January 2022- BoardBits

Local legislators and representatives from the Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions attended the Jan. 27 board meeting to present the district with a $332,500 check for the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant recently awarded to the district.

The JET Grant will help the district purchase and install equipment to initially serve 40 South Texas ISD students, providing them with training in the occupations of welder, cutter, solder and brazer, and allow for future growth of the program. With these funds, the Science Academy will bring to the campus 20 new industry-specific welding stations to provide students in the program with experience using equipment used in the field. Upon completion of their curriculum at STISD, students will earn a National Center for Construction Education & Research or American Welding Society certificate, preparing them for immediate entry to the workforce in a high-demand occupation.

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr., 27th District of Texas; Representative Armando Martinez, 39th District of Texas; Commissioner Julian Alvarez of the Texas Workforce Commission; and Francisco Almaraz, CEO of Workforce Solutions attended the ceremony held as part of the regular board meeting. The ceremony included addresses from each of the individuals, including a special presentation of a working gavel by Senator Lucio to the STISD board president, and concluded with a check signing presentation.

STISD students and leaders extended a thank you from the district to the 24 members of the STISD Board of Directors during the Jan. 27 board meeting. Remarks expressed appreciation to the board members for their dedication to the district and always putting students first, and for their important decisions and support of implementing new programs and activities to improve the STISD experience for the district community. Representatives also shared with the board a small token of appreciation on behalf of their campus communities for what they do for them not only during School Board Recognition Month, but every day throughout the year.

Click on the Inside STISD video below to hear a 'thank you' to the board from other members of the campus community.

As a follow-up to the in-depth review and analysis conducted during the STISD Career and Technology (CTE) Audit earlier this school year, the district's Curriculum & Instruction Department worked side-by-side with campus and district leaders to carefully study campus and district curriculum and update it to better align with TEA's approved statewide Programs of Study. Through this work, the district has streamlined its course sequences, allowing more direct CTE pathways and increased opportunities to earn certifications by graduation, including the introduction of more CTE course introductions at the middle school level.

Click here to access the board-approved campus course sequences for 2022-2023

• Finance & Operations
  • Marla R. Knaub, Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations, reported on the following construction projects:
    • New Central Office Building Renovation Project: The contractor continues work on the inside of the building - overhead electrical, framing and drywall for second floor and conference rooms, etc.- and has begun work on the metal framing and vestibule on the south side of the building.
    • New Rising Scholars Academy project: Administration and the district team have been working with the architect, Sam Garcia Architect, on the design of the new school, to be located adjacent to the Medical Professions campus in Olmito, to ensure the layout meets the needs of the campus.
  • The Board approved the agreement between South Texas ISD and The Warren Group for architectural services for the New Health Professions Gymnasium Project, as well as the requisition for architectural services.
• The STISD Board of Directors conducted the annual evaluation for Marco Antonio Lara, Jr., Ed.D., STISD Superintendent of Schools, during the Jan. 27, 2022 board meeting. The board voted to extend his contract for another year and to provide him with a salary increase in the coming year.