Students Pay Tribute to Trustees for Their Service

Story and photos by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

January is School Board Recognition Month, and the seven trustees got rousing tributes like in sports arenas from students representing 14 Los Fresnos CISD schools.

Los Fresnos High School seniors Ricardo Torres and Salvador Vargas were the broadcasters to introduce the students and trustees. They ended their presentation by taking a “selfie” photograph with six of the seven trustees present.

The students took turn reading biographies about each board member.

Stealing the show was Lopez-Riggins Elementary Pre-Kindergarten student Noah Gomez, who read four paragraphs with words that four or five syllables such as “administration,” “community,” “participant,” “fundamental,” and “opportunity.”

Trustees receiving recognition and the students representing the schools were:

• Board President Jesus Amaya
  • Jocelyn Cisneros, Villareal Elementary School and Rebecca Ann Sanchez, Resaca Middle School
• Board Vice President Leonel Garza
  • Daniella Lopez, Las Yescas Elementary and Clarissa Tellez, Los Fresnos United

• Board Secretary Sandra Garcia
  • Gomez and Edrick Salazar, Los Fresnos High School
• Board Assistant Secretary Martin Castillo (who took a selfie video of his introduction)
  • Hunter Wernecke, Los Fresnos Elementary and Benjamin Ramirez, Los Cuates Middle School
• Trustee Ruben Treviño
  • Tristan Sada, Laureles Elementary and Nolan Cawlfield, Palmer-Laakso Elementary
• Trustee Darlene Pederson
  • Cheyenne Ramos, Dora Romero Elementary and Antonio Fernandez, Rancho Verde Elementary
• Trustee Rey Farias
  • Mia Quintanilla, Olmito Elementary and Evyn Garcia, Liberty Memorial Middle School

A recess was called after the presentations so that Trustees could meet the students and their parents. Refreshments were served.

Sharon Solis	Diana Navarro	Claudia Garcia	Julissa Bazaldua

Trustees approved the hiring of seven new staff members. They were:

• Sharon Solis, Assistant Principal
• Natalie Flores, Diagnostician
• Celina Manriquez, Diagnostician
• Alberto Nieto Gonzalez, Computer Science Teacher, Los Fresnos High School
• Diana Navarro, Business Teacher, Los Fresnos United
• Claudia Garcia, Payroll Coordinator
• Julissa Bazaldua, Accountant

In other action, trustees received the following District Reports:

• Financial Report, which included the Portfolio Report, Tax Collection Report, Summary Revenue and Expenditure Status Reports, Monthly Disbursements, Budget Adjustments
• Title I District Parental Involvement Action Plan

The following items were approved:

• Minutes for the meeting held on December 12, 2016.
• Budget Amendment #6 for Fiscal Year 2017.
• Ad-Valorem Tax Refunds for the Month of December, 2016
• 2017 Migrant Academic Achievement Residential Summer Program (MAARS) Partnership Agreement with Texas State Technical College in Harlingen.
• Agreements/Contracts with Independent Contractors for Professional Services: Insurance consultants
• Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Texas of the Permian Basin for Dual Enrollment Programs/Class Offerings.
• Out-of-State Student Travel for Los Fresnos United – Ninth Grade Migrant Students to travel to Washington, D.C. June 25-30, 2017.