LA JOYA ISD highlights state performance report, celebrates advancing soccer programs and staff recognitions

Board President Alvarez called the LA JOYA ISD Board of Managers to order for a regular meeting that opened with roll call and a public comment recognizing the district’s soccer programs.

Jose Pñena, described in the meeting as executive director of athletics, told the board he was “proud to congratulate the Lincoln Huskies and the Palm View High School Lobos on advancing to the regional semifinals” of the UIL state soccer playoffs and asked the community to support the teams as they travel to Corpus Christi.

The meeting then included the district’s required public presentation of the Texas Academic Performance Report. Dr. Derek Little told trustees the TAPR provides a final, lagged summary of 2023–24 results that the district posts on its website and that the district’s accreditation level for that period was an A. He also said the district’s College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) rate “is higher than region one and higher than the state,” reporting the district at 93.5% compared with the state at 81.8%.

Dr. Little also advised the board the state categorizes the district’s special-education services as “needs assistance,” and he said an update tied to a recent audit and a five-year improvement plan will be presented to the board in coming weeks. He invited questions and opened the public hearing; no public comments followed and he closed the hearing.

Later in the meeting the board recognized multiple staff groups. Dr. Little and Superintendent Dr. Sylvia Sorenson led acknowledgements for principals and campus teams selected for the Holtzsworth Center leadership cohort and for dozens of LA JOYA ISD educators who served on TEA educator committees. Chief Operations Officer SB Pearson and others recognized the purchasing department for National Procurement Month, child-nutrition staff for National School Breakfast Week, maintenance staff for maintenance appreciation, school social workers for National School Social Work Week, and athletic trainers for National Athletic Trainers Month. Several staff members were introduced by name during those recognitions.

The meeting concluded with the superintendent and trustees wishing the student-athletes well and noting the first day of STAR assessments scheduled for April 8. The consent agenda and several personnel items were approved by motion later in the meeting (see “Votes at a glance”).

The board adjourned at 9:36 p.m.