December, 2008
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 Dove Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
INTERESTING CHANGES
It was announced at the McAllen ISD School Board meeting on December 8, 2008 that Superintendent Chapa has had knee surgery again.
AEP Texas donated two (2) electric golf carts to assist activities held at McAllen Memorial Veterans Stadium.
The HIDTA Narcotics Task Force will donate a 2002 Ford Pick-up truck and a check for $20,000 to the McAllen ISD Police Department for their continuous support in the seizure of narcotics.
The IB Program will cost $175,800 for next term.
Annual fees—elementary and middle—$72,000
DP Programme Annual Fees—$10,000
IB Testing Feels—$35,000
Training Coordinator & Head of School—$16,800
Training—Teachers—$42,000
The board also approved a Mathematics Instructional Coaches Pilot Program, Cycle 2, that allows districts to contract with an approved service provider to enhance the teaching of mathematics at the middle and high school levels. The total of the grant is $249,418 for two years. There will be 28 teachers involved. Through a “trainer of trainers” model, 28 teachers will become on site coaches.
School Board Members are required to take Continuing Education hours. All seven (7) board members are up to date as required by law.
The Lincoln Gym is still a problem. The agenda reflected a need for $30,000 for additional flooring—now to be discussed in a special needs meeting in January.
Last school board meeting it was discussed that an amendment needed to be made to Superintendent Chapa’s contract. The application deadline for the new superintendent will be January 26, 2009 and he/she in place by March 12, 2009. Since Superintendent Chapa needed to be retained until the end of March an adjustment to her salary needed to made.
We requested a copy of the amendment to Chapa’s employment contract using opening records. Chapa receives a yearly salary of $190,000 (IRS rules require her $6,000 a year car allowance be paid as salary—thus her salary of $186,000 includes an additional $6,000 for her car). Her monthly salary is $15,833.33. Thus three (3) months additional salary is $47,500 (before taxes).
The Board approved the Collaborative Dropout Reduction Pilot Program—Cycle 2. This program targets students at risk of dropping out of school and provides intensive academic instruction, tutoring, etc. The cost is $250,000 for two (2) years. The local matching costs will be from local, state, and federal funds.
Also approved for $225,000 from local, state, and federal funds is the Intensive Summer Program Grant Application for 300 students over two (2) years. This is for middle and high schools students who may drop out of school.
Bond Projects and more
The bond management firm—Jacobs (Kevin Hitchcock)—discussed the bond
monies that could be moved to other projects. We did not received a copy of the November Bond update so it is hard to tell what money is available. We know the board is getting anxious for the projects to be completed.
Many bills were paid for plumbing renovations at various elementary schools (Alvarez, Bonham, Crockett, Milam, and Seguin).
Just one more new school to dedicate—we are looking forward to the day.
Many summer projects left from summer 2008 are still on the back burner. As you probably know, some of the projects are as follows: McAllen High School Auditorium renovation, Castaneda Elementary replacement chillers, Brown roof top unit replacement, DeLeon roof top units in cafeteria, and remodeling of Jackson’s Kitchen.
We are getting very concerned that the above projects will be left in the dust. All are desperately needed.
Appliances for the new Central Kitchen have arrived and are in storage in Harlingen until they are ready to install.
Gas tanks for the new Bus Barn behind Rowe High School have been ordered. The tilt walls for the Bus Barn are ready to pour.
OPEN FORUM
DECEMBER 8, 2008
Good evening. My name is Ruth Skow, and I represent McAllen AFT. We represent all employees from the teacher to the bus driver.
We continue to encourage employees to use the new PCI Health Clinic. So far we are getting positive responses from employees about the treatment they are receiving.
At the last open forum, we mentioned ways to save money. We hope you will take the suggestions to heart. We have a team of 25 employees and 25 retired members who will be
alerting us regarding money saving and safety tips for our school district.
Our first concern is the foot traffic problem at Fossum Middle School. Some students are walking to Fossum on Ware Road. The high grass along Ware Road leads to walking on the edge of the road. We ask that McAllen ISD grounds teams mow the grass or the city crews and install a sidewalk for safety reasons. In addition, we notice students cutting across the grass from Yellowhammer. We ask that the grounds teams keep the area mowed.
Our second concern is the lack of a flashing light at Ware Road and Goldcrest for Hendricks Elementary. We hope that this need will be taken care of.
On January 21, 2008 we will be sponsoring a Retirement/Financial Planning Meeting. John O’Sullivan the Texas AFT Secretary/Treasurer will be the speaker. The Texas Teacher Retirement Fund has suffered a set back as most other retirement funds have. We had approximately $112 billion in the fund, and now we have $80 billion. We know that many educational employees are very worried about their financial future, and we are trying to provide up to date training.