MISSION—The Mission School Board on April 10 approved a 2.75 percent rate increase to renew the district’s health insurance plan with Humana Health Insurance for the 2013-2014 year.

MCISD Coordinator of Risk Management/Employee Benefits Sylvia Cruz explained that Humana had presented a higher rate – an increase of 3.9 percent – to the district’s insurance committee a week earlier. The district’s health insurance renewal date is on Oct. 1, 2013.

Humana representative Vanesia Adkins explained the increase is a representation of the increase in taxes that has to be paid due to the Health Care Reform Act.

Read more: MCISD Board approves Humana Health Insurance Renewal

MISSION – The Crime Victim’s Unit of the Mission Police Department will be hosting a Crime Victim’s Vigil at Mission Police Department on Sunday, April 21. The event will honor the memory of victims lost to violent crimes as well as celebrate survivors of such crimes. The event will coincide with National Crime Victim’s Rights Week, which begins April 21.

This year’s event will also honor Christine Jaqueline “Jackie” Kalifa, 23, and mother of three, who was found dead at 2 ½ Mile Line and Moorefield roads with a bullet wound to her neck a year ago. An 18-year-old was charged with capital murder for the incident on April 20, 2012.

The event will start with a walk at 4 p.m. that will begin at the Police Department, proceed east to Bryan Road, turn south to First Street, west to Highland, and north back to the Police Department. The event will end with a vigil at 7 p.m., in remembrance of victims of violent crimes.

Read more: Violent crime victims will be honored at vigil

MISSION—The approval of scope of work and budget for the Mission High School Phase III renovation project was decided at the Mission Consolidated Independent School board meeting on April 10. After months of discussion over proposed MHS changes the board is moving forward with a new scope of work and entering negotiations with ERO Architects.

Under the 2008 bond, the MHS construction project was budgeted at $18,387,424 with a construction budget of $14.4 million, according to MCISD Executive Director of Maintenance/ Facilities/ Construction Rick Rivera.

The original scope of work for the project only included renovation items like re-roofing and lighting upgrades.

Read more: Scope of work, budget approved for MHS renovations

ALTON—Early this month on a Saturday morning, special needs children yelled joyfully, smiling as they ran across home plate for the first time. Their parents cheered from the sidelines as these children got the chance to do something most kids take for granted – playing a game of baseball.

The Alton Sports Authority is attempting to organize an adaptive baseball league for kids with special needs. The league would allow children with various disabilities to participate as they receive one-on-one assistance from volunteers.

To kickstart the league, the Alton Sports Authority teamed up with Barracudas Sports Complex to host an adaptive baseball game on April 6 at the SSG Bradley Espinoza Ball Park in Alton. They called the game the “Field of Dreams.” The event was designed to allow these children with special needs to a morning long event of adaptive tee ball – on a level they could enjoy. The participants were able to experience teamwork, and develop motor skills using a bat and ball.

Read more: Alton hosts ‘Field of Dreams’ adaptive tee ball

MISSION—Hard work really does pay off. That was the lesson Mission High School sophomores learned last Friday as actress Marisa Quinn, known for her role as Huilen in the Twilight Saga: “Breaking Dawn Part 2,” visited the school as a reward for their efforts on recent exams.

Read more: Actress Marisa Quinn visits Mission High School sophomores

In light of recent concerns about school security and the safety of the students, Sharyland ISD is taking steps to restrict access of unauthorized visitors.

On Good Friday, Sharyland ISD installed an extra set of glass doors at the entrance of Sharyland High School as a barrier between the exterior doors and the school hallways.

While the district has already installed similar security doors at three other campuses – both junior highs and John Shary Elementary – recent concerns about securing campuses against intruders has caused the district to examine each of their 11 campuses. Due to the building configuration, it has been relatively easy to add a second set of doors for added security at some campuses. However, many of the elementary school campuses have a very open design, making the task more difficult. The district is weighing the options and may decide to just replace the entrance locks with magnetic locks at those campuses. This could allow the doors to remain locked to unauthorized visitors during the school day.

Read more: Sharyland enhances campus security

MISSION — Members of the Veterans Memorial High School Harlequin Drama Club huddled together after school on Monday, preparing for a run of their UIL One Act Play entry, “The Circus Animals Desertion.”

Read more: VMHS Harlequin Drama Club advances to area competition

LA JOYA — Members of the Child Nutrition Services and the Police Department in the La Joya Independent School District will be moving into their new buildings soon.

The buildings are substantially complete, only waiting for the fire marshal to view the sites before allowing them to enter.

Superintendent Alda T. Benavides said having the new Child Nutrition Services building would keep material organized.

The training room will give employees the opportunity to do their training onsite, instead of needing to conduct a Saturday training or holding a training at a school.

Read more: LJISD moving into new buildings soon