January 15th, 2024 Uvalde CISD School Board meeting report
by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian
Picture credit: Uvalde CISD live stream still
Uvalde CISD Superintendent Ashley Chohlis stated in her report at the Monday, January 15th Sc;hool board meeting that a U.S. Department of Justice Report would be released on Thursday afternoon, January 18th. The DOJ Critical Incident Report pertains to the May 24th, 2024 Robb School Tragedy. Chohlis stated Uvalde CISD Communications Director would be releasing a statement from the District on the report. Chohlis went on to say that school counselors would be available for students and staff and that community counseling resources would be contacted.
State Campus Safety Audits will begin in January and will continue through the spring. Two of the district campuses will be audited this January.
Superintendent Chohlis reported she met with TEA officials and the District has been given access to State adopted high quality instructional materials and resources.
Region 20 is still working on a package for the District and will assist with training on how to use the materials and how to implement the resources. Chohlis anticipates that teacher training for the materials will be covered by a grant.
During the Superintendent’s report, Chohlis said The 3.4 million dollar safety grant the District has been awarded, the pre=grant has opened up around the Christmas holidays. She said, “Mr. Keith has been working with the technology department and they have nearly completed the camera project. They are done, I believe, at Uvalde High School at CTE and Ag areas. She went on to say the access control project would be done shortly.
The SAFE Formulas Grant will be opening up at the end of this month and it could provide the district with an additional $100,000.The naming committee for the new school met on January 10th.
After Spring Break, Superintendent Chohlis said the list of five names for the new school would be determined.
The School District General Election for three school boards at large positions was approved for May 4th. The Board also approved granting Superintendent Chohlis contracting with Uvalde County to run the May 4th School Board Elections.
First Reading of Policy Update 122 from the State of Texas 188 Session was reviewed. Superintendent Chohlis voiced her concerns about certain information concerning student’s personal information, She suggested the board consider not deeming phone numbers, student addresses and date and places of birth and email addresses being made publically available under local district policy. The District’s student directory information is available at the request of the public. Chohlis continued by stating that the Texas Association of School Boards TASA would need to review any decisions made by the District. No decision was made at the January’s school board meeting.
According to the Superintendent. college and military recruiters would have access to the district’s student information unless parents specifically state otherwise.
