by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

12-17-24

Uvalde CISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the purchase of new cafeteria tables for Morales Junior High School and Uvalde High School and a food service vehicle for deliveries and walk-in coolers and freezers amounting to $330,000. The tables would be purchased from Jean’s Restaurant Supply not to exceed $120,000.

Uvalde CISD Superintendent Ashley Chohlis stated that the current tables are old and in disrepair and the maintenance department can no longer find replacement parts.

“The cafeteria tables at those two locations are awful,” Uvalde CISD Chief Financial Officer Pam Bendele said

Chohlis stated the Food Service Departments funds is not part of the District’s General Fund, but the district would need to pay a part of the cost. She explained that the food service fund currently has an excess balance, and the district is required by the State of Texas Department of Agriculture to spend the balance down.

Chohlis also stated that if the Food Service Budget was used exclusively for the purchase, the tables would not be able to be used for other purposes like community meetings and PTO meetings and other non-food service activities.

Regarding the General funds, Bendele stated monies can be reallocated from the Morales Junior High new marquis budgeted amount.

 

 

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

12-16-24

  The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Board of Trustees is set to meet tonight at 6:00 PM at the Benson Board Room at 601 Dean Street in Uvalde. 

  An open forum for public comments is scheduled following the Superintendent’s report. 

  Among the items on the agenda include an item of information on the district’s recent security audits, negotiations with Broaddus and Company on financial topics involving construction of security vestibules at the district’s campuses. Additionally, an item of information on proposed budget cuts will be delivered to the Trustees from the Office of Business and Finance. 

   A public report will also be provided on the recent campus security audits followed by the board adjourning into a closed executive session to further discuss the security audit report. 

  A video livestream of tonight’s proceedings can be viewed at Uvalde CISD School Board Meetings – YouTube

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Monday, July 15th, 2024

The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District will be holding a Special Board Meeting tonight at 5:30PM at the John H. Harrell Auditorium.

The District’s Board of Trustees will be considering the Division of Business and Finance’s Item of Information on Budget Workshop #4A

A livestream of the meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/c/UvaldeCISDBensonBoardRoom

By Michael Robinson| Uvalde Hesperian

After convening into closed executive session at Monday Night’s June 10th special board meeting, the District’s trustees returned to the open board session where Trustee Jacklyn Gonzales shared a glimpse of their deliberations held in private session and then made a motion for the Board to approve Laura Perez for the vacated East Zone seat considering her to be the sole candidate to be considered. The board then voted to approve Perez be hired as the East Zone board position which had been held by Annabell Rocha White prior to her resignation.

Gonzales said, “We have been faced with a difficult situation as a school district. Obviously we lost an East Zone applicant and we opened that up.”

After mentioned an early morning conversation she had with Board President Cal Lambert. She continued saying, “We reconized that there was an issue with that. We recognized the importance of the map and the zones; having an East and West Zone.

“I recognized that we do need to recognized our West Zone has representation.  Unfortunately we have to make decisions today that’s going to affect a lot of people,” Gonzales said.

She then made a motion that the board consider Laura Perez as the sole applicant for the East Zone positon. The board voted to approved the motion.

Trustee Jesse Rizo spoke after the vote saying, ” I’d like to thank the applicants. I saw the names on here and it’s nice obviously to see so many applicants with so much talent come forth and there is a;ways goiuing to be an opportunitt for yall to step up. Eventually some years from now the opportunity will come up and we hope you have the entusiasm where you can apply and run for a seat like this.

Rizo concluded by saying, “Like Jackie said, It’s right thing to do.”

Gonzales spoke again emphasizing the importance of the district map and that the West Zone needs representation She mentioned that MALDEF Decree calling for equal representation.

Trustee Javier Flores stated in his comments there were seven applicants although no names were mntioned.

Gonzales went on to say, the next school board meeting, the board will take steps to fill the West Zone seat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ou to step up.

 

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Uvalde CISD Trustee’s will be meeting each Monday evening though June 17th as part of an overall process to interview and ultimately vote on candidates who have submitted applications for the vacent

East Zone seat on the district’s board.  At last month’s Wednesday May 22nd training meeting, the board of trustees accepted the resignation of Trustee Annabel Rocha White leaving a vacancy on the local district’s governing panel.

The deadline to apply for the position is Monday, June 3ed at 5:00 PM

School Board Meetings:

Meetings are open to the public. Meetings can be viewed online via the Lixestream

Upcoming Special Board Meetings:
Monday, June 3rd, 2024 at 6:00 pmMonday, June 10th at 6:00 pm

Agenda for the June 3rd meeting

Monday, June 17th at 5:30 pm

Regular Board Meeting at 6:00 pm

Monday, June 17, 2024
John H. Harrell Auditorium

Information from the Uvalde CISD website:

School Board Member East Zone Seat Fulfillment Timeline

The Uvalde CISD is announcing an opening for a School Board Member seat in the East Zone. This crucial position aims to fill an unexpired term until May 2026. All interested stakeholders residing in the East Zone of Uvalde are invited to apply for this meaningful role in our school community.

Application Process:

• Obtain the Texas Secretary of State 2-49 application from the Texas Secretary of State website or the UCISD School Board website.
• Paper copies are also available at the UCISD Central Office, 1000 N. Getty Street, during Summer Hours (Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).
• Letter of Interest to include the following
  • Why would you like to be a member of the UCISD School Board?
  • What do you feel are the biggest challenges facing the district?
  • How would you work as a member of the Team of 8 to move the district forward?

Complete Application:

• Fill out the Texas Secretary of State 2-49 application thoroughly and the Letter of Interest to be considered for an interview with the UCISD School Board.

Key Dates:

1. Application Window:
   • May 23rd – June 3rd at 5:00 pm
   • Details: Completed applications with letters of interest
2. Special Board Meeting to Review Applications:
   • June 3rd at 5:30 pm
   • Details: The UCISD School Board will convene to review all submitted applications.
3. Special Board Meeting for Candidate Interviews:
   • June 10th
   • Details: Selected candidates interviewed by the School Board.
   • Questions: Use the QR Code to submit questions to be considered for the interviews.
4. Regular School Board Meeting:
   • Action Item: School Board Members will vote to fill the East Zone unexpired position.

For More Details:
Interested applicants can contact Mikka Sanchez at 830-278-6655 for additional information.

We encourage all eligible stakeholders to apply and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education in Uvalde. This is a unique opportunity to impact our school community meaningfully!

 

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Uvalde CISD Superintendent Ashley Chohlis presented the District’s findings on a community wide District Needs Assessment Survey conducted in April 2023 which included students, parents, instructional staff, auxiliary staff and community members. A total of 953 participated in this online survey that covered topics such as the general direction the school district is going and covered topics of instruction, security and other key aspects of the District.

A powerpoint presentation of the findings were presented at Monday night’s meeting.

In one part of the survey, participants were given statements where they were prompted choose one of these responses:  Strongly agree; Agree; Neither agree or disagree; Disagree and Strongly disagree

The statements presented to the participants were as follows:

Compared to a year ago, I believe the District is moving in a positive direction.

I feel valued and appreciated in this organization.

I am effectively communicated with in this organization.

There are equitable opportunities for all in this organization.

My opinions and ideas are valued and taken into consideration in this organization.

There is a safe and supportive learning environment cultivated in this organization.

Overall, Neither agree or disagree was the prevailing response to most questions with the exception of the last statement about a safe and supportive learning environment where 293 (36%) responded with Agree followed by 227 (28%) responded Neither agree or disagree.

Many responses were split between Strongly Agree and Agree vs. Disagree and Strongly Disagree.

According to Chohlis, the responses of Agree categories were slightly ahead of the Disagree categories.