By Edmond Ortiz
Today’s rundown of San Antonio-area news briefs include the opening of a Helotes school-based general store run by agriculture students, and a San Antonio school district’s final decision to close a West Side campus.
Also, Converse rolls out a program for shelter animals, and two local organizations launch a program to keep together homeless individuals and their pets.
Northside ISD ag students man new Helotes general store
A newly opened, public-facing general store at O’Connor High School is being operated and stocked by students active in the Northside Independent School District’s agriculture program.
NISD hosted a Jan. 20 grand opening event at the general store, which is located inside a new, state-of-the-art district facility at the Helotes campus. The address is 12221 Leslie Road.
District representatives said the general store offers items such as steaks, ribs, sausage, jalapeño poppers, eggs, quail eggs, salsas, jams, flowers and candles.
Such items are processed and prepared by students who participate in NISD’s Agriculture Science and Technology Academy, which allows the pupils to experience the full farm-to-table process, from livestock processing to packaging and retail sales, district officials said.
NISD officials added that the store gives the agriculture program students hands-on experience in seeing how products derived from the farm reach consumers.
The general store will be open to the public most days from 4:30 to 6 p.m. weekdays, and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, depending upon school holidays and campus events.
San Antonio ISD trustees vote to close Carvajal Elementary School
The planned closure of Carvajal Elementary School is officially a done deal. The San Antonio Independent School District board unanimously voted Jan. 20 to shutter the 77-year-old West Side campus at the end of the current school year.
District officials cited decreasing student academic performance, and declining student enrollment in both the overall school population and the campus’ bilingual program.
Students in Carvajal’s monolingual program will be reassigned to Barkley-Ruiz Elementary School; students who want bilingual services will be switched to DeZavala Elementary School.
Carvajal parents who wish to send their child to another SAISD campus have until Feb. 16 to submit their option and information to the district.
The school board considered a vote to close Carvajal at its Jan. 12 meeting, but opted to wait until Jan. 20 to finish discussing the issue.
At both meetings, some community members complained that SAISD was rushing to close the campus out of fear of a state takeover due to low academic performance. Some residents urged the district to develop a modern campus for neighborhoods served by Carvajal Elementary.
Deputy Superintendent Patti Salzmann said at the Jan. 20 meeting that SAISD has $28.6 million available from its 2020 voter-approved bond to remake the campus, but for other community purposes that will be determined later.
Other attendees of the Jan. 20 meeting agreed that Carvajal’s closure, while painful for many community members, is necessary for SAISD to concentrate on issues elsewhere in the district.
Board President Alicia Sebastian said she understood the various concerns voiced by school staff, parents and other community members.
“We have many campuses and neighborhoods that are dealing with the same situations, and we want to make sure we’re in a position to deliver high quality education to the future of our learners,” she added.
San Antonio installs public needle disposal container
The city of San Antonio earlier in January installed a public container for the disposal of used needles at the intersection of North Santa Rosa and San Saba streets.
The installation was made possible through a collaboration with Corazón Ministries, District 1 City Councilmember Sukh Kaur said in a post on her official Facebook page.
According to Kaur, who represents the area in question, the red, specially marked container provides a safe, designated place for the disposal of used needles, and helps to prevent them from being left on sidewalks or improperly discarded in trash receptacles.
The container also has information about the Corazón Day Center and resource hub, including its location and operating hours. The day center is a place for people experiencing homelessness and at-risk individuals who need respite during the day.
Corazón offers various programs, such as helping to reduce isolation and overdose, and the incidence of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C among people affected by substance abuse.
Converse launches doggy day out program
Converse Animal Care started the new year with a new program, Tails for Trails, an initiative where community members may volunteer to take a shelter dog out for three to four hours away from the city’s animal shelter.
City officials said the program will help shelter animals get a short break from their usual surroundings and experience new sights, sounds and companionship.
Interested residents must be at least 18 years old, possess a valid driver’s license, and have access to a personal vehicle.
Participants are asked to avoid dog-to-dog introductions, and refrain from visiting any off-leash areas during the outing. More information is available at this link.
Partnership begins to help homeless pet owners
Haven for Hope and the Puppy Food Bank recently started a three-year partnership designed to help people experiencing homelessness hold onto their pets while they search for permanent housing.
According to an announcement from both local organizations, a Haven for Hope kennel can shelter a maximum of 22 dogs and 10 cats for unsheltered individuals who are actively looking for a permanent place to live. Those pet owners can also receive food and veterinary care for animals.
Officials from Haven for Home said many homelessness shelters do not accept animals, so this venture can help those unsheltered pet owners and their pets stay together when the individual is trying to make a positive transition in life.
