July, 2009
Volume 17, Issue 11
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 Dove Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
SALARIES AND BUDGET TO BE APPROVED ON
AUGUST 10, 2009
JUNE 30, 2009
The voting on salaries for teachers, librarians, administrative education staff, administrative management staff, salaries for clerical/technical staff, manual trades staff, instructional support staff, and police department staff was pulled.
At the end of the meeting the superintendent said that there will be another meeting on August 6 and the vote on salaries will be on August 10, 2009 McAllen ISD Regular Meeting. We know it is really hard to wait.
Superintendent Ponce told McAllen ISD Board members that five (5) administrative positions will be cut.
Then Ponce asked that some of the savings of eliminating the 5 positions be used to fund a 3rd Assistant Superintendent for District Operations (the duties were not clearly defined to us at this time—perhaps the paper work would explain the details).
The employment of the 3rd Assistant Superintendent will help better handle the chain of communications and the management of district money. Two (2) of the positions cut are Director of HR (Mr. Ellis) and Director of Student Support Services (Mr. Perez).
The superintendent gave a brief discussion of how the principals were distracted by everyday happenings—like air conditioners going out—when the principals should be focused on mentoring the teachers to improve the curriculum. The 3rd Assistant Superintendent will be focused on keeping the school plants operating efficiently—that is watching the money. It seems the money was out of control keeping school plants operating (air conditioning, watching for electricity expenses, bus expenses, and more). The information in this paragraph is what we think we heard.
There was a brief discussion of the 2009-2010 budget. The AFT and citizens in the audience were not provided with a copy of the any information discussed. Dr. Caporusso, Mr. Farias, and Mr. Moore were absent.
JULY 24, 2009
The McAllen ISD Board of Education met yesterday at 1 p.m.
Rachel Arcaute was named the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum (was interim) and Alberto Canales was named the Principal at Fossum.
The health insurance plan for all employees was dropped from the agenda. We called several board members and said that the employees had had no input concerning the health plan issues rate hikes. The District Health Insurance Committee (made up of the leaders of each professional organization and a representative of each professional organization and other groups of employees had not met in months.
The budget for 2009-2010 was discussed, but no handouts were given to the citizens present. No salary information was discussed out loud. The MISD Board members had the salary scenarios, but not the citizens. Perhaps next week’s meeting will reveal salaries. Dr. Ponce mentioned that five (5) administrators at the Central office will not be replaced—we do not know which administrators.
OTHER INFORMATION—A great story in the Monitor recently discussed the fact that our retiree members—Fernando and Estela Garza were celebrating their wedding as the Apollo 11 landed on the moon’s surface—40 years ago.
DISTRICT NAME: MCALLEN ISD
DISTRICT NUMBER: 108906ACCOUNTABILITY RATING: Academically Acceptable
CAMPUS LIST (in campus number order)
CAMPUS RATING
001 MCALLEN HIGH SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 002 MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 005 INSTR/GUID CENTER Not Rated: Other 006 ROWE HIGH SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 007 LAMAR ACADEMY AEA: Academically Acceptable 009 SOUTHWEST KEY PROGRAM Not Rated: Other 011 ACHIEVE EARLY COLLEGE H S Exemplary 042 TRAVIS MIDDLE SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 043 LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 044 BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 045 MORRIS MIDDLE SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 046 DE LEON MIDDLE SCHOOL Academically Acceptable 047 CATHEY MIDDLE SCHOOL Recognized 048 MICHAEL E FOSSUM M S Academically Acceptable 101 ALVAREZ ELEMENTARY Recognized 103 BONHAM ELEMENTARY Recognized 105 CROCKETT ELEMENTARY Recognized 106 HOUSTON ELEMENTARY Exemplary 107 JACKSON ELEMENTARY Recognized 108 NAVARRO ELEMENTARY Recognized 111 MILAM ELEMENTARY Recognized 112 WILSON ELEMENTARY Academically Acceptable 114 FIELDS ELEMENTARY Recognized 116 SEGUIN ELEMENTARY Recognized 119 ESCANDON ELEMENTARY Recognized 120 RAYBURN ELEMENTARY Exemplary 121 ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY Academically Acceptable 122 GARZA ELEMENTARY Recognized 123 MCAULIFFE ELEMENTARY Exemplary 124 GONZALEZ ELEMENTARY Exemplary 126 CASTANEDA ELEMENTARY Recognized 127 BLANCA E SANCHEZ Recognized 128 DR PABLO PEREZ Recognized 129 LUCILLE HENDRICKS ELEMENTARY Recognized 130 THIGPEN-ZAVALA EL Recognized Total Count = 35