North San Antonio Edition | December 2023

Education

BY EDMOND ORTIZ

NEISD ocials consider dual language changes North East ISD ocials have proposed clustering dual language program campuses districtwide. The background District administrators briefed the NEISD school board Oct. 9 on ways the district could reduce a $39 million budget decit, including potentially streamlining the number of elementary schools that provide dual language courses. Ocials said dual language programming has grown more popular because it helps Span- ish-speaking students learn and improve their English speaking and writing skills. But the number of dual language course teacher vacancies has risen, district ocials said. NEISD had 24 such vacancies in the 2022-23 school year; 19 of those spots were lled by international teacher hires. This school year, the district had 12 such vacancies as of mid-October.

Education foundation raises nearly $106K The Northside Education Foundation in Northside ISD raised nearly $106,000 in its fall Giving Campaign to help support educators. What happened District ocials said the NEF New Teacher Grant Patrol surprised nearly 200 new edu- cators with grants in November and Decem- ber to help support classroom initiatives. Digging deeper The foundation will also recognize 20 district departments and campuses, such as Rawlinson Middle School, with a grant award for meeting or exceeding their cam- paign goals and for having the most donors. Donors will also receive gifts from NEF as a thanks for their support.

6,722 students in 22 bilingual campuses, including 16 elementary schools 10,820 school-age children living in NEISD learning English in 2022-23 7,126 school-age children living in NEISD learning English in 2015-16 Numbers to know

SOURCE: NORTH EAST ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

What’s next District ocials unveiled two options for 16 participating elementary schools. Option A would “cluster” dual language courses by moving program- ming from two campuses that are no more than 2 miles apart and consolidating at one school. Superintendent Sean Maika said cutting down 16 to eight dual language elementary schools could save NEISD $8 million over the next two years. Option B would let two nearby schools keep their dual language courses but lower the enrollment. Trustees are expected to act on the matter in February.

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