MISSION — Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas said Mission is a Christian community and the event is to honor all the churches and to pray together.

Salinas, at the annual Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon on May 5, said the council does so much for the fast growing community and the police department has been able to work with other agencies to provide a safer community.

Read more: Mayor: Our community is a Christian community

MISSION — District administrators for the Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) said they anticipate helping truant students with a cellular phone program that should enable the district to collect on its full average daily attendance revenue.

“It’s a proven truancy reduction program,” said Anna Lissa Gessner, Safe Schools-Healthy Students project director.

Read more: MCISD using mentor program for truancy

TASB advice could have saved Texas schools over $96 million

Editor’s note: The following is the second part of a two-part series on local school district staffing methodologies. The Progress Times met with school administrators and education advocates to determine how districts deal with maintaining their staffing levels and whether a standard should be required.

LA JOYA — Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) representatives met staff at the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) this week to start a review of its workforce. Interviewing all kinds of employees from principals to custodial staff, the group is charged with helping the district identify which positions, if any, it can eliminate if a worker leaves the district.

Read more: LOOKING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE

McALLEN — If Rio Grande Valley school districts want to fight for equitable funding per student in line with wealthier Texas school districts, it must pursue a litigation battle with the state, citing the unconstitutionality in school funding, Sharyland board Vice President Ricky Longoria said Wednesday.

But while schools can’t spend money on such litigation, Longoria suggested the business community help finance legal action as the impacts of budget shortfalls greatly impinge on commerce here.

Read more: Economic advocates propose suing for equitable funding

Editor’s Note: The following is an article on flooding problems submitted by Ned Sheats who has been researching flooding issues since 2008. This is his second article that is the result of research, interviews with city and county officials and his own opinions on what he’s learned.

Read more: Mission resident questions causes of city flooding

AUSTIN — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on April 21 vacated a lower court’s ruling and dismissed a lawsuit claiming that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional. Last week’s ruling found that the Freedom From Religion Foundation had no standing to challenge the President’s National Day of Prayer proclamation because the presidential action had not caused the plaintiffs any harm.

“Last week’s ruling was an important victory for religious liberties,” Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said. “The federal appeals court overturned the lower court’s decision and dismissed the challenge to the National Day of Prayer.”

Read more: Seventh Circuit upholds National Day of Prayer

The Progress Times is introducing a new online service for our readers and advertisers. Special sections of the Progress Times, such as today’s Mother’s Day Shopping Guide, will now be available online at www.progresstimes.net under the “Digital Editions” tab.

Read more: New Digital Online Editions

McALLEN — Melissa Renaud remembers the first time her son said, ”I love you.” He was 5 years old lying in bed after a hard day at school. She held him and stroked his hair for comfort and said, “Everything is OK. You need to be strong and we are here for you.” She knew he probably wouldn’t respond. However, in that moment, her son made direct eye contact, which isn’t normal, and said, ”I love you.”

Renaud’s son, Mikey, now 10 years old, was diagnosed with autism at age three. His diagnosis has united the family over the years. Together they have learned how to overcome obstacles to help their son have a chance to excel in life, and through their efforts to help Mikey, they have educated others.

Read more: Autism: A Child’s Silent Struggle