The Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting on Tuesday of this week, and as always we had tons of important business to discuss. But, just like we do every month, the highlight of the meeting was being able to celebrate the students and people of Canutillo during the Board Recognition part of the meeting.
This month was particularly exciting as we were treated to a performance by the Canutillo High School Chamber Choir under the direction of Mr. Guillermo Adame. The choir, which just earned top marks during the regional UIL competition, sounded fantastic! I am impressed and heartened by the amount of talent that exists in our community.
I am excited about the future of the music program in Canutillo, too! During the same meeting we also recognized the Canutillo Middle School Honor Choir under the direction of Mr. David Moreno. The CMS Choir also received top marks during the UIL regional competition. I can’t wait to see what these young singers will be able to do once they get to high school!
On a personal note, I was delighted to be able to recognize the legacy of a man who made a huge impact here in Canutillo. Coach Benny Brooks was the track and field coach at Canutillo High School in the early 1970s and under his leadership the program thrived. Canutillo had its first ever state champion and the track team began to get noticed once Coach Brooks began imparting his knowledge and guidance to the students of Canutillo. Coach never forgot about his time as an Eagle, and although he moved on to other larger programs and has since retired, he continues to keep close ties with the Canutillo students he inspired. I am so glad that we were able to welcome him at the meeting and honor his legacy. Congratulations Coach Brooks!
Lastly, I want to inform the community that the Board of Trustees on Tuesday approved a resolution opposing the looming threat of school vouchers that is moving through the Texas Legislature. The Board voted 6-1 to approve the resolution (Trustee Breanne Barnes voted against the resolution), which opposes the shifting of state funds and taxes away from school districts whenever families living within its boundaries opt to send their children to private schools.
Districts like Canutillo ISD face funding difficulties under the current funding system and any proposal that shifts money away from public schools is harmful to us. While we honor the rights of families who wish to provide their children with a private education, we don’t believe that the taxpayers of the state should bear the burden of that decision. I thank the Board for approving the resolution and urge our legislators to truly be on the side of public education and vote against school vouchers.
¡Un abrazo fuerte!
Patricia Mendoza
President
Canutillo ISD Board of Trustees