Superintendent of Schools

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Building momentum for 2020-2021 and beyond - Aug. 17, 2020

08/17/2020

Dear SAISD Staff:

Today we are opening our school year at Level 1 Red, which is remote-only instruction. We will continue with remote instruction during our first three weeks – through Labor Day. Moving forward, we will closely monitor local health metrics according to our safety matrix and implement our safety protocols as outlined in this video. Please feel free to share these two resources broadly with our families, so they are familiar with the precautions we are taking and know what to expect.

We want to ensure we are ready when criteria indicate we can slowly begin allowing students to return to campuses – starting with small numbers of students who would benefit the most from in-person instruction, while honoring parents’ wishes.

I sincerely thank the teachers who already have volunteered to begin returning to their classrooms today, in preparation for these next steps. You are our advisors as we examine the safety protocols we have put in place to protect everyone’s health to the fullest extent possible, including the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the implementation of new health and safety procedures. I look forward to your feedback on the status of our work.

We realize this first day of school has been wrought with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. To ease the transition into a new school year during a pandemic, we will prioritize the well-being of both our staff and students. Staff have the opportunity to join District-provided self-care sessions or connect with one of our services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Our priority for student interaction, especially during these first few weeks, will be to emphasize the power of connection, addressing the social and emotional needs of our children.

Although we are not experiencing our typical first day fanfare, we enthusiastically launched two new programs today – Rodriguez Montessori Elementary School and the H-TECH nursing and healthcare program at Fox Tech High School. SAISD now is home to two Montessori schools and two P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) programs.

Additionally, several of our schools have new campus leadership, and I hope you join me in welcoming ournew principals. They join and complement a strong cohort of school leaders across our District.

In addition to this being the first day of our school year, this evening also holds promise of new beginnings. At tonight’s Board meeting, our Trustees will consider whether to call for a Nov. 3 School Bond election with two separate propositions – one for school renovations and another for technology upgrades.

Our community-based Blue Ribbon Task Force has recommended a $1.3 billion bond as part of the District facilities long-range master plan. Under the recommendations, all SAISD schools would benefit from a 2020 bond with security upgrades and new technology, and a number of campuses would receive significant renovations.

If approved by our Board tonight, SAISD will pursue our largest ever bond election. And, if voters pass the propositions in November, taxpayers would not see a tax rate increase from the bond, based on current property valuations.

The need is great, but we are cautiously optimistic based on the information we are seeing. I have been hearing from industry groups, chambers of commerce, and associations, and these community leaders are aware of our significant academic progress and also recognize how addressing these needs will continue to propel students forward.

As a District, we face great challenges, but we also face great opportunity. Although COVID-19 has changed what education delivery looks like today, we know we need to continue the momentum of transforming our classrooms and school buildings to meet 21st-century learning, safety, and security standards.

Also at tonight’s Board meeting, we will recognize the District winners of our Great Employees Modeling our Standards (G.E.M.S.) for last school year. Adriana Moreno, computer lab assistant at Carvajal Elementary School, was selected in the paraprofessional category, and Magdalena Cruz, head custodian at Travis Early College High School, was chosen in the classified personnel category. We also will be recognizing four additional employees for honorable mention.

Please join me in congratulating these exceptional employees, and all of the outstanding employees who were honored at the campus and department levels during 2019-2020. Every role is critical to the education of our children, and honoring the contributions of these staff members tonight is a fitting way to begin our new school year.

Sincerely,
Pedro