Education
ELECTION PREVIEW: Voters in Comal, Northside, San Antonio ISDs face bond proposals
By Edmond Ortiz Voters living in three San Antonio-area school districts will mull a combined $2 billion-plus in bond proposals as they cast a ballot in the Nov. 3 elections. What you should know Comal Independent School District is floating a two-proposition, $567 million bond package. Comal ISD officials said there is enough bonding capacity…
ELECTION PREVIEW: 5 school districts seek voters’ help with taxes amid funding struggles
By Edmond Ortiz Voters in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District last fall narrowly rejected the district’s then-proposed property tax increase. SCUCISD residents who had organized to promote the tax proposal were disappointed but learned their lessons well enough to approach things differently upon campaigning for the school district’s bond package that went before local…
ELECTION PREVIEW: Political upstarts pursue 4 Edgewood ISD board seats
By Edmond Ortiz Edgewood Independent School District voters have a full slate of candidates to consider in the district’s Nov. 3 board election. A community-wide sense of dissatisfaction with current district leadership has prompted several parents and political newcomers to challenge the sitting trustees who are on the ballot. Place 1 Incumbent and current board…
UTSA unveils basketball, volleyball training center
By Edmond Ortiz UT San Antonio leaders, students, coaches and special guests gathered Oct. 14 to celebrate the opening of UTSA’s newest athletic training venue on the main North Side campus. What is happening The $35 million, 53,048-square-foot basketball and volleyball training center now houses the daily operations of UTSA’s volleyball and men’s and women’s…
UT San Antonio aerospace doctorate opens path to research careers
By Jason Peña Olivarri Students who want to lead aerospace research can now pursue a doctorate at UT San Antonio, giving them a local path into work on aircraft, rockets and space systems. The new aerospace engineering doctoral degree is the fourth program of its kind in Texas. It expands the state’s capacity to train…
SCUCISD taps Justin Archbold for school board vacancy
By Edmond Ortiz A Cibolo resident with a history of community volunteerism has been selected to fill an empty school board in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District. The SCUCISD board voted unanimously Sept. 28 to appoint Justin Archbold to the Place 4 seat, replacing Matthew Short, who resigned in early September, a mere nine…
NEISD focuses on 16 low-enrollment schools amid CTE expansion drive
By Edmond Ortiz Leaders of a Northeast Side school district have a clearer idea of the 16 campuses that they may have to consider for closure, consolidation or other changes in order to shore up operational efficiencies in a time of plateaued student enrollment. But a slightly higher-than-expected enrollment in the new school year is…
Embattled SCUCISD trustee Matthew Short resigns as school board seeks replacement
By Edmond Ortiz Matthew Short has resigned as a Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District trustee, nine months after his election to the board. Short’s brief tenure as a school board member was marred by controversy, as fellow trustees twice voted to censure him, and Short sued the school district and its top two leaders. But…
Under Development: City advances downtown, South Side projects; new BEAT AIDS clinic opens; Boerne retail center in works; Converse affordable apartments open
By Edmond Ortiz This edition of Under Development is focused on the city of San Antonio recently approving four projects. One of those projects will yield improvements to Main Plaza, while other two initiatives could bring new apartments to the La Villita area and the South Side. Also, a new BEAT AIDS clinic has opened…
Harlandale ISD students explore water careers at unique classroom
By Edmond Ortiz Thanks to a collaboration between the Harlandale Independent School District and the San Antonio Water System, HISD students can dive into water-centric career opportunities in a specialized classroom. What is happening Officials from Harlandale ISD and SAWS gathered Aug. 27 to unveil the HydroCore Mission Control Center, an immersive, hands-on lab that…