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San Felipe-Del Rio CISD board approves LIFT/Bluebonnet grant submission and MOU with ESC Region 15
Summary
The board approved submitting a LIFT (Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas) Cycle 4 grant to fund Bluebonnet math implementation and authorized a memorandum of understanding with ESC Region 15 to support grant implementation through Aug. 31, 2027. The award was listed at $96,000; administration said TEA may reduce the amount because the district will not implement Bluebonnet ELA.
The San Felipe-Del Rio CISD board on March 30 approved submission of a LIFT (Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas) Cycle 4 grant application to implement the Bluebonnet math curriculum for K–5 and 6–8 and to support 10 campus leaders and two district leaders for the 2026–27 school year.
Jane Varel, presenting the item for administration, told trustees the district had been selected for an award of $96,000 and needed to submit paperwork by April 2. "This item is for approval to submit an application for the LIFT grant," Varel said. She described the award as supporting curriculum implementation, observation and feedback, and student-work analysis.
Varel and other administrators told the board that district teachers had reviewed curricular options and that elementary teachers had selected Houghton Mifflin for reading instruction rather than Bluebonnet ELA. Because the district will not implement both Bluebonnet math and Bluebonnet ELA, Varel said TEA would reduce the grant award; administration estimated the reduction would be on the order of tens of thousands of dollars (as stated during the presentation).
The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Education Service Center Region 15 to serve as an approved provider supporting grant implementation in years two and three. Varel said the LIFT grant began March 1 and the MOU covers continuation of services through Aug. 31, 2027.
Becky Chavez moved to approve the grant submission; Mrs. Bueno Webb seconded. Trustees approved the motion by voice vote. A separate motion to authorize the superintendent to sign the MOU with Region 15 was made and also passed by voice vote.
Next steps: administration will finalize the grant submission by the April 2 deadline and will inform the board of any formal amendment to the award once TEA issues the reduction in funding.
