001Good afternoon everyone. I now call to order the special meeting of the Rurand City Guru ISD board. The time is 12 >> 16 >> 61 17. This meeting was properly posted on June 9, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. We'll begin with roll call. Mr. Rene Pñena >> present. >> Mr. Eddie Ramirez, secretary absent. Mr. Noi Castillo absent. Miss Paty Garcia >> present. >> Mr. Jesse Solis >> present. >> Mr. Mr. Vasilio Viel absent and Malope Gara >> present. Uh we will now move on to the invocation led by Mr. Pñena. >> Let's go ahead and rise and bow our heads. Dear heavenly father, Lord, we do thank you uh this morning or this afternoon for having us here, Father, being able to have the liberty to be here and meeting. Father, to move this district forward
002as we've always asked you uh for us to have that mindset of putting our students and our and our employees at the forefront of every decision that we make here. Father, we praise you and we thank you for every uh detail that you put in place for us to be able to do it. We ask all these things in your name. Amen. >> Thank you. Mr. Jesse, can you lead us uh with a pledge of allegiance? >> I pledge >> allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. And um do we have any public comments? Um, how about um presentations? >> Yes, ma'am. Miss Carmona. >> Good afternoon, Madame President, board
003members, Superintendent Garcia, and members of the RDCJSD community. Today, we are excited to share a vision for the 2627 school year that reflects our commitment to innovation, opportunity, and excellence for every student we serve. Over the past several months, our teachers, principles, directors, and district leaders have worked collaboratively to analyze student data, listen to student voices, and design meaningful learning experiences that prepare our students to for success in college, career, and life. This year we are proud to launch and expand several transformative initiatives including our new steam academyy's early literacy dual language institute flex path academy the lead center strengthen highquality instructional materials enhance reading intervention support and expand expanded career and technical education opportunities. Each initiative has been intentionally designed to meet students where they are while providing pathways for them to reach their
004fullest potential. These efforts represent more than new programs. They represent a district-wide commitment to empowering students, supporting teachers, engaging families, and creating learning environments where innovation and achievement thrive. As we move forward together, we remain focused on one shared purpose, ensuring that every RGCG ISD student has access to exceptional educational experiences and every opportunity opportunity to succeed. I do have a short brief presentation on what these initiatives entail. So the vision elevating every learner. We have innovative pathways moving beyond traditional instruction to create flexible student- centered learning experiences that meet every learner where they are. We do have 10 targeted initiatives for the 2627 school year that is purpose uh that has a purpose and is built to bridge the opportunity gap from early reading to industry aligned career preparation. It's scalable success. It's a
005district-wide model designed to grow, sustain, and replicate proven strategies across every campus and every grade level. Starting with our foundation, the literacy and instructional core, we are uh bringing on board at every single elementary, as you all board approved uh last week, K through 2 grade reading coaches. And that will target early intervention to ensure every student achieves reading proficiency by the end of second grade. We will have our middle school instructional coaches, one for reading and one for math, standardizing rigorous pedagogical s uh to support and elevate teaching quality across all middle school campuses. And we will have steam coaches who will be integrating cross-disciplinary thinking, science, technology, engineering, engineering, arts, and math across our district. And those are exclusive to certain campuses which I will emphasize in a bit. So, our specialized learning
006schools, uh, it's already been put out there. We will have steammies. They are project-based inter disciplinary learning that builds the next generation of innovators, problem solvers, and critical thinkers. And we are proud to announce that Rogera will become Roger Junior Steam Academy and Alto Bonito will be now uh, Alto Steam Academy. And those two campuses will have their steam coach which will follow a full steam curriculum uh for our the students at that those campuses. It is open to um anyone in the community, students that are not enrolled with our district that want to and want to be at those campuses. We are open enrollment or any student which we have already seen wanting to transfer from within to be at those campuses. We will continue with the lead center 18 to 26 year old.
007This past year was our first year, but next year we're going to continue it um but also offer a virtual uh piece to it so that students who are working um and are unable to be here physically can continue the program virtually. Um just to emphasize on on uh reemphasize what it is. It's a focused high impact achievement hub providing intensive academic support and personalized student success strategies for adults to attain their high school diploma. Um, we graduated the first six this past year. We could have had two more, but those two left. Uh, one went to Illinois and another one uh that was a male. He had to work, you know, the the jobs up there. Another was um a female, but she joined her husband. So, she tra she traveled with him and
008they left. And one of the things that um I know the the male student asked like, "Do you have online?" And we said, "No, we we we didn't support that this past year, but next year we will." So that'll provide more opportunities. And then next year we are launching our flex path academy which is personalized virtual hybrid program that paces and allows for flexible scheduling for high schoolers that honors diverse learning uh needs and empowers student ownership over their education exclusive to credit recovery. If we have students that are very far behind and um maybe they're working, maybe they're even working parents and they're in high school, whatever the situation be, we are providing opportunities for them to have a flexible um high school plan where they can work either be come here physically or
009virtually. Systemic innovation across the district. We are also uh redesigning our magnet programs. So, uh, ACE Elementary and ACE Middle School will have their own steam coaches and they will also follow a, uh, full steam curriculum, but they're going to be more emphasized on the STEM, fine arts, just like the steam, uh, at alto, but there is some differentiation in that they're the programs that we selected for those campuses are different. They're more rigorous in the STEM component. Um we are also launching a PLC district initiative where uh we are developing a district framework. Uh Mr. Rodriguez is working on that. uh where each campus is going to have like a road map on how these PLC's are structured what to follow as well as at the district level we're going to have district PLC's
010and then each campus is going to have that we do have a partnership with region one through the lift grant who are going to support be supporting that initiative and then we will continue the avance head start partnerships we grew so I know we cleared out the other hallway at the uh annex building be uh by four classrooms so that is something that we're going to continue to to grow in building our early childhood bridges. Right. And now our impact in focus PEK and early college high school. So all three high schools are now on the this next school year will be the planning year for PEK and early college. Guya High Rio High will do both and our early college will now uh engage into the PEK world. What this entails is 60 college
011credits, transferable credit hours earned before high school graduation, which can essentially also uh lead to their associates degree. One career launchpad. Every participant graduates graduates with a clear pathway to high demand high wage careers. PEK and Early College High School transform the traditional high school experience into a district bridge to college and career with industry alignment at the core. We do have grants that we received through Lasso. We have a 100,000 for the early college and the PEK. I'm happy to announce that each high school was awarded different amounts. I believe Rio High was about 42,000, Gria High 36,000 and uh early college 24,000 because of the populations, but that was exclusive to PEK. And that is directly going to um support our teachers in getting certified for whichever industry based certification that they need
012to be uh certified for to teach or even our early college uh our teachers for early college duel. Uh so that's going completely to that. Our principles are very excited because we have a lot of resources at our fingertips whether they're the partnerships with region one or with the new CCRSM uh model. Uh we're excited for this. I know next month in July, our principles are going to the San Antonio convening the for new leaders to really dive into the PEK and uh continue the early college initiative that we already have. And then the power of partnership, we are continuing to partner up not only with STC, we're reaching out to um the Texas&M at Kingsville as well as um the different businesses uh DHR. that's going to continue but we are growing our partnerships
013with different universities them coming in and and uh showing us what they have so that we can bridge that alignment with the new uh PEK pathway that we're providing now measuring our trajectory with all of these initiatives again it's kind of like a a huge spectrum from our lower grades all the way to the uh high school K2 benchmarks early literacy skill targets that's what we're targeting uh with our littles growing into middle school growth progress uh on the reading and the writing and then high school persistence, credit accumulation and retention to ultimately lead to our PEK graduation diploma and degree attainment. It is a road map from our starting from our elementarymentaries all the way up to high school. This is not a new initiative, but I wanted to put it in because uh
014this this 2526 school year, we introduced ATSE. Um ATSE, it's an additional day school year program extending learning beyond the traditional calendar through engaging academics, steam experiences, and enrichment activities. It helps strengthen our students essential skills, stay engaged, and start the new school year confident and ready to succeed. This past year was our first year and I'm very proud of all of our six campuses that um really took on this initiative. Uh we had a semester, I'm not going to lie, to plan and really get uh our things in order. I'm very proud of the work uh from the district at team to the supervisors that are spearheading this at the campuses to that really took it at face value and said, you know what, we're going to do something different. We're going to really
015uh engage the kids from sports to steam to um you see a little of everything and the kids are excited. They're um we have about roughly 1,600 students that we are averaging 88 daily with this program that it far surpasses what we've had in the past with our regular summer school. So it's speaking volumes of the learning that they're doing. And uh just this morning I came over from Roma because we are observing um what they've been doing it for 3 years. So we uh were over there at different campuses and to say that for our first year not knowing really the details and observing other districts were we're spot on. We're doing uh wonderful things and a lot of things that were like yeah check check. We are on the right uh uh same
016page as our other neighboring districts when it comes to this uh program. Next year we are uh we do have a grant that uh for specifically for the supplies when it comes to this. So that will help plan out the year a little bit more strategically as far as themes and engaging activities. Maybe bringing over camps and sending the kids um on field trips when it comes to this program building the future today. The moment is now in all of these initiatives kind of want to wrap it up there where every great transformation starts with a shared vision and a willingness to grow. This is an opportunity to build on our strengths and create lasting impact for our students and community. It's an investment in our people from instructional coaches, program leads, and educators. We
017are they are the engine of this work. Investing in their growth is investing in every student. And we're building a resilient model um a district model designed to withstand change, adapt to new demands, and deliver lasting results. And in conclusion, to wrap it up, a legacy of excellence. We want to create something that's going to last, that's going to be impactful. Uh, from K2 literacy coaches to PEK graduates, every initiative connects to a single purpose. Empowering students to lead, create, and succeed in a changing world. Education is evolving and we're evolving with it and ensuring that all of our students here at our district at Rio Grande City Gri ISD takes um advantage of everything that we're offering. So, thank you very, very much. and we're ready for a 26 27 school year. >> Very
018good, ma'am. Thank you very much. Um it's it's I'm excited to see um you all working at this and and really what's to come. I think it's it's really good. So, thank you for that. >> Let me go ahead and add to that. Uh you know, I know you all are doing a great job and you know what what uh what I heard right now about uh being spot-on uh with the neighboring districts. That's great. But you know the way we think we always be we will always be at the top of our game and we don't want to be par with our neighboring districts. We always want to stand above and and go beyond because from now on when we focus our our our resources on our students and on our staff. I think
019that changes the climate and the culture of our district and we need to get back to that level where where we are number one in around around the area. So thank you for your the great job y'all are doing. I did hear also uh about partnerships with the different >> yes >> like DHR is what I was one of the things I heard and all that. But I mean I feel like that you can definitely get some experience which then leads to more avenues or more inroads done with with your careers or whatever careers these students decide to to take on. >> So I think that's >> a partnership that's what it is. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right, we move on to section seven action items. Item 7A 8, consider and take possible
020action on requisitions for 5,000 and over. Good afternoon. Uh we have requisitions submitted uh for 5,000 and over and we're requesting approval. If you have any questions, please let us know. Are these the last of the for the for the year, Mr. >> Yes, sir. And these are mostly uh a request for maintenance because they will be needing some u items and supplies to work during the the the break during the three weeks. Yes, sir. >> Motion. I move. >> Second. >> Any questions, discussion? All those in favor raise your right hand and motion passes. Thank you. Item 7B, consider and take possible action on RFP 2629, property and liability insurance and workman's comp excess insurance. We requested an RFP 2629 for the property and liability insurance and workers comp excess insurance. Uh we had
021once a proposal submitted by Montalvo Insurance Agency and right now it is a recommendation to award the proposal to Montalo Insurance. >> Thank you. Um any questions, discussion? >> Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All those in favor raise your right hand. And motion passes. Item 7 C. consider and take possible action on CSP 2636 digital billboard project. >> Again, CSP 2636 digital billboard project. Uh five proposals were submitted and at this time we are requesting to award the proposal or the agreement the contract to complete science LLC which was the lowest um proposal submitted. Can I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. >> Questions, discussion? >> Uh, really quick, I know that once this takes uh I guess the initial uh project takes takes over. I know
022that my people from the east side are going to be looking at this and wondering uh when will they get theirs. But I understand and and and I completely I I I can vouch for you all sitting here and you all out there that the east side has never been paid so much attention as it has uh this two years or one and a half years. I'm I'm thankful that we were able to get a cafeteria for our Grian Middle School students out there which is a big accomplishment. That was one thing that our east side people are always after me for when I was a principal. How come they don't have a cafeteria? So now they'll have a full functioning cafeteria. And like I said before, uh our constituents have never been as as
023pampered as they are today with a focus on our students that our students have uh the best quality uh cafeteria uh service there in our area. So uh I'm thankful for that and for everything else, the lighting uh the softball uh you know uh practice uh area for our pitchers there at the at the at the at the Gria High School. I mean, there's so many things that are going on and I'm very appreciative and I think the community is also realizing that they're appreciating what they're seeing and the attention that they're getting. Uh, but I'm sure they'll be asking on this, you know, but I'll I'll I'll I'll be at the forefront saying, "Hey, we've got we've got to plan ahead and we know that sooner or later we'll have it. We just have
024to be patient and things will get done." So, thank you for everything you do for the East Side. >> All right. All those in favor raise your right hand and motion passes. Item 8A, consider and take possible action to approve a resolution authorizing and delegating the superintendent authority to appoint a district election administrator and to take all actions necessary and appropriate to plan, administer, fund, contract for staff equipment conduct, and complete the real Grand City Gree ISD 2026 general trustee election, including joint election agreements, election service contracts, voting system and equipment contracts, election worker pay schedules, election personnel, election supplies, notices, ballot preparation, central counting station and ballot board operations, canvas preparation, and all other related election matters while reserving to the board any duties required by law to be performed by the board. >>
025Good. Good evening members of the board. Uh this item is related to the upcoming general election for Rio Grand City Gurua Independent School District. The uh resolution allows administration to begin the process to prepare the district for conducting it. The election. The election as written in the resolution would be conformed to the law. That means that it would be a joint election with the county for election day and the district would retain its authority pursuant to the education code and the election code to administer its early voting election process. Uh the way the resolution has been written, it's already uh right there. It would allow the superintendent to appoint the election administrator for the district and begin any of the procurement and notices and process of securing uh the district needs to fulfill its own
026duty to conduct the election for the November 2026 election. We're trying to make sure we get a proper head start in order for everything to uh be handled smoothly, efficiently, and give our residents of Rio Grand Siguruya ISD the utmost uh smoothest election possible. And uh this allows us to just begin the process. We're getting ahead of it. We're not going to be doing anything last minute. >> Thank you. Motion. >> So move. >> Second. >> All those in favor is right hand. And motion passes. Uh we continue to item 9A consider and take possible action on amendment to CH local. >> Madam President, members of the board, before you have CH local, CH local delegates the authority to our superintendent for purchasing goods and services. The local policy restricts it to 5,000. We are
027recommending 50,000. There's a couple of reasons why we're we're we're at this threshold. Reason number one, we look at comparables, other districts that are our size, our revenues, and the lowest we found was 50,000. And the others are 100,000. Why 100,000? That's state law. So again, local policy restricts it to five. Today's recommendation is 50,000. As we looked at comparable districts, same revenue, same uh population, and there the lowest we found was 50,000. Most of them are at 100,000. So today's recommendation for budgeted goods and services uh is 50,000. >> Yeah. And I I I understand I understand that going from five to 50 sounds like a big increment but uh this will alleviate a lot of our headaches and I would like and I know uh doc your HR but if I could have
028Mr. Lopez and Miss Robles either Owen explain if this has ever been done historically. Have we ever had a $50,000 expenditure for for for for those things? And at the same time, I'm going to I'm going to hold that uh uh we always put this money at the forefront uh where it uh wherever our students are at. I mean, where our students are at, be good stewards of this money if it does get approved and make diligent decisions with how we spend this money as well. >> Yes, sir. So, basically, right now, the threshold to purchase or to make purchases is below $5,000 at our discretion. And we are we are always seeking your approval for any purchases 5,000 and over. However, we've always I really don't know how we have survived uh operating the
029district when we have to come to request for your approval for purchases such as whenever we have major repairs for HVAC that is that are over $5,000. And so we have to wait for the whole month if the board meeting had just taken place for us to take care of those issues. So I know I understand the concerns. However, uh we are being very transparent with our needs with what we need. the students are always first and so that's why we are requesting to increase that threshold just so that we can continue operating without having to uh put at risk um I don't know the school district the safety sometimes uh with a heat we cannot proceed with the repairs and that is the only reason that we are seeking that uh increase in the
030threshold other districts always uh we try to uh increase the threshold back uh in 2020. Other districts had always been uh at a higher threshold for board approval, but it's been only Rio Grande City. And many vendors can say, "Well, I only have issues with Rio Grande not getting those POS uh on time or you're taking too long to approve the POS. Well, most of the time it's because we need your approval for those purchases." And yes, it is only Rio Grande. um if we call region one they will give us uh an answer as to the threshold that other school districts have and we are the most restricted u school district here in region one. >> Well I mean as long as our as our students are being you know put on the forefront
031of all this and our and our staff. I mean especially for the quality of of uh our services to them no matter where what area they are as long as they're being met. you know, $50,000 I I don't think it's it's it's much for uh the repairs that I've heard that you all have to have done throughout the year, but uh 50,000 for now sounds okay. But I I'm not holding uh on thinking about that. I think that we're going to take our district forward uh financially and have a stable uh fund balance to where at one point we can get to 100,000. Denn. >> Yes, sir. And right now, state law is $100,000 for any contract that we need to bid out. And so 50,000 it's at 50% below that mark. So uh we
032would appreciate your consideration in approving that u this threshold. >> If I can also if I can also add madam president members of the board um legal council also actually recommends this the $5,000 threshold actually in our opinion border lines micromanagement. Uh the board should not have uh have the board should not retain the authority to conduct the day-to-day transactions of the district. That's why you all have a CFO and an administration. And so $5,000 is overly restrictive in our opinion and it border lines micromanagement. So the 50,000 in fact is even less than most school district did. After TASBY 126 in November, TASBY's actual recommendation went up to 100,000 in line with the uh new state law for procurement. So even at 50,000, you would still be uh lower than the TASBY recommendation. Um,
033and I also want to remind the board that the CH threshold is not for discretionary spending. It's only for budgeted items. So, even though it's still um over the $5,000, administration is still restricted in how to spend it based on the board's approved budgeted board uh board uh budget that you're going to approve. So, it it's not discretionary spending. It's for things that have already been assigned by the board. And I I think historically I mean 5,000 I've heard it for I heard it for the 20 some odd years that I was with the district 5,000 over has to go to board. Uh so I think uh today we make history uh though it's not it doesn't meet the the threshold for for uh whatever uh they require. But I think that $50,000 is a
034big jump for us and moving forward once we evaluate ourselves and see how we are financially I think that we can even uh consider going up to the $100,000 threshold uh when the time uh when the right time comes. I agree $50,000 would be good board governance as it eliminates the micromanagement of the board on budget expedites. >> Okay. We had we had discussed this previously right like last year I think when we were um going on this I remember it was hesitation >> but I well one thing I do believe that the inroads that have been or the um the the productivity from the previous time to now has been way different >> especially with the oversight and everything. So, I I think it's it's time to take a maybe a >> a good
035leap into into that pond. >> Agree. All right. So, can I have a motion? >> So, move >> and a second. >> Second. >> All those in favor is right hand. And motion passes. Item 10 A, consider and take possible action on proposed spring library book list SB13 compliance. Madame President, members of the board, this item was previously put in our workshop agenda. However, we fa we failed to put it in our board as a consent item. So, that is the reason that we're putting it on now, just to make sure that we have voted for this. Okay. >> So, we have to vote. So, >> yes. Motion. >> So, move >> and second. >> All those in favor is your right hand. Any questions, discussion? All right. Motion passes. Announcements? >> No, ma'am. I
036guess we just want to wish everyone a safe and happy summer. You know, enjoy your break and we'll see y'all pretty soon. Thank you. >> Being that there are no further items left on the agenda, I now declare this meeting adjourned at 12:45 p.m. Thank you and have a great afternoon.