We take great pride in planning for the future of our schools and take even more pride in making certain that our students will be successful–not only during their journey with us–but also while they make their journey as college students.
The success of our students is important to all of us, and for this reason, we have been planning innovative programs to recruit and retain students. We are excited to announce that we will be proposing plans for the repurposing of Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. Elementary and designating that school as a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Academy. The campus will serve elementary students enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade.
We are committed to addressing and focusing on the educational needs of our students and as such, we are receptive to opening the doors to those that may have previously left our district.
STEAM serves as an educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. Students enrolled in these programs become innovators, educators, leaders, and learners of the 21st Century.
Our plan is to expose these students to these opportunities so that they are able to compete and become successful when they enroll in college. There is a high demand for individuals that specialize in these fields, and the proposed STEAM academy would provide students with innovative instruction and hands-on learning opportunities and specialized instruction in the areas of robotics, drones, computers and tablets.
Our Board of Trustees will hold two public hearings–the first one on Wednesday, January 24, at 6:00 PM at Dr. Raul Garza, Jr. Elementary and the second one on Thursday, January 25, at 6:00 PM at Landrum Elementary. Parents and members of the public are invited to attend. Board action on this proposed plan is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, February 13.
We extend an invitation to you, and we hope you can join us to learn more about these innovative plans!