South San Antonio ISD board approves consent agenda, including purchase of Bluebonnet curriculum

The South San Antonio Independent School District Board of Trustees unanimously approved its consent agenda (items 1 through 7) at the board’s regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, including a recommendation to purchase the Bluebonnet curriculum.

The vote followed public comment from Tom Cummins, who identified himself as representing “teachers and support personnel for South Sand AFT,” and urged the board to reject the Bluebonnet curriculum. Cummins said the curriculum is “not highly quality or suitable,” called it an effort “to force one version of religion into the schools,” and questioned whether teachers would be allowed to deviate from the curriculum when they encounter misconceptions. He also cited an editorial in the San Antonio Express-News and said the $60-per-student payment offered to districts did not justify adopting what he described as poor materials.

Cummins also raised an unrelated concern about federal immigration enforcement, saying the Trump administration’s guidance that schools are not sanctuaries could lead to students being removed from school and urged the district to develop procedures to assist affected students and communicate them widely.

Board President Manuel Lopez called for the consent vote after the superintendent recommended approval of the consent items. The roll call recorded unanimous support from trustees Ernesto Arellano Jr., Cindy Ramirez, Joe Araiza, Homer Flores Jr., Manuel Lopez and Shirley Ibarra.

The item to purchase the Bluebonnet curriculum was on the consent calendar; the motion to approve the full consent calendar passed without public discussion on the specific curriculum purchase. The transcript does not record further specification of contract terms, vendor award language, ordinance numbers or dollar amounts tied to the Bluebonnet purchase in the public proceedings.

The board did not take additional formal action on the immigration-related request made by Cummins during public comment; no district procedures were adopted during the meeting.

Votes at a glance: Motion to approve consent agenda items 1–7 as presented — outcome: approved (unanimous).