Features

By: Devan Christensen

Have you ever wondered what really keeps the City moving? There is a special group of employees who keep the City of Schertz rolling along – quite literally. They change the oil on Schertz Fire Rescue’s fire trucks, they install new brakes for officers’ patrol cars, they replace the tires for all of the city’s Public Works trucks, and so much more. The Fleet Division, made up of 7 employees, is responsible for maintaining more than 350 city vehicles and equipment. They are the unsung heroes of the city. They are what truly keeps the City moving. “When the mechanics are doing their part in keeping all City vehicles/ equipment rolling, that right there has a huge impact on the community,” says Fleet Manager Christopher Hernandez. “I feel that it lets the citizens of Schertz know that work is being done and issues are getting resolved such as street sweeping, parks maintenance, traffic lights getting repaired, street maintenance, etc.”

Fleet mechanics spend their days keeping up with preventative maintenance for all vehicles to include oil, transmission, and fuel services, conducting state vehicle safety inspections, changing or repairing tires, repairing heating and cooling issues, and working on varied levels of electrical repairs. Another large part of their job is ordering stock and non-stock parts and equipment from auto-parts stores and a multitude of vendors for the proprietary equipment on the public safety vehicles. Mechanics must also interact with outside repair facilities to ensure the city receives the best product and to ensure repairs are completed in a safe and timely manner. “Giving other members of the city staff a safe and reliable vehicle or piece of equipment that they can use or operate directly impacts how effective they are in completing the job they needed that asset for,” says Fleet Mechanic Stephen Gillard. “If we cannot effectively maintain dependable assets because of the facility, technology, or training issues, then that is a direct reflection on our department. I like to take pride in knowing that we have exhausted every resource to ensure we have given our best product to every staff member.”

First and foremost, to be a fleet mechanic you need a strong mechanical aptitude coupled with a self-starting mindset. It is also necessary to have a Class “A” commercial driver license, a Texas Department of Public Safety’s State Vehicle Safety Inspector’s License, and an Environmental Protection Agency 609 Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning Technician’s License. Fleet personnel is also required to hold Emergency Vehicle Technician’s certifications that combine teachings from both the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) jurisdictions. To be enrolled in the ASE certification process, mechanics must have a minimum of two years of verifiable related work experience as per the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. While working in the Schertz Fleet Division, the city assists employees with obtaining these certifications.

Although Fleet is one of the smallest divisions in Public Works, they are a diverse team that has the capability to perform such a vast array of missions to keep the city running. They pride themselves on knowing that the support they give to the frontline departments directly impacts the citizens of our community. “The Fleet team we have is a one of a kind,” Gillard says. “The mentality to grow and work as a team is remarkable, and the team is willing to go above and beyond for one another to ensure the department flourishes. We have gone through many challenges together and there may be many to follow, but we have always banded together to ensure our department and ultimately the city, flourishes.”

In order to better fulfill their mission, the Fleet Division will soon be moving into a new 15,753 square foot fleet facility with much more workspace and also many new capabilities. Currently, the Fleet shop has only three bays. The new shop will have nine bays for the mechanics to utilize. With an increased number of bays, Fleet can accomplish more work, which will decrease downtime of City-owned equipment. “I think that the new Fleet Facility is a huge improvement compared to what Fleet is in right now,” says Hernandez. “With the multiple bays and open area, Fleet will be able to perform their work in a better-lit environment and will be able to bring in more vehicles and equipment for preventative maintenance or to be repaired.”

Next time you see a fire truck or public works truck out on the roads of our city, take a moment and think about the hard work that goes into keeping that vehicle moving to improve our city streets and infrastructure and to keep our community safe. Those incredibly important jobs could not get done without the Fleet team keeping those vehicles moving. “Knowing that the vehicles and equipment that keep our community safe and operational comes through our shop gives us a sense of pride and the ability to give something back to our community,” says Gillard. “Our sense of duty to our community has brought us to the city and is what continues to motivate us in our careers.”

The Schertz Public Works Department recently completed construction on a new 15,753 square foot fleet facility located at 27 Commercial Place. This $1,372,794 facility will be used to diagnose and repair all City-owned equipment and vehicles. The facility will benefit the City and other departments by increasing the amount of work that can be completed in the shop area. The current Fleet shop only has three bays, which can create scheduling challenges to complete work and make repairs, simply because there is not adequate room. The new shop will have nine open bays which will allow for more work to be completed. The increase in productivity will ultimately save the City money by eliminating the need for outsourcing equipment and vehicles that belong to the City.

The new shop will have illuminated pits, unlike the current shop. The pits provide better access for the mechanics and allows for them to maneuver safely under a vehicle. The new shop will also have brighter and more efficient LED lighting that is strategically placed to provide light directly onto the vehicles and equipment, another feature that does not exist in the current shop. While the new shop will utilize some of the existing tools and equipment, there will also be upgraded and additional equipment. For example, the new shop will have a Heavy Duty (HD) tire machine that allows mechanics to change large tires in-house. Currently, changing all of the large tires has to be outsourced because Schertz does not have this machine. Also, Schertz purchased lifts to raise heavy equipment, such as fire trucks so the mechanics can easily walk/stand under them to work. This is an ability the existing shop does not have.

In addition to the new shop, the mechanics are increasing their licenses and expanding their education to allow them to work on equipment that is currently outsourced. The end result will be a premier mechanic shop.

Annette Moore, USAF Nurse

By: Kira Villarreal

The benefits of music education for children and teens include everything from improved language skills and teamwork to better hand-eye coordination. This comes as no surprise to the music education staff at Schertz-CiboloUniversal-City ISD, who have been offering one of the best music programs in the area for years. Named one of the 2021 Best Communities for Music Education for the fourth consecutive year by the National Association of Music Merchants, SCUCISD ensures that every student from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade takes music classes as part of their regular curriculum and older students can continue their education by learning specific instruments and participating in performing ensembles like band, orchestra, or choir. Currently, there are more than 2,400 students in grades 6-12 who have chosen a music class as their elective.

Watts Elementary School Music teacher Kim Nipper has been teaching music for 17 years, and particularly enjoys introducing the youngest students to music. She notes that the curriculum is incredibly varied at the beginning levels and includes a lot of exploration. Students learn the difference between their speaking and singing voice, they incorporate dance and poetry to learn about counting and rhythm, and they are introduced to different types of instruments. In first grade, the students begin learning to read music, and as they get older, there are opportunities to form small performing ensembles. Each grade level typically does a yearly performance, and there is even a fourth-grade extracurricular choir that has performed throughout the community.

Nipper notes that she particularly enjoys seeing her students get excited about music and hopes to foster a love and appreciation that students will take far beyond her classroom. “The goal is to create some kind of love or passion for music, and I love those moments when it all comes together for them,” she said. “When they can finally play something that they’ve been working on they get so excited.”

When students get to fifth grade, a unique feature of the SCUCISD music education curriculum allows them to complete

rotations in band, orchestra, choir, and visual arts. Students spend the year rotating through and participating in each group to help them get a feel for each one and decide which they would enjoy pursuing during junior high and high school. They choose their favorite to take as a full-year class starting in sixth grade.

As they get into junior high and high school, there are additional performing opportunities, including solo and ensemble work. Students can also begin participating in competitions and adjudications through the University Interscholastic League (UIL), a governing body that provides educational extracurricular contests in music, as well as a variety of other academic areas.

By the time they reach high school, students have a variety of performing ensembles available to them, depending on their level of proficiency. There are orchestras, concert bands, and choirs at the high school level as well as specialty groups like marching band, Steele High School’s jazz band, and Clemens High School’s Buffalo Brass, a specialty brass ensemble.

Andrew Sutton, the Orchestra Director for Steele High School and Dobie Junior High School, oversees five performing ensembles with a total of about 160 participating students between the two schools. Depending on skill level, students are assigned to one of three junior high orchestras or one of two high school groups.

Sutton says that for some of these students, music is a favorite part of their education and the primary thing that really makes them look forward to coming to school in the morning. He also notes that music provides an important opportunity for teamwork and collaboration.

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“They love the feeling of being part of a team and working toward a common goal. Music performance is one of the only places they can get that outside of sports,” he said.

At the high school level, students can also audition to be a part of the regional and area performing groups for band, orchestra, and choir, and the most advanced students may even earn a spot in the prestigious Texas all-state performing groups. Students participate in school district concerts several times per year and continue to participate in UIL competitions for both soloists and small groups as well as for the entire band, orchestra, or choir. Students also often choose to form their own small ensembles and chamber groups, and the teaching staff helps support and encourage these groups.

The wide variety of course offerings and performance opportunities are a big part of the reason the district has been recognized for its outstanding program for the past several years, according to Mike Lipe, the district’s Director of Fine Arts. To qualify for the Best Communities for Music Education list, the district had to provide extensive data on enrollment, teaching staff, course offerings, funding, facilities, graduation requirements, and more.

Among the many researched and documented benefits of music education are improved reading comprehension, better listening skills, and improved focus. Studies have shown that students who participate in music are also more likely to graduate high school and to attend college, in addition to gaining numerous social skills. When asked about these skills, the staff members all agreed that teamwork and collaboration were at the top of the list. Patience and perseverance were also frequently mentioned as the skills most likely to lead to success in the students’ future careers. “I think that one of the most important things music teaches is perseverance, and that’s something that will help these students in every area of their lives,” said Mike Lipe. “There is no instant gratification or overnight success when trying to master an instrument – they learn that they have to put in the work in order to get the rewards.”

It seems clear that the SCUCISD music education program is not only turning out students who become talented musicians but also developing capable young adults who are prepared to excel in a variety of career areas and handle any challenges that their futures bring.

Having the latest security software, web browser and operating system is the best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats. Remember, mobile phones and tablets need updating too!

Think before posting about yourself and others online. Consider what a post reveals, who might see it and how it could be perceived now and in the future.

Usernames and passwords are not enough to protect key accounts like email, bank and social media. Improve account security by enabling strong authentication tools such as biometrics or unique one-time codes.

Set a strong passphrase (at least 12 characters long) for your Wi-Fi network. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that you like to think about and are easy to remember (for example, “I love country music.”). Name your network in a way that doesn’t let people know it’s your house.

Information about you, such as your purchase history or location, has value – just like money. Be thoughtful about who gets that information and how it’s collected through apps and websites.

Protect your valuable work, music, photos and other digital information by making an electronic copy and storing it safely.

Learn more about ncsam and staying safe online at staysafeonline.org/ncsam