The Education Opportunities Committee convened to review early childhood initiatives from the Departments of Human Services, Pre-K for SA, and the Public Library, followed by a strategic discussion on adopting a community resource mapping tool similar to Dallas ISD's model. The meeting featured detailed presentations on program metrics, enrollment demographics, and workforce development, alongside a contentious public comment regarding municipal election timing and its potential impact on school district funding.
All right. The time is now 10.02 a.m. on this Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. We will now call this meeting of the Education Opportunities Committee to order. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Corr. Councilmember Maki Rodriguez. Councilmember Mungia. Present. Councilmember Castillo. Chair Galvan. Here. Sir, we have a quorum. Thank you so much. First item on the agenda is approval of minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes? If not, can I get a motion to uh second or motion and a second to approve the minutes? Motion to approve. All those in favor? Aye. All those opposed. Any abstains? Moving on. Motion carries. We also have public comment. We have one speaker signed up. Melina Espiritu Asocard on item three. You have three minutes to speak. Yes. You go right into it, Councilman. Good morning, Chairman Galvan, Councilwoman Castillo, Councilwoman, Councilman McKee Rodriguez. My name is Melina Spirituasucon, and I'm the proud president of North Side AFT, the union representing the working people who keep Northside ISD running every day. Thank you for your continued willingness to discuss how sit this uh the city and our public schools can work together. I especially want to acknowledge Councilman Kis Councilwoman Castillo and Councilman Galvan for always making sure working people have a seat at the table. At this as this committee meets today, I want to center us on its purpose. This committee exists to improve student outcomes, expand economic mobility, strengthen community success. It should bring together leaders, educators, and residents to strategize on access to high quality education from pre-K through post-secondary pathways. It is also the space where you all confront the root uh factors that shape student success, including housing, health care, transportation, and workforce readiness. We uh talk about educational opportunity. We are when we talk about well-being of San Antonio as a whole, we speak about all of those things. Because of that, it's important to remember that most San Antonio families send their children to our traditional public schools. Our local ISDs are essential to the city's economic health and to the daily lives of families. That's why collaboration with public schools districts must remain steady and intentional. When decisions are made about us without us, the real um impact on students and educators can easily be missed. Today you will hear about the strong work happening in our early learning programs and through pre-K for SA. As you review that progress, I ask that you keep in mind how interconnected our systems are. Even decisions that may seem procedural can create significant ripple effects for students in public schools. There is one example I want to lift briefly because it relates to that to interconnectness. There has been growing discussion about shifting municipal elections from May to November odd numbered cycles. When while I understand the interest in improving civic engagement, a move like that would have real consequences for local ISDs.