La Feria ISD Trustees Honor LFHS UIL District Champs

Updated: April 15, 2013

School Board Trustees congratulate the honorees at a recent La Feria Board meeting

The La Feria Independent School District Board of Trustees held its latest regular meeting this past Monday, April 8th. Immediately following the call to order, prayer, pledge and approval of previous meeting’s minutes, Interim Superintendent Robert Rivera began the meeting with a “Superintendent Celebration” – a way to congratulate and recognize the achievements of members of the La Feria School District. This particular celebration was to recognize the La Feria high school students that competed at the 2013 UIL Academic District Competition, bringing home 1st place trophies in almost all events as well as a District Champions nod for La Feria for the fourth year in a row. Twenty two students will go on to compete in regional competition later this month as a result. The board awarded the students in attendance with certificates commemorating their accomplishments and each student went around the boardroom to receive a congratulatory handshake from each of the proud board members.

The next agenda item was a presentation on La Feria Academy by Principal Carlos Verduzco highlighting activities and student accomplishments at La Feria Academy, with comparisons in regard to previous years.
Open forum for the meeting saw a passionate plea from Board Trustee Gloria Casas to consider beefing up security at all La Feria school campuses in light of the rash of school shootings that had occurred in the past year on a national level as well as a reevaluation of what kind of counseling services and outreach are available to students after the recent suicide deaths of two teens in the past year.

LFISD Board President Juan Briones congratulates Gilbert Prado II for his Best Actor award

Afterward, a report of the current status of the La Feria ISD combined statement of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balances budget was presented. The report showed the ISD presently working within budget with a modest surplus of funds. This was followed by a report on the 2012-2013 Senior Class. Out of 188 seniors at La Feria High School, it was reported that 20 were at risk to not graduate. Out of 43 seniors at the Academy, 31 students are in jeopardy of not graduating. Many of the at- risk students either lack TAKS tests or are failing a class. These numbers could certainly change as the students complete needed deficiencies before the end of the school year or during the summer months.

The last information item on the agenda was a discussion of facility needs at the C.E. Vail and Academy campuses. A presentation by George Lazaro of Fulcrum Consulting outlined the needs at both campuses with a suggestion to pursue funding through the USDA Community Facilities Grant Program, the same program the City of La Feria is currently using for the sidewalk restoration project and the library expansion.

Next, a purchase order for over $25,000 was approved by the school board for a food service line remodeling project and a discussion on bids received for property struck off to Cameron County ending with a resolution approving a bid received on the tax resale of said property.

Finally, a decision to select a Superintendent search consultant was made before the board of trustees moved to closed session. The next regular meeting of the La Feria Independent School District Board of Trustees will be held Monday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. in the Central Administration Office at 203 Oleander Ave. Meetings are open to the public.