Historical building a hazard, faces demolition
This article originally ran in the April 16, 2021 issue of the Progress Times. Adela Ortega remembers being in a Thanksgiving program in the historic Roosevelt Auditorium when she was at the then elementary school. “I was, I think, a pilgrim at one time when I was in second grade or first grade,” the Mission…
Read MoreAttendance decline affecting Sharyland ISD budget, employee raises
Sharyland ISD is among the many school districts across the country experiencing a decline in student enrollment. But more vital to district revenue is SISD’s additional decline in student attendance. Chief Financial Officer Jaime Ortega explained the issue at the May 23 budget workshop. Average Daily Attendance (ADA) determines how much funding the state gives…
Read MoreMission CISD students want more cultural inclusivity
Mission CISD’s school year came to a close, and with that, so did the year-long cultural inclusivity program known as the Illumination Project. But Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Sharon Roberts assures there is more to come. The district partnered with local nonprofit Village in the Valley (ViVa) to launch a modified version…
Read MoreRGV culture celebrated in original theater production
Actor and director Augusto Contreras combined a classic Shakespearean story with 956 influences to create the original production “This is not Romeo & Juliet” — a play by the RGV, for the RGV. Whereas “Romeo and Juliet” is a dramatic story of star-crossed lovers from two opposing families who forbid the couple from being together,…
Read MoreCity council finalizes parking on grass ordinance
Mission City Council reinstated the no parking on grass ordinance that caused much debate for the last two years. City government originally created ordinance No. 5001 in 2021 to promote city beautification and allow code enforcement officers to issue citations. The ordinance stated that all residents needed to park their vehicles in the designated driveway…
Read MoreMission CISD discusses potential police department
The Mission CISD Board of Trustees explored the pros and cons of the district implementing its own police department. Following a presentation from Director for Safety & Security Martin Castañeda and a discussion in executive session, the board decided they would take a final vote on the item at the June school board meeting. Although…
Read MoreWhat the 2023 drainage bond means for Hidalgo County
When Hidalgo County constituents voted for the $195 million drainage bond during the May 6 election, they approved about 26 infrastructure improvement projects — without increasing their taxes. Drainage District General Manager Raul Sesin said the district managed the debt incurred, which is how they are able to issue the bond without increasing the tax…
Read MoreSISD inducts new trustees
The Sharyland ISD board of trustees made the May 6 election results official and inducted the two winners at the May 16 meeting. Meagan Sullivan took the Place 1 seat on the board, and Julio Cerda took Place 2. The official vote count is 1,584 for Place 1, with Sullivan defeating her opponent Sergio Saenz…
Read MoreSharyland elects new trustees for school board
The Sharyland ISD board of trustees will have one new and one not-so-new member join the panel of seven elected officials for the next three years. Meagan Sullivan will take over Place 1 after longtime board member Ricky Longoria decided to step down from the position. And Julio Cerda, a former trustee of six years,…
Read MoreStonegate residents oppose firearm ordinance
Sixty-nine residents of the Stonegate subdivision signed a petition against their neighbor David Balderas and his request for a permit to sell firearms out of his home. Their main concern regards a potential increase in traffic in a neighborhood that lacks the space to support a commercial business. At the May 8 Mission City Council…
Read More