Theresa Cantu
  Pamela Cole*
  Maria Galvan
  Cindy Garcia*
  Orlando Garcia*
  Tory Garcia
  Mary Garnet
  Mercedes Garza
  Luis Gonzales
  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

  Next meeting date:
  Thurs., May 11, 2006
  at 3:00 p.m.
  John F. Barron
  Administration
  Building
 

April 6, 2006

Office of Civil Rights report presented
Celeste Sanchez, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, provided committee members with an update regarding the recent Office of Civil Rights visit by a five-member team assigned to  evalute programs, accessibility and equity by the Texas Education Agency.

Sanchez reported that team members conducted walk-throughs and studied, reviewed and observed various areas, including information contained in folders, programs and areas related to parking, accessibility and signage.  The team had an opportunity to visit several schools, including the San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy.  Eighteen out of 21 indicators that the team was assigned to review were found to be in compliance.  A final report will be drafted and sent to district officials in four-to-six weeks.  The district will then have 45 days to submit a corrective action plan and one year to complete the items outlined in the plan.

“They studied things such as student handbooks and maps,” Sanchez said.  “They looked at how the special education students and the limited proficient students are being served.  They looked at handicap accessibility.  They reviewed folders and looked at improvement plans.”

Among some of the minor areas of concern that the OCR team pointed out included the non-designation of van-accessible parking, lack of signage for the handicapped and the lack of braille signs at the John F. Barron Administration Building.  The team also pointed out uneven doorways and recommended that door knobs be replaced with door levers.

Sanchez also stated that the team said that the district needed to encourage female students to enroll in non-traditional areas, such as auto mechanics.

Tory Garcia, a teacher at La Paloma Elementary and former Navy mechanic, said she is willing to assist Director of Career and Technology Delia Weaver in recruiting and encouraging more females to enroll in the program.    

Spanish AP
Sanchez covered the topic related to Spanish AP.  She said that in order to graduate with distinguished achievement, students must take three-to-four years of foreign language.  She stated she had contacted the Texas Education Agency who informed her that if the student is a recent immigrant and takes a proficiency test, the student can be placed in Spanish III.  If they pass, they are eligible to receive credit in Spanish I, II and III, however, it requires approval of board policy.  Rangerville teacher Dolores Ramirez pointed out that it did not make sense because Spanish is not considered foreign to recent immigrants.  Sullivan Elementary teacher Mary Garnett explained that it is a foreign language to the United States.  Tory Garcia suggested students be allowed to take another subject in its place such as French.  Sanchez explained recent immigrants are classified as freshmen for two years, skipping their sophmore year and becoming juniors, credit-wise.  The students still graduate in four years, she said, adding that the policy will be presented to the board of trustees.

Legislative Update
Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón briefed committee members regarding the upcoming legislative session that will be held April 17.  The Texas Supreme Court has given lawmakers until June 1, 2006 to enact a constitutional school finance plan.  Limón said the session will not address new monies for pay raises but will specifically address the tax reduction plan.  Limón said that a plan proposed by Texas Tax Reform Commission and headed by Chairperson John Sharp calls for reducing taxes by 17 cents across the board for every district in Texas.  He said that the state would guarantee that the districts would still receive the same amount of money as it would based on the current tax rates set by the districts. Limón explained that the $1.50 per $100 valuation tax rate was declared unconstitutional and local district had no local discretion.  The state will propose the tax decrease by 17 cents and leave the decision up to elected local officials.  He said local districts can increase taxes by as much as six cents without an election, however, that decision would be up to the local school board.  The plan calls for additional taxing of businesses and cigarettes.  The following year, the state will propose to decrease taxes by 33 cents.  Limón said the local board would make a decision in August.  He stated that one advantage is that the district has grown by at least 300-350 students per year, therefore, the district anticipates on receiving funding for those students.

Open Forum

• Sanchez allowed SAC community member Bertha Wilson to explain the reason for wearing western attire, including a western hat.  Wilson said that she and her husband Charlie recently returned from a Rotary International leadership (president-elect) conference in Dallas, where they served as Chief Rangers.  The Wilsons helped answer important questions such as helping those attending the president-elect training find the nearest restroom.
  
• James Kohn, a teacher at Miller Jordan Middle School, inquired about staff moves.  He was told that May 15 is the target date to inform staff of the moves.  Consideration will be given to those that want to remain at San Benito Riverside Middle School, then requests will be considered according to senority.
  
• Dolores Ramirez, a teacher at Rangerville Elementary, asked whether the district is required to have special education classrooms.  Teresa Cantu, Special Education Director, said that only six students meet eligibility for the Behavior Modification Unit and out of those six, three have been mainstreamed.   
  She said another unit is designated for the severe and profound and that units are determined based on student need.  Teacher Monica Ibarra said students are not being restricted and they enjoy the same privileges as the other students.  Mercedes Garza, special education teacher at Fred Booth, said students are being placed on a “least restrictive environment.”  Bertha Wilson asked about services for deaf students.  She was told that the district contracts with the Regional School for the Deaf in Brownsville, where students attend for 1/2 day, then return to the district for the remainder of the day.  Equipment such as amplification devices and headsets are used.  In addition, sign language is used.  A fourth grader from Rangerville Elementary that suffers from a “bubble boy” type syndrome, is taking advantage of distance learning.  A monitor is set up in the classroom and at his home.  According to Cantu, San Benito CISD is only the second district in the state to offer this to its students.  Garza said she has been with the district since the early 1980’s and that so many changes have been made to accommodate the needs of special education students.  She commended Cantu and the current administration, including Limón and Sanchez for placing emphasis on the needs of special education students.
  
• Luis Gonzales announced Miller Jordan, Berta Cabaza, San Benito High School, San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy, Dr. Garza and Ed Downs teams would be competing in chess at nationals.  Celeste Sanchez said the district hired a chess grandmaster to work with students and staff.  In a separate Afterschool Program matter, Luis Gutierrez, librarian at Ed Downs and a father of two, said parents have to pay out-of-pocket expenses for martial arts tournaments.  He was told that the district only pays for district-sponsored events.  Various programs such as Kung-Fu, ballet, Karate and dance are offered through the district’s Afterschool Program, made possible with grant monies.  As far as chess is concerned, the district pays for regular fees and travel because it serves as a district-sponsored program, Sanchez explained.  Superintendent of Schools Antonio Limón said the district spent $40,000 for chess competition alone.  Sanchez said the Brownsville district only sends its first place teams, while the top five at state from San Benito get an opportunity to attend nationals.  Sanchez said it gets expensive.  Garza asked about money for Special Olympics.  Cantu said 13 San Benito students at headed to state competition, with two districts splitting the costs associated with travel.  Garza asked about approaching businesses for assistance.  Sanchez informed her she would have to obtain prior approval from administration before requesting donations from businesses.
  

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