Sonia Aguilar

The community meeting addressed procedures for the reopening of schools for in-person learning five days a week, as virtual instruction funding was not approved by the Texas Legislature for the 2021-2022 school year. Key topics included the implementation of new procedures based on state mandate House Bill 4545 regarding accelerated instruction for students who did not pass state assessments, requiring supplemental instruction and assignment to certified teachers. Social-emotional well-being support, including daily check-ins and weekly support connections, will be provided. Health protocols stipulate that masks are not required due to a governor's mandate, but can be worn voluntarily, and disinfection practices will continue. Class sizes were noted to be adjusted to 26 students per teacher for balance. Quarantine procedures for exposed individuals, particularly unvaccinated ones, were detailed. Uniform policy has been adjusted to allow jeans or school-related attire if uniforms are unavailable. Extracurricular activities and cafeteria services will return to regular procedures, with ongoing disinfection. Temperature checks are discontinued based on health department recommendations. The use of tablets and computers in instruction will continue, and air conditioning filters will be changed every three months.

The discussion focused on the purpose of attending council and bond meetings, emphasizing the importance of students being informed future leaders. The primary topic addressed was a bond initiative related to the reconstruction and upgrades planned for Bassett Middle School. Questions raised during the session concerned the logistics of the construction work, the anticipated duration of the construction process, and the rationale behind undertaking the project.

The board meeting segment focused on recognitions, including featuring student artwork from the my Heritage M V's exhibit at the Mexican Consulant. A key recognition was given to Mr. Timothy Bates as the November Volunteer of the Month for his 23 years of service at Charles Middle School. Additionally, the meeting recognized five students from Corado High School as semi-finalists for the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program, acknowledging their academic excellence based on PSAT scores.

The meeting included recognitions for various anniversaries and achievements within the district and community. Specific recognitions included the University of Texas at El Paso's 100 years committee, Hassle High School's 20 years, the Neoclassicism Orchestra's 85 years, Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek phenomena, and the planetarium's 50 years. Volunteer recognition was given to Ms. Maya for her contribution to handwriting improvement at Bradley Elementary School and to Mr. John Gable and his welding students for building the El Paso High School Centennial float used in the Thanksgiving parade. Furthermore, the Board of Trustees was recognized for their selfless contribution, hard work in streamlining governance and budgetary aspects, and efforts in rebuilding trust within the community, coinciding with January being Texas School Board Appreciation Month.

The document details the board recognitions for February 2017. Specific recognitions included Claudia Jaramillo Cooley as the Volunteer of the Month for her dedicated work at Cooley Elementary School. The board also recognized Wells Fargo Bank as the Partner in Education for its $5,000 contribution to the Education Foundation, benefiting student scholarships and classroom grants. Additionally, Alonzo Garcia of Web Solutions and Gabriella Warren of Community Engagement were recognized for their diligent efforts leading the district website redesign project over the past nine months, resulting in a user-friendly site with nearly 100,000 visitors on launch day.