Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Accountability | Human Resources & Leadership Development
Business & Finance | Innovation & Technology | Operations & Support Services | Compliance & School Safety
October 2024
ZCISD: EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S LEADERS
SUPERINTENDENT’S COMMENTS:
As October draws to a close, I’m excited to share the progress and vibrant events that have marked this month across our district Our schools are bustling with activity, and I am continually inspired by the commitment of our staff and the enthusiasm of our students
This month, we have advanced our work on implementing the district’s literacy framework, which is already bringing positive shifts in student engagement and skill-building. Teachers are leveraging this framework to deepen students’ foundational literacy, setting them on a path to long-term success. Additionally, our teams are preparing for end-of-course exams and continuing with summative assessments, both of which give us critical insights to adjust instruction and meet individual student needs
Our students have also shined outside the classroom, especially in athletics and fine arts, where they’ve demonstrated dedication, teamwork, and impressive skill. We recently celebrated Hawk Fest, which brought the entire district together to showcase our students’ incredible talents in music and performance. Events like Hawk Fest are a reminder of the creative potential within our schools and the importance of fostering a well-rounded education for our students.
In the spirit of the season, our district also hosted a district-wide trick-or-treat event for our youngest students, from Pre-K through 2nd grade. It was a wonderful opportunity for our little ones to experience the joy of Halloween in a safe, inclusive environment, and we saw great participation from students and staff alike.
As we look to the months ahead, I remain committed to providing the resources and support needed to sustain these initiatives and to promote continued growth across our district Thank you for your support and for helping us create an environment where each student can thrive academically, artistically, and socially
Strategic Goal #1
We will ensure innovative, relevant, and high-quality learning opportunities are provided to all students in pursuit of
The month of October was an extremely busy month for all students, teachers, campus and district leaders, and parents ZCISD started of the month by attending Region One’s GEAR UP: Choosing College, Changing Lives Grant Kick-Off Celebration and Next Steps Leadership Meeting. We have partnered up with Region One for the next GEAR UP Cohort (Class of 2030). Yet another partnership with Region One is hosting their traveling Instructional Leadership Network Meetings (Area 1) Assessment and Accountability Department to come together with surrounding districts and receive pertinent information and updates in multiple topics regarding CIAA. It grants us the opportunity to network and share best practices. Through the Bloom’s Literacy Grant, we also had the opportunity to provide our elementary campuses with PLC support from Luis Martinez and Cassidy Martinez, consultants at Region One Our elementary principals have also had the opportunity to engage in the Literary Leader Consortium Professional Development activities were planned for the early release days (October 4 and October 25) These included support for teachers on instructional resources, grade level PLCs with prescriptive tasks, and data analysis Campuses are also rolling out a revamped process for Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to ensure we address and meet the needs of struggling students Yet another exciting initiative is the development of a Numeracy Framework focusing on Research Based Instructional Strategies (RBIS). This framework outlines the development of mathematics skills PK-12. ZCISD continues to focus on academic success by ensuring the support of teaching and learning throughout our district. We are ZCISD!
Frozen, Jr.
Our talented Zapata High School drama students brought to life Disney’s Frozen, Jr., for an enthusiastic audience of elementary students. It was also the first performance for our Zapata Middle School theater students who joined the High School cast on stage for several ensemble performances It was a fantastic chance for our older students to share their hard work and passion for the arts, and for the younger ones to experience the magic of live theater
Strategic Goal #2
We will promote a safe, nurturing, and engaging learning environment to meet the needs of all students.
The Pillar of Respect
During the month of October, students learned the meaning and importance of Respect. Counselors throughout the district provided students with the examples and tools students can use to apply the Golden Rule.
Compliance & School Safety:
At ZCISD the safety of our students and staff is a top priority. In the month of October the following safety activities have taken place.
● Lockdown Drill was conducted at North Elementary on October 3rd.
● Secure Drill was conducted at South Elementary on October 9th.
● Shelter in Place for Severe Weather Drill was conducted at Villarreal Elementary on October 7th
● Evacuation Drill was conducted at A.L. Benavides Elementary on October 8th.
● Evacuation Drill was conducted at North Elementary on October 18th.
● Evacuation Drill was conducted at Zapata Middle School on October 22nd.
● On October 29th an Active Threat Tabletop Exercise was conducted with campus principals, directors, Chief Moya, and Dr. Trevino that was led by Mr. John Bray from the Region 6 Cyber Security and Infrastructure Security Agency. Also assisting with the exercise as evaluators were Deanna Stevens from the TEA Office of School Safety & Security and Manuel Martinez from the Region One Service Center. Mr. Bray will provide a report to assist us in addressing areas that we need to work on in our emergency operation plans.
The month of October was filled with activities across the district. Red Ribbon Week gave our LCDCs the perfect opportunity to visit all campuses and present on the dangers of drugs and drug addiction.We have seen a DECREASE in vaping cases at the middle and high school level. Our Zapata County Police Department, LCDCs, Counselors and Principals attacked this challenge and the conservative effort has shown significant drops.
Strategic Goal #3
We will create a strong student-centered partnership between families, teachers, administrators, and community to ensure all district initiatives are met.
Attendance Update:
Attendance remains a critical initiative for our district Campus attendance teams are diligently working with our families to ensure kids are coming and staying in school daily. We continue to encourage our families to work with their campuses in getting kids to school daily. Attendance percentages for the 2nd Six Weeks are below:
Superintendent Holds First Parent Advisory Council Meeting
On October 10, 2024, Dr. Trevino convened a Parent Advisory Council meeting to reassure parents in the district about our commitment to Parental Engagement. Engaging parents fosters improved academic achievement, boosts student confidence and behavior, enhances attendance and school involvement, and strengthens communication between home and school
The advisory council has outlined five "Key Goals":
1. Build trust and transparency
2 Improve student outcomes
3. Provide insights for policy and program development
4 Promote equity and inclusivity
5. Encourage active family participation
Officer Andrew Trevino served as the guest speaker for the meeting, delivering an informative message about the responsibilities of our ZCISD Police Officers and the resources available to support students, including the Child Advocacy Center, Drug Awareness initiatives, and Gang Prevention and intervention programs.
Zapata FFA was established 67 years ago
Zapata FFA was established 67 years ago, in 1956, by the first Agricultural Teacher, Mr Gilberto Villarreal, who served from 1956 to 1976 for 19 years. He was followed by the second Agricultural Teacher, Mr Juan M Vela, who dedicated 30 years to Zapata High School from 1976 to 2006. Currently, our Ag Teachers are: Mr. Fernando Rodriguez (2006-present) 19 years
Miss Joevanna Sanchez (2013-present) Eric Gonzalez (2024Dr Alinna Umphres (2024-
Numerous individuals from the early years began their journey in the FFA Welding Shop and went on to establish successful and fulfilling careers in welding. In recent years, numerous students have earned degrees in the field of Agriculture, contributing significantly to our efforts in feeding the ever-growing population. Additionally, there are students who continue to thrive in the welding, medical, veterinary, law enforcement and business industry.
Today the National FFA Organization has over a million 1,027,273 FFA members with Chapters across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands Texas FFA membership this year is 177,401. This makes Texas the state with the largest FFA membership in the country California is second with 104,450 members Zapata FFA currently has 325 FFA members.
Current FFA Officers attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana last week Where over 60,000 registered members attended, from each state across the country
Reading Night Across the District
All ZCISD Campuses had an amazing time at Family Reading Adventure Night! Families came together for an evening filled with storytelling Alongside reading, families dove into activities like word games, fun puzzles, and interactive games that kept everyone engaged and learning. It was a perfect setting for family bonding and a great way to spark a love of reading for everyone!
Strategic Goal #4
We will provide effective and efficient operations through a transparent, fiscally responsible budget and an equitable distribution of resources in support of organizational processes.
Services and Operations Monthly Report
Have continued working with a new Fire alarm monitoring company on addressing the issue that we have at our campuses We are making sure that all systems are uptodate to make sure that we meet all state requirements Many issues are still being identified at the high school and are being addressed as they come up. Continued with our biweekly meeting addressing our department needs an d concerns Topics covered were supervisors roles and and responsibilities, Clock Management, work orders, routes, extracurricular trips and any concerns.
The construction projects are moving along smoothly. Below you find the completion status of the projects:
● Elementary HVAC projects in progress
● Decorative fencing campus projects in progress (Pending Gates)
● Working on Safety Audit district wide findings on going
● Boardroom work of TEA requirements in progress
● The transportation department continues to work on travel requests. (We have worked on over 250 requests)
We continue with disinfecting our schools 2 times a week and dressing rooms being done daily. The services and Operations department continues to complete daily work orders in the areas of Maintenance, Transportation and HVAC district wide
Child Nutrition Program Monthly Report
Overview
This month the ZCISD Child Nutrition Program (CNP) team focused on enhancing meal quality, promoting local agriculture, and preparing for upcoming events and menu updates Key activities included participation in Region One’s Training and Food Show, walk-throughs to monitor cafeteria operations, and taste-testing sessions to align with student preferences
Key Activities and Initiatives
1. Region One’s Training and Food Show: The CNP team explored new food products, particularly protein-focused breakfast items, and received training on nutrition regulations and menu planning trends. New recipes and vendor insights will inform future menu updates.
2. Farm Fresh Challenge: This month the team continued efforts to incorporate locally sourced ingredients into meals, highlighting Texas-grown produce weekly through Farm Fresh Fridays and educational activities. Local sourcing remains a priority beyond the challenge month.
3. National School Lunch Week: The department promoted school meal benefits with themed events, taste tests, and parent-invited luncheons. Schools decorated cafeterias to celebrate and encourage healthy eating
4. SHAC and Wellness Initiatives: The School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) met to discuss wellness goals and parent engagement, with future efforts focused on promoting greater parent participation. The Wellness Plan was presented to district leadership, aiming for alignment with campus activities.
5. Support for Local Agriculture: Discussions were held with ProValley Company regarding sourcing locally produced beef, and additional efforts are being made to enhance local purchasing beyond the Farm Fresh Challenge.
6. New Menu Initiatives: Inspired by Region One’s Expo, the team is developing new protein-based breakfast items and increasing scratch-made meals. Plans include creating age-specific menus and exploring equipment grants to pilot milk dispensers at select campuses.
7. Taste-Testing for Menu Planning: Regular taste-testing events provided student feedback for 2025-2026 menu planning, aiming to integrate protein-focused options and scratch-cooked meals
8. Manager Training and Meetings: Managers reviewed policies on attendance, communication, and customer service Upcoming Thanksgiving luncheons are being meticulously planned
9. Health and Safety Compliance: The fall health inspections have been completed and they revealed no issues. Continuous walk-throughs ensure food safety, portion control, and service efficiency
Financials and Reporting
The October claims for the National School Lunch, Breakfast, and Supper Program totaled $386,818.54. Additionally, planning for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) report submission is underway to ensure free meals for all students.
Challenges and Next Steps
● Parent Engagement: Efforts to boost parent involvement in SHAC meetings are ongoing
● Milk Quality: Issues with milk quality from vendors are being addressed by exploring milk dispenser options.
● Equipment Needs: Additional food processors and combi ovens are being explored to support operational efficiency
In summary, the ZCISD CNP team is advancing meal quality, supporting local agriculture, and aligning nutrition services with student needs and district goals through innovative menu planning, stakeholder engagement, and enhanced operational practices.
Technology Update
Completed Projects:
● Technology infrastructure installing in the newly constructed Fieldhouse had been completed.
Ongoing Projects:
● Application USAC Cybersecurity Form 484 for the FCC Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot program via the Region 1 Orion Consortium has been successfully submitted. Funding requests have been selected in the following areas: Next Generation Firewall, Patch Management, MDR, DDos Protections, and Endpoint Protections for Mobile Web Filtering and Behavioral Monitoring.
● Configuration of multi-factor authentication for all staff emails is in progress.
● Bid has been awarded to Cisco WebEx for the district’s new VOIP phone system Phones will be replaced in all offices and be deployed to all instructional areas. In addition to subscription/licensing, the system will include Singlewire Informacast for integration of paging to the phone system Currently, we are working with our 3rd party vendor to:
○ finalize the site survey for the Cradlepoint 5G cellular backup
○ setup of CallTower Cloud PSTN which includes the migration of our DID numbers
Growth & Connections:
● The Technology Advisory Committee held its monthly meeting on October 21st Discussed items included:
○ Tech Service Requests and Satisfaction Surveys for August & September
○ New Phone System
○ eSports program
○ Apple Initiative Update
○ Cybersecurity Report
○ Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities
Resignations and New Employment:
New Hires for October 2024
Luis Hinojosa, Custodian
Annabelle Hernandez, CNP
Resignations for October 2024
Ana Garza, Security
Jesus Bautista, Jr. General Maintenance
Miranda Lopez, Bus Aide
Gersan Guzman, Custodian
Joann Gonzalez, Security
Marisella Banda, CNP
Teacher Certifications
The Office of Human Resources and Leadership Development has partnered with the Department of Curriculum and has met the challenges of teacher certification by implementing a strong support system for newly hired uncertified educators. In addition to providing our uncertified teachers with test preparation courses, we created a robust orientation program, teacher mentors, and targeted professional development. Our principals have been directed to provide frequent check-ins that are key components to teacher success. critical to learn the skills necessary to perform effectively in the classroom.
Finance Update
Summary of Finance and Texas Education Agency
October 2024 marked an important month for Texas school districts regarding current year summary of finance indicators and near final settleup for the 2023-2024 school year. As predicted and discussed, the District snapshot data for the 24-25 school year reflected a decrease in student enrollment This decrease directly impacts state and federal aid funding that was expected; and therefore, reflects budgetary reduction in revenue for the year This trend has been anticipated nationwide due to declining birth rates and is expected to continue
Despite enrollment declines, attendance initiatives, district and campus wide, reflect an increase from previous year. When compared to budget versus actual, the District anticipates, at this point, an increase to state revenues.
The finance and federal programs department has diligently been working to analyze the end of the fiscal year in order to determine the impact the District has had with reduction to federal ESSER funds. Final draw and expenditure reports for the fiscal year are being validated and submitted to TEA to ensure federal compliance but to also ensure that the District spends down all available funds in a timely manner. The total amount of federal funds drawn for the month of October were $2 15m This is the final draw for the year 23-24 school year, of which the District has expensed over $13.3m in federal funds.
