Piloted morning outdoor play shows early benefits; board weighs staffing and budget to expand

McAllen ISD presented early results from a pilot program that lets third‑ through fifth‑grade students use supervised outdoor play time before the school day.

Associate Superintendent Janet Nino said the pilot launched Jan. 12 at six elementary campuses — Fields, Escandon, Jackson, McAuliffe, Rayburn and Thigpen/Zavala — offering play from about 7:15 to 7:35 a.m. "We had a meeting of 18 principals and chose campuses to pilot where staffing resources allowed," Nino said. She described regular three‑week check‑ins and reported positive participation despite recent rainy weather.

Principals described operational benefits. Yvonne Caldwell said at McAuliffe the program “has been a huge success,” noting steady early arrivals, reduced discipline referrals and improved classroom focus. Escandon’s principal reported one‑third of eligible third‑through‑fifth‑grade students were arriving earlier to join the program; equipment purchased via MEF grants increased student engagement.

Trustees asked about potential barriers to expansion, and staff and principals flagged budget and staffing as primary challenges. Nino said the district plans to compensate staff for added duties rather than convert the work into unpaid assignments and will evaluate options including partnerships with community organizations. Trustees encouraged administration to return with cost estimates and recommended expanding the model after the pilot’s regular monitoring meetings.

The program was presented as an information item and received board support for follow‑up; no policy or budget appropriation was approved at this meeting.