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Heads up, Texas taxpayers: we’ve reviewed the upcoming SAN BENITO CISD agenda and found 9 items that deserve your attention before the gavel falls.
| ALERT (LEVEL 10) |
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District to Award Contract for School-Based Health Clinic
Under Action Item 10.2, the board will vote to award a contract for ‘Urgent Care Services/Health Clinic.’ This action could establish a school-based clinic, creating a direct pathway for students to receive medical services without full parental oversight and representing a significant expansion of the district’s mission beyond education.
Response
PACK THE ROOM: This is a major vote. Contact the San Benito CISD Board (see official agenda for contact info): ‘I oppose Item 10.2. The district’s job is education, not healthcare. Do not create a school-based clinic that undermines parental rights. Vote NO.’
💰 Impact: Bypassing Parental Authority
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| ALERT (LEVEL 9) |
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District Pays $67k for Student Behavior Tracking Software
Hidden within the ‘Check Disbursements Report’ on the consent agenda (Item 8.4) is a $66,949 payment to Branching Minds, Inc. This company provides a platform to monitor student behavior and implement Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) interventions, creating a data file on students that goes beyond academics.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the San Benito CISD Board: ‘Pull Consent Item 8.4 for a separate vote. Taxpayers deserve to know why the district is spending $67,000 on Branching Minds, a student behavior tracking platform, instead of on academic instruction.’
💰 Impact: $66,949
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| ALERT (LEVEL 8) |
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New Partnership Creates School-to-Clinic Mental Health Pipeline
The board is set to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Su Clinica Familiar (Item 7.10) that allows for ‘direct Behavioral health referrals from the student’s school regardless of their primary care provider.’ This creates a formal system for school staff to refer students for mental health services, potentially bypassing the family’s established doctor and parental oversight.
Response
DEMAND A RECORDED VOTE: Contact the San Benito CISD Board: ‘Pull Consent Item 7.10 for a separate vote. Parents, not school officials, should be the sole gatekeepers for their children’s mental and behavioral healthcare. Vote NO on this agreement.’
💰 Impact: Eroding Parental Rights
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Seeks Waivers to Exceed State Class Size Limits
Under Consent Item 7.3, the district is asking for approval to exceed the state-mandated 22-to-1 student-teacher ratio in Pre-K, 1st, and 4th-grade classrooms at four different elementary schools. This ‘Class Size Exemption’ directly impacts the quality of instruction your child receives.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the San Benito CISD Board: ‘Regarding Consent Item 7.3, why is the district unable to meet state class size requirements? Parents deserve to know how larger class sizes will affect their children’s learning before you approve this waiver.’
💰 Impact: Reduced Quality of Instruction
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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District Plans Spending for New Swimming Pool Complex
The board plans to award a contract for ‘Architectural Services for Natatorium/Aquatics Center’ under Action Item 10.3. This is the first step and a significant financial commitment toward building a luxury facility, which could lead to future debt or tax increases.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 10.3 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to find the cost of these architectural services. Contact the Board: ‘What is the total projected cost for the natatorium, and how does the district plan to pay for it without raising taxes?’
💰 Impact: Future Debt for Luxury Project
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| WARNING (LEVEL 6) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
Under Consent Item 8.7, the board will vote on ‘Purchases over $50,000.’ The agenda provides no details or attachments on what these large taxpayer-funded purchases are, preventing public scrutiny before the vote.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file attached for Item 8.7 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to see the list of vendors and costs. Demand the board pull this item from the consent agenda for public discussion.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Social-Emotional Learning Embedded in Campus Plans
The Campus Improvement Plans (Consent Item 7.1) repeatedly mention goals to close ‘social emotional gaps’ and provide ‘social-emotional supports.’ This language signals a focus on SEL programming, which often shifts classroom time from core academics to subjective psychological instruction.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the San Benito CISD Board: ‘Regarding Item 7.1, what specific curriculum and training materials will be used for social-emotional learning? Parents have a right to know what is being taught to their children.’
💰 Impact: Focus Shift from Academics
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required
The board is voting on ‘Revisions to the 2026-2027 Compensation Plan’ under Consent Item 9.1. The details of these pay changes, which directly impact the district budget, were not included in the provided agenda packet, preventing public review.
Response
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 9.1 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm the financial impact of these compensation changes. Ask the board to explain the long-term cost to taxpayers before voting.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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| WATCH (LEVEL 5) |
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District to Cover Transportation Costs for College Program
Agreements with TSTC for the Talent Search and Upward Bound programs (Items 7.5 and 7.6) commit the district to ‘provide and coordinate transportation for students’ to attend program events. This is a hidden cost to local taxpayers to support a federally funded college program.
Response
DEMAND THE DETAILS: Contact the San Benito CISD Board: ‘Regarding Items 7.5 and 7.6, what is the estimated annual cost to the district for providing transportation to TSTC? This financial commitment should be made clear to taxpayers before approval.’
💰 Impact: Undisclosed Transportation Costs
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