Sharyland ISD proposes elementary behavior specialists, discovery lab and schedule changes to boost supports and CTE exposure

At a budget workshop, administrators described several instructional and student‑support proposals for elementary schools that the district said are meant to increase behavior supports, restore structured computer/STEAM space and expand early career exploration.

Beto (staff member) presented a behavior‑support initiative in response to needs‑assessment data and referrals. He said Sharyland ISD currently has one behavior specialist and that principals and assistant principals serve as the first tier of response. The proposal would create multiple behavior positions using existing funded (vacated or unfilled) roles; staff said the positions are in the current budget and that the only new funding requested is about $40,000 to train personnel (CPI and behavior curriculum training). The presentation included special education referral data: 200 special‑education referrals in 2022‑23 and 264 in 2023‑24, with about 30% of referrals resulting in behavior intervention plans, according to the presenter.

District staff also proposed a Discovery Lab rotation for elementary schools to create project‑based STEM/CTE exploration across six‑week projects and a two‑year cycle of career clusters. The plan would repurpose existing computer‑lab manager positions (the district identified roughly $280,000 of existing funding allocated to those roles) and add maker‑space materials and training. Administrators said the district recently purchased a career‑exploration tool (SchoolLinks) with federal funds to support the effort.

On specials, staff said elementary students would receive PE three times per week, music one time per week (with full‑time music added in the district’s plan) and one Discovery Lab rotation per week (45‑minute blocks). Board discussion raised state requirements and the recent Senate Bill 25, which a presenter said will require 30 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous structured physical activity; the presenters said the proposed schedule meets current minimums and the district would make adjustments as legislation requires.

Administrators also proposed a two‑day outdoor academy for sixth graders — modeled as a ropes‑course/team‑building experience and a possible pilot using an H‑E‑B camp site that would serve about 300 students. Staff suggested student fees with confidential assistance for families who cannot pay and said the district had applied for and received a limited H‑E‑B camp grant for 300 students.

Board members asked whether the behavior positions would be newly hired or filled from existing staff; presenters said it would be a mix and emphasized that many needed positions already exist in the current staffing pool. The workshop framed these items as proposals for the upcoming budget year; there were no formal votes or approvals at the meeting.