LJISD promises pay raises despite insufficient funds
The La Joya ISD administration has been transparent about the district’s uphill battle to a balanced budget. But that won’t stop them from trying to meet their employees’ needs. Chief of Business and Administrative Services Mirgitt Crespo presented her monthly budget update at the April 23 LJISD school board meeting, this time she centered the…
Read MoreAssistant principals announced for LJISD ACE schools
La Joya ISD selected two more campus leaders for Evangelina Garza and Juan N. Seguin elementaries as they transition to Accelerated Campus Excellence (ACE) schools next year. Elizabeth Garza will be the assistant principal at Garza Elementary, and Vanessa Brown will be the assistant principal at Seguin. Both Garza and Brown have spent the majority…
Read MorePioneer High applies for military support designation
Pioneer High School has long been a campus that works to support its students from military families, but now they seek a state designation to make it official. Following board approval at the April 21 meeting, Pioneer High School can apply for the Texas Education Agency’s Purple Star Campus Designation. TEA awards the designation to…
Read More10-year forecast reveals challenges for Mission CISD
A demographic study predicts Mission CISD won’t regain pre-COVID enrollment numbers until at least 2034, but the area’s thriving Gen Z population keeps Superintendent Dr. Cris Valdez hopeful for the future. Mission CISD hired Zonda Intelligence to provide a demographic analysis of its communities to give the district a scope of the local population. The…
Read MoreSISD to have first-ever district-wide facilities assessment
The Sharyland school board approved Alpha Facilities Solutions to conduct what administration believes to be the first-ever comprehensive facilities assessment at SISD. Alpha’s services consist of identifying major building defects or deficiencies, establishing a clear basis for needs and providing a list of priorities for maintenance and repair. Additionally, the firm will help the district…
Read MoreSharyland provides new level of financial transparency
Sharyland ISD is already in the budget planning process for the 2025-2026 school year, and this time, the board is getting a closer look at where the money is going. Although it is too early for the district to provide definitive figures on next year’s budget, Chief Financial Officer Jaime Ortega kicked off what will…
Read MoreLa Joya ISD evaluates storm damage
The La Joya school district has significant damage from the March 27 storm, and district officials expect additional issues to surface in the coming months. Chief of Staff Joe Niedzela said the storm caused HVAC issues, flooding in a few gyms and leaks throughout the district. In fact, tile ceiling panels were in such high…
Read MoreMission CISD to have 3-week winter break
After a lengthy discussion that spanned three meetings throughout March and April, the Mission CISD school board approved the 2025-2026 academic calendar, which includes a three-week winter holiday break. The board voted 5-2 at the April 2 special meeting, with trustees Petra Ramirez and Dolores “Loli” Reyna dissenting. Mission CISD staff had the opportunity to…
Read MoreLocals recover from disastrous March storm
The Rio Grande Valley spent the last week reeling from the torrential storm and flood that caused the death of at least six people and left thousands with damaged property. Following so much loss, Missionite Alma Chavez said this experience has given her clarity. “It was just something else to experience, to see so much…
Read MoreMission CISD chess teams advance to SuperNationals
Mims Elementary and Mission Jr. High are set to represent Mission CISD at the 2025 U.S. Chess SuperNationals in May. Fourteen students from Mims and six from Mission Jr. High will make the trek to Orlando, Florida to take on junior chess competitors from across the country. “That’s the pride and joy of Mission CISD,”…
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