March 2022- BoardBits

This e-newsletter highlights important news from the March 29 meeting of the STISD Board of Directors, as well as other recent and upcoming district and campus happenings.

Decorative Image: BoardBits

District of Innovation Plan Renewal: Public Hearing + Board Adoption

During the March 29 board meeting, STISD held a public hearing on the District of Innovation (DOI) Plan Renewal, and the board voted to adopt the new plan.

In the public hearing portion, Nereyda Treviño, STISD Chief Academic Officer, presented about the renewal process and the DOI plan being proposed for board approval.

Ms. Trevino shared that within the proposed DOI plan, the district is requesting exemptions within the following areas of innovation:

  • First Day of Instruction for Students
  • Minimum Attendance for Class Credit for Final Grade
  • Teacher Certification

The one area being removed from the previous plan is the Teacher and Principal Appraisal Systems.

Renewing the plan allows the district to continue as a DOI for another five years, setting the stage for our district to continue to be innovative and transformational in programming design that will ensure students are prepared for college, career and citizenship.

On January 11, 2022, the notice of intent to renew was published within the District of Innovation section of the STISD website, and on February 18, 2022, a letter was e-mailed to notify the commissioner at the Texas Education Agency of the board's intent to renew the DOI plan on March 29, 2022.

With the board's adoption of the plan, the district will now follow up with TEA to finalize the process.


 

STISD Business Office recognized as 1 of 58 educational organizations in Texas to receive Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Top School Purchasing Teams Award for 2022

Superintendent and Board VP present certificate to Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations

Pictured above, from left to right: Marco Antonio Lara, Jr., Ed.D., STISD Superintendent of Schools; Marla R. Knaub, STISD Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations; and Henry LeVrier, Vice President of the STISD Board of Directors

The STISD Board of Directors and administration recognized the STISD Business Office during the March 29 meeting for being one of only 58 educational organizations in the state to receive the Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) 2022 Award of Merit for Purchasing Operations for following best practices in that area.

According to TASBO, the Award of Merit was established in 2009 to recognize Texas school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and education services centers that are committed to following professional standards in the acquisition of goods and services. Each year, volunteers with the TASBO Purchasing & Supply Management Research Committee evaluate the award criteria to ensure it represents the latest best practices. They then review new and recertification applications. For 2022, only 58 districts met the stringent criteria to qualify for the award.

Click here to read more about this award.


 

Thirty-nine STISD Students Qualify for BPA National Competition

Story contributed by Science Academy students Hannah Jin and Mikayla Kester

Qualifying at this year’s Texas Business Professionals of America (BPA) State Leadership Conference held in March, a total of 39 high school students from STISD will advance to the BPA National Leadership Conference to be held May 4-8. These students worked diligently to compete and win against other high schoolers from across the state, and they will travel to Dallas later this spring to attend the conference with others from around the nation. 

From South Texas ISD Science Academy in Mercedes, four teams and nine individual competitors will be advancing, totaling 25 representatives. From South Texas ISD Health Professions in Mercedes, two teams and two individual competitors will be advancing, totaling 11 representatives. From South Texas ISD World Scholars in Edinburg, three individual competitors will be advancing.

Click here to read full story.


 

Eighty STISD Students Qualify for TSA State Competition

Story contributed by Science Academy students Hannah Jin and Mikayla Kester

On March 19 and 26, the preliminary, semifinal, and final rounds of the regional level competitions of the Technology Student Association (TSA) took place. From these competitions, 80 high school students from South Texas Independent School District (STISD) qualified for the state competition taking place April 21-23 in Fort Worth, Texas.

From South Texas ISD Science Academy (Science Academy) in Mercedes, 21 teams and 6 individual competitors will be advancing, totaling 59 representatives. From South Texas ISD Health Professions (Health Professions) in Mercedes, 4 teams and 1 individual competitor will be advancing, totaling 17 representatives.

Click here to read full story.


 

STISD returns from tennis tournament with two sets of State Champions

South Texas Independent School District (STISD) brought home two sets of state champions after competing for the first time in district history in the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League (TCSAAL) State Tennis Tournament held in Kyle, Texas, on March 5. 

Twenty-six students from the two STISD middle schools – South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy (Preparatory Academy) in Edinburg and South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy (Rising Scholars) in San Benito – qualified for this year’s tournament, including 14 students from Preparatory Academy and 12 from Rising Scholars.  

Preparatory Academy’s Addison Humphreys and Noah Scurry earned the title of Mixed Doubles State Champions, while Rising Scholars Academy’s Daniella Albores and Ashley John took the title of State Champions for Girls Doubles. 

Click here to read the full story.

Portraits of tennis state champions

Seen in photos: the four students - two teams - who earned State Champion titles at the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League (TCSAAL) State Tennis Tournament

Top Photo: Rising Scholars Academy | San Benito - - - Left to right: Ashley John and Daniella Albores

Photo right: Preparatory Academy | Edinburg - - - Left to right: Addison Humphreys and Noah Scurry


 

STISD HOSA shines at Area Competition

129 middle and high school students prepare for the Texas HOSA State Leadership Conference to be held April 19-22 at the Galveston Island Convention Center. 

108 high school students represented the district at the Area Competition, March 3-5 in Laredo. Out of the 108 competitors, 68 HOSA members qualified to compete at the State Competition. 

  • 39 students were from Medical Professions in Olmito, which includes 7 teams (totaling 23 individuals) and 17 students competing in individual events 
  • 29 were from Health Professions in Mercedes, which includes 6 teams (totaling 15 individuals) and 14 students competing in individual events

Since competition at the middle school level is fairly new, and just in its second year of competitive play, students make their first appearance to the competition floor at the state level. STISD middle schools will send 61 HOSA students to compete at the state level - Preparatory Academy: 35 and Rising Scholars: 26.

Click here to read full story.

Students seen posing for photo

Seen in photos: some of the students who placed first in individual events from Health Professions + Medical Professions

Photo left: Health Professions | Mercedes - - - Left to right: Mariana Hefferan, Sofia Bodden, Asmaa Khalil, Miranda Gonzalez, and Lea Thomas 
Photo right: Medical Professions | Olmito - - - Left to right: Jeri Escalona, Fanny Zarate-Zavala and Hannia Mendez


 

Construction Updates

STISD Construction Manager Frank Treviño reported on the following construction projects:

  • New Central Administration & Professional Development Building Renovation Project: Construction continues on the interior and exterior of the building. See photos below for some of the progress.
  • New Rising Scholars Academy project: The project remains in the design phase, with the district continuing dialogue with the architect to ensure all of the needs are being met. The schematic design is 100% complete, and they are currently working on the structural design.
  • New Health Professions Gymnasium: This project is currently in the design phase, with the district team working with the architect to ensure all district needs are met.

Photos: New Central Administration & Professional Development Building in progress

Construction progress on front exterior of new Central Admin Building
Construction progress on interior of new Central Admin Building
Construction progress on back exterior of new Central Admin Building
Construction progress on interior of new Central Admin Building

 

Other Board Actions

  • The board conducted the annual review of the Board Operating Procedures and voted to accept the revisions.
  • The board approved a request for a new Career and Technical Education Director professional position for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year and approval of announcement of vacancy.
  • Board members Dr. Sylvia Sánchez Garza and Eduardo Roberto Rodriguez reported on their experience attending this year's virtual 2022 NSBA Advocacy Institute and information learned.
  • The board approved authorizing publication of a notice of intent to contract under the Public Property Finance Act for constructing certain public school facilities.

 

Tell your friends & family: Tour STISD Campus Showcases + Job Fair coming up soon!

STISD will hold Spring Campus Showcase events for STISD Health Professions in Mercedes, STISD Medical Professions in Olmito, and STISD World Scholars in Edinburg on Saturday, April 2. These events are open to the public and are great opportunities to learn more about the schools and available programs.

Click here for more details about the events.


 

Photo Gallery: Superintendent's Cup Soccer Tournament


 

Video Highlights: Inside STISD

Musk Foundation donates funds for new equipment at Medical Professions

March 5th Campus Showcase Highlight

2022 Superintendent's Cup Esports Tournament Highlight

2022 Superintendent's Cup Softball Tournament Highlight


 

Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Arturo Sanchez, Science Academy Class of 2011

Dr. Arturo Sanchez graduated from South Texas ISD Science Academy in 2011 before receiving his doctoral degree in optometry in Puerto Rico. He currently resides in the Rio Grande Valley and is an optometrist for Shah Eye Center.

Dr. Arturo Sanchez, optometrist, looks into machine

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