Reprint from the Progress Times - May 9, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

District mulls over curriculum collaborative in meeting

 

By Ricky Reynoso

The Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) Board Curriculum Committee discussed whether or not the district should continue participating in Region One's Curriculum Collaborative in their last meeting Wednesday, May 7.

According to executive director for Curriculum and Instruction Aurora Delgado, the collaborative provided access to an on-line Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) based K-12 Curriculum in the areas of Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts.

Committee Chairperson Danny Carrera expressed his concerns, saying that some features of the program were unavailable to teachers at the times when they needed them. He also said that he had received calls from various teachers who expressed their dissatisfaction with the program.

"I've had quite a few calls from teachers who didn't like the program," he said. "My issue is with the fact that some teachers were unable to get access to places online. We basically bought a car without an engine. It looks good on the outside, but when you open up the hood there are big pieces missing."

Carrera suggested that the committee first create a forum where teachers and administrators could bring up their likes and dislikes over the collaborative before coming to a decision. Ms. M. Fisher, a science teacher from Alton Memorial Junior High, said that she found the program to be very helpful with her teachers and that waiting would do more harm than good.

"What we have here is a vertically integrated curriculum," said Fisher. "We didn't have that before. I don't see why you would wait on this when we spent a year preparing with the program just to prepare. If we get rid of it, what will we replace it with?"

The committee voted to wait on a decision.

During the Board Finance Committee Meeting there was discussion over a recommendation and approval of a new employment position for a Coordinator for Physical Education and Health. According to Elizabeth Garza, assistant superintendent for Human Resources and Student Services, other surrounding districts currently have someone handling the duties of coordinator.

"McAllen school district has one, Edinburg at one time did but now they have a supervisor of athletic fields and that person has that responsibility," said Garza. "At one time our district did have a coordinator."

When Finance Committee Chairperson Oscar Martinez asked if the district is currently meeting state guidelines, Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez said that they were.

"We're staying on top of all of those requirements, [athletic director] Joe Sanchez is handling those duties at this time," said Rodriguez. "We're working with the P.E. coaches from the elementary, junior high and high schools to make sure we're in compliance with that."

The board of trustees decided to table the proposal for the time being.

The board also voted to appoint Anna B. Reyna as the school principal for Bryan Elementary, and Sandra Estrada Claffin and Blanca Lopez as assistant principals for Ralph Cantu Junior High School.