La Vernia ISD approves to phase out dual-language program




The La Vernia Independent School District (ISD) will phase out its dual-language program for grades 2-5 over a four-year period, following a decision Feb. 23 by district trustees.

The program will not accept any new enrollments after the current school year. Students currently enrolled who complete the program will be allowed to earn a Spanish 1 high school credit.

School board members Jeff Towns, Ryan Doege, Nancy Janysek, Joel D. Goode, Cynthia Buerkle, Shawn Strey, and Drew Herley heard parent Kim Shrum express her support for continuing the intermediate and primary dual-language program, prior to making their decision.

School board members also heard from Jeremy Deck, the district’s director of maintenance and operations, who provided an update on damage campuses sustained during the severe winter weather in mid-February.

Deck advised district facilities experienced numerous waterline breaks, flooding, and other equipment damage as a result of the freezing and sub-freezing temperatures. The list of necessary repairs and problems included roof leaks, damage to a fire sprinkler system and air handler coils, and more.

Also related to the weather emergency, trustees approved to pay district employees for hours lost due to the schools remaining closed Feb. 15-19.

In other matters, the school board approved:
•Parent Teacher Organization donations of $3,452 for an ice maker in the Primary School teachers lounge and $2,000 for extra costs associated with the purchase of a shade cover
•To issue a series 2012 unlimited tax bond
•To replace four school buses at an upfront cost of $415,032, less $295,200 from a TxVEMP grant, for a $120,632 total cost share.

Also discussed was La Vernia’s interlocal agreement with the Floresville ISD’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program. The program, trustees heard, is not meeting La Vernia ISD’s expectations; no action was taken and the matter will be revisited at the next regular meeting.

The board also discussed replacing the stadium scoreboard, various roof repairs, remediating the sound of the intermediate campus chiller, and roof and foundation repairs on the high school building
COVID case numbers in the district are down, trustees were told, with only four current cases as of Feb. 23 and 20 individuals in active quarantine due to close contact.