Theresa Cantu
  Pamela Cole*
  Maria Galvan*
  Cindy Garcia
  Orlando Garcia*
  Tory Garcia
  Mary Garnet
  Mercedes Garza
  Luis Gonzlaes*
  Ricardo Gonzales
  Luis Gutierrez
  Monica Ibarra
  James Kohn
  Maria Leos
  Stanley Leshner
  Antonio G. Limon
  Noemi Martinez
  Jeannie McMillin*
  Tim Moon
  Karen Moore
  Rosalinda Peralez
  Dolores Ramirez
  Ray Saldana*
  Henry Sanchez
  Jesse Sauceda
  Veronica Varner
  Heriberto Villarreal
  Linda Villarreal
  Delia Weaver
  Bertha Wilson


  Reference
  Individuals:
  Theresa
  Christensen
  Ruben Franco*
  Celia Longoria*
  Emma McCall*
  Celeste Sanchez


  * Unable to Attend
  New members in
  italics

 

November 10, 2005

District Attorney's Office introduces program
Assistant District Attorney Rene Garza provided information about a program designed to educate students, parents and teachers about sexual offenses. The program, made possible through grant monies, is to change their goal or behavior, with the main goal being that of preventing sexual assault charges against juveniles. Garza said that Disrict Attorney Armando Villallobos is strong on juvenile cases and reducing such offenses. The program would help students understand that there are boundaries to their actions. Counseling will be available for juvenile sex offenders for up to two years. Celeste Sánchez, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said that incidents related to sexual offenses at the secondary schools will be handled according to district policy. The grant/project counselor will provide appropriate guidance. There are two components: one is to educate students and parents and two is to change the students’ behavior.

A suggestion was made to establish a chain of command. During the course of the discussion, it was also suggested that smaller incidents can be taken care of at the campus level, while serious offenses should be referred to a staff member at the District Attorney’s Office.

Committee member Jesse Sauceda inquired whether incoming sixth graders could receive instruction about sexual pressure associated with going into middle school. Garza said students must be taught boundaries and that not all forms of contact are appropriate.

The district must exhaust local disciplinary procedures before making a referral to the Assistant District Attorney. The Assistant District Attorney reviewed juvenile sex offender categories listed in a handout. Members of the Superintendent’s Advisory Council felt the program would prove beneficial.

District & campus performance objectives presented
Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón presented a report on the district and campus performance objectives in place of Planner/Evaluator Ruben Franco, who was unable to attend the meeting. Limón explained that out of 100 students taking a test, there must be a 70 percent passing rate to be classified as “recognized” and 90 percent must pass in order to be declared “exemplary.” Eight campuses are aiming for “exemplary” status, while seven others are aiming for “recognized” status. The district’s goal is to become a “recognized” district. The Amador R. Rodriguez Juvenile Boot Camp is the only school currently classified as “academically unacceptable.”

Class size waiver plan submitted
Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón also presented a report on the class size waiver and district compliance plan. The Texas Education Agency mandates that all elementary campuses maintain a 22:1 student-teacher ratio in grades kinder through fourth. The following schools have applied for a waiver and have submitted a compliance plan:

Fred Booth (two sections in kindergarten & one section in first grade)
Ed Downs (one section in kindergarten)
Dr. Cash (three sections in kindergarten & one section in first grade)
La Paloma (four sections in kindergarten)
Frank Roberts (two sections in kindergarten)

The increases in student enrollment are attributed to unexpected student growth in these areas.

Construction of a new elementary will result in the compliance of maximum class size limits in these grades. The plan has been approved by the Board of Trustees and submitted to the TEA.

New Initiatives Introduced
Sanchez explained the district is working on new initiatives, including science labs and the Growing Readers Early Literacy Curriculum. The program will prepare pre-k students with essential phonics. She explained the board approved the Science lab program. She stated the district was devastated with the fifth grade Science scores. She said she and other curriculum directors evaluated that the principals were doing. Science software programs were purchased; however there was no consistency on the vocabulary and critical thinking methods. The lowest scores were in the area of Earth Science. All grade levels will be receiving Bilingual software for immediate implementation.

Security equipment purchased
Limón announced that the Board of Trustees recently approved the purchase of the Raptor Trace products and VSOFT. The software product will scan visitors’ identification such as a driver’s license and will alert staff of sex offenders and court orders. The product aides in tracking visitors, students, faculty and volunteers. Other features help share information between administrators and school law enforcement personnel. Besides alerting school officials about sex offenders, the software also keeps track of numbers of tardies and detention. The product also provides staff members with a daily report of visitors. The equipment and software will cost each school $1,823.75 and will be purchased with Safe and Drug Free & Title I Funds.

Open Forum
•Tory Garcia, a teacher at La Paloma, raised concerns about the Social Studies curriculum framework. She said they were not informed about changes for Social Studies framework and the changes caught teachers off guard. She stated that the previous framework was more informative. The Science benchmarks were right on track, she said.

•Jesse Sauceda spoke about subject merging in Reading and Social Studies. He said that a great reader can have trouble grasping dates/timelines. He added that one grade for both subjects is not fair. He asked whether subject merging was a common practice and stated it is confusing for students and parents. He said that Dr. Cash Elementary is subject merging. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Celeste Sánchez stated the elementary curriculum is online. Stanley Leshner said parents and students benefit from positive reinforcement from teachers. In an unrelated matter, Sauceda inquired about the new stadium and asked what it would cost to upgrade the current stadium. Limón stated the district is currently on a 60-day waiting period and that everything is on schedule. He stated that an upgrade was considered, however, there were too many obstacles, therefore, a decision has been made to move forward with the project to the new location (Cotton Bowl).

•Luis Gutierrez stated that the Elementary University Interscholastic League competition came too early in the year. He also said that LEP and LPAC training does not change from year-to-year and asked why attendance is required. Sanchez said it is a local requirement and those attending receive a local stipend. She added that those who do not attend the training can choose to give up their stipend. Gutierrez stated that online publications of Staff Updates and Board Reports are not current. Isabel Gonzalez of the Community Relations Office explained the issues are current and individuals should click on the “publications” link. Principal Tim Moon viewed the pages using his laptop at the SAC meeting and verified that all publications are current.

•Dolores Ramirez stated that some teachers are leaving early at a time when parent-teacher conferences are supposed to be taking place. Limón said that is no longer happening. Sánchez said teachers should schedule at least 10 parent-teacher conferences.

•James Kohn said Miller Jordan Middle School teachers are upset about the 4-6 p.m. mandatory training for Teacher Observation Protocol. Sanchez said it is a state-required training and should be done before December. Heriberto Villarreal asked whether it is possible to do it during an inservice. Elementary schools are scheduling the training from 2-4:30 p.m. It was stated that other districts are experiencing the same problems.

•Maria Leos asked whether perfect attendance and tutoring stipends can be provided on separate checks because the money is not noticeable. Limón stated that it could become a finance nightmare that would require additional personnel, however, that he would look into it.

•Ricardo Gonzales stated that it is not fair that only teachers receive a perfect attendance stipend. Sánchez said it serves as an incentive for teachers.

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