Reprint from the Progress Times - October 17, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

La JOya ISD superintendent awarded contract extension

Issues of discussion, at a recent board of trustees meeting at La Joya ISD included employee contract renewals, job terminations, building project expenditures and student assessments results. The board also reviewed the superintendent’s contract.

The board met on Wednesday, Oct. 8, when they discussed the evaluation and approved extending the contract for Superintendent Dr. Alda T. Benavides. Benavides, who has been serving as superintendent since September 18, 2006, had her contract renewed for two years, extending her current contract until June 2012. She also was given a five percent pay increase. Two bus drivers were terminated.

Student enrollment in the district was discussed. As of September 2, there were 26,960 students enrolled at La Joya ISD. This represents a 767-student increase from Sept. 4, 2007, when 26,193 students were registered with the district. Almost half the total enrolled students (14,742) are enrolled at the elementary level.

Students of La Joya ISD who are English Language Learners (ELL) are required to be monitored by the No Child Left Behind Act with English language proficiency assessments. The results of the 2007-08 Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System (TELPAS) were presented to the board. Limited English Proficient (LEP) students grade levels K-first had only four percent of students reaching a high level on the TELPAS. Grade levels second-12th had 26 percent of LEP students scoring high on the English assessment.

Architectural design for what would be La Joya’s 25th elementary and pavilion projects were discussed. Funding for projects such as these will be supported from general funds and investment earnings from the district.

As of August 31, 2008, the district’s general fund balance was $66,064,117. Total amount of investments earnings from checking accounts, certificate of deposits, JP Morgan, and investment pools was $9,554,842.

In discussion of business and finance, the board also approved payment of several contractor fees for projects that have been completed. Approvals included a $458,572 for construction of (Middle School No. 8) Juan De Dios Salinas Middle School. Also approved was a $2,011,168 payment for construction of Palmview High School and $1,234,289 for Evangelina Garza Elementary School. Other payments were for drainage improvements, paving, geotechnical testing services, and traffic engineering analysis conducted at several schools.

Bids for equipment for the district’s boys and girls wrestling program were approved. Fifty-four bids were sent out to possible specialty stores, who could supply the teams. Nine were chosen, and $1,225.47 will be spent for the girl’s team and $5,277.87 will be used for the boy’s team.

Bids were also accepted to for Special Olympics and Girl’s Soccer for the 2008-09 school year. Fifty bids were sent out and 14 received for the Special Olympics program for a total cost of $11,321.84. Girl’s soccer had a total cost of $18,892.16.

Another issue discussed was E-Rate telecommunications for July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010. The E-Rate helps support the school district’s telecommunication projects like telephones, Internet access, e-mail, and Web hosting services. E-rate will pay up to 90 percent of the cost of equipment needed for these services. The district’s estimated local cost for the telecommunications project is $74,000.