November, 2008
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 Dove Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
ACTIVITY BUILDINGS A REALITY!
The Monday, November 24, 2008 board meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.
In closed session, the McAllen ISD Board of Education made an amendment to Mrs. Chapa’s contract. We presume that it is an amount of money to employ her until February. We will get the facts as soon as they are public. As far as we know, only four (4) board members were present—Mr. Farias, Mrs. Lee, Mr. Kent, and Mr. Vela during closed session.
In open session, the amendment to Mrs. Chapa’s contract was made official. Farias, Kent, Lee, and Vela voted yes. Alvarado, Garcia, and Moore were absent.
The board approved the construction contract of three (3) multipurpose athletic facilities for McHi, Memorial, and Rowe. It was a four (4) to 0 vote. Farias, Kent, Lee, and Vela voted yes.
The board members absent were Alvarado, Garcia and Moore. The buildings will be 15,000 sq. ft. and will have a weight room, wrestling room, and cheerleading room. The buildings are very basic—no fancy extras. The budget will be very tight. It was unclear as to whether left over bond money would be used.
CLINIC REMINDER
We hope the clinic with a $5 copay is working for you. Of course, you can continue to see the doctor you may have been using. We worked for more than 2 years to get this option for you. If your family is on the health plan, they can use the clinic also.
The clinic is located at 500 S. Bicentennial Blvd. (Zarsky Lumber is at the corner of Bicentennial and Erie—just before it is the clinic—PCI). McAllen ISD Employees can walk in from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.--with a 30-minute wait.
After 10 a.m., you need to call for an appointment. Andres Silva in Benefits arranged clinic times. The 8 a.m.-10 a.m. times are for McAllen ISD employees only. As the volume of employees grows at the clinic, times might change.
November 17, 2008
We attended the McAllen ISD Board meeting on Monday, November 17, 2008 at 12 noon. After nearly three (3) hours of discussion no decision was made to build the three (3) activity buildings on the high school campuses. Mr. Alvarado expressed a wish to continue with the three (3) 15,000 sq. ft. sports activity buildings. With not enough money available, eight (8) different designs (reduced in size) were suggested by administration. Finally it was decided to wait until the board knew how much money was going to be available from the fund balance and possibly the 2005 bond money.
The summer projects discussion was delayed until later. A 10-minute recess was called and the next meeting began.
At the 3 p.m. meeting, Waterford School Services Inc., the search team for a new superintendent discussed the marketing plan. A brochure to advertise the superintendent’s position was shown and the board asked to make changes. Then it was finally decided to have a January 26, 2009 deadline to apply for superintendent and March 12, 2009 to announce a new superintendent. A brief discussion of salary indicated over $200,000.
November 10, 2008
At the McAllen ISD Board Meeting on November 10, 2008, the agreement with the Waterford Superintendent Search Consulting Services was approved in the amount of $21,000. The budget for 2008-2009 allows for $100,000 for the superintendent search.
The Multipurpose Athletic Facilities for all three (3) high schools was pulled from the agenda and a special workshop will be held.
The discussion of and possible consideration of funding for additional financial needs was pulled from the agenda (including the Jackson Elementary kitchen equipment).
TEXAS AFT / MCALLEN AFT 2009 LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
Testing reform;
multiple measures, not a one dimensional test;
strong standards;
supportive interventions;
appropriate testing of special education, ELL students;
no top-down “pay for test scores”;
teacher control over classroom time.
MCALLEN AFT PRESENTATION TO THE MCALLEN BOARD OF EDUCATION
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2008
Good evening. My name is Ruth Skow, and I represent the McAllen AFT.
During the last two years, the McAllen AFT has been asking for a health clinic for all employees. When the clinic was approved, one board member mentioned--regarding the clinic—use it or lose it. Therefore, we are presenting this evening petitions signed by employees who wish to use the clinic. So far we have had positive reports from staff about the PCI Clinic.
At the last open forum, we mentioned ways to save money. We hope you took the suggestions to heart. We have a team of 25 employees and 25 retired members who will be alerting us regarding money saving tips for our school district. At the next open forum, we will share our analysis of savings.
During the fall semester our high school staffs and students have been heavily impacted by the teaching and taking of six (6) classes in high school. We have been surveying our members and nonmembers regarding the business decision that has so heavily impacted our teaching staff. Staff members have told us that paper work has increased dramatically. Students have complained to us of all the extra homework with an additional class.
We are asking the McAllen ISD Board of Education to look at grade analysis with the extra class.
We are also asking the McAllen ISD Board of Education to look at absentee problems with both staff and students. Is there a difference between last year and this year? We are asking the tough question about this business decision—is the addition of another class dummying down? Thank you.
TEXAS AFT / MCALLEN AFT LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
January 13. 2009
First Day of Session
Our issues are comparable pay for teachers, living wage for all education employees, Health-Care as Good as the Governor’s, and Top-Down incentive pay on the back burner. Our issues for retirees are cost of living increase: Catch-Up increase, Automatic COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment), and higher state contribution.