October, 2008
McAllen AFT MAKING A DIFFERENCE
1500 Dove Avenue, McAllen, TX, 78504, 682-1143
EYES ON THE BOARD
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH BEGINS
At 12 noon on October 27, we attended the McAllen ISD Board of Education meeting. The four (4) finalists to lead the search for a new superintendent were interviewed.
After all four (4) completed their presentations, the board selected Waterford as the consultant. Each board member will be interviewed as to what they may like as a superintendent, and then focus groups (educators, parents, students, business people, faith groups, others) will be conducted.
It looks like Mrs. Chapa may stay into 2009—February. The winning search group thought the selection of superintendent could not be done by December 31, 2008.
We were back at 5:30 p.m. for the next board meeting. A presentation by the County Tax Assessor & Collector was given. It seems that 19,000 protests by citizen in Hidalgo County were made concerning their property taxes.
The next presentation was made by Lilia Ledesma, Delinquent Tax Attorney/Partner, Linebarger, Goggan, Blair & Sampson, LLP made the delinquent tax collections report for September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2008. The bottom line is that there will be much more litigation, because people are having trouble paying their taxes.
New computers (276), printers, and installation were approved for the Career Technical Education Departments at Lamar Academy, McHi, Memorial High, and Rowe High. Especially happy are those technology teachers at Rowe. Rowe’s 50 new computers will replace those damaged during Hurricane Dolly.
A enormous number of bills were paid for the 2005 Bond. In the discussion it was mentioned that the dedication for Fossum Middle School will be November 9, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.
The dedication for Hendricks will be postponed until the name sign for Hendricks arrives and is installed and the landscaping is more complete.
It now seems that Daktronics Score Boards has been given the green light to proceed with Phase 1—Discovery. The company will discover how many companies in the area want to advertise on the new high tech score boards to be installed at McAllen Veterans Memorial High School Stadium. We also understand that a $2.5 million face lift for the stadium is in the pipeline.
The contracts with Daktronics were not written properly, and they will have to come back at the next board meeting.
Both at the October 14 and 27th board meetings Jacobs, the bond manager, showed the slab being poured and the walls going up at the new Central Kitchen and Plant Operations. The new bus barn plans are moving along rapidly.
One of the important discussions occurred at the October 14th meeting regarding 403B’s. On January 1, 2009, the IRS will require all school districts to be responsible for monitoring 403B’s owned by employees. McAllen ISD will be sending letters to all 403B companies requiring a new contract. If the companies do not sign a new contract, then the employee will have to select from the 403B companies that do sign. At the end of all of this process, employees will have 403B’s that mirror 401K’s.
For those of you considering retirement be sure to have most of your debts paid for. Retirees have had only one (1) $2,000 check as a raise since 2001.
JUST A NOTE
School Districts' Tax Rates--Hence Also Employee Pay Raises--Depend on November Ballot—Texas AFT Hotline
More than 100 school districts have been forced to go to the voters this year for approval of a higher local school-property tax rate, and many of these tax-rate approval elections are on the same lengthy November 4 ballot with candidates for every post from U.S. president to local constable. Districts are asking voters for tax-rate hikes for one reason, and one reason only--the Texas legislature has essentially left them with no other option.
The outcome of these tax-rate elections will determine whether teachers and other school employees in many districts receive any pay raise at all during the current school year.
The school-funding scheme passed by the legislature in 2006 compels districts to seek voter approval of higher local property taxes in order to make up for the legislature's failure to provide enough state aid to cover rising costs. School districts have been given the choice of hurting kids by cannibalizing existing staff and programs or raising the local tax rate. Meanwhile, the district's costs keep climbing. Inflation doesn't stop. It costs more to operate the schools each year than the year before, especially when utility and transportation costs are going up fast. The costs of meeting state requirements--for instance, adding science teachers and science labs to make sure all students take required higher-level science courses–also is going up and up.
But school districts are receiving only a fixed amount of combined local and state dollars per student, an amount frozen at 2006 funding levels--unless local voters approve a higher local tax rate.
MCALLEN AFT
PRESENTATION TO MCALLEN ISD BOARD OF EDUCATION
(OCTOBER 14, 2008) OCTOBER 27, 2008
Good evening my name is Ruth Skow, and I represent the McAllen AFT.
We would like to take the opportunity to thank the McAllen ISD Board of Education for the opportunity to have a health clinic for all employees.
We have toured the PCI or Preventative Care Institute clinic and found it to be neat, clean, and state of the art. We had a tour of the entire facility and left with a good feeling. Employees have expressed to us an optimistic attitude in regard to the clinic. Employees have been extremely nervous in regard to what is happening in our nation wide financial crisis and hope for relief in regard to their health expense
We also appreciate the fact that our health insurance did not go up for the first time in many years.
In addition, those contemplating retirement in the next few years the change in the retirement incentive means a great deal. Teachers and paraprofessionals are focused on saving as many sick days as possible. The increase of sick leave days—75--bought at retirement is a great opportunity.
Lastly, the financial strain of the nation has hit home in McAllen ISD. Why not use a popular program called GO GREEN to save money.
We ask that you consider rechecking the type of light bulbs you are using in the classroom and encourage turning lights off when no one is in a classroom. We ask that air conditioners be turned off at 9 p.m. when possible and turned on again at 6 p.m. or temperatures raised to 85 after 9 p.m. and lowered to 78 during the day. On weekends we ask that air conditioning and lights be used only in emergencies or for UIL events. Principals need to rethink building usage and ask all employees to work with them to reduce electrical usage. In addition, we ask that all bottles and cans be picked up and used to pay for supplies such as paper for the copiers. Each student council or other similar organizations on campus should lead the charge to save our schools. School district bus routes should be reviewed once a month to make sure gas is used efficiently and wisely. If tutoring is needed, bus schedules should be coordinated with other schools to avoid duplicate routes.
Thank you.