Volume 16, Issue 8
April, 2008
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 DOVE, MCALLEN, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
HIGHLIGHTS
The McAllen ISD Bond of 2005 has earned $9.9 million in interest. Most of this will go for the higher costs of steel, concrete, etc. that are finally catching up to all of the bond projects. The cost of steel alone will go up 25% in May. If you are needing to purchase a car, now is the time to think seriously about it. The $14 million allotted for Fossum Middle School is not going to be enough. The monies needed for the new Food Services building and Maintenance and Operations will also be higher than planned. Thus the interest earned will be needed to complete 2005 Bond projects.
The furniture for Fossum and the new Fifth elementary was ordered. Fossum’s furniture will be in place in June and the Fifth Elementary in July.
The McAllen AFT turned in numerous signed petitions to name the Fifth Elementary for Dr. Ricardo Chapa. Dr. Chapa’s name was brought forward by the committee last year as one of five people to name schools after. Dr. Chapa is a military veteran, teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, interim superintendent, and has served two terms on the McAllen ISD Board of Education.
A change order for Fossum was also approved to upgrade the science labs. A change order for the Fifth Elementary was also approved for changes to water, sewer, and storm drainage—$29,825
Approval of the Fifth Elementary School Mascot and colors was postponed.
The submittal of the Governor’s Excellence Award Program—Texas Educator Excellence Grant was approved.
Houston Elementary Sonia Casas presented Houston’s submission as an example. The purpose of the Governor’s Educator Excellence Award Program—Texas Educator Excellence Grant is to provide a system of financial incentives to award educators who demonstrate the ability to achieve higher levels of student academic performance. Grants were awarded based on the percentage of educationally students and high levels of achievement or growth in student achievement.
The following schools will be awarded: Alvarez—$90,000;
Crockett—$75,000; De Leon MS—$165,000; Escandon—$75,000; Houston—$80,000; Jackson—$120,000; McAllen High School—$240,000; Memorial High School—$220,000; Seguin—$120,000; Thigpen/Zavala—$50,000.
A revised Memorandum of Understanding for the Achieve Early College High School Between South Texas College and McAllen Independent School District was approved.
McAllen ISD will establish the Achieve Early College High School campus. Test scores, attendance and other accountability requirements for the students will be reported under the Achieve Early College. During the first year of implementation, staff will include a principal, secretary, part-time nurse, six (6) teachers and 100 students.
The cost of the program looks to be $1 million. The students will enroll in high school classes with MISD teachers during their freshmen and sophomore years. They will enroll in college dual enrollment classes their junior and seniors with STC professors and/ or MISD dual enrollment eligible teachers.
The Teaching Staff survey was presented. We are concerned that the data was very difficult to understand. It was obvious that the teaching staff had great concerns.
OPEN FORUM PRESENTATION
APRIL 14, 2008
Over a period of time we have been asking the McAllen ISD and the Board of Education for a clinic for all employees. We also ask that no co pay be charged. With the implementation of a new perscription drug plan you have saved $1,000,000. With this savings you need to implement the clinic option and consider improving the dental plan. You also have saved enough money to add a “real” vision plan. Today we are turning in petitions from employees requesting the clinic for all staff.
Employees from all over the district have continued to bring the issue of excessive paperwork to us. Boards of Education all over the state are required to ask administration to reduce the volume of paperwork once a year. Employees continue telling us that no change has occurred and thus each of you needs to ask administration when paperwork reduction will happen.
We also want to bring to your attention again that technology infrastructure is flawed. You do not have enough technicians, enough updated computers, and you should have your librarians focused on helping students improve academically instead of diverting their talents to keeping computers repaired.
It is also obvious that over all you have problems with your system, reflected by the number of breakdowns and slowness of data handling.
We continue to be deeply concerned about the number of TINA’s (Teacher In Need of Assistance) being given to faculty members in McAllen ISD.
We are not talking about just probationary teachers, but teachers with master’s degrees and years of experience. In many places around the state when a veteran teacher is given a TINA, they are supported fully. The teacher is given a highly trained mentor, positive feedback on what they are doing well, and reasonable expectations and time lengths. We continue to see that those receiving TINA’s are isolated, embarrassed, and rejected by administration.
Lastly, we would like to submit to you this evening petitions requesting that the fifth elementary be named for Dr. Ricardo Chapa (member of McAllen ISD Board of Education). Dr. Chapa is a military veteran, a teacher, a principal, an assistant superintendent, interim superintendent, and is serving his second term as a member of the McAllen Board of Education. Dr. Chapa has cared for and about the students of McAllen ISD for many years. He is an awesome board member. He studies the issues, formulates solutions, and asks for action. Dr. Chapa’s name was one of the five (5) brought forward by the committee to suggest names for the new elementaries built with 2005 Bond monies.
Governor's Attack on Your TRS Account
We guess you have heard that Governor Perry wants to turn your TRS account into a 401K. He needs money for reads, bridges, and prisons. Thus, he wants to get this money on the backs of teachers.
The state would no longer put money into your retirement account. This will be especially hard on retirees--FINANCIAL INSECURITY.
When we visit your campus ask us about this new attack on school employees.