, a fifth-grade student, as the Student of the Month for her outstanding achievements. Zoe has achieved straight-A grades and has missed only one school day this year, making her an essential member of the school community. Her hard work, honesty, and dependability have made her stand out. Additionally, Zoe is well-known for her kind and helpful nature, always ready with a smile to greet and assist others. Although Zoe is considering a career in teaching, she has not yet made any concrete plans for her future. Congratulations to Zoe on her well-deserved recognition as the Student of the Month!
Cyena Ortiz has been recognized as Spicewood Park ES's Student of the Month. She is an exceptional student who demonstrates a strong work ethic and is a positive role model for her peers. Her remarkable leadership skills have earned her the respect of both her teachers and classmates. Cyena has also achieved recognition for her outstanding performance at the District Science Fair. Apart from her academic achievements, she actively participates in extracurricular activities, such as student council, Robotics, and choir. Additionally, she has showcased her talent in soccer by competing in the district SW soccer league and the SWISD Cup at Legacy High School. Her passion for animals has inspired her to aspire to become a veterinarian. Congratulations to Cyena on her well-deserved recognition as the Student of the Month!
Resnik MS has named Abigail Garcia, a 7th-grade student, Student of the Month, for her tenacity in overcoming obstacles. Garcia's persistence is evident from her repeated success in being published as an author in the Young American Poetry Digest for the second year in a row. She recently shared her "So Peaceful" poem with the community in March. Besides her writing prowess, Garcia participates in the Jets Athletic Program and Best Buddies on campus. In the Best Buddies program, Garcia demonstrates a caring and empathetic approach toward her fellow students, catering to their needs. Academically, Garcia's hardworking nature sets her apart as she strives to achieve her future goals. Congratulations to Abigail on her well-deserved recognition as the Student of the Month!
CAST STEM High Schoo’s Student of the Month is Sergio Leal Garcia. He is known for his leadership and willingness to help others on campus. He strives to continuously improve himself and has a positive and passionate attitude that is contagious. Staff members have observed Sergio engaging with fellow students, checking in on them and offering support. Recently, he shared information about free prom attire and job application programs with his peers. Sergio is a first-generation college student and has been accepted to attend Texas A&M University-San Antonio in the fall.
Sergio Leal Garcia has been recognized as CAST STEM High School's Student of the Month for his leadership qualities and altruistic nature. Sergio is known for his willingness to help others on campus and his continuous efforts to improve himself. His positive and passionate attitude is contagious, and staff members have observed him engaging with fellow students, checking in on them, and providing support. Recently, Sergio shared information about free prom attire and job application programs with his peers, showcasing his commitment to empowering others. As a first-generation college student, Sergio has been accepted to attend Texas A&M University-San Antonio in the fall, where he will continue to pursue his academic goals. Congratulations to Sergio on his well-deserved recognition as the Student of the Month!
Eco Scholars Grant Award
The Solid Waste Management Department and the Office of Sustainability through the City of San Antonio have awarded nearly $80,000 in eco-grants to principals of Southwest ISD. This program aims to support the city's Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) goals and will award $1 million in grants to local schools, both public and private. The schools must propose a project, program, or product that directly affects climate change, reduces greenhouse gases, or addresses sustainability issues such as water and energy conservation. The grant amount ranges from $3,000 to $10,000, based on the proposed project's scope and projected positive impact, and must be completed by the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
On January 20, 2023, all principals were sent information and a link to the grant application and were encouraged to apply and connect this opportunity to SWISD's Sustainable Goals and cross-curricular initiatives. The Board and District leaders recognized the grant award notifications for the following campuses:
Hidden Cove STEAM Academy - $15,000
Kriewald Road School of Arts - $10,000
Sky Harbour Elementary $10,000
Bob Hope Elementary $5,000
McNair Middle School $5,000
Medio Creek Elementary $8,000
Spicewood Park Elementary $20,000
CAST STEM High School $5,000
Big Country Elementary - $10,000
Presentations
During a presentation by Richard Flores, the Executive Director of Fine Arts, it was announced that nearly two dozen Southwest High School Thespian Club students would be taking a trip to New York City from July 7th to 11th, 2022. It is important to note that this is not a District sponsored trip. The students will tour the city, gain exposure to a different part of the world, and see professional Broadway shows to analyze and apply skills to their future productions and art. Additionally, they will participate in two master classes in acting, directing, and tech-led by theatrical professionals, which will enhance and develop their skills and knowledge of the theatrical world.
Items Approved
The District's staff development plan, which includes all state-required trainings, has been approved by the Board. The plan considers the best practice recommendations for professional development from the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) Clearinghouse. The training covers a wide range of topics, including suicide prevention, building positive relationships, conflict resolution, bullying, safety training (specifically for UIL coaches and sponsors), awareness for issues related to abuse and trafficking, trauma-informed care, and administration of Epinephrine auto-injectors.
The plan also includes a schedule of required professional development and deadlines for completing the trainings. Southwest ISD goes above and beyond the required trainings by including additional components to ensure school safety. These include additional trainings for student mental health awareness, students experiencing homelessness, Stop the Bleed, seizure training, parent engagement, cybersecurity, and mandatory reporting for child abuse.
Annually, the district pays $12,303 for the online trainings for all employees.
Southwest High School Athletic Field Lighting Retrofits
The Board has approved a commercial lighting company FSG San Antonio, for the Southwest High School Athletic Field Lighting Retrofits for a contract amount of $629,960.98.
District staff has upgraded the lighting to LED on all renovation projects through Bond construction projects. However, the athletic field lighting at Southwest High School is still composed of metal halide fixtures. To improve safety for the student-athletes and coaches and to increase power efficiency, the district staff would like to replace all these fixtures with new LED technology, which also comes with a 10-year warranty. Furthermore, the district staff wants to replace all the lighting in the boys' and girls' locker rooms at the Southwest High School gym, which was not previously addressed in the renovations.
To obtain a quote for these fields, the district staff worked with FSG. FSG has a program that considers CPS rebates for such projects, which provides the customer with savings on the front end and handles all rebate paperwork with CPS, making the process seamless and providing immediate savings in the project. FSG has already visited all the fields and compared the existing lighting to the new fixtures to verify a one-for-one swap.
Lü Interactive Playground Mobile Units
Data Projections' Lü Interactive Playground Mobile Units were approved for purchase by the Trustees. These units are mobile and equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual technology that includes a wide range of educational applications to enhance students' learning experience. Indian Creek Elementary and the Southwest ISD PE Department organized a Lü Interactive Playground Mobile Unit demonstration for District leadership and PE teachers. Each unit includes a high-definition laser projector, a movement detection camera, a powerful sound system, and a fully automated multi-colored lighting system that creates an immersive environment. Additionally, each unit comes with a one-year digital subscription. These mobile units can be used across multiple campuses for various activities, including parental involvement events, student presentations, professional development training, and after-school educational opportunities.
The total cost for purchasing three units is $110,860.00, which will be funded through Title IV funds.
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