A Publication of South Texas Independent School District Oct.-Dec. 2014

Works

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BOARD

Board recognizes long-time board members for service to the district

Board welcomes two new members to team of 24Two new members were sworn in to the STISD Board of Directors during the Dec. 2 board meeting. Margarita Garcia of San Juan and John L. Solis, III, of Raymond-ville joined the team of 24.

Texas State Board of Education member Ruben Cortez swore in Margarita Garcia, and Willacy County Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, George Solis, swore in Solis. Once sworn in, Garcia and Solis were able to participate in their first meeting as official members of the STISD Board of Directors.

Garcia is a graduate of Universidad Re-giomontana in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, and received a degree in chemical engineering. She actively volunteers at her two children’s schools in Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) ISD, and at church.

“I look forward to serving on the STISD

Solis retired from the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) in April of 2008 after 30 years of service with the Raymondville Maintenance Section. For the past four and a half years, Solis has been working for Guzman and Muñoz Engineering and Surveying as a construc-tion inspector.

Solis joins the STISD board with 11 years of board member experience, as he previ-ously served at Raymondville ISD.

“Serving as a board trustee has been one of the proudest accomplishments in my life,” said Solis. “There isn’t any other organiza-tion you can serve on that can set the tone of helping young people today to be highly successful members of our communities and prepare them to be the trendsetters and major decision makers of the future.”

The STISD Board of Directors recognized two long-time board members - Octaviano (Tony) Gonzalez of San Juan and Julio Saldaña, Jr., of Raymondville - for their many years of commitment and service to the district.

Both Gonzalez and Saldaña parted with the board in November as their terms came to an end. Collectively, Gonzalez and Saldaña served the district for 54 years.

Gonzalez joined the STISD Board of Directors in 1990. Before joining STISD, Gonzalez served 19 years on the Board of Directors for PSJA ISD. In total, Gonzalez served both districts for 43 years.

Saldaña joined the STISD Board of Direc-tors in 1984. He worked for Lyford ISD for 32 years as a custodian, bus driver, teacher, elementary principal and high school assistant principal.

The board presented them with a person-alized clock to commemorate their many years of dedicated service to STISD.

Top: Margarita Garcia of San Juan Bottom: John L. Solis, III, of Raymondville

Middle Top: Homero Garcia of Weslaco, Octaviano (Tony) Gonzalez of San Juan, and Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D.,

STISD superintendent of schools.

Middle Bottom: Julio Saldaña, Jr., of Raymondville.

board to provide students with the tools necessary to attain a degree and understand its value,” said Garcia.

BOARDWorks

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Students speak on summer symposium experiences Students from South Texas Academy for Medical Professions (Medical Academy) presented on their experiences at the Texas A&M Medical Program Summer Sympo-sium at the Oct. 28 board meeting.

Fifteen rising Medical Academy seniors traveled to College Station, Texas, June 15-20. Students had the opportunity to talk to medical school students, faculty and practicing physicians. Students also experi-enced hands-on training and participated in lectures and campus tours.

Building tours included the Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sci-ences Center, the Cyclotron Institute, and the Brayton Fire Training Field.

Students selected to participate in the sum-mer program went through a competitive selection process and interviewed with pro-gram sponsors upon acceptance. Accepted candidates had to be in good academic standing, follow the student code of con-duct and demonstrate leadership behavior. Lastly, each student must have passed the first semester and the third nine weeks to be eligible.

Students from South Texas Business,Education & Technology Academy (BETA) presented on their week-long summer sym-

posium at Texas A&M in College Station during the Dec. 2 board meeting.

The BETAMU experience is a partnership between the BETA education track and the Texas A&M College of Education and Hu-man Development.

The program focused on the qualitative and quantitative research process used to validate research findings. At the end of the week, students presented their physics exploration lab findings to the Texas A&M honor programs committee and to deans from the College of Education.

Students enjoyed campus tours and visited the famous George H. Bush Presidential Library. On the same evening, student members of the BETA For the Kids (FTK) chap-ter also presented on their experiences through the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) summer FTK fundrais-ing seminar.

FTK is a student-led organization for col-lege and high school students that believe in dreaming big, and it provides an op-portunity to make a difference in the lives of families with children who are battling cancer.

This summer, students had the chance to brainstorm and collaborate with students and faculty from the UTSA FTK com-mittee to plan and prepare for future fundraising activities and events.

Students hosted their first annual mini dance marathon at the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) during the 2013-14 school year, and through it they raised $4,000. This event mimicked UTSA’s 12-hour dance marathon, which involves dancing, seminars and stories from families who have experienced sup-port from the FTK organization.

In 2013, the BETA FTK chapter raised $2,500. As of Dec. 2, the chapter has far exceeded last year’s number with a total of $12,000. From the funds raised, four local families have benefited so far.

STISD’s FTK chapters will host addi-tional activities throughout the current school year.

With the creation of the UTRGV Medi-cal School, students look forward to the possibilities of expanding their fundrais-ing efforts by collaborating with students and faculty.

A few of the Medical Academy students who attended the 2014 Texas A&M Medical Program Summer Symposium, and their sponsor. Left to right: Karla Gonzalez of Los Fresnos, Ameyali Uriegas of Brownsville, Rosanne Rudd (Instructor), Eric Nevarez of Brownsville and Monserrat

Garcia of San Benito.

A few of the BETA students who attended the 2014 Texas A&M Summer Institute (BETAMU), and their sponsors: Left to right: Valerie Johnson (Instructor), Max Johnson of Edin-burg, Yesenia Treviño of Monte Alto, Ashley McDonald of Edinburg, Odessa Gutierrez of Monte Alto, Isaiah Gonzalez

of Edinburg, Sarahi Lozano of Alamo, and Rosa Gonzalez (Instructor).

A few of the BETA FTK students who attended The Univer-sity of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) summer FTK seminar, and their sponsors. Left to right: Jena Esquierdo (Instructor), Vanessa Salinas of Edcouch, Sarafey Zuniga of Weslaco, Jarred Lozano of Edinburg, Andrew Herrin of McAllen and

April Gutierrez (Instructor).

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BOARDWorks

At the Dec. 2 board meeting, county judges administered oaths to the newly-elected, re-appointed and re-elected directors.

In Cameron County, Eliceo Muñoz, III, and Rick Villarreal, D.D.S., were re-appointed to the STISD Board of Directors for a term ending in November 2018. Both members hail from Brownsville. Robert J. Lerma of Brownsville and Eduardo L. Cantu of Los Fresnos were up for re-election in November and ran unopposed.

In Hidalgo County, Javier Farias of McAllen, Richard Fleming, M.D., of Mission, Maria Leal of Palmhurst, and Berta Palacios of San Juan, were re-appointed to the Board of Directors, while Eduardo Gonzalez of Edinburg, was re-elected. Margarita Garcia

of San Juan was elected onto the board.

In Willacy County, Douglas E. Bu-chanan of Raymondville was up for re-election and ran unopposed. John L. Solis, III, also of Raymondville, joined the board through his election.

There was also reorganization of the Board of Directors, with the board mem-bers electing the following officers: • Newly-elected President: Joe L.

Lopez of Brownsville;• Newly-elected Vice-President:

Douglas E. Buchanan of Raymond-ville; and

• Newly-elected Secretary: Maria G. Leal of Palmhurst

Board elects new officers

STISD student ethnicity and gender report The STISD Board of Directors received the 2014-15 Student Gender and Ethnicity Report at the Oct. 28 board meeting, held at the Medical Academy Library in San Benito.

Of the 3,394 current STISD students, there are 1,778 total females and 1,616 total males.

The breakdown of gender status by ethnicity is as follows:•AmericanIndianorAlaskanNative:1malestudent (0.03 percent);•AsianFemale:176students(5.19percent);•AsianMale:180students(5.30percent);•TotalAsian:356students(10.49percent);•BlackorAfricanAmericanFemale:20students(0.59 percent); •BlackorAfricanAmericanMale:16students(0.47 percent);•TotalBlackorAfricanAmerican:36students(1.06 percent); •HispanicFemale:1,471students(43.34percent);•HispanicMale:1,317students(38.80percent);•TotalHispanic:2,788students(82.14percent);•NativeHawaiianorOtherPacificIslanderFemale:1 student (0.03 percent);

•NativeHawaiianorOtherPacificIslanderMale:1 student (0.03 percent);•TotalNativeHawaiianorOtherPacificIslander:2 students (0.06 percent);•TwoorMoreRacesFemale:19students(0.56percent);•TwoorMoreRacesMale:10students(0.29percent);•Totalstudentsthatareof TwoorMoreRaces:29students (0.85 percent); •WhiteFemale:91students(2.68percent);•WhiteMale:91students(2.68percent);and•TotalWhite:182students(5.36percent).

As of October 2014, total student enrollment at each campus is as follows: •TotalenrollmentatSouthTexasBusiness,Education & Technology Academy (BETA) is 671; •TotalenrollmentatSouthTexasAcademyforMedical Professions (Medical Academy) is 542; •TotalenrollmentatSouthTexasHighSchoolforHealth Professions (Med High) is 797; •TotalenrollmentatTheScienceAcademyof SouthTexas (Sci Tech) is 789; and •TotalenrollmentatSouthTexasPreparatoryAcademy (STPA) is 595.

Left to right: Eliceo Muñoz, III, Rick Villarreal, D.D.S., and Robert J. Lerma, all of Brownsville.

Left to right: Javier Farias of McAllen, Berta Pala-cios of San Juan, Eduardo Gonzalez of Edinburg,

Richard Fleming, M.D., of Mission, and Maria G. Leal of Palmhurst.

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #333McAllen, TX

Bulletin Board• January: School Board Recognition Month

• Enrollment for 2015-16 for all campuses: Jan. 17 at www.stisd.net; start times vary by campus

• Parent Connection Meeting (Medical Academy): Jan. 22 at 6:00 p.m. - Attendance + Student Skills

• STISD Board Meeting: 7:00 p.m. on Tues-day, Jan. 20, at Biblioteca Las Américas in Mercedes.

BoardWorks is published for patrons of South Texas Independent School District after each regular meeting of the Board of Directors. Board meetings take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Board minutes are the final authority on action taken at STISD board meetings.

Editor: Amanda Odom(956) 514-4255 or amanda.odom@stisd.net

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BOARDWorks

100 Med High Dr.Mercedes, TX 78570

Phone (956) 565-2454Fax (956) 565-4639

Website www.stisd.net

SUPERINTENDENT

Marla M. Guerra, Ed.D.

Joe L. Lopez, PresidentDouglas E. Buchanan, Vice-PresidentMaria G. Leal , SecretaryGraciela CamargoEduardo L. “Larry” CantuYolanda CuellarJavier FariasRichard Fleming, M.D.Adrian GarciaHomero GarciaMargarita Garcia Sylvia Sánchez Garza

Hector GonzalesEduardo “Ed” Gonzalez

Filomena Leo, Ed. D.Robert “Bobby” J. Lerma

Henry LeVrier Ramon Montalvo, III

Eliceo Muñoz, IIIBerta Palacios

John L. Solis, IIIIrma Perez-Treviño

Israel G. QuintanillaRick Villarreal, D.D.S.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Find us on Twitter: @SouthTexasISD &

on Facebook at: https: www.facebook.com/SouthTexasISD

Connect With Us!

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• The STISD Board of Directors reviewed and approved the District & Campus Improvement Plans for 2014-15. Jeff Hembree, deputy super-intendent for STISD, mentioned a couple of key points about the plans. The first is that the district plan and campus plans are interwoven and support each other. The other is that the plans themselves are not static documents, but instead are fluid, as campuses and the district operation-alize the strategies outlined in their plans. A complete version of the plan may be found at www.stisd.net under the About Us- Accountability & Needs Assessment Reports.

• The 2015-16 South Texas Academy of Rising Scholars (STARS) course sequence was approved during the Dec. 2 board meeting. The course sequence may be accessed through the STARS website at stars.stisd.net.

The Board of Directors approved the Biomedical Excel-lence and Academic Training (BEAT) Academy, a sum-mer health science program, for South Texas Academy for Medical Professions (Medical Academy) students at the Dec. 2 meeting.

The program is an agreement between Medical Academy and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). The BEAT Academy is a one-week science educational program for high school students interested in health sciences.

Students will experience a behind-the-scenes view of medi-cal and biomedical research, including: gross anatomy of the human body, hands-on laboratory experiments, UTHSCSA’s state of the art simulation lab, lectures from research and medical faculty, visits to research labs and college prep seminars.

The goal of the program is to help students make career

Board approves BEAT summer program for Medical Academy

choices in the health professions. The program will also expose students to the medical and biomedical research being conducted at the facility, which will provide students with the resources necessary for a successful future in the health career of their choice.

The BEAT Academy curriculum is based on interactive seminars and hands-on activities in these fields between the medical and biomedical faculty at UTHSCSA.

Students attending this program will have the opportunity to take part in the biomedical research currently occuring at UTHSCSA in areas such as: anatomy, physiology, medi-cine, molecular, biology, aging and neurodegeneration.

New half-day program approved for Medical Academy South Texas Academy for Medical Professions (Medical Academy) will initiate a new three-year health science program for its Career & Technology Half-Day Program.

The program is an agreement between Medical Academy and public high schools in Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy Counties.

Through the half-day program, students with special needs take the majority of their academic classes at their home schools and take career and technology classes at STISD high schools.

The goal of the new program at Medical Academy will be to provide students with knowledge and skills in the area of health science. At the end of their third year, students will be eligible for the Certified Patient Care Assistant certifica-tion exam. The courses and topics by year will include:

First yearCourses: Health Professional Skills, Pathophysiology and Anatomy & Physiology, with topics to include:

•careersinthemedicalfield,ethics,patientcommunication,compassion, sympathy, etc.•diseaseprocess,medicalterminologyandbodysystems

Second year: Course: Practicum in Health Science, with topics to include: •mentalhealth,medicalterminology,firstaid,CPR,vitalsigns, trauma management and medical laboratory

Third yearCourse: Practicum in Health Science II (Patient Care As-sistant), with topics and skills to include: •patientcareskills:vitalsigns,bathing,feeding,toileting, ambulating patients•changebedlinens•obtainEKGreadings•performphlebotomyprocedures

After completing 120 clinical hours and course work, each student will be eligible for the certification exam. For addi-tional information regarding the Half-Day Program, contact Belinda Simons at (956) 514-4259.

Happy Holidays! Christmas Break: Dec. 22-Jan. 2, 2015

Classes resume on Jan. 6, 2015.

The STISD Board of Directors approved two Summer Leadership and Virtual Col-lege Symposiums to begin in the summer of 2015.

The district is creating these symposiums to provide additional learning opportunities for STISD students. As the symposiums will be held locally, and will be offered to all STISD students in the targeted grades, it will allow more students the chance to participate in summer enrichment.

The programs will center on leadership

activities and projects, along with virtual college visits. Students will learn and ap-ply knowledge and skills in the areas of personal and group leadership, service to others, present and future opportunities, and making informed decisions about universities.

Each symposium will be three days in length. One symposium will be for all cur-rent STISD sophomores, and it will be held at the campuses in Mercedes. The second symposium will be for current seventh-grade students, and it will be conducted

Leadership & virtual college symposiums coming this summer

STISD gets excellent audit review

at the South Texas Preparatory Academy (STPA) campus in Edinburg.

The STISD Education Foundation will provide some funding for both of these programs. More information on funding will be available in the spring.

The projected cost for both symposiums is $30,000. There are 688 current sophomore students and 311 current seventh-grade students eligible to attend the symposiums this summer.

Cameron County judge and prospective nominee for Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cascos, CPA, presented the STISD Annual Financial Report for the year ended August 31, 2014, to the STISD Board of Directors at the special called board meet-ing on Dec. 10.

According to the report, there were no findings for the 2013-14 school year. Since the last audit STISD has continued to maintain a healthy fund balance and a strong system of internal control. The dis-trict has also remained in compliance with all federal and Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines.

“We are very pleased with our audit results this year. A clean audit speaks volumes of the efforts put into financial integrity districtwide. It truly is a collaborative ef-

fort between campus-level and district-level staff to follow proper protocols and guidelines, and it is clear we are working in unison,” said Marla Knaub, STISD as-sistant superintendent for finance. Each fall, an independent auditor reviews the district’s financial statements from theprevious fiscal year as required by stateand federal laws. Once the audit has been completed, STISD follows through with any audit recommendations made.

To see the 2013-14 Financial Report, visitwww.stisd.net - Departments - Business Office - Finance.Eenroll

Start Times

2015-16Jan.17

Med High - 9:00 a.m. Medical Academy - 10:00 a.m.Science Academy - 11:00 a.m.

BETA - 12:00 p.m. STPA - 1:00 p.m.

STARS - 2:00 p.m.

South Texas ISd

ENROLL ONLINE AT WWW.STISD.NET. STISD ENROLLS STUDENTS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND ADVISEMENT AND NEW SCHOLAR ACADEMY TO COMPLETE ENROLLMENT.

“A clean audit speaks volumes of the efforts put into financial integrity districtwide. It truly is a collaborative

effort between campus-level and district-level staff to follow proper protocols and guidelines, and it is clear we are work-

ing in unison.” - Marla R. Knaub, STISD Assistant Superintendent

for Finance