Details of proposed $22.6 million bond issue reviewed by Natalia school board

By Anton Riecher
The most pressing needs are classrooms and office space for the elementary, updated athletic facilities primarily for softball and baseball, and renovation of the ag shop.
Elementary level classroom and office space is among the most pressing needs for the Natalia school district listed in a proposed $22.6 million bond program presented by Superintendent Lana Collavo at the Jan. 22 board of trustees meeting.
Scheduled for a May 2024 vote, the bond issue would also cover updated athletic facilities for softball and baseball and renovation of the…

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Natalia ISD okays contract with education consulting company

By Anton Riecher
The Natalia school board voted Monday to contract with Austin-based public school consulting firm Moak Casey regarding strategic planning for the district’s future.
Buck Gilcrease, chief executive officer for the firm, served 18 years as a school district superintendent before joining Moak Casey.
“We do this work with boards around the state,” Gilcrease said. “Our approach is a little different from others in that there is a conversation that happens – many…

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Smith honored for announcing Natalia Football for 50 Years,NHS Homecoming Friday

Natalia Alumni and lifelong resident Sam Smith was honored last Friday night for being the “Voice of the Natalia Football Team” for 50 years! The 73-year-old, lifelong fan, former school board member and current City Council Member (25+ years) did the honorary coin flip for the kickoff to Devine vs. Natalia, before the Mustangs presented Smith with a signed helmet honoring his dedication to the program and town.

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Natalia Homecoming to feature 63rd meeting between Mustangs and PiratesNHS riding eight game win streak

Eric Smith
Staff Writer
One of the great rivalries of South Texas will battle this coming Friday, as Natalia and Lytle will take the field for the 63rd time since 1933. Lytle is riding high as they enter with a 3-0 mark as the Mustangs enter 0-3 facing three tough challenges in a row. This will also mark the “14th” Legacy Bowl game as Natalia has won eight in a row and holds the overall record 34-26-3 historically.

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Natalia XC results

Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
McKyenzie Flores paced the two other Lady Mustangs running in the 2nd Annual Steve Goleman Cross Country Invitational in Bandera Saturday while Juan Gonzales led the two Mustang runners.
Flores placed 43rd of 94 runners with a time of 14:23 while Jade Mata was 72nd with a time of 16:25. Leyla Saenz came in 82nd place with a time of 17:20.
Gonzales came in at 47th place with a time of 20:09 and Denton Nelson placed 59th with a time of 21:19.
The lone JV runner for the Mustangs was Micaiah Patterson. Patterson placed 54th with a time of 33:59.

Warhorses vs Mustangs THIS FRIDAY for only 2nd time in history

Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
For the first time in Devine High School football history, the Warhorses make the 5.8 mile trip to Natalia to take on the Mustangs Friday night. In 2022, Natalia made their first trip to Warhorse Stadium as the teams met for the first time in history.

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Natalia offense sputters vs Bulldogs

Eric Smith
Staff Writer
The Natalia Mustangs dropped their second game of the season last Friday at home vs. a talented Marion Bulldog squad. Natalia showed improvements on both sides of the ball, but unfortunately their offense sputtered out and was unable to produce enough to be successful in a 28-6 loss. Natalia turns their attention to their neighbors, as Devine comes to town for a week 3 battle Friday Night at home.

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FREE School Supplies and hot dogs for teachers and kids at C&R Grill this Thursday 2-5

Alamo Truck Accessories has donated school supplies for teachers and kids, which will be distributed at C&R Grill in Devine on Thursday, August 17 before Meet the Teacher. The event will be held from 2-5pm until supplies run out.
There will also be FREE Hot dogs for teachers and kids.
They have boxes and boxes full of school supplies including Crayons, color pencils, pens, pencils, folders, notebooks, glue, glue sticks, and more.
Also 4B-K Tees & More will have Spirit Shirts for sale!

School districts pushing hard to fill job openings

By Anton Riecher
With the new school year rapidly closing in area school districts are pushing hard to fill remaining open teaching and staff positions before student fill the hallways.
At Devine ISD 13 teaching or combination teaching and athletic positions are posted on the district website. At the elementary level, positions are open for two special education aides and one school instructional aide.
To qualify for these positions, the applicant must meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) “High Qualified” requirements equaling 48 college hours or two years, or attend the Teacher Orientation and Preparation Program (TOPP), a State Board of Educator Certification approved alternative route to teacher certification by means of the ESC-20 Educator Preparation Certifications Program.
Applicants must have knowledge of basic computer operations and skills, ability to operate personal computer and educational software and ability to work with students and teachers using effective organizational skills, the website states.
At the intermediate level, openings exist for school teacher and school special education teacher for grade three through five.
The school teacher posting requires an early childhood-grade 4 (EC-4) generalist or a grade 6 (EC-6) graduate initial teaching certification specialization. The master’s degree in early childhood education is a 36-hour program, designed to provide students with as background and advanced study in early childhood education.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a valid Texas teaching certificate. The applicant must also have knowledge of curriculum and instruction, ability to instruct students and maintain highly structured and orderly teaching environment and strong skills in organization, communication and interpersonal skills.
Like the school teacher position, the special education teacher position requires an early childhood-grade 4 (EC-4) generalist or a grade 6 (EC-6) graduate initial teaching certification specialization. It also requires a special education EC-12 certification.
Aside from the standard abilities required for other positions, the job requires knowledge of special needs students, ability to develop an individualized education program (IEP) through the admission, review and dismissal (ARD) committee, the team that determines eligibility based on a full and individual evaluation.
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) training is preferred. CPI training specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior.
At the high school level, Devine ISD is searching for a secondary science teacher for grades 6-12 and a high school career and technology teachers/boy’s athletic coach for grades 9-12. The district is also looking for an athletic trainer with a valid license from the Texas Advisory Board of Athletic Trainers and a current adult cardiopulmonary automated external defibrillator (AED) certification.
Also posted on the district website are openings for a part-time athletic department secretary, special education aide, a speech language pathologist or a speech language pathologist/speech language pathology assistant.
The website also lists openings for substitute nurses, bus drivers, custodians and cafeteria workers.
At Natalia ISD the only remaining academic openings are for a speech language pathologist and a speech dyslexia intervention teacher. At the staff level, the district has openings for two bus drivers, multiple custodians and a cafeteria worker.
In Lytle, academic openings remain for a junior high art teacher, a district wide substitute teacher, a high school plumbing teacher and a special education teacher at the elementary and junior high levels. The district is also for a certified professional teacher on the district wide level.
“This application is not designated for a particular job opening,” the district website states. “This application is put into a pool of applicants that are certified teachers. When job openings are posted, applicants will be notified automatically by email and will have to apply for the job they qualify for.”
The district also has staff openings for the child nutrition staff and custodians and custodian substitutes.