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February • March 2015 “Meet Dr. Puig,” continued on page 6

WeatherMake-Up Day *

February 2• NO CLASSES •

Spring Break *

March 16-20• NO CLASSES •

* San Benito CISD Administration Offices will be CLOSED

Meet our new Superintendent of Schools ...

Dr. Marc a. PuigSuperintendent of Schools

Dr. Marc A. Puig brings vast experience to the top position, having previously worked as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and most recently, as the superintendent of schools at Culberson County-Allamoore ISD.

Having spent seven years in the corporate world as an account executive, research analyst, and project manager for a national marketing firm based

in Fort Worth, Texas, enables Dr. Puig to offer a “hybrid background,” combining both business and education experience to the superintendency position.

Among his career accomplishments, Dr. Puig earned the Region 18 Superintendent of the Year Award and his Board of Trustees earned recognition as a 2014 Texas Honor Board, one of only five districts in the state to earn this distinction. While employed as a principal in Dallas ISD, Dr. Puig led a Texas Education Agency “exemplary” campus. Academically, Dr. Puig’s groundbreaking research in the area of public school governance and student achievement earned him the Outstanding Dissertation of the Year Award from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Dr. Puig serves as a mentor superintendent for the Texas Association of School Administrators Learning for Leadership Program. He is a registered provider of board training

credit through the Texas E d u c a t i o n Agency. He has made n u m e r o u s presentations s t a t e w i d e , conduct ing wo rks h o ps on how to e s t a b l i s h s t r a t e g i c

San Benito CISD240 N. Crockett StreetSan Benito, TX 78586

www.sbcisd.net

2014-2015BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Arnold PadillaPresident

Hector G. LealVice-President

Oscar MedranoSecretary

Anna CruzYliana GonzálezFatima HuertaAngel Mendez

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Marc A. PuigSuperintendent of Schools

Emma McCallBusiness Manager

SAN BENITO CISDSTAFF UPDATE

“San Benito CISD Staff Update” is an online publication for and about SBCISD employees.

News items for this publication may be submitted to the Community Relations Office/ KSBG TV 17. You may also call (956) 276-6030.

Informational items may also be submitted via electronic mail to clongoria@sbcisd.net or icgonzalez@sbcisd.net.

EditorCelia Longoria

ReportersIsabel C. González

Celia Longoria

PhotographersIsabel C. González

Celia LongoriaJose Ramos

Layout DesignIsabel C. González

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CONGRATULATIONS!Dr. Marc A. Puig, San Benito CISD

Superintendent of Schools, received the 2014 Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration (TCPEA) “Outstanding Dissertation Award” at a recent TCPEA Conference. Dr. Puig had earned a similar award at the university level in May.

This TCPEA award recognizes an exceptional doctoral-level dissertation that expands the knowledge of educational administration at the postsecondary or K-20 levels.

Designed to recognize outstanding research of graduate students, the award serves to encourage professors and early scholars to join TCPEA.

Congratulations, Dr. Puig!San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc A. Puig, third from left, is shown at the Texas Council of Professors of Educational Administration presentation. Joining him are, from left, Dr. Stacey L. Edmonson, Executive Director of TCPEA; Dr. Puig’s wife, Kelly Puig, and Dr. Marlene Zipperlen, Dissertation Chair, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

The Superintendent’s Scoop!Fiscal Health

As the district’s Superintendent of Schools, it is ultimately my responsibility to ensure that the district is financially stable and that our campuses and departments are operating within their budgeted means.

On Tuesday, February 10, during the regular board meeting, I presented an update to the Board of Trustees regarding the district’s current state of affairs as it relates to budgets, enrollments, personnel and curriculum and

instruction-related matters, among others.Included in that report, is a five-year trend that shows the district’s fund balance,

starting with the 2009-2010 school year and ending with the 2013-2014 school year (please see graph on right).

There are several factors that have contributed towards the notable decline in the fund balance over the five-year period. These are a direct result of a decline in enrollment, the district’s self-insured health plan and staffing decisions.

Cost-savings total over $1 millionAs the school district’s leader, I am working diligently with my team, including

our board members, and together, we have already taken the swift action of

“The Superintendent’s Scoop!” continued on page 3

Dr. Marc A. PuigSuperintendent of Schools

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“The Superintendent’s Scoop!” continued from page 2

implementing cost-saving measures. It’s important to note that since January 5, while working collaboratively with district staff and trustees, the

district has already realized a savings totaling over $1,047,690. This is due to personnel resignations totaling $592,425.38, retirement of personnel totaling $364,987.35 and separation of personnel totaling $90,277.72.

I realize that as taxpayers, you have every reason to be concerned about how the school district is spending “your” money, as these are funds that you, the taxpayer, have entrusted us with.

As a district, we must be accountable to the taxpayer. And I assure you that from this point on, we will painstakingly monitor budgets and implement the necessary cost-savings measures similar to the ones we have already begun. I vow to keep the public and the community informed on a regular basis regarding the district’s financial progress by presenting these reports periodically.

Vision for Stonewall JacksonWe have a vision of partnering with the City of San Benito! My team and I recently presented the

Stonewall Jackson proposal to the San Benito Housing Authority Board of Directors. We want our students to obtain the best educational opportunities here in San Benito, and this proposal served as a “vision” for our children’s future. We simply presented this proposal for future discussion and consideration.

We took advantage of this opportunity to present our proposal so that, together, we can all envision what this remarkable project can potentially offer our children, our district and our community in the very near future.

It’s important to note that not once did we indicate that San Benito CISD had any intentions of “purchasing” this building. Please note: we don’t want to talk about money right now, as that’s always an easy excuse. Keep in mind that there are alternate funding sources, such as grants, that are available for these types of programs. So, money is the least of the barriers.

In short, we need to dream BIG and actually DO for the children of San Benito. Innovating for our children drives this vision. Believe me, our students and parents are depending us to create exciting educational opportunities in the Resaca City.

I feel compelled to remind the community that we already have outstanding programs being offered to our students, such as providing them with higher education opportunities, including dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment classes.

Students in our district also take advantage of a plethora of class offerings via the Career and Technical Education Program, which offer students certification in various areas of career interests. The Stonewall Jackson proposal – the Hospitality Instruction Hotel – would provide students with similar opportunities in their chosen field of study. These programs would assist us in continuing our efforts to attract students to our district, thus increasing our enrollment.

In closing, I look forward to serving you as the district’s leader. There remains much work to do in the area of improving test scores and overall curriculum delivery. This will take time. But trust me, if we truly work together, will accomplish great things for the children of San Benito.

My vision is to make San Benito CISD the “premiere” district not only in the Rio Grande Valley, but also in the entire state of Texas!

“We are here for children! We are here to serve!

Thank you for all that you do for ALL of our children!”Dr. Marc A. PuigSuperintendent of Schools

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Dr. Puig addresses staffat State of the District event

San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc A. Puig addressed staff members at the State of the District event, where he provided a motivational speech, encouraging staff members to “go the extra mile!”

SAN

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15 St

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Members of the San Benito High School

Estudiantiana, under the direction of instructor Albert Ortiz, provided

lively entertainment during the State of the

District assembly.

During his speech, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc A. Puig thanked staff members for their years of service and loyalty to the district.

Juan Manuel Gonzales, left, an assistant principal at San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy, joined Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marc A. Puig on stage during a segment of Dr. Puig’s State of the District address.

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SAN

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San Benito CISD colleagues,

I am incredibly honored to serve as Superintendent of Schools for San Benito CISD! I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to each and every one of you for your warm and sincere welcome. I am greatly touched by your kind and encouraging words.

I am a teacher first. I am here on special assignment as the superintendent. It is an honor to serve the children of this district. Just like you are counting on me to provide leadership, I am counting on you to contribute your experience and your talents so that together, we can work diligently to make this the best district ever!

Please know that as the district’s new leader, I apply for my job daily. I trust that all of our staff members will do the same. With that said, we must apply ourselves by being:

FAST This means being on time, on task and on a mission! We arrive early and we lead by example!

FRIENDLY We must have a positive attitude!

FOCUSED We must have a good understanding of our goals by being goal-driven and people-driven.

FLEXIBLE This mean we must be prepared to assist our partners, our co-workers and others because we are here to serve!

FEARLESS We must have the courage to lead and get things done!

FAIR It is extremely important to treat everyone fairly.

FUN! We must all have some fun creating a new future for our students!

During my employment here, I will make a commitment to go the extra mile. I encourage all of our amazing staff members to cherish the opportunity that we have been given by serving this district to the best of our ability.

In closing, I urge all of our staff members to serve with passion, energy, and dependability. Let’s all join forces to make a difference in the lives of the over 11,000 students that we serve daily. Seeing them become lifelong learners and successful later in life is our ultimate reward. In the end, simply knowing that we were there to help them every step of the way will make this “lifetime of learning” journey a much more meaningful one for all of us!

Sincerely,Dr. Marc A. PuigSuperintendent of Schools

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“Meet Dr. Puig,” continued from page 1

The San Benito CISDAdministration Offices will be

CLOSEDMarch 16-20, 2015,

for the Spring Break holiday.

The offices will reopen at 7:30 AM on March 23.

board-superintendent relations, curriculum policy, and visioning.

Most recently, Dr. Puig received an invitation to present at the 2015 National School Boards Association Conference in Nashville on the topic, “School Board Influence on Student Outcomes.”

Dr. Puig earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington. In May 2014, he completed his doctorate in education degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Dr. Puig and his wife, Kelly, have a lively basset hound named Flash Jackson.

Improving your experienceat the San Benito CISD Clinic

Following are a few ways through which you can improve your experience at the health clinic:

· Be on time – If you have an appointment, be at the clinic 10 minutes prior to your appointment

· Make an appointment – The clinic usually has openings for the next day, or two days out.

· Call ahead – If you have to be seen immediately, call the clinic so that they can work you into the schedule. Walking in without an appointment will not ensure that you will be seen right away, as others have made an appointment that they must abide by. Calling before walking in will allow them to better serve you and address your concerns.

· Tell the clinic staff what you need – Appointment times are based on what you tell the clinic staff, help them determine the time they can allocate for each patient.

· Tell the clinic staff how many people are coming – If more than one person needs to be seen, tell them because each person will need their own appointment block on the schedule. This will allow them to allocate enough time for everybody.

· Monitor your prescriptions – Watch your prescriptions and call the clinic for an appointment at least a week before you run out of medicine.

· Medical referrals – If you need a referral, make an appointment.

· Be patient – If you are waiting, it is because they are giving a sick person the attention they need. They will give you the same attention.

If you practice all of the above, you will help your clinic and its providers stay on time during the day.

San Benito CISD Clinic2001 Utex Drive • San Benito, Texas 78586

(956) 361-6429

Do you have San Benito CISDstaff-related news to share?

Submit staff-related news items and/or photosfor this online publication

to the Community Relations Office.

Celia Longoria Isabel C. González clongoria@sbcisd.net icgonzalez@sbcisd.net

Welcome, Dr. Puig!

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San Benito CISD Board of TrusteesMembers of the 2014/2015 Board of Trustees are (seated, l-r) Secretary Oscar Medrano; President Arnold Padilla; Vice-President Hector G. Leal; (back) Angel Mendez, Anna Cruz, Fatima Huerta, and Yliana González.

We thank you foryour servant leadership!

We thank youfor your dedication

to public education!

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San Benito CISD’s Flamenco Ensemble, formerly known as Flamenco Quartet

San Benito CISD’s Flamenco Quartet made their debut in December 2011, under the direction of instructor and accomplished musician Jorge Mascorro. The students in original group had previously enrolled in the classical guitar program, introduced in 2009 under the direction of Albert Ortiz, another accomplished musician who currently serves as classical guitar instructor and sponsor for the school district’s Estudiantina.

The Flamenco group, comprised of original members from San Benito High School, including Matthew Mancillas, Eric Ramirez, Enrique Reta and Brandon Ontiveros, was widely accepted by local students and the general public. The “second generation” quartet released their first CD containing 10 songs in January 2013.

This unique group has since grown to include performers from both San Benito High School and San Benito Veterans Memorial Academy campuses. The group performs songs featuring a distinct style of flamenco music. The group is the only one known to exist, not only in the entire Rio Grande Valley, but also in the State

of Texas and in the United States, according to Mascorro.Mascorro is a native of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon Mexico, where he

studied classical guitar performance in the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes under teachers of internationally acclaimed stars, such as Spaniard Angel Romero and the Cuban Leo Brouwer, among others. He began working as a guitar instructor for San Benito CISD in 2010.

Mascorro and Ortiz have been instrumental in helping students win top awards at University Interscholastic League competitions.

Through Mascorro’s instruction, the highly talented performers have received special invitations

to perform at various local and state events.Today, the classical guitar program continues to grow every year and now includes instruction to middle

school students provided by both Mascorro and Ortiz.

For more information about the Flamenco Ensemble please contact instructor Jorge

Mascorro at the San Benito High School Band Department at 956-361-6460 or via

email at jmmedrano@sbcisd.net.

Albert Ortiz

Jorge Mascorro

The district's Flamenco Ensemble, under the instruction of Jorge Mascorro, poses for a photo with San Benito CISD Superintendent of Schools Marc A. Puig.

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An important message about lockdown proceduresin case of a San Benito CISD emergency In light of the districtwide lockdown that our school district recently experienced, we would like to inform parents, the community and the public in general about the importance of keeping everyone safe and free of harm’s way during an emergency

and/or potential crisis. I encourage you to carefully review the following information regarding the types of notification codes, safety procedures, and notification process implemented should an emergency and/or potential threat or crisis occur in the vicinity of a school which may endanger the safety of the students and staff.

What codes are used for the notifications?San Benito CISD uses the following codes for notifications during an emergency and/or when a threat or crisis arises:

Code Red – Armed intruder/individual on campus or nearbyCode Blue – Medical emergency on campusCode Green – Lost child or runawayCode Yellow – Severe or dangerous weatherCode Black – Bomb threatCode SOS – Fight

What does the term “lockdown” mean?This procedure (Code Red) is activated when law enforcement officers are searching for a suspect near a school or when an intruder invades a campus.

Why is it necessary for schools to activate a lockdown?If an emergency situation occurring in the vicinity of a school endangers student safety, the school may be placed under lockdown. Whenever a threat arises, schools are the focus of heightened attention for Police and local authorities. Although such measures may seem extreme, they have proven effective to make sure students are safe.

What happens when lockdown procedures are activated?All doors, windows, classrooms and administrative offices are locked. Students and staff remain in their classrooms or offices. No one, including parents, will be allowed to exit or enter the school until the police authorities give the “all clear” message.

When a lockdown is activated, what should parents do?If a lockdown were to be implemented, parents should:

· Remain calm as school and local authorities manage the situation.· The school district will send an automated telephone message to

keep parents informed.· If a lockdown lasts for an extended period of time, or goes

beyond dismissal time, students will not be allowed to leave until recommended by the appropriate authorities. School staff will attempt to notify parents by phone.

“Lockdown procedures,” continued on page 10

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· Once it is determined to be safe to do so, parents may be required to pick up children from school or another designated staging area.

· Parents may be required to present identification.· The reunification location will be given to parents over the phone, if possible, and will always be

publicized to the media.· School officials will work with the district’s transportation department regarding bus transport.· Students and parents are reminded that during an emergency situation, cellular sites may be

overwhelmed due to a high volume of calls. It is critical that text messaging and cell phone use be kept to a minimum so that emergency services have priority to assist the students and staff on the site.

Crisis TrainingCampus administrators and staff members have been trained according to San Benito CISD’s crisis procedures to help prepare our schools in the event of an actual crisis.

Are routine drills conducted at campuses?San Benito CISD campuses conduct drills, such as lockdown drills and fire drills. Staff members receive training regularly.

How can I ensure I am receiving important messages?Please update contact information with your child’s school. The automated phone messaging system will alert parents using the phone number on file with the school.

Where can parents check for updates?The district will post “official” and “factual” information to the district’s web page (www.sbcisd.net) and official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/sbcisd), via KSBG-TV 17, and through the local news media.

How else will parents be informed?If the event warrants, a letter will be sent home with students informing parents about the incident/situation. The district places great emphasis on communicating with our parents, and as such, we will do our best to keep parents informed about major incidents as quickly as possible.

Maintaining Control of RumorsDuring a school crisis, please DO NOT BELIEVE “rumors” that you may hear via social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, etc. The school district will keep parents updated with the district’s automated phone messaging system, via the district’s website and Facebook page, on KSBG-TV 17, and through the local news media.

An Important Reminder to Parents!Please remind your children about the importance of being alert, avoiding strangers, and reporting suspicious behavior, activities or rumors to adults on campus.

Your cooperation is extremely critical, especially during a crisis. Thank you in advance for your partnership in ensuring the safety and welfare our students and staff.

Sincerely,Dr. Marc A. PuigSuperintendent of Schools

“Lockdown procedures,” continued from page 9

The San Benito Consolidated Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its employment practices in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. • Es norma del Distrito Escolar de San Benito no discriminar por motivos de raza, religión, color, origen nacional, sexo, impedimento o edad, en sus procedimientos de empleo, tal como lo requieren el Titulo VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964, según enmienda; el Titulo IX de las Enmiendas en la Educación de 1972; la Ley de Discriminación por Edad de 1975, según enmienda; y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, según enmienda.

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District Special Events

February 1-28 National African-American History MonthFebruary 2-6 National School Counseling WeekMarch 1-31 Music In Our Schools MonthMarch 1-31 National Nutrition MonthMarch 1-31 Women’s History MonthMarch 2-6 Texas Public Schools WeekMarch 2-6 National School Breakfast WeekMarch 3 Reception for Student ArtistsMarch 8 Daylight Saving Time BeginsMarch 16-20 Spring Break

Daylight Savings Time begins

at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 8

... don’t forget to set

your clocks forward

one hour!

March 2-6thLet’s Celebrate!

San Benito CISD will observe this year’s Celebrate Texas Public Schools (CTPS) campaign March 2-6, 2015.

The CTPS campaign encourages public schools throughout the State of Texas to celebrate producing Texas’ greatest resources – successful students and the leaders of tomorrow!

The following local schedule will be observed for Open House activities:

• Monday, March 2 - Elementary Campuses• Tuesday, March 3 - Middle School Campuses• Thursday, March 5 - Secondary/Alternative Campuses Visit our local schools and witness the many exciting

educational opportunities given to our students!

Reception foR Student ARtiStS Tuesday, March 3 at 6 PM

John F. Barron Administration Building

The amazing artwork of San Benito CISD students from all grade levels is currently being showcased

at the John F. Barron Administration Building.

Join us in viewing the artworkand congratulating our talented artists!