Reprint from the Progress Times - November 30, 2007
©Progress Times 2007 - All Rights Reserved

LJISD approves new substitute system

By Enrique Reynoso

La Joya I.S.D. board of trustees approved a motion for a $42,308 appropriation to upgrade the current Substitute and Employee Management System (S.E.M.S.), in a regular meeting of the LJISD school board, November 28. The current system, according to Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Finance Rene Gutierrez, is having problems efficiently handling the 200 to 500 daily calls for teachers who require substitutes.

“The current system has only 10 lines. Many teachers are getting a busy signal, so many classrooms are being left without substitutes. So the principals are having to pull their clerks, instructional assistants and secretaries into those classes because the system was unable to find a substitute,” said Gutierrez.

President Rita Garza-Uresti agreed with Gutierrez.

“It has happened before. There’ve been times where I’ve called all day without getting through. It happened just the other day.”

Board member Joe Aguilar expressed his concern with the price of the system.

“I still think it’s too much money for this system here. The cost is $16,000 one year, $16,000 the next, and then it goes up to $17,000 the year after that. Just to use the system.”

Board member Joel Garcia said that the long-term cost would be cheaper than installing a new system.

“In the long run it’ll pay for itself, because it’ll fill the position that’s needed that day. You’ll always have to pay for maintenance every year.”

The board also approved a request for a licensed wastewater operator. Currently, La Joya I.S.D. has only one licensed wastewater operator who oversees eight water treatment plants. With two new schools being built, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality suggested that the district hire more licensed personnel. The board proposed hiring a licensed supervisor at an estimated cost of $20,000 to $30,000.

"It"s going be very difficult to find another licensed wastewater operator," said Garza-Uresti. "We need to get a supervisor who has his people who work under him."

Member Espie Ochoa agreed with Garza-Uresti, adding that both a licensed supervisor and extra licensed personnel were needed.

"I think that we need both. With the district and the way it's growing, we should go by the recommendation. We definitely need a supervisor with a license at least," said Ochoa.

Also on the agenda was a proposal opening a College and Career Center and hiring a director. According to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Student Services Antonio Uresti, the director would help organize the College and Career Center.

“The program would help students earn their credits to graduate," said Uresti. "Part of it would also help students with concurrent enrollment. We need a director because the center would have its own staff."

The estimated cost of the program was $400,000, which would cover personnel, material, supplies, and software. The estimated salary of the director would be between $60,000 and $80,000. Both measures were approved.