MCISD baseball and softball fields to get turf
The Mission High School and Mission Veterans baseball and softball fields are getting a facelift. By the 2023 season, all four locations will be complete with brand new synthetic turf. Mission CISD has been working with Javier Hinojosa Engineering to design the new layouts for the diamonds. The board of trustees approved the final designs…
Read MoreMission CISD pilots new dress code
Mission schools adopted a new, temporary dress code that went into effect immediately and will be in effect until the end of the school year. Although the updates mainly focus on comfort and mobility, one particular change made the dress code more gender-neutral. “The rationale for having the dress code is that we want to…
Read MoreMission temporarily suspends no parking on grass ordinance
This article first appeared in the March 4 issue of the Progress Times. It has been less than a year since Mission City Council approved a no parking on grass ordinance, but as of Feb. 28, the city issued a moratorium on citations. In March 2021, the city passed ordinance #5001, stating that Mission residents…
Read MoreBorder Protection agency seeks local input on border construction
Valley residents have less than a week to voice how border wall construction has impacted their lives before U.S. Customs and Border Protection develops an environmental assessment for a proposed 86-mile “border barrier.” In January, CBP issued a letter seeking input on the environmental impacts of the proposed construction, operation and maintenance of a “border…
Read MoreSharyland approves new substitute teacher stipend
This article appeared in the Feb. 4 issue of the Progress Times. Like many of the school districts in the area, Sharyland ISD temporarily increased the daily pay rate for substitute teachers. But school board member Ricky Longoria said he does not think it will be enough to overcome the substitute shortage. In order to…
Read MoreSubstitute teacher pay increased at Mission CISD
“This article appeared in the Jan. 28 issue of the Progress Times.” With Mission CISD’s new increase in substitute teacher pay, they are now one of the highest paying school districts in Hidalgo County. The board of trustees approved the raise at the Jan. 19 school board meeting, making the change in pay effective immediately.…
Read MoreTom Landry stadium construction lags due to unforeseen issues, change orders
“This article appeared in the Jan. 28 issue of the Progress Times.” Repairs at Tom Landry Hall of Fame Stadium in Mission have been behind schedule since Sept. 27, 2021, when one of several issues disrupted the project. Mission CISD, Rick Hinojosa Structural Engineering and G&G Construction have been sifting through change order proposals the…
Read MoreMCISD employee survey reports positive feedback and staff burnout
This article appeared in the Jan. 7 issue of the Progress Times. Mission CISD conducted its first Texas Association of School Boards climate survey during the 2021 fall semester. Results from the employee survey showed more positive than negative feedback, but also complaints about insufficient staffing. TASB HR Services administered the voluntary survey online and…
Read MoreReview: VMHS drama club comes alive in ‘Xanadu’
The Harlequin Drama Club from Veterans Memorial High School performed the Broadway musical “Xanadu” at the VMHS Performing Arts Center Thursday night. Let me preface this review by saying that I am probably one of four people in the world that loves the movie “Xanadu.” It is, admittedly, the best bad movie, which makes it…
Read MoreMission CISD implements new gun safety program
Following an incident in which a high school student brought a gun to campus, Mission CISD is administering district-wide changes to ensure student and staff safety. On Nov. 1, Mission police arrested a Mission High School student after discovering a firearm in his backpack. The weapon was loaded, but the student did not use it…
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