Alamo Heights ISD is committed to keeping the community informed about the work of the Board of Trustees. This board summary highlights the action and recognitions from the latest Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees.
Recognitions
Spotlight on Excellence
Erica Melle, math teacher and department chair at the Junior School, was honored as the February Spotlight on Excellence recipient. She was nominated by members of her team for her outstanding support of their work.
All-State Band and Choir
Three AHHS Fine Arts students were selected to the Texas Music Educators Association, or TMEA, All-State Band and Choir. Only the top 2.6% of musicians who initially audition become All-State musicians. Caroline Cordts, Bassoon, and Warren Kramer, Tuba, were selected to All-State Band and Elia Contreras earned a spot in the All-State Treble Choir.
They performed last weekend with the All-State ensembles at the TMEA Clinic/Convention here in San Antonio.
National Champion Cheer
Alamo Heights High School cheer won two national championships last weekend at the UCA National Cheerleading Championship in Orlando, Florida. Varsity earned their second consecutive national championship in the Super Varsity DI Non Tumbling Game Day Division. Junior Varsity earned their first national title in the Large JV Game Day Division.
AHHS cheer also won a state championship in January at the 2023 UIL State Spirit Championships in Fort Worth.
Student Council
Lillie Greehey, Co-President of the Alamo Heights High School Student Council, shared the February update with Trustees including Kindness Week.
Other Board Action and Presentations
Trustees unanimously approved an order calling a bond election for May 6. The order was presented by Mike Hagar, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance. The proposal totals $371 million and will appear as 3 separate propositions. Proposed projects would impact all students and staff and all campuses. Information about the proposal will be posted on the Bond 2023 website.
Dr. Kristen Ascencao, District Testing and Counseling Coordinator, and Catherine Widder, District Wellness Coordinator, presented the annual report on the AHISD Counseling Program and Student Wellness.
Trustees heard about a request that was previously approved by the Superintendent for a JROTC high school student trip to All-Army Nationals Drill Meet and JROTC Nationals Physical Fitness Championship in May2023.
Trustees approved a resolution authorizing employee pay for the recent inclement weather days. Employees will not have to make up the days from the school closures and will be paid in full for those two days.
Trustees approved the appointment of election officials for the May 6, 2023 Election- Bexar County Election Department and Administrator Jacqueline Callanen and District Election Administrator Mike Hager.
Trustees approved the naming of the Auditorium Foyer at Alamo Heights HS after Barbara and Alan Dreeben in recognition of a gift to the Alamo Heights School Foundation Endowment. They also approved the naming of the Weight Room at Alamo Heights HS after the Johnson family in recognition of a gift to the Alamo Heights School Foundation Endowment.
Donations were accepted from: Austin Community Foundation, Leonard J. Gutierrez, and LPA San Antonio. The accepted donations totaled $501,750.
Trustees accepted reports from the Building, Goals and Priorities, Policy, andCommunications committees; District Design Team; District Education Advisory Council; and Alamo Heights School Foundation.
Superintendent’s Communication
Dr. Bashara celebrated the national champion AHHS cheer, wished state and swim and dive qualifiers good luck this weekend at UIL State, and shared that boys basketball is headed to the playoffs next week. She also celebrated the return of Valentine’s Post Office and parties at elementary campuses.
She provided a safety and security update which included the district safety audit and the next steps in implementation of the Centegix Crisis Alert system. Employees received their new badges this week and will have training next week. The plan is for the system to be operational by Spring Break with testing for local responders as the last step.
February Feedback surveys will go out to parents, staff, and students next week. It’s the seventh year of gathering this data from stakeholders that can then be used to develop action steps for continuous improvement.
It’s the time of year that the staffing process begins for the next school year. This includes hosting Job Fairs, checking in with staff on their plans to return, and other recruitment and retention efforts.
Monday is a school holiday for students and an all-staff professional development day. The event has been designed by the instructional coaches with a theme of - “There’s no place like AHISD because of you.” The day will conclude with the Ladensohn Lecture with speaker Dr. Shauna Shapiro, an author and clinical psychologist.
Next Regular Meeting: 6 p.m., Thursday, March 23, Board Room
Regular meetings are typically scheduled on the third Thursday of the month and held in the AHISD Board Room, 7101 Broadway, 78209.
Meeting Information is also posted on the Board website.
Regular meetings are broadcast live and recordings are available within 24 hours.
If you would like to communicate with the Board of Trustees, email them at [email protected].