Two SAISD district leaders resign following โsystem failuresโ that led to school closures
Aquino said he accepted the resignations of Ken Thompson, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, and Mike Eaton, Chief of Operations but said the current situation stems from several issues โincluding aging infrastructure, system failures and being underfunded by the state.โ
SAISD considers closing campuses, presents โrightsizingโ study to parents, staff
San Antonio ISD is considering closing or consolidating some of its schools come next school year. While the district hasnโt finalized anything, it has conducted a โrightsizingโ study and is presenting it in a series of meetings for community members.
New security, dispatch system has San Antonio ISD police feeling prepared for new school year
As students return to the classroom, the priority is to keep them safe. School districts across the state are upgrading security measures, including San Antonio ISD, after a shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde left 21 dead.
San Antonio ISD holds mass COVID-19 vaccination event for all district employees
SAN ANTONIO โ Over the next two days, up to 5,000 San Antonio ISD employees will have the opportunity to get vaccinated, according to a news release from the district. The mass vaccination event, which will run through Tuesday, is due to a collaboration between the district and University Health. To date, the district has provided roughly 2,000 vaccinations to employees through collaborations with other health care agencies. Central office staff members are being scheduled on Tuesday, according to the news release. SAISD is providing school bus transportation to the vaccination clinic at Wonderland of the Americas Mall on both dates for staff.
Free COVID-19 tests for SAISD and Edgewood ISD students returning from spring break
SAN ANTONIO โ Community Labs is partnering with San Antonio-area school districts to provide free COVID-19 testing this weekend before students and staff return to class after spring break. Students and employees in the San Antonio and Edgewood school districts and their families can be tested at no charge and without proof of insurance. Edgewood ISDSaturday, 1-3 p.m.Edgewood Theatre of Performing Arts at 402 Lance St., 78237San Antonio ISDSaturday, 9 a.m. โ 12 p.m.Alamo Convocation Center, 110 Tuleta Dr, 78212Community Labs will resume its weekly testing at all SAISD and Edgewood school campuses beginning Tuesday, March 23. Click here for other places to get tested for COVID-19 in San Antonio. Also on KSAT:
COVID-19 testing to be provided Saturday for San Antonio ISD students, staff
SAN ANTONIO โ COVID-19 testing will be provided at San Antonio Independent School Districtโs high school campuses Saturday. Community Labs will provide the testing in a response to a request from San Antonio ISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez. According to Community Labsโ release, testing is restricted to SAISD students and staff. The free testing will allow the district to identify positive cases before classes resume Monday, according to Community Labs. We will finish this year strong, and we will begin next school year even stronger for it.โClick here to register for testing.
These San Antonio-area schools, colleges announce changes, closures
SAN ANTONIO โ Following last weekโs icy conditions and power outages, schools are still announcing changes and closures this week. Great Hearts San Antonio Schools - Classes expected to resume on Monday, Feb. 22. Premier High School San Antonio Windcrest - Classes resuming on Monday, Feb. 22. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD - All SCUC ISD campuses will be open on Monday, Feb. 22 for both In Person and at-home learning. South San ISD - South San ISD campuses and offices will be closed through Friday.
COVID-19 cases on the rise in Bexar County schools, data shows
Northside ISD reported 191 student and 161 staff cumulative cases in the stateโs last report for the week ending on Nov. 15. Staff cases went from 17 new cases in the Nov. 1-8 report to 44 new staff cases from Nov. 8-15. The state failed to add the districtโs data for Nov. 8, but the NEISD website shows 15 new student cases and 17 new staff cases. The district reported 183 student cases and 49 staff cumulative cases on Nov. 15. NEISD reported 15 new student cases and 17 new staff cases for this period.
San Antonio ISD students spread kindness in honor of World Kindness Day
SAN ANTONIO โ Despite all that has happened so far in 2020, and with the global pandemic spiking once more across the nation, some people are taking a little extra time to be kind to one another in honor of World Kindness Day. This includes some of the youngest learners at San Antonio ISD. Students at the Nelson Early Childhood Education Center celebrated World Kindness Day this week by exchanging thank-you cards and bouquets with their classmates, the district said in a social media post. Our youngest learners at Nelson Early Childhood Education Center celebrated World Kindness Day this week! Whether itโs World Kindness Day or not, itโs good to step out of your comfort zone and show a random act of kindness to those around you.
Southside ISD facing substitute teacher shortage amid COVID-19 pandemic
SAN ANTONIO โ Southside Independent School District is struggling to find substitute teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharon Fuery, executive director of human resources and administration at Southside ISD, said there are several reasons substitute teachers are not returning this year. Northside ISD, Northeast ISD and San Antonio ISD said the substitute teacher shortage is not impacting their districts. North East ISD said it is always in need of substitute teachers and advertises for them year-round. San Antonio ISD said it is aware of the nationwide substitute teachers shortages, but it is not impacting its district.
โItโs such a monumental turn': SAISD alumnus says National Coming Out Day is important for students
SAN ANTONIO โ Michael Alvarez was disappointed when he learned San Antonio ISD recommended its principals not promote National Coming Out Day. Alvarez graduated from Burbank High School in 2019 and is now a sophomore at UT Austin. Alvarez struggled throughout high school but eventually found the courage to come out to his family when he went to college. He described high school as a pivotal time, especially for LGBTQ students, and he hopes the district will recognize that. RELATED: โOur rights are at riskโ: Texas rule allowing social workers to turn away LGBTQ+ clients, people with disabilities draws criticism
South San ISD delays next move phase-in process after positivity rate rises in Bexar County
SAN ANTONIO โ South San Antonio Independent School District is delaying its next move in its phase-in process since the COVID-19 positivity rate in Bexar County is now over 5% again. And we always knew that if the data showed a higher risk, that we would adjust their schedule,โ said Jenny Suniga Collier, public information officer of South San ISD. Metro Health currently deems the school risk moderate, a week after it was considered low because the positivity rate rose above the 5% benchmark in a matter of days. San Antonio ISD said it also would not allow more students in classrooms. District officials are waiting for local health data to show a positivity rate of 5% or less for two weeks.
NEISD, NISD to allow more students to return to campus Monday
SAN ANTONIO โ More students will be returning to the classroom Monday at North East ISD and Northside ISD campuses, school officials said Wednesday. Only students whose parents or guardians previously signed up for in-person learning for the second grading period will be allowed to return to the classroom. Parents can still keep their children in virtual learning, and they may change learning environments for them every four weeks. Once the new students are back on campus, they must wear masks, wash their hands and practice social distancing. Northside ISD also plans to accept new students Monday for in-person learning.
โI canโt go back to campus': SAISD teachers fearful of returning to classrooms next week
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio ISD notified teachers who have been teaching remotely that they must return to campuses next week. Catherine Brendel is a teacher at Highland Hills Elementary School and she has taught there for five years. โNever thought I would have to make a decision on teaching or my life," Brendel said. This week, the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District announced more students can return to classroom as long as CDC guidelines are followed. SAISD has received approximately 125 work modification requests from teachers and they say they are carefully reviewing each of them.
SAISD to phase athletics back in after COVID-19 delay
According to the district, team practices will officially begin only for varsity teams in football, volleyball, cross country and tennis on Oct. 12. These dates are subject to change if COVID-19 conditions head in a negative direction, district officials said. A district spokesperson said updated schedules for fall sports will be posted on the SAISD website early next week. All other teams below varsity will remain in the strength and conditioning phase until further notice. The Young Menโs Leadership Academy (YMLA) will only play two varsity football games since they are a 4A school.
Five things you need to know before heading to high school football games
If you are feeling fine and plan on going to a game, here are five things you need to be aware of:1. Many school districts have gone to online ticketing as a way to keep track of the number of fans in the stands. Fans will be able to enjoy some of the staples of high school football games: nachos, popcorn, soft drinks. โPeople will be hearing announcements coming over like during timeouts and change of possession and things like that,โ Parker said. To keep up with the latest on high school football, check out Big Game Coverage.
Nearly 4,500 COVID-19 cases reported in Texas public schools
of State Health Services and the Texas Education Agency released its first set of numbers Thursday for confirmed COVID-19 cases in public schools across the state. The total count of on-campus staff cases during the same period is 2,175 confirmed cases out of just over 800,000. Greg Abbott expands business capacity, keeps bars closedLast month, the TEA and state health department collaborated to create a new system to monitor and report confirmed cases across Texas. School systems started to report confirmed cases to state health officials this month. The San Antonio Metro Health Department initially required Bexar County school districts to report positive cases on the districtsโ websites.
San Antonio ISD delays all in-person athletics to early October
SAN ANTONIO The San Antonio Independent School District has delayed all in-person athletics until the first week of October, sources told KSAT-12 early Tuesday morning. The district issued a statement Tuesday afternoon that read:At this time, SAISD Athletics will remain 100% virtual due to the uncertain COVID-19 circumstances in and around Bexar County. SAISD will push its start dates back to early October, but district officials indicated the start date could be sooner if COVID-19 conditions in Bexar County continue to improve. Memorial and Kennedys football teams compete in the same district with SAISD schools. YMLA is a 4A school that has not been allowed to start practice due to the current schools mandate in Bexar County.
SAISD calls for $1.3 billion bond election
SAN ANTONIO The San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees voted Monday to call for a $1.3 billion bond election in November. Two separate propositions will appear on the November ballot one on renovations, and the other on technological advancements. The decision to call for the election followed recommendations from the community-based Blue Ribbon Task Force as part of the districts long-range master plan. Taxpayers would not see a tax rate increase from the bond, according to a news release from the school district. Proposition A, which is $1.21 billion, would address renovation needs for 36 campuses, provide safety upgrades and replace air conditioning chillers that are more than 15 years old.
San Antonio ISD superintendent says staff is prepared for virtual start to school year
SAN ANTONIO Some of the largest school districts in and around San Antonio are set to start their academic year this week, even if the first three weeks will be virtual. With classes beginning online for the first three weeks, if the COVID-19 cases in San Antonio continues on a downward trend after that, some students may be able to return to the classroom. We will require masks, we have cleansing procedures, disinfecting procedures, as well as children washing their hands every hour. We will be there in our buildings, will be open for any needs you have with devices for you to registering children, Martinez said. Read also:350 JBSA children receive donated backpacks, school supplies from Operation HomefrontSan Antonio-area teachers share expectations for the upcoming school yearNavarro ISD sees increase in COVID-19 cases among students, staffStudents, staff at San Antonio ISD must wear masks, district officials say
UT athletes want part of stadium renamed for San Antonio football legend
SAN ANTONIO University of Texas Longhorns football players and other student athletes shared a statement on Friday requesting several changes geared toward supporting black students and one of the requests has a direct San Antonio connection. He was a San Antonio native and graduated from Highlands High School in 1969. He is considered to be one of the greatest football players ever from the San Antonio area. For those who do not know, Julius Whittier, the first black UT football letterman, is from @HighlandsOwls in San Antonio. Other calls to action include increasing outreach efforts to inner-city schools in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston.