At the Sept. 16 Alief Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting, district staff recognized several business partners and alumni for multi-year financial and in-kind support. The district presented remarks acknowledging Citco Petroleum and Shannon McNary for more than 15 years of partnership and said Citco has donated in excess of $300,000 to district projects over that period.

Superintendent Mays' presentation listed recent Citco gifts on the donation report: $50,000 to Alief Middle School STEM Innovation Academy, $30,000 to Early College STEM Innovation Academy, $20,000 to Clemens (STEM Innovation Academy), and $3,000 to Briarmeadow/Bridgeland? STEM Innovation Academy as recorded in the donation report read aloud at the meeting. The presenter also said McNary is partnering with Rice University on a tree-planting project to reduce heat effects on district sites, including Martinez Elementary and the Alief Farm area.

The district also recognized Golden Bank and Terry Ho for about $10,000 in financial support toward financial-literacy programs and named Joel Niewiqui and Demetrius Scott for more than nine years of in-kind contributions such as free sports camps that provide clothing, shoes and food; the donation report listed roughly $4,000 in in-kind contributions for the current year.

These recognitions were ceremonial and no board votes or contractual approvals were taken at the meeting. The district thanked the partners and invited them forward for appreciation and photos.