July/August 2024 BoardBits

During the Aug. 27 meeting, the Board accepted the Certification (Election Code 2.052) of Unopposed Candidates for election to the office of South
Texas ISD School Board Directors and approved a Resolution declaring each unopposed candidate, as per certification, elected to the office of School Board of
Directors, ordering the cancelation of election, and authorizing an issuance of election to each candidate (Election Code 2.053). The following individuals were unopposed:

1. Sylvia S. Lopez, Cameron County Precinct 2
2. David Briones, Cameron County Precinct 4
3. Zachary I. Zamora, Hidalgo County Precinct 3
4. Andrea E. Loya, Willacy County Precinct 3

During the July 30 board meeting, the STISD Board of Directors approved the 2024-2025 District Improvement Plan (DIP) and 2024-2025 Campus Improvement Plans, which are developed annually in alignment with state and federal requirements.

Although the campus plans are all unique to the individual needs of the campuses, all plans tie back to the district plan, which focuses on 7 primary goals. The following are the goals that form the core of the DIP:

• Goal 1: By June 2025, the district will develop plans to grow and expand the organizational infrastructure and programs to better serve the students and community of the tri-county area.
• Goal 2: By June 2025, the district will develop and implement an effective communication process to engage and inform all relevant parties involved in the education and well-being of students, ensuring clear and consistent flow of information.
• Goal 3: By the end of June 2025, STISD will enrich formative assessment practices to increase student engagement and achievement in all grade levels by implementing and refining a comprehensive formative assessment system through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
• Goal 4: By June 2025, STISD will enhance the comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program that addresses the needs of students in all grade levels and results in a measurable improvement in students' SEL competencies.
• Goal 5: By June 2025, STISD will implement a comprehensive and sustainable initiative to enhance student global readiness, ensuring that our students graduate with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives necessary to thrive in an interconnected world.
• Goal 6: By June 2025, STISD will elevate instructional excellence and student learning outcomes through a comprehensive, dynamic, and sustainable professional development program.
• Goal 7: By the end of 2025, STISD will develop a plan of action that will support the recruitment, development and retention of highly qualified teachers and staff to increase the percentage of teachers with more than five years of experience.

The Campus and District Improvement Plans will be posted on the district website at www.stisd.net.

August 27 Meeting:

• STISD held a Public Budget Hearing for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The STISD Board of Directors voted to adopt the General Fund, Child Nutrition, and Debt Service Budgets for the 2024-2025 school year.
• The Board voted to adopt the tax rate for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Administration is proposing to keep the tax rate at $.0492 per $100 valuation.
  • As required by state statute, the Board made the motion and passed the resolution containing specific words to imply we are increasing our tax rate; however there is actually no increase in the tax rate. The resolution reads, "... the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of a tax rate of .0492, which is effectively a 1.60 percent increase in the tax rate."
• The Board voted to hire Gomez, Mendez, Saenz, Inc. as the architect of record for the 2024-2025 Capital Projects.
• The STISD Board of Directors voted to designate the district's remaining eight nonbusiness days for the purposes of Public Information Act Request responses for calendar year 2024. The board will vote on the nonbusiness days for 2025 once the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar is approved.
• The Board voted to approve the following capital improvement projects for the 2024-2025 school year: New Rising Scholars Academy, Exterior Restrooms at Mercedes Athletic Fields, and Medical Profession New Audio Video/Intercom System.
• The Board approved updated STISD Virtual Academy Course Offerings for the 2024-2025 school year which reflect courses offered as part of the dual credit online partnership with STC.