Northeast San Antonio Metrocom | August 2025

BY THOMAS LEFFLER

$5.94M considered for SCUCISD special projects Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD is planning for several potential capital projects in the district’s 2025-26 scal year budget. During a July 10 budget workshop, Chief Financial Ocer Brian Moy broke down proposed expenditure increases for the SCUCISD 2025-26 budget, $5.94 million in what he said were “over- due deferred operating costs,” and $5.58 million in capital expenditures for safety. The expenditures are contingent on the district receiving revenue from a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, Moy said. Latest update The majority of overdue costs would be in the SCUCISD ne arts department, including a $3.1 million allocation toward band instruments on multiple campuses. Athletics costs would be mainly in equipment

SCUCISD hires 7 new assistant principals At its June 3, June 24 and July 10 meetings, the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD board of trustees approved seven new assistant principals starting in the 2025-26 school year. At a glance Andre Sierra and Joshua Lawyer-Jeer- son were hired as assistant principals at Byron P. Steele High School. Jenny Wray was chosen for the assistant principal role at Samuel Clemens High School. Robyn Pryor and Elvira Garcia were selected as assistant principals at Rose Garden Elementary School. Rita Garcia will serve as assistant principal at Wiederstein Elementary School. Kayme Tims will serve at Jordan Interme- diate and Rebecca Sprouse was chosen for Wilder Intermediate.

$900K

SCUCISD proposed 2025- 26 department funding

$882K

$3.57M

Fine arts

Athletics CTE Technology

$600K

SOURCE: SCHERTZCIBOLOUNIVERSAL CITY ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT

replacement, which encompasses items like bleachers, scoreboards, uniforms and wrestling mats, Superintendent Paige Meloni said. The majority of Career and Technical Education costs would be used for vehicle replacement. Technology needs are concentrated in instruc- tional and non-instructional devices, Moy said. Other items include Steele High School light poles, re alarm system replacements and band towers for Steele and Samuel Clemens High Schools. What’s next The board will likely call for a November VATRE election on Aug. 18, Deanna Jackson, communi- cations and community engagement executive director, said in an email to Community Impact. Judson ISD board reinstates powerlifting program after cuts Judson ISD voted to reinstate the district’s high school powerlifting program after the elimination of the program in June. In a 6-1 vote on July 31, the board approved bringing back the program for the 2025-26 school year. Board President Monica Ryan, who was the lone dissenting vote, said that since powerlifting is not UIL sanctioned, it should be a club that a school chooses to oer based on the demand of students. She said any dollars not spent on the item could go toward academic advancement. How we got here According to agenda documents, powerlifting has been oered at district high schools since 2021-22. A total of 87 students were part of the program in 2024-25. Powerlifting is not a University Interscholastic League, or UIL, sanctioned sport according to agenda documents, with the programs at each high school funded via stipend. The total cost

Principal named for Elolf STEAM Academy

1 Veterans Memorial 2 Judson 3 Wagner High schools

A new principal has been named at a Judson Independent School District campus for the 2025-26 school year. The gist On July 28, the Judson ISD board of trustees approved Tiany McHugh as the new

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Tiany McHugh

principal of Elolf STEAM Academy, which is located at 6335 Beech Trail Drive in Converse. McHugh previously served as an assistant principal at Elolf. District sta said McHugh believes in creating a positive and supportive school environment where every student feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. "We're looking forward to the leadership and vision she will bring to our campus," district sta wrote on the Elolf webpage.

of programs at Veterans Memorial, Judson and Wagner High Schools is $42,493. The initial elimination of the program was part of cost reductions approved by the board June 23, part of the 2025-26 scal year budget process. Next steps With the program now reinstated for 2025-26, the approved motion will allow the district to re-evaluate the future of the program past 2025-26. “Hopefully, it will be able to grow and be larger, and hopefully we don’t have to cut it in the follow- ing year,” Trustee Stephanie Jones said.

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