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February 16, 2023
Next school year academic calendar approved; Bandera ISD trustees approve Bond Election contract for May
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
Bandera ISD trustees unanimously approved the 2023-24 school calendar. The academic calendar, presented during trustees’ regular board meeting on Monday, starts the next school year on Thursday, Aug. 10, and ends May 23, 2024.
A few new holidays include a Oct. 6-10 Fall Break, and a solar eclipse holiday on April 8, 2024. Extra hours have been incorporated to accommodate bad weather days and other emergencies.
Trustees also approved a Bond Election contract with Bandera County. On Jan. 9, Bandera ISD trustees ordered a $79,491,416 bond election to be held May 6. The bond, if approved by voters, will fund numerous proposed projects including improved campus safety, a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center and Bandera multi-purpose facility, new HVAC systems at Alkek and Hill Country Elementaries, and overall district-wide maintenance.
Because neither the county nor the city has an election scheduled for May, the district election will stand alone. BISD Assistant Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Michael Neuman said some changes have been incorporated into the county’s standard contract, including eliminating the Medina annex location, and holding a Saturday voting day during the early voting period.
“Having a Saturday for early voting is crucial,” BISD Superintendent Gary Bitzkie said.
Neuman said he estimated the cost of the election would range between $40,000 and $45,000.
In other business, BISD Director of Operations Dayle Heiner reported the Alkek Elementary and Bandera High School campuses passed safety inspections. He said no findings were found at either location. More than 60 exterior doors were inspected at the high school, and all opened, shut and locked properly.
“Everybody is staying on their toes and being very diligent,” Heiner said, adding teachers help with maintenance by observing and reporting any issues immediately.
Trustees also unanimously approved $37,987 to purchase and install a digital camera system at Alkek Elementary.
A few new holidays include a Oct. 6-10 Fall Break, and a solar eclipse holiday on April 8, 2024. Extra hours have been incorporated to accommodate bad weather days and other emergencies.
Trustees also approved a Bond Election contract with Bandera County. On Jan. 9, Bandera ISD trustees ordered a $79,491,416 bond election to be held May 6. The bond, if approved by voters, will fund numerous proposed projects including improved campus safety, a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center and Bandera multi-purpose facility, new HVAC systems at Alkek and Hill Country Elementaries, and overall district-wide maintenance.
Because neither the county nor the city has an election scheduled for May, the district election will stand alone. BISD Assistant Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Michael Neuman said some changes have been incorporated into the county’s standard contract, including eliminating the Medina annex location, and holding a Saturday voting day during the early voting period.
“Having a Saturday for early voting is crucial,” BISD Superintendent Gary Bitzkie said.
Neuman said he estimated the cost of the election would range between $40,000 and $45,000.
In other business, BISD Director of Operations Dayle Heiner reported the Alkek Elementary and Bandera High School campuses passed safety inspections. He said no findings were found at either location. More than 60 exterior doors were inspected at the high school, and all opened, shut and locked properly.
“Everybody is staying on their toes and being very diligent,” Heiner said, adding teachers help with maintenance by observing and reporting any issues immediately.
Trustees also unanimously approved $37,987 to purchase and install a digital camera system at Alkek Elementary.