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Board adds Communities In Schools social worker to CasSTEM, extends CasSTEM calendar to comply with state law
Summary
Trustees approved adding Communities In Schools social-worker services at CasSTEM for the 2025'26 year and revised the CasSTEM calendar so the school year does not end before the date referenced in the Texas Education Code.
The Southwest ISD board approved an amendment to the district's Communities In Schools contract to provide a social worker for CasSTEM High School and adopted a revised 2025'26 CasSTEM calendar to align the campus's year-end date with the Texas Education Code.
District staff told trustees CasSTEM's enrollment is approaching 250 students this year and the district decided not to fund a full-time social worker at the campus. To maintain social-service support, staff recommended adding a Communities In Schools social worker to the existing contract so CasSTEM students receive access similar to the district's other high schools and middle schools. The staff presentation noted the addition was less than a full-time social worker and was covered in the partner's proposed budget.
Separately, staff recommended a minor change to the CasSTEM calendar. "We wanted to extend the one extra day to May 15 to ensure that we follow all Texas Education Code guidelines," a staff member said, explaining the revision was necessary because the campus originally had an earlier end date that could conflict with state law requirements.
Why it matters: the contract addition provides mental-health and social-service support for students at a smaller, growing campus; calendar alignment ensures compliance with the state's required instructional-calendar rules.
Board action: motions to approve the contract amendment for Communities In Schools and to adopt the revised CasSTEM 2025'26 calendar were approved by voice vote.
Ending: District staff said the Communities In Schools social worker will be available to CasSTEM students this year and the campus calendar will now end on May 15, consistent with staff's interpretation of the Texas Education Code requirement.
