Friday, August 7, 2015
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School superintendents talk shop
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By Julie Silva usiness leaders got a taste of what life is like for fifth-graders at the Mission Chamber of Commerce’s Buenas Tardes luncheon on Wednesday. Sponsored by Mission Consolidated Independent School District, the luncheon featured the three superintendents from the school districts covering the Mission area: MCISD’s Ricardo Lopez, Sharyland ISD’s Robert O’Connor and La Joya ISD’s Alda Benavides. Mission CISD Superintendent Ricardo Lopez handed out the fifth-grade version of the STAR test last year and encouraged everyone in
the room to take it. “Don’t worry. Were just going to publish your results on the EDC and everywhere there’s Facebook because that’s what we do to the kids,” he said. All three superintendents agreed there’s more to educating students than prepping them for tests. O’Connor emphasized that soft skills suffer, and Benavides said some testing is necessary, but she’s glad the Legislature cut the number of tests to graduate down from 15 to five. When a student goes to get a job, she said, the student won’t be asked if he or she passed the STAR in 11th grade. No, Benavides said, the employer will want someone who is
competitive and knowledgeable. Meanwhile, Lopez asked for a show of hands of everyone in the room who had to take a test to graduate high school. “The vast majority didn’t have to take a test to graduate,” he said. “We just graduated, and we turned out OK. But somebody sold us some Kool-Aid to drink and said, ‘No, we’ve got to make sure our schools are doing that and doing this.’ And that’s OK, but let’s do it right ... Every single district up here is more than just a test.” The three superintendents also agreed education is un-
See BUENAS TARDES 9
HUMANITARIAN EFFORT Longoria announces
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Operation Lone Star aids thousands
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By Lea Victoria Juarez s early as 2 a.m., residents of Hidalgo County lined up outside of Palmview High School for a free medical screening. Although the doors didn’t open until five hours later, people secured their place in line to ensure their needs would be met. Every year for a week, medical volunteers provide screenings to the uninsured or underinsured residents along the South Texas border. From July 27 - July 31, medical volunteers provided screenings to more than 10,000 people at five clinics along the South Texas border and in Palmview, Rio Grande City and at PSJA High School. The service, known as Operation Lone Star, is the largest public
health humanitarian effort in the country. Local, state and federal entities, along with volunteers, band together to make the program possible. Medical services included immunizations for children, screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, hearing, vision and sports physicals. Dental exams were also available. Rows of dental chairs lined gym as medical professionals shined lights in the gaping mouths community members. “For some, Operation Lone Star is the only chance all year that residents, families and children are able to see a doctor,” said Hidalgo County Judge Ramon Garcia at the on-site luncheon. “We also have a unique population which has specific needs
See LONE STAR 9
TOP: Medical professionals provide free dental care to low-income residents at Palmview High School through Operation Lone Star. BOTTOM: Residents throughout South Texas receive free eye exams and eyeglasses along with screenings for diabetes, hearing, hypertension and physicals.
“If we prepare our community for disasters, we are better able to recover more quickly when a disaster strikes.” – County Judge Ramon Garcia
ep. Oscar Longoria, D-La Joya, announced this week he will seek a third term representing the people of House District 35 in the Texas House of Representatives. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my community, and it is my hope that the citizens of the counties of Hidalgo and Cameron will allow me to continue representing them,” Longoria said. “I am proud of my track record in the Legislature and look forward to improving the quality of life for my constituents and those across the state.” Longoria currently serves in several leadership roles in the Texas House. He is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, where he serves on the Sub-Committee for Article II – Health and Human Services and is vice chairman of the Investments & Financial Services Committee. He has also been appointed to serve on the Joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking and the Committee to study the Fiscal Impact of Texas Border Support Operations. He has authored or sponsored legislation to expand higher educational opportunities for students in the Edcouch-Elsa School District through South Texas College, co-authored legislation that establishes the Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit within the criminal justice division in the Governor’s Office, supported legislation to provide funding for and support to the new University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), and sponsored riders that provided for funding to the Medicaid-to-Medicare Parity Payments for Physicians, Trauma Service Centers, DPS, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and Indigent Defense, among others . He
was also instrumental in ensuring local transportation dollars were spent locally and has fought to keep South Texas College and Texas State Technical College and other community colleges adequately funded. Most importantly, during the 84th Legislative Session, Longoria was instrumental in passing key legislation that aides in prosecuting dangerous criminals who engage in drug smuggling and human trafficking—making our borders safer for all Texans. Longoria authored House Bill 12, which places the Border Prosecution Unit into statute—this allows local officials to prosecute border related crimes, such as: drug smuggling, murder, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering and human trafficking. Longoria also worked alongside House Leadership in support of more funding to DPS to fight these issues and improve security along the border. “There is still much to be done to advance our education, healthcare, transportation, and economic systems in Texas,” Longoria said. “It is my hope that I can continue to fight for these important issues at our state capitol, not only for the betterment of our state, but for each and
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INSIDE
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INDEX
2015 August
Residents enjoy National Night Out
to plement cial Sup | A Spe
INSIDE
This weekend is Texas’ tax-free holiday. Look for the Back to School guide in today’s edition of Progress Times.
Entertainment | pg. 2
Lifestyle | pg. 5
Hosted by the Mission Police Department, annual event strives to strengthen bond between police, community.
Mission wraps up Police Explorers academy, a nonprofit program aimed at high school students interested in law enforcement.
See story page 3
See story page 3
Opinion | pg. 4
Sports | pg. 6
215 E. 3 Mile Rd. Palmhurst • 519-8453
SALES TAX HOLIDAY AUGUST 7-9
Students learn to fight crime
1705 Exp. 83 Peñitas • 580-6840
Obituaries | pg. 7
Classifieds | pg. 9