Amanda Baca for Sweeny School Board Position 7

For those that have supported me and have my sign in your yard, I will be by to pick them up.
Please do not throw them away.
Thank you again for your support!

Losing by less than 2% of the votes proves that everyone’s vote truly does count! 🗳🇺🇸

Today is Election Day! 🇺🇸
Time to make your voice heard and your vote count. 🗳✔️
Get to the polls from 7️⃣ to 7️⃣ and show your support by voting for Amanda Baca for SISD School Board Position 7️⃣!!! 💙🌟🤍
Additional polling places include Sweeny Community Center and Greater Mount Zion Event Center.

Tomorrow is Election Day! 🗳
Make sure you know the candidates and what they are all about. 💙🌟🤍

Knowing what your candidates bring to the table and stand for is absolutely imperative. That said, here's what I stand for, and what you stand to gain for our district if you choose to on November 3rd 🗳

My key concerns are:
⭐️ Improving academic performance at the elementary level through increased staff support and fully aligned curriculum, per the SES Targeted Improvement Plan.
(More information on district academic improvement plans can be found at http://sweenyisd.org/s_i_s_d_resources/improvement_plans)
⭐️ Facility improvements at all district campuses identified in the district's 15-year facility improvement plan
(More info on current and planned facility improvement and Bond updates can be found at http://sweenyisd.org/s_i_s_d_resources/sweeny_i_s_d_2019_bond/bond_update)

A little about what I'm all about:
I support the SISD superintendent, Dr. Hill, and the projects and improvements that he, alongside the current School Board, have made possible in our district in the 3 years he has held his position. I very much support and will facilitate the district’s dedication to out-of-the-box efforts to prepare our students for a variety of career fields. This includes the implementation and support of the STREAM program at the elementary level to encourage growth in the in-demand fields of science, technology, engineering, and math 🔬 🧬 📐, as well as the new CTE Center offering our high school students hands-on career training 🩺 💻 to increase their marketability in order to be competitive in the workforce. These are incredible opportunities for our students!

As a member of the district's Long Range Facilities Planning Committee, I was able to be an integral part of the decision-making process for the projects that would be presented to the Sweeny ISD School Board to be included in the 2019 Bond Election that our community voted to pass last year. After the passing of the Bond, I was elected as Chairperson for the Bond Oversight Committee. This committee is ensuring that the Bond projects approved by the community (to make necessary physical improvements in the district on all campuses and several satellite buildings) are being executed as voted upon. We are well into the initial 5-year plan with major infrastructure improvements to all campuses already completed as well as the ribbon-cutting of the new CTE (Career & Technical Education) Center at the high school campus.

The reason I was elected to these positions, and what I will bring to the School Board, is an assertive spirit. Ask anyone who knows me-- I listen, I consider, and then I get things done. Many talk, I act. Most importantly, I care about ALL of the students in our school district. Not just high-schoolers. Not just honor roll students. Not just athletes. All children matter equally and all of them deserve to be advocated for.

I am always happy to answer any questions you may have on where I stand on any specifics. Together we will ensure that Sweeny ISD is and continues to be the District of Choice for Brazoria County!

Get to the Polls today from 7️⃣am to 7️⃣pm!!! 🗳 Vote Amanda Baca for Sweeny ISD School Board Position 7️⃣! 💙🌟🤍
Your vote matters! ✔️

It may be dreary and cold outside but it’s still a great day to go EARLY VOTE!!! 🥶🗳
Bundle up and get to the polls between 7️⃣am and 7️⃣pm.🧣🧥🧤
Only 3 more days of early voting before Election Day, November 3rd!
Your vote counts and make it count for Amanda Baca for SISD School Board Position 7️⃣!!! 💙🌟🤍

Here is my response to some specific questions posed to Sweeny ISD School Board Candidates by The Facts. I understand not everyone has access to The Facts either online or hard copy, so I wanted to ensure my point of view regarding important issues reaches as many people as possible.

QUESTION 1
How can the district balance student safety with academic and emotional needs during COVID-19?

The safety, health and emotional wellbeing of our staff, students and their families are the utmost priority when making decisions related to how the district should proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, the district should provide each student with the best opportunity to succeed academically either virtually or in person. Each SISD family has different circumstances and providing the option each nine weeks to attend in-person or to learn virtually allows families the flexibility to make the best decision for their own family. This, in turn, helps support the emotional repercussions of COVID-19, along with safety and academic priorities. Allowing for flexibility in many aspects of virtual learning, such as assignment due dates and attendance, is critical for each student’s success academically and emotionally based on their own family situation. The district providing the resources such as iPads, hotspots, school supplies and free breakfast and lunch has ensured all students are provided the same opportunities and resources, whether they are a virtual or in-person learner. There have been a significant number of people affected by the job market during the pandemic, so these resources provided are critical for many families in our district.

Communication in both directions is the key to overall success from a safety, academic and emotional standpoint. Ensuring the safety protocols put in place within the district for in-person learning are being followed is critical to the success of these measures, which leads to success academically and emotionally. Likewise, communication is key when there is room for improvement. Frequent communication from the district to students and families in conjunction with communication from students and families to the district with all forms of feedback will help the district make adjustments and keep moving forward in a positive direction during this current learning situation. Communication followed by action is a personal strong suit of mine.

QUESTION 2
Sweeny ISD teachers recently proposed a new Life-Ready Learner Profile for the district to strive toward regarding their students. What are your thoughts on the proposed plan? How would you suggest that the district implement the plan for both in-person and remote learners?

My career involves the hiring of professionals from maintenance craftspersons and operators to engineers and administrators. As a leader in my field, I believe the Life-Ready Learner plan is critical to preparing students with the tools and characteristics for their future in the workforce. The seven tenets of the plan include: person of integrity, collaborative leader, empathetic citizen, resilient achiever, solution-oriented contributor, digital literacy learner and innovative thinker, and are directly aligned with the qualities and traits companies are looking for in current and future employees.

Before implementing this program with the students, it must be communicated to teachers and staff across the district to gain alignment and a commitment from each one of them. This communication and alignment should be led by the teachers and staff who developed the Life-Ready Learner program in a bottoms-up approach with input from all teachers and staff in order to develop common lessons aligned from Pre-K to seniors.

Once there is alignment and commitment, implementation should be consistent for both in-person and remote learners. The teachers should be using the same terminology whether they are teaching students in their classrooms, on a Zoom call, through a recorded video lesson or any other method being utilized to teach students. The expectations and accountability for students to learn, understand and implement these seven Life-Ready Learner tenets should be consistent regardless of learning environment.

The digital literacy learner tenet has already gained traction within the district. While helping my two boys with their virtual school during the first four weeks of the school year, I noticed a new technology course that focused on using digital media responsibly and instilling the important concept of responsible digital citizenship when using social media.

QUESTION 3
Sweeny ISD was allocated $354,837 in CARES Act funding. Do you feel that was an adequate reimbursement for the district’s needs and what is your stance on TEA’s current funding of Texas schools?

The $354,837 in CARES Act funding is the maximum amount Sweeny ISD is eligible for reimbursement of COVID-19 expenses from March to May of 2020. The amount eligible for each district in Texas is based on the district’s size and demographics. However, this is not guaranteed money. The district must submit documentation of expenses to be approved by the state in order to receive all or a portion of these CARES Act funds and that approval for SISD is currently still outstanding.

Prior to the pandemic, the Sweeny ISD school board and administration supported and promoted innovation and already had technology for students at all levels. This aided the district to quickly transition to virtual learning in the spring. This also allowed our district to go above and beyond in several other ways. Mobile hotspots were purchased from a second provider to allow all students the best opportunity possible to complete their virtual learning. The district provided free breakfast and lunch for any student, including the option of home delivery. To be able to provide this resource, the nutrition staff and bus drivers worked countless hours beyond their normal schedules.

Sweeny ISD is considered a Robin Hood district by the TEA, which means it’s a property-wealthy district and required to give a portion of money to the state for distribution to other school districts. In previous years, Sweeny ISD had to give back millions of dollars annually. Recently, the Texas House Bill 3 passed, allowing districts like Sweeny ISD to keep more funds within the district. SISD Superintendent Tory Hill spent countless hours advocating for House Bill 3 in order to allow Sweeny dollars to stay in Sweeny. This, among many other reasons, is why I support Dr. Hill’s direction for the district.

Early voting starts today! 🗳 See photo with early voting locations along with dates and hours. My little helper, B***n, and I were making our rounds putting out more signs.

I would 💙 your support and VOTE for Sweeny ISD School Board Position 7️⃣!
When headed to the polls to vote, take 7️⃣ friends and family with you.

Do your research and know what each candidate is all about! ❓🌟❓
✔️Is he/she invested in the future of each child within Sweeny ISD? 🧑‍🎓👨‍🏫
✔️Is he/she involved in the community in various ways including being a positive influence on our children? 📚⚾️
✔️Is he/she honest and want to do what is best for the district? 👍🏼🌟
✔️Is he/she going to listen and act to help make SISD the District of Choice? 🥇 🏆