EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Texas State University, Hays & San Marcos CISD
COMPILED BY ZARA FLORES & CHRISTOPHER GREEN
HIGHLIGHTS HAYS CISD The Hays County Commissioners Court received a presentation Oct. 11 for the potential use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for behavioral health in schools. Hays CISD could receive up to $200,000 from the county for mental health and substance use services. of Justice. The funding will go to the Preparing for Active Shooter Situations programs. Hays CISD Will meet Nov. 14 and Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Buda Elementary Campus, 300 San Marcos St., Buda 512-268-2141 • www.hayscisd.net San Marcos CISD Will meet Nov. 14 and 28 at 6 p.m. at San Marcos High School, 2601 Rattler Road, San Marcos 512-393-6700 www.smcisd.net MEETINGS WE COVER NUMBER TO KNOW was awarded to the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University from the U.S. Department $9.8M
Grant funds new app for elderly needs TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY School of Health Administration professor Larry Fulton received a $2.76 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Oct. 20 to fund a new app that will help combat social isolation and food insecurity in the elderly across Central Texas, according to a release from the university. The new app is called Nutrition for Under- served Elderly Via Application—or NUEVA— and will aim to improve food and nutrition security, enhance socialization and improve the health of the elderly of low socioeco- nomic status by helping bridge paths. The app will connect the underserved elderly to charitable transportation and food providers to create a network of community stakeholders and donors. The one-year grant may be renewed for up to five years of support. Around 78% of the funding is provided by the Administration for Community Living, a branch of the HHS that focuses on independent-living solutions for older adults and people with disabilities, according to its website.
Hays trustees eye state priorities HAYS CISD The board of trustees narrowed down their 2023 Legislative Priorities on Oct. 24 for the district in the upcoming 88th Legislative Session in January. “These are things that we want to be able to sit down with an elected official … and be able to have a short conversation about what we really want to see happen,” Superintendent Eric Wright said. A priority Wright mentioned was the transition to receiv- ing funding based on enrollment. “Since we are fast growth, we do not want just one snapshot date. … So we can capture what our growth is and be compensated appropriately for that,” Wright said. The priorities were broken down into multiple categories, such as “invest in our students,” “attract and retain profes- sionals,” and others.
COMPARING CAPACITY The presentation comparing the two middle schools highlighted the inequity in facilities that will now be addressed through renovations approved for Miller Middle.
LAYING DOWN LEGISLATION The Hays CISD 2023 Legislative Priorities in the upcoming 88th Legislative Session detail what the themes and focuses for the school year are. ATTRACT AND RETAIN PROFESSIONALS Propose $5,000 guaranteed student loan forgiveness for five years of service in Texas public schools STRENGTHEN LOCAL CONTROL AND FLEXIBILITY Preserve checks and balances on state agency oversight to ensure local districts can best respond to local needs MENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY Increase state funding for access to proactive mental health services and support in public schools to improve physical, psychological well-being to students and staff SOURCE: HAYS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Facility
Miller Middle
Goodnight Middle
Large gym seating capacity (home) Large gym seating capacity (visitor) Small gym seating capacity Football bleachers Large gym square feet Athletes
630 N/A
630 437 166 713
89 587 7,128 218
11,628 185
SOURCE: SAN MARCOS CISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
Miller Middle School gym to get makeover
SAN MARCOS CISD Executive Director of Oper- ations Bernie Sandoval presented the board with comparisons of the Goodnight Middle School and Miller Middle School gyms Oct. 17, which led to the allocation of $4.3 million for renovations at Miller. Goodnight Middle School, which used to be a high school, has notably more space, as Sandoval mentioned. Miller Middle School did have improve- ments made from a 2017 bond; however, not all the projects were included in the bond. “Once again, we are looking at a campus that at one time was a high school, so they have a little more in the facilities or space,” Sandoval said.
However, Trustee Miguel Arredondo noted the Miller main campus is “better and more useful” than Goodnight. “We could definitely make the campuses equitable in athletics and academics, but we would have to do a significant amount of site work and improvements to the Goodnight campus to make the academic portion comparable to Miller Middle School,” Arredondo said. The funding will go to renovations of the existing gym and locker rooms as well as other additions. The vote was 4-2 with Trustee Dr. Mari Salmi and Board President Clem Cantu voting against.
SMCISD refutes athletic recruitment findings SAN MARCOS CISD The district claimed the ruling by the UIL State Executive Committee that stated 11 students were recruited to SMCISD to athletic purposes in violation of the UIL rules, according to the district. During a special meeting Oct. 27, the board of trustees reviewed
misleading, inaccurate, incomplete and coerced evidence gathered by the 27-6A District Executive Committee. Additionally, the board of trustees approved a resolution authoriz- ing legal counsel to defend the students at the direction of the superintendent.
play varsity football is inaccurate. On Oct. 13th, the SEC ruled the 11 students moved to SMCISD for
decisions against the students that, according to SMCISD Superintendent Michael Cardona, were based on
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