San Benito CISD board approves new website provider, compensation changes and CTE budget amendment; renews personnel contracts

San Benito Consolidated Independent School District trustees approved multiple administrative and budget actions at the meeting, including a five‑year contract for a new website provider, revisions to the district compensation plan to add and rename positions tied to a forthcoming performing arts center, a CTE maintenance budget amendment, and several personnel contract renewals and a nonrenewal.

The board voted to approve a five‑year agreement with a website vendor used by comparable regional districts (PSJA, Region 1, West Laco and South Texas ISD were cited as current users). Superintendent Alfredo Perez described the package as a custom design initiative that will include a mobile app, an AI chat box for quick user queries, integrated social‑media and mass‑notification tools, and a campus storefront feature that allows individual campuses to sell items online. The administration said the vendor agreed to extend the district's current hosting service (paid by the new vendor) through November and set a target rollout date of Dec. 1 for the new site.

Trustees also approved revisions to the 2024–25 compensation plan. The board approved creating a theater arts director (a new position intended to support high school and elementary/middle fine‑arts programs), renaming the Director of Student Support to Director of CCMR (Career, College and Military Readiness), and adding a CTE counselor to be housed at the high school with responsibilities beginning in fifth grade through high school pathway advising. District leaders said funding for the CTE counselor will be reallocated in part from a vacated higher‑education coordinator role.

A separate budget amendment moved available salary funds within the CTE program to maintenance for two summer projects at the Sunny Brazil complex: sand replacement and sanitation work (approximately $30,000) and installation of ventilation doors ($4,454). The administration said the dirt at the Sunny Brazil facility has not been replaced in roughly 15–20 years and the work is timed ahead of the summer animal season.

Personnel decisions

As discussed in closed session, the board approved employment resignations, retirements and terminations presented to trustees. The board approved renewal of term and probationary contracts for teachers, librarians, nurses and instructional coaches for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 school years. The board also approved a nonrenewal of a 2024–25 term contract for a teacher identified in the minutes as "J S."

Why it matters: these administrative, staffing and budget approvals support the district's broader plans for a performing arts facility and strengthen career and technical education pathways for students. The website contract aims to centralize communication across platforms and expand digital services for families and staff.

Quotes and context

Superintendent Alfredo Perez described the website package as "a complete rebranding and marketing of our district" that will allow quick access to phone numbers, staff names and campus information via an AI chat function and a mobile app. Board members thanked staff for the compensation plan changes and described the theater arts director and CTE counselor as investments in student opportunity and pathway alignment.

Ending

All items were approved in open session after related discussions and an executive‑session personnel review; administration will proceed with vendor migration, contract negotiations where required and budget transfers outlined by district staff.