001Good afternoon. It's 5 30 p.m. And we are going to begin at this regularly scheduled board meeting We'll start with roll call. Dr. Ariel Cruz Bella present Crystal Hernandez present Israel via DL Rudy Corona Gomez Orlando Lopez Alex Reina Alfredo Perez Tony Torres and Next we will have the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation Good evening We have two outstanding students from Riverside Middle School today joining us for the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation under the leadership of principal Rudy Ramirez, we have Linda Nadine Rodriguez Linda is a proud 13 year old Riverside Middle School Bulldog and current seventh grader whose favorite class is math honors with with miss Terry Garcia an outstanding math teacher a Dedicated student-athlete Linda ran cross-country this year and impressively earned Top 10 finishes in all five meets the
002team competed in She is currently a member of the basketball team and was part of the district championship volleyball team Beyond sports Linda shines in the arts as part of the RMS dazzlers dance team and the JV choir Her leadership extends into student life as well She serves as the acting co-treasurer of the student council and participates in academic competitions as a member of the UIL dictionary skills and solo acting teams With a passion for helping others. She hopes to one day serve a community in the field of medicine Linda is the daughter of miss Diana Rodriguez reciting our invocation we have Naila Nate Nate Naila sorry Naila Josette Rodriguez Naila is a vibrant 13 year old seventh grader who loves her honors reading and Texas history classes with miss Hurtado and miss Garcia a
003well-rounded student and athlete Naila was a key member of the district championship volleyball team and is currently part of the basketball team She also brings energy and school spirit as part of the dazzlers dance team Naila's involvement extends beyond athletics serving as co-treasurer of the student council Singing in both the JV and mixed choirs and competing academically on the UIL solo acting and modern oratory teams She is especially proud to be part of the reigning defending battle the books district championship team With an eye toward the future. She hopes to one day succeed in the world of business as a self-made entrepreneur Naila is the daughter of miss Maria Medina. Well, everyone, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America And to the Republic
004for which it stands one nation under God Indivisible with liberty and justice for all honor the Texas flag I pledge allegiance to the Texas one state under God one and invisible Good evening members of the school board administration Educators families and guests as we begin tonight's meeting. Let us take a moment to reflect on the important responsibilities We all share to serve students with care fairness and integrity we place our trust in the leaders seated here tonight asking for wisdom open minds and thoughtful hearts as Decisions are made may every discussion be guided by what is best for all students honoring their differences their dreams and their potential Let us remember that every choice Made has the power to shape futures strengthen our schools and build a community where every student feels supported valued and
005inspired to learn Thank you for you for your dedication your service and your commitment to doing what is right for every child Well, Naila and Linda, please join us at the podium so we can so you can be recognized And let's give them a round of applause Everybody else can have a seat and if the parents can just stay standing that way they can just be recognized. Thank you The next portion of our meeting will be the special recognition Leading us for our special recognition will be mr. Luis Gonzalez our director of public relations Good evening, everyone. What a star is a todos We want to welcome everyone here today and those that we have online joining us as well our board president of board of trustees and mrs. Cornett We come to the portion
006of the meeting where we get to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of our students and staff And we have some great things to present to you today First we're going to present from Samuel High School the dual enrollment program This is the fall 2025 associate degree graduates Samuel CISD proudly recognizes two members of the class of 2026 who earned an associates of arts in General studies from Texas Southmost College through the district dual enrollment program These students were honored during the TSE's fall semester Commencement ceremony held on Saturday, December 13th at the Jacob Brown auditorium in Brownsville These two students were the first students from Samuel High School to complete their associates degree in three and a half years The associates of arts and general studies is a 60 credit hour degree that provides students with
007a broad foundation in core academic subjects Preparing them for further studies in college or entry into the workforce This significant accomplishment was made possible through the San Pedro CISD's dual enrollment partnership with Texas Southmost College Which offers eligible high school students the opportunity to begin their college courses as early as 9th grade? At this time we like to introduce our two students graduates that received their associates degree We have all their Arguelles a brew 12th grade San Benito High School Also receiving his degree is Jose Javier Munoz and he is a 12th grader at San Benito High School We also want to wish him congratulations At this time we want to recognize two people that were instrumental in making sure that they completed their associates degree Through Texas Southmost College and that includes our San
008Benito High School principal, Miss Manuela Lopez If she can join us in the front as well and Sandy Romero's our district director for academic Our advanced academics and counseling if she can also join us in the front as well At this time if we can have the proud parents of our two students, please stand to be recognized Thank you for supporting our students. What an outstanding accomplishment, and I'm sure the first of What's to come for this year and for years to come? Congratulations, sir. I really look forward to you join us the graduation ceremonies in May Congratulations at this time. We move on to our fine arts students who have been producing Outstanding accomplishments and awards and so we begin today This is San Benito High School and this is the Texas State Solo
009and ensemble contest students placed in the top two to three percent out of ten thousand students in the TSEC competition the Out of one ten thousand three hundred and fifty five soloists who performed at the Texas State Solo and ensemble only 357 earned the outstanding performer rank from the judges TCCC TSS EC solo and ensemble Contest was held in Austin, Texas in May 20 25 The following student received the accomplishment. We welcome Giovanni Cruz 11th grade San Benito High School We want to recognize the support of the directors that made this possible that includes Dulce Rodriguez Noe Garcia Rafael Garcia Julio Barrera Gabrielle Hernandez Arturo Rivas and Jorge Mujica we also would like miss Lopez to please join us in the front as well for photos and We also have we want to recognize our
010director of fine arts. Mr Martinez if you could also please join us in the front for photos as well. Thank you for supporting our students and Especially in our fine arts department At this time we can have the proud parents or families of our student Giovanni, please stand to be recognized Thank you for supporting Giovanni and thank you for always supporting his ambitions and his accomplishments at fine arts. Thank you Now we're gonna move on to this San Benito Greyhound marching band The UIL marching band contest was held during the fall semester The mighty Greyhound band earned a division one at the annual UIL picks in marching contest Hosted here at Bobby Morrow Stadium The band advanced to the area G competition where they placed ninth overall and that competition was held in McAllen, Texas
011Like I said, they earned a division one and the advanced to the area competition So representing San Benito High School marching band we would like to welcome Catalina Morales drum major 12th grade San Benito High School Camila Alvarado drum major 12th grade San Benito High School Demerius Crespo captain 12th grade San Benito High School and Maria Hernandez co-captain 12th grade San Benito High School We want to recognize the fine directors that Supported our students and motivated them to receive that top distinction and that includes our director of bands miss Dulce Rodriguez and directors Noe Garcia Rafael Garcia Julio Barrera Gabriel Hernandez Arturo Rivas and Jorge Mujica Ladies and gentlemen, give them a big round of applause if we could also have miss Lopez, please join us in the front and this Miss Martinez from Veterans
012Memorial Academy because we also have ninth grade students representing and being a part of the Greyhound band We also want to recognize mr. Martinez director of fine arts as well If we could have the proud parents of all the Greyhound band members here present today, please stand Your support Your support is vital and important and we appreciate everything That goes from getting up at 530 in the morning for morning practice and going and picking them up at 9 o'clock at night And all the summer activities as well. Thank you for supporting our students Thank you. Congratulations Greyhound band. We could have our directors, please stay we have other awards that way you can join us as well Thank you Next we have the region the region jazz band from of course, San Benito High School
013and Veterans Memorial Academy The students auditioned for the 2025 region jazz band auditions on September 13th at heart engine high school they They will the students auditioned for the 2025 region auditions and the concert will be held in on February 6 and 7th at the heart engine performing arts center the following two students were selected for that regional band they are Gwen Cowan 12th grade San Benito High School and Troy Rada who advanced to state and he's 11th grader at San Benito High School We'd like to thank and support the the band directors that make this possible for the jazz band and the regional selectees And they include Dulce Rodriguez, Noe Garcia, Rafael Garcia, Julio Barrera, Gabriel Hernandez, Arturo Rivas and Jorge Mujica Congratulations, and if we could have the proud parents of our two
014students, please stand to be recognized Thank you. Congratulations students Now we want to recognize the students that competed in the regional orchestra auditions and that includes students who participate in the 2025 region auditions on October 21st at heart engine South High School They will be performing at the regional orchestra clinic and concert on they performed there on October 29th and 30th at the heart engine performing Arts Center the following students were part of those Recognitions they include Eric Chavez who advanced to state 12th grade San Benito High School Amadeo Kalman 12th grade San Benito High School and Troy Rada who advanced to area 12th grade San Benito High School The directors who supported our students include Dulce Rodriguez, Noe Garcia, Rafael Garcia, Julio Barrera, Gabriel Hernandez, Arturo Rivas and Jorge Mujica. We would have the
015parents of these Outstanding students, please stand to be recognized Thank you for supporting our students and all their endeavors and when it comes to band and fine arts Now we want to recognize the students who participated in the 9th grade region band patch Students auditioned in the 2025 region auditions on November 15th at heart engine high school The they earned their patch for 9th grade band for their accomplishments and the following students include Natalie Barker 9th grade say it veterans Memorial Academy Ivan Canales 9th grade veteran Memorial Academy Pablo Limon 9th grade Veterans Memorial Academy Javier Villanueva 9th grade Veterans Memorial Academy Nathan Rada 9th grade veteran Memorial Academy Sebastian Saldivar 9th grade Veterans Memorial Academy Directors who supported our students and made possible are include Dulce Rodriguez, Noe Garcia, Rafael Garcia, Julio Barrera Hernandez
016Arturo Rivas and Jorge Mujica At this time we can have our principal veterans Memorial Academy. Ms. Gracie Martinez Please join the group along with our fine arts director. Mr. E radio Martinez if we could have the parents and families of these fine students, please stand to be recognized for your support of our students Congratulations students. Now we move on to Samuel high school And this is the district band patch and these are the high school students Students auditioned in 2025 at the regional auditions on November 15th at Harlingen High School Each one earned a spot on the district band and earned a patch for their accomplishments The following students are part of that and they include Alina Alanis 12th grade San Benito High School Maria Francisco 11th grade San Benito High School Jack Garcia 12th
017grade San Benito High School Santiago Gonzales 11th grade San Benito High School Iram Hernandez 12th grade San Benito High School Kaden Hernandez 11th grade San Benito High School Daisy Arguey 12th grade San Benito High School Derek Jimenez 10th grade San Benito High School Madison Ortega 12th grade San Benito High School and Crystal Garcia San Benito High School If we could have the proud parents of these students, please stand to be recognized for your support of our students Okay. Thank you students We move on to the rate of region band and these were the auditions that were held in 2025 and that was on November 15th at Harlingen High School The following students participated in the clinic and concert on December 4th and 5th at the Harlingen Performing Arts Center The following students include James Baker
01810th grade San Benito High School Anissa Anissa Castellana Castellana advanced to pre-area 11th grade San Benito High School Castaneda Correction Castaneda Eric Chavez 12th grade San Benito High School Ava Corona who advanced to pre-UIL and that is a 12th grade San Benito High School Amadio Cowan and that advanced to pre-area as well 12th grade San Benito High School Giovanni Cruz 11th grade San Benito High School Robert Cuevas 10th grade San Benito High School Monique Garza 11th grade San Benito High School Jose Luis Hernandez advanced to pre-area 12th grade San Benito High School Jada and a 12th grade San Benito High School Rebecca Rera advanced to pre-area 10th grade San Benito High School Jose Lee more advanced to area 11th grade San Benito High School Javier Martinez advanced to pre-area 10th grade San Benito High School
019Chloe McKee advanced to pre-area 11th grade sbhs Joaquin Munoz advanced to pre-area 12th grade sbhs Daisy Ochoa, 12th grade, SPHS. Javier Ortega, advanced to pre-area, 12th grade, SPHS. Troy Rada, 11th grade, SPHS. Nick Rodriguez, 12th grade, San Benito High School. Jose Rosas, advanced to pre-area, 10th grade, SPHS. And Leslie Torres, advanced to pre-area, 12th grade, San Benito High School. The outstanding directors that supported our students and made it possible, again, is Dulce Rodriguez, Troy Garcia, Rafael Garcia, Julio Barrera, Gabriel Hernandez, Arturo Rivas, and Jorge Mujica. Congratulations. If we could have the parents of these proud parents of these outstanding students please stand to be recognized. Great job, students. Good luck at the next competition. The next award is a very special award. The Texas Music Educators All-State Jazz Band Competition. Each year, thousands of students
020across the state compete in a rigorous, multi-round audition process for a position on one of the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Ensemble. This is the top high school jazz musicians in Texas and highlights the exceptional musicianship, discipline, and dedication. At this time, we want to recognize the all-state selection of Troy Rada, 11th grade, San Benito High School. As part of the All-State Jazz Band, Troy will perform in the 2025-2026 Texas Music Educators Association Jazz Band during the annual TMEA Convention and Conference in San Antonio to be held February 11th through the 14th. Congratulations, Roy, and thank you for representing San Benito High School as an all-state selection. If we had the parents of Troy Rada please stand to be recognized. We know that this is the son of Mrs. Jaquez, our principal at Uncle Agilial,
021and she is very proud of her son. We want to thank the instructors that are part of, I'm sorry, the, of course, our band directors, Ms. Dulce Rodriguez, Noe Garcia, Rafael Garcia, Julio Barrera, Gabriel Hernandez, Arturo Rivas, and Jorge Mujica. Thank you, and congratulations, Troy, and good luck representing San Benito at San Antonio. The next recognition is also in fine arts, and this is for our choir students. These are students from San Benito High School and Veterans Memorial Academy. 2025 Texas Music Educators Association all-state district and region choir auditions. 13 students placed in the district choir, eight students placed in the district honor choir, and eight students placed in the region choir, and six students placed in the pre-area rounds. These students competed with other districts across the lower Regan Valley for a spot on
022these choirs. On January 10th, Melody Cardoza, Stephen Alcazar, and Javier Martinez will compete in the area round in San Antonio for a spot in the all-state choir, and this is the highest a high school student choir student can achieve, so good luck to all three of those students. The following students were part of those recognitions, and they include Stephen Alcazar, 11th grade, who was a district, region, and advanced to area as well. Isaac Cardoza, 10th grade, district, representative. Melody Cardoza, San Benito High School, district, region, and advanced to area. Mia Cardoza, who is a ninth grader, Veterans Memorial Academy, represented the district, the region, and is the first alternate to pre-area. Alejandro Garza, ninth grade, VMA, was part of the district, and the second alternative for pre-area. Nikki Garza, 12th grade, San Benito High School,
023part of the district honor choir. Faith Gomez, 10th grade, San Benito High School, district honor choir as well. Nicholas Hinojosa, 10th grade, San Benito High School, part of the district and regional choir. Risa Jimenez, 12th grade, San Benito High School, part of the district choir. Maximus Lara, ninth grade, Veterans Memorial Academy, district honor choir. Martin Limon, 10th grade, part of the San Benito High School district, region, and first alternative to pre-area. Javier Martinez, 10th grade, San Benito High School, and that is a selection for district, region, and first alternate for pre-area. Kelly Monjarez, ninth grade, San Benito, Veterans Memorial Academy, selection district. Mia Morales, 10th grade, San Benito High School, district honor choir. Jasmine Navarro, San Benito High School, district honor choir. Daniel Padilla, 10th grade, San Benito High School, district choir. Jared Pacheco, 12th
024grade, San Benito High School, part of the district and regional choir. Giselle Rodriguez, 10th grade, San Benito High School, district honor choir. Santiago Rodriguez, 10th grade, San Benito High School, part of the district honor choir. Michael Sanchez, San Benito High School, district honor choir. Lindsay Izaguirre, 10th grade, San Benito High School, part of the district honor choir. Alina Alanis, San Benito High School, recognition. And TJ Anguillano, Veterans Memorial Academy. We want to congratulate all these fine students for their performances. They include our directors who are part of our choir program include Ignacio Cruz III and Cassandra Ramos are the choir directors respectively for San Benito High School and Veterans Memorial Academy. We also want to recognize our director of fine arts, Mr. Irradio Martinez, who's supporter of course of the band and choir programs. And
025principals both of San Benito High School, Mrs. Lopez and Mrs. Martinez. If we could have the proud parents of our outstanding students please stand to be recognized. Congratulations students, parents and directors. We appreciate your work and good luck on the next level of competition. At this time I'll ask our assistant superintendent for academic services, Mrs. Dina Cornette to please join us as she presents the following achievements. Good afternoon, good evening. I'm very excited to present, have the opportunity to present these awards. San Benito Schools is proud to announce that five of our elementary schools have been recognized by US News and World Report in the 2026 best elementary school rankings. This national recognition is a testament to strong academic achievement and the dedication of our students, teachers and staff. We celebrate the significant achievement and
026thank our teachers, administrators, families and community partners whose commitment supports student success every single day. Our first recipient, Dr. C.M. Cash Elementary, Principal Ezequiel Rodriguez. Are we doing individually or? Cause each they have their own banner, we can, like, or, one at a time. And I'd like to add that this is the second consecutive year that Dr. Cash has earned this award. Our next school, Ed Downs Fine Arts Academy, Principal Ms. Ashley Camacho Garza. Our next elementary school, receiving this award for the next, for the second year in a row, Dr. Raul Garza Junior, STEAM Academy, Principal Mr. Victor Mondial. Our next elementary school, receiving this award for a second consecutive year, is La Encantada Elementary, Principal Ms. Sylvia Garcia. Our next school, receiving this award, La Paloma Elementary, Principal Dr. Lucas Gomez. Thank you,
027Mrs. Cornett. Congratulations to all the schools, and at this time, Board of Trustees and Mrs. Cornett, this concludes our recognition ceremony for our students and staff. On behalf of the Communications Department, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Feliz Navidad, Prospero Año Nuevo a todos. Thank you very much, and enjoy your break. Thank you. Okay, the next item on the agenda is public comment, and since there is no public comment, we are moving on to agenda item number four, which is the board report. I'd just like to say something real quickly. On behalf of the entire board, we would just like to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. We know that it's been a very quick August to December, and there's been a lot
028of activity all around our San Benito CISD community. We know these last couple of weeks have been really hectic, very festive everywhere on all of our campuses, and we've been able to be a part of that throughout the last couple of weeks. Today, we did have the shop with the cop, and I just want to thank the after-school program and everybody involved in that. A lot of community partners really brings out the best in San Benito. We raised $16,000 for that event, and we were able to provide 250 kids with a great shopping opportunity at Walmart, and it was great to be out there today to see the joy on all the kids' faces. We know that there's a lot of Merryness going around our San Benito CISD community, and I want to thank each
029and every one of you for being a part of that. All of our staff members have worked really, really hard, and I know that they're all excited for these next couple of weeks to be on vacation. I don't know who's more excited, the students or the staff, honestly, at this point, but I just want to commend everybody for all the hard work that they've put in and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Anybody else? Next, Mr. Pettis is not here tonight, but Ms. Cornett will say a few words on his behalf. Good evening. On behalf of Mr. Pettis, our superintendent, we'd like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2026. Moving on to consent agenda for academic services. In
030order to promote efficient meetings, the board may act upon more than one item by a single vote through the use of consent agenda. Consent items placed on the agenda shall be marked with an asterisk. Consent items are items for which no board discussion is anticipated and for which the superintendent recommends approval. Prior to the time which approval of consent agendas had, at the request of any member of the board of trustees, any item on the consent agenda shall be removed and given individual consideration. Agenda item 6.1, request for approval of the 2026-2027 school calendar. Questions? Consent. Agenda item 7.1, request for approval of cash account report for November 2025. Questions? Consent. Request for approval of comparison of revenue and expenditures to budget report for November 2025. Questions? Consent. Agenda item 7.3, request for approval of
031tax collection report for November 2025. Questions? Consent. Agenda item 7.4, request for approval of check disbursement report for November 2025. Questions? Consent. Agenda item 7.5, request for approval of gifts slash bequests for the 2025-2026 school year. Questions? Consent. Agenda item 7.6, request for approval of budget amendments. Questions? Consent. 7.7, request for approval of purchases over $50,000. Questions? Consent. 7.8, request for approval to extend bid proposals for RFP 1123 GMS general merchandise and services as recommended by administration. Questions? Consent. 7.9, request for approval to extend bid proposals for RFP 1123 MCSD meals and catering services district wide as recommended by administration. Questions? Consent. 7.10, request for approval to extend bid proposals for RFP 1123 PCS professional consultant services as recommended by administration. Questions? Consent. 7.11, request for approval to award bid proposal for RFP 1125 BDC
032bank depository contract for a two-year term as recommended by administration. Questions? Consent. 7.12, request for approval to award bid proposal for RFQ 1125 IAS investment advisory services as recommended by administration. Questions? Consent. 7.13, memorandum of agreement between San Muno CISD and region one ESC information security office. Questions? Consent. 8.1, request for approval of revisions to the 2025-2026 compensation plan. Questions? Consent. 8.2, request for approval of board minutes from the public hearing Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 and the regular board meeting Wednesday, November 12th, 2025. Questions? Consent. At this moment, I'd like a motion to approve all of the consent agenda items. So moved. I've got a motion by Ms. Hernandez and a second by Mr. Villarreal. All those in favor? All the consent agenda items have been approved. There are no action agenda items for this
033meeting, so we will move on to the closed meeting. In accordance with Texas Government Code Open Meetings Act, the board may move into closed session for the following reasons. Section 551.071, for the purpose of a private consultation with the board's attorney on any or all subjects or matters authorized by law. Section 551.074, for the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, or to hear complaints or charges against a public officer or employee. It is 617 and we are moving into closed session. It is 818 and we are reconvening into open session. Agenda item 11.1, employment, resignation, retirements, and terminations. Ms. Cornett? I recommend that the board approve. Employment, resignations, retirements, and terminations as discussed in executive session. So moved. I've got a motion by
034Ms. Hernandez and a second by Mr. Villarreal. All those in favor? Motion approved. Agenda item 11.2, discussion and possible action on legal update on an auditorium and performing arts center. Ms. Cornett? I recommend that the board approve the discussion and possible action as discussed in executive session. So moved. I've got a motion by Ms. Hernandez and a second by Mr. Villarreal. All those in favor? Agenda item approved. At this time, if there's no objection, I'd like to adjourn the meeting at 819. Meeting adjourned, 820.