SAN BENITO — The school year is over.
But that doesn’t mean the work stops.
A year ago, one could go to Superintendent Dr. Adrian Vega and ask if all the things accomplished this year were possible.
He would respond, “I don’t know but he and the school board were going to try.”
So they did.
It all started with the Re-Imagine 2021 Strategic Five Year Plan. This plan continues to lay the ground work the district needs to succeed.
This plan is the first to be drawn up in 20 years. It targets the district as a whole, specifically calling out certain areas of need.
Those include finance, curriculum and instruction, facilities, P-20, communication and public relations.
Several goals were filed under these topics, with several of them already accomplished.
Within the last year, the district has accomplished several tasks under this plan. Most recently, the board approved a 5 percent raise for all employees plus equity adjustments.
“Nine months ago I don’t know if I would have been able to read this,” Vega said during Friday’s end of year assembly.
During the assembly he read a list of accomplishments to the hundreds of employees in the district.
At the mention of the 5 percent increase they all cheered.
“No matter how awesome our district is, I hope this is what people say about our district, yet despite their abundance of food their beautiful buildings, their lush gardens and the majestic cathedrals, it was ever after said of that kingdom that their greatest treasure was their faith,” Vega said quoting The Spyglass by Richard Paul Evans.
But, nine months ago they saw it.
“The board saw it. Please don’t ever forget this. They had their faith,” Vega said.
For Vega, this is where his job comes to an end. Come Friday, he will no longer be head of the district.
The rest of the work in this plan he said will be left up to the board and the new superintendent.
These are only a third of this year’s scores.
– 7 percent gain in algebra one
– 3 percent gain in English I
– 1 percent gain in English II
– 2 percent gain in all STAAR End of Course assessments combined
– 6 percent gain on 5th grade reading
– 7 percent gain on 5th grade math
– In 8th grade, the number of students taking algebra one increased by 3 percent
– Superior rating -The financial integrity rating system of Texas.
– 2016-2016 – $8 million in the fund balance
– 2016-2017 – $ 22 million in the fund balance
– Purchased much needed vehicles
– Approved 2017-2018 compensation plan (5 percent plus equity adjustments)
– All day Pre-Kindergarten
– 755 AP tests taken this year
– 2,836 dual enrollment hours earned for the class of 2017, a savings of $992,600
– $7.8 million in scholarships earned for class of 2017
– Naviance implemented in grades 6th through 8th
– Resurfaced the track at Bobby Marrow Stadium
– New roof at Dr. Raul Garza Jr. Elementary
– Increased presence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
– District branding initiative
– Upcoming website makeover
– District promotional video
