Rigoberto Garcia

The regular board meeting included a public hearing regarding the Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) for the 2024-2025 school year. Recognitions were presented for School Board Recognition Month and the proclamation declaring February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Informational presentations were given on the Targeted Improvement Plan for Monet Elementary and the Local Improvement Plan for Van Gogh Elementary and Secondary. Key actions included approving the December Time Use Tracker. The consent agenda covered governance matters, such as authorizing the submission of an expansion amendment to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to add a Prekindergarten and Kindergarten site under Vanguard Mozart. Business and Finance items approved included agreements for field trips and prom, and the renewal of Timeclock Plus, LLC services. Further approvals involved AP participation forms, a memorandum of understanding with Boys & Girls Clubs of Edinburg for an afterschool program, purchases for athletics facilities, approval for out-of-state travel for the Van Gogh Tiara Dance Team, and ratification of costs for the School Gates Perimeter Fencing. Finance actions included the approval of the FYTD December 2025 Financial Statements, Budget Amendment #5, and the IRS 2024 Form 990 annual information. The board also approved resolutions related to filing applications with TEA for bonds guaranteed by the Permanent School Fund and authorizing the Superintendent to negotiate and submit documentation for property acquisition. Governance included approving the Superintendent Evaluation Tool, and Human Resources actions included approving Compensation Plan Updates and personnel employment actions. The board convened in executive session to discuss legal matters, real property acquisition, personnel matters, and cybersecurity systems before adjourning.

Vanguard Academy's Vision 2036 is a 10-year strategic plan aiming for continued growth with purpose and educational excellence across its four cities. The plan prioritizes facility expansion, including new early childhood centers, and focuses on strong academics, comprehensive fine arts programs starting from early childhood, and offering dual credit leading to associate's degrees. It seeks organizational stability and aims to prepare students for future jobs by providing a robust educational experience and fostering strong community relationships through a three-phase development process.

The regular school board meeting included initial proceedings such as the Pledge of Allegiance and a presentation of Recognitions for student and staff attendance. Key discussions centered on Lone Star Governance, including the approval of the Time Use Tracker for the November 18, 2025 meeting, and presentations on benchmark results for student progress measures and Monet Elementary. The extensive Consent Agenda covered approvals for Business & Finance items such as modifications to the Board Policy Manual, several contracts for staff fundraisers and proms, field trip agreements, and employee group health benefit services. Curriculum & Instruction items involved approving contracts for Special Education program management (504 & IEP), ratification of Amplify mCLASS site licenses, and approving legal services for the Special Education Department. Governance addressed the adoption of a policy regarding student excused absences for religious instruction. Operations & Infrastructure involved approving bidders for various services, including soccer field lighting, Construction Manager at Risk agreement for renovations, and multiple RFPs related to network hardware, calling services, and data cabling, as well as the purchase of additional buses. Under Finance, the board reviewed and approved the FY 24-25 Annual Financial Report, FYTD Financial Statements (September 1, 2025 through November 30, 2025), and Budget Amendment #4. The Human Resources section involved approvals for employment, retirement/resignation of personnel, and revisions to the 2025-2026 Compensation Plan. The meeting included an executive session to discuss legal matters, property acquisitions, and personnel matters.

The meeting included a public hearing for the FYE 2024 Charter FIRST 2024-2025. The board approved the Time Use Tracker for the September 23, 2025, Regular Board Meeting and the district scorecard outlining district goals, performance measures, and key performance indicators aligned to the Strategic Plan. The Annual Evaluation of the Bilingual & ESL Programs was presented. The board also ratified and approved multiple agreements, quotations, and memorandums related to finance, curriculum and instruction, special programs and services, governance, institutional advancement and communication, student support services, operations and infrastructure, and safety and security. Budget Amendment #2 for the 2025 - 2026 fiscal year was approved, as well as the selection of the successful bidder for RFP # 25-26R vended meals. The board also approved employment, retirement and resignation of personnel, 2025-2026 Compensation Plan updates, and the local policy for employment of retired personnel. The board convened into an executive session to discuss legal matters, property acquisitions, personnel matters, compensation plan updates, and security.

The board meeting included discussions and actions on various topics. A candidate was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors. Recognitions were given for student and staff attendance. The board received informational presentations on state assessment results and the State Compensatory Education Evaluation. They approved the Time Use Tracker. The consent agenda included approvals for meeting minutes, association membership renewal, updated board policies, compliance with Texas Education Code, renewal engagement letter with Haynie & Company, consulting services agreement with Afton, SchoolMint Inc Agreement, Independent Contractor Agreement with Martha Arellano, CollegeSpring Program Service Agreement, renewal of IXL Learning site licenses, amendment to the Follet Destiny Solution Agreement, renewal of Curriculum Associates, LLC, Independent Contractor Agreement with The Guiding Light Visual Impairment Services, LLC, affiliation agreement with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, purchase of new cell phones, Independent Contractor Agreements for outreach efforts, Texas ACE Program and Prairie View A&M Cooperative Extension program, Independent Contractor Agreements for instructional services, purchase of black copier, Maintenance Agreement with ProTech Mechanical, Inc., Kaseya Spanning cloud services, and Adobe software services. Budget Amendment #1 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year was approved. The board also discussed and approved the updated Organizational Chart, Employment of Professional and Non -- Professional Personnel, Retirement and Resignation of Professional and Non -- Professional Personnel, and the 2025 - 2026 Compensation Plan updates. A Level III Grievance filed by a district employee was reviewed with no action taken. The board also discussed legal matters, property acquisitions, and security audits in executive session.