by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

05-20-25

Uvalde CISD Trustee Jaclyn Gonzales spoke with the Uvalde Hesperian following Monday night’s May 19th meeting that was adjourned by Trustee Laura Perez during a special budget meeting following a point of order motion brought up by Gonzales. According to Gonzales and the Federal Lawsuit decree she brought up, four elected school board members JJ Suarez, Robert Quinones, Laura Perez and Javier Florez three-year terms had expired. As a result of the expired terms, the school board did not have an official quorum necessary to conduct school business.

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by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

01/19/2025

The Uvalde Consolidated School District Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet on Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 6 PM at the Benson Board Room on 6-1 Dean Street. A livestream of the proceedings can be viewed at Uvalde CISD School Board Meetings – YouTube

During the Regular Board meeting on Monday night, the board will consider approval of adoption of Reproductive Curriculum along with other items listed on the agenda below.

On Wednesday, January 22nd, a Board Workshop will be held at 6 PM at the Benson Board Room.

The one agenda item listed on the Wednesday workshop meeting is: The State of the State: Legislative Update: Public Finance.

By Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top Photo: Chief Financial Officer Pam Bendele (file photo)

12-16-12

  Uvalde CISD Chief Financial Officer Pam Bendele spoke to the Uvalde CISD Trustees at Monday night’s board meeting on the status of the GMP Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment 1 with the Broaddus and Company for the construction of District Wide Security Vestibules. 

  After a discussion, the board voted to table the vestibule agenda item.

 “We did meet Thursday, and they are still too high compared to the money that I have” referring to a proposed amount to construct the security vestibules. Bendele indicated the grant timeline to fund the project is looming. Bendele continued stating there were aspects of the project that could bring the price of the project down and she expects to hear back from the PBK Architects soon. “They are meeting as a team, and they may call back tomorrow morning,” Bendele said.

 “Prices keep going up, inflation is just eating our lunch,” Uvalde CISD Superintendent Ashley Chohlis said.

 ” I think a lot of it is, they are having a hard time finding subs (subcontractors) to come to Uvalde to work,” Bendele said.

  Chohlis stated due to the grant’s timeline; the board may need to meet again this Friday if PBK Architects come back with a price this week.

 by Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

12-17-24

   Uvalde Dual Language Academy Principal Elsa Ayala delivered an item of information report to the Uvalde CISD Trustees about the school.

  “UDLA is a bilingual campus: bilingual and bicultural based on the best practices through a rigorous school curriculum. Our goal is to achieve bilingualism,” Ayala said.

  “When you think bilingualism and biculturalism, I want you to know “If it is sometimes difficult to teach in one language, try teaching in two languages. It is quite challenging, but I have wonderful teachers,” Ayala said. 

  She also stated that English and Spanish speaking students are often paired to learn together which enables both students to learn a new language a little bit faster.

  UDLA currently has 26 teachers and 537 students. 

 Ayala stated that the cafeteria at UDLA is filled with parents during school meetings.

Students are currently learning about the debates and the rules and formalities as well as hosting Spanish spelling bee events. The teachers and students are very involved and participate in many community activities including the Palomino Fest Parade, Christmas at the Crossroads Parade. UIL events, the Veterans Day Ceremony. the Thanksgiving luncheon and UDLA students participated in Posada happening this week. 

Reading Hall of Fame

Ayala said reading is encouraged and the school has an armor display case at the school featuring a “Reading Hall of Fame” with students’ pictures and the parents like it very much.”

 “A healthy environment has to be cultivated every single day,” she said. 

 “Every morning as the school day begins, you can feel the energy and love that define our environment.” Ayala said.

 “Your passion speaks volumes,” Uvalde CISD Trustee Jesse Rizo said to Ayala following her report on UDLA.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

11-20-2024

 The Uvalde CISD Board or Trustees met for over 6 hours at the Monday, November 18th regular board meeting with approximately 2 1/2 hours spent in a closed executive session.

Nearly all the seats in the audience were filled with several standing in the back of the Benson Board Room.

Following the opening preliminaries were held. Superintendent Ashley Chohlis’ introduced Chief Academic Officer Amy Graeber who reported on A. DOMAIN 1: High Quality Curriculum and Effective Instruction and B. DOMAIN 2: Effective, Well Supported Staff

  Earlier this year during the Spring, the Board of Trustees voted to approve using Open Education Resources/ Conceptual Teaching which was implemented for the 2024-225 school year. Graeber reported the implementation of the new curriculum and at what level each of the teachers were at in terms of mastering the delivery of the instruction. Graeber discussed the Success Criteria Breakdown on measuring teacher’s success age effectiveness on teaching a new curriculum on a phase scale measuring how teachers are progressing through the learning curve.

   Superintendent Ashley Chohlis said, “I’m less concerned about test scores as I am about student achievement.”

“Every kid should come prepared for the grade level (they are entering). The STARR test is important but it’s not the best all end all. said Chohlis (paraphrased)

  Uvalde CISD Teacher/Resource Officer Nicole Ogborn spoke during the Citizen’s Comments portion of the board meeting voiced her concerns about district’s approach to implementing the new curriculum “Our teaching style has been taking from us: our craft,” Ogborn said.

Uvalde CISD Teacher and Resource Officer Nicole Ogburn address the Board.Chohlis  spoke on Domain 3, C. DOMAIN 3: Positive School Culture and Safety and Security 

  Toy weapons also called Look-A Like Weapons

   According to Chohlis, the District has listed those items in the code of Conduct as being not allowed and students caught with such items can be assigned to DAEP/ (discretionary placement). The State of Texas does not have the same weapon definitions and State Laws apply. Trustee Jacklyn Gonzales brought up situations where students with those toy lookalike weapons can speak threats with those items.

 Gonzales also stated there are many Kids at Morales with PTSD and that an incident involving a potential threat perpetrated using a look-a-like toy weapon could further traumatize students already suffering with PTSD.

   Later in the meeting, the district voted to require clear backpacks at the Honey Bowl

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

11-18-24

The Uvalde CISD Board of Trustees will meet tonight (Monday, November 18th) at 6 PM at the Benson Board room to canvas the results of the Tuesday November 5th election on the Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) which did not receive enough votes in the unofficial tally to pass. The district will also vote to select its nominations for the Uvalde County Appraisal District representatives at tonight’s meeting as well as consider and act on numerous other agenda items.

A livestream of the meeting can be viewed at the following link: (Uvalde CISD School Board Meetings – YouTube

See Agenda below: Use controls below the .pdf file to view all 3 pages.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Uvalde CISD Trustees have announced two back to back meetings are scheduled for Monday, August 19th at the Benson Board Room located on Dean Street.

The first special meeting scheduled for 5:30 PM will be an item of information on Public Hearing to discuss Budget and Proposed Tax Rate for 2024-2025 which will be followed by a regular District board meeting at 6 PM.

A livestream of the meetings can be viewed at on the District’s YouTube Channel.

Agendas

Please use controls located on the bottom of each .pdf file to view all pages

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture: Trustees Robert Quinones, Jaclyn Gonzales and Javier Flores listen to public comments made by Diana Olvedo-Karau.

Thursday, August 8th, 2024

The Uvalde CISD Trustees met for a special Board meeting at the Benson Board Room to make decisions on several agenda items including approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Community Health Development Inc. dba Our Health / Nuestro de Salud to provide health clinics on district campuses in order to provide medical care access to students and Uvalde CISD staff members.  CHDI CEO Mayela Castanon answered trustee’s questions about the clinics. According to the District, Parents would be contacted in the event their child is sick and needs to visit a campus based health clinic.

Earlier this year, the District voted to contract with Hazel Health in providing virtual clinic visits to students as well as providing other health services.

Penalties for Student Vaping

District’s trustees discussed the various types of punishments and protocols for first offending students caught with tobacco vapes on Campus. Superintendent Ashley Chohlis stated she felt that punishments need to be administered with each individual student in mind and an educational component needed to be included with the punishment prescribed by the respecting school principal.  Trustees discussed various scenarios where a student might have a vape pen in his/her possession including if another student asked another student to hold his/her vape.

The trustees tended to concur that students need to be informed not to hold items for other students.

Student discipline contracts for first offenses for students could include doing community services, doing talks on the dangers of vaping to younger students, and also not participating in extracurricular activities. Chohlis stated that allowing for first offense punishments would not disrupt students current academic routine as much as Deferred Alternative Education Placement would.

Texas State Legislature House Bill 114 which according to the Texas State University website:

Effective Date: September 1, 2023

States the conditions under which a student may be removed from class and placed in a disciplinary alternative education program for conduct involving e-cigarettes, marihuana, or tetrahydrocannabinol.

2024-2025 Student Code of Conduct

Trustees voted to approve the 2024-2025 Student Code of Conduct after a discussion on situations where bullying may be occuring.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture; School Trustee JJ Suarez, Superintendent Ashley Chohlis, Mikka Sanchez and Trustee Laura Perez

   Mikka Sanchez, the Secretary to Superintendent/School Board/Public Information, was recognized at Monday’s July 8th Uvalde CISD Special School Board Meeting. 

“Allow me to express appreciation to a unique individual for her exceptional work and dedication,” Uvalde CISD Executive Director of Marketing and Communications  Anne Marie Espinoza said.

Sanchez is called up to the podium by Espinoza.

Espinoza continued: “Board of Trustee and Superintendent Chohlis;, Mikka Sanchez, your unwavering commitment to serving and supporting the Board of Trustees, the Superintendent and all the stakeholders of Uvalde CISD is a testament to your dedication and loyalty.”

 School Board President Cal Lambert said, “First of all Mikka, I just want to say we appreciate all you do, but more importantly, we appreciate the amazing person that you are.”

 “You’re not only just an outstanding admin. You are also a great person. Your kindness,  your can-do attitude and positivity make our jobs better and I am grateful to have you as part of our team,” Lambert said. 

 Respective Board of Trustee members then each took a moment to express their appreciation to Mikka Sanchez for her work.