WE KEEP YOU INFORMED!
The McAllen ISD Board of Education has met numerous times in August.
At the August 25 board meeting, Dr. Richardo Chapa was given a plaque for his service to McAllen ISD Board of Education. Thank you Dr. Chapa.
On August 11, the following were appointed— Maria C. Boyd, the new Assistant Principal at Crockett; Sandra Richardson the new Assistant Principal at Jackson Elementary; Alfredo Gutierrez the new Assistant Principal for Lincoln Middle School; Gary Laurer is the retire/rehire Athletic Coordinator/Head Coach for Rowe High School.
On August 25, no Assistant Principal was named for Castaneda; Letty Cazares was named Assistant Principal at McHi; and Mary A. Buckalue was named Special Education Coordinator.
On the 25th, Superintendent Chapa announced on opening day Fossum had 708 students (max will be 750); De Leon, 438; Hendricks, 459 (with a 100 waiting to register on the first day); Garza, 736; McHi (highest high school enrollment) with Memorial the lowest—no numbers given.
Lots of bills for the 2005 Bond were paid at both the 11th and 25th meetings. The renovations for McAllen High School Auditorium were approved. We are afraid the renovations will be done on the cheap and that concerns us. Health insurance renewals were pulled. We ask the board members if they were trying to raise health rates last week—no answer to my question.
Communities in Schools was approved for 9th graders only. A $6 million grant was obtained called the Safe School Healthy Students Grant for the U. S. Department of Education—used to hire case managers, psychologists, and other positions to address student problems.
The 2008-2009 Budget was approved on the 25th. We spoke at the Public Hearing—read our comments on the back of this newsletter.
The 2008-2009 Student Code of Conduct was was approved. The Memorial High School HVAC (air) Renovations ran over the budgeted amount by $90,494. A donation for a marquee for Sanchez Elementary by Security 1st Federal Credit Union was approved in the amount of $18,500. Milam Elementary got a new marquee from the Milam PTA in the amount of $23,237.
Open Forum August 11
We are concerned about the McAllen ISD Budget process. There has been just one (1) budget meeting this summer. We have regularly attended board budget meetings since 1980 and want to express our concern over the process.
Employees are deeply worried about the salaries they might receive. The suggested salaries of $800, $900, and $1,000 for teachers are very small after a difficult year with all the initiatives that did not work, more testing than ever, IB in elementaries and middle schools that was not supported properly, and paper work until the cows come home. McAllen ISD and the McAllen ISD Board of Education should have a great deal of money to give for salaries because of the business decisions made--high school teachers teaching 6 classes or 180 students, middle school teachers having a 7th period for tutorials or 210 students and grades required of that 7th period, and elementary school teachers teaching a longer day and tutoring until they and the students were burned out.
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 with these 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 asking that negotiations move forward quickly so that all employees get this benefit.
In addition, our members are asking why jobs are not advertised properly—that is just a web posting with a very short time line—as opposed to web and newspaper postings with at least a two (2)-week time line.
Lastly, the 2005 Bond has earned interest of $10.2 million. With what is not needed to complete the Central Kitchen and Plant Operations Buildings, you need to review completing Navarro Elementary. The Navarro neighborhood deserves to have this project completed.
Thank you.
Public Hearing August 25, 2008
Good evening. We represent all school employees from the teacher to the bus driver. Our AFT Local is the youngest age wise in Texas. We are proud to say that 48% of our members are 28 years of age and younger.
Our members ask us to focus on better wages and benefits. If you wish to retain the staff that you have, you must face the fact that they need constant reassurance from the elected board of education that you actually want to keep them as part of McAllen ISD.
In reviewing Agenda Item 10 concerning adopting a budget which does not meet Proposed Expenditure Targets Established by the Commissioner of Education and Resolution of the Board Explaining Intent to Adopt a Budget that Exceeds the Proposed Expenditure Targets Established by the Commissioner of Education. The information provided on the ISD website for this agenda item is difficult to follow.
I read between the lines, and your item may refer to removing approximately $4 million from the Reserve Fund to build the three (3) athletic facilities located at our traditional high schools.
We want you to know we consider these athletic facilities to be drug prevention and drop out prevention facilities.
We also want to comment regarding the facilities built with the 2005 Bond Funds. The McAllen ISD Board of Education has carefully worked to bring these facilities to completion.
The Bond Manager—Jacobs—has made McAllen AFT feel welcome to ask questions and keep on top of interest earned from selling the 2005 Bond Funds all at one time. As an organization, we devoted many hours to getting the 2005 Bond passed and participating on the Bond Committee.
Thank you for your attention.