January 16, 2025
Happy New Year, Mustangs!
I hope all of you had a wonderful winter break and you were blessed to spend some quality time doing fun things with family and friends. Taking a short respite from the routine and rigor of the school year helps refresh our outlook and rejuvenate our spirit. I am excited about what this new year holds, and I believe together, we can achieve great things in SISD.
New Community Newsletter
As we start this new semester of learning, I want to introduce all SISD families and our greater Sweetwater community to the first edition of Sweetwater ISD’s new community newsletter, Mustang Monthly. I’m thrilled to kick off 2025 by taking our community engagement and district communications to the next level. This means more stories, announcements, and information shared on a regular basis.
Improved Communications
You will hear more about our efforts to ensure ongoing, two-way communications with our families, community leaders, and residents. This will include a community newsletter that will be sent each month following the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. With an emphasis on consistent and transparent communications, I believe we can strengthen the trust between the district and the families we serve.
I hope you will join me in embracing this new semester with hope and determination. My sincere wish is that your year be filled with growth, collaboration, and significant achievements. Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together for the good of all SISD students.
Wishing you Mustang Spirit in 2025!
Forward Sweetwater, Together.
Peace,
Dr. Deidre Parish
Superintendent
January is School Board Recognition Month
January is School Board Recognition Month in Texas and communities across the state will take a few moments to show their gratitude to our elected school board members. The men and women of our SISD School Board volunteer their time to serve our district and community without compensation for staggered three-year terms. Read more. . .
School Board Meeting Summary
SISD Trustees met for a board meeting on Tuesday, January 14 at JP Cowen cafeteria. The typical third Monday meeting of the month was rescheduled to earlier in January due to the MLK holiday. Trustees heard a presentation on the School Financial Integrity System of Texas (FIRST) from Mrs. Casey Bills, SISD Chief Financial Officer. SISD earned a Superior Achievement rating based on a score of 96/100 in 21 different categories in the School FIRST system.
In other business, the School Board:
Extended the Superintendent’s contract through June 2028;
Accepted the annual audit report;
Reviewed the proposed academic calendar for 2025-2026
Adopted Legislative Priorities for the 89th Texas Legislative Session
The SISD Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will fall on a school holiday. Therefore, the Board will meet on Monday, February 24 at 5:30 p.m. instead.
Trustees Will Vote In February On Proposed 2025-2026 Academic Calendar
The Board is expected to vote on their 2025-2026 academic calendar at their February meeting. Individuals with feedback on the proposed calendar are asked to reach out to their campus administrator by Feb. 21 so that the feedback can be shared with Trustees at their February Board meeting. Click here to view the Proposed 2025-2026 Calendar.
If you are interested in advocacy efforts to support public education, and specifically Sweetwater ISD, please contact Ann Allen at ann.allen@sweetwaterisd.net.
We want you to share the great things happening in Sweetwater ISD. Share school news and events, success stories about students and staff or give a shoutout to a Sweetwater Mustang for something they accomplished or did to support SISD. Submit a Sweet Shoutout.
Be Prepared for Winter Weather
We must all prepare for the potential for ice, freezing temperatures and a forecast that could impact school delays or closures during winter months. In order to ensure you receive timely updates from the district, be sure to log in to the Parent Portal to verify your personal contact information.
The district will rely on the contact information on file to communicate with parents in an emergency situation, which may include real-time or automated messages. State law requires parents to update contact information within two weeks after the date the information changes.
Weather-Related Announcements
If a campus must close, delay opening, or restrict access to the building because of an emergency, SISD will also alert the community by posting the closure to the district website, official SISD social media accounts and report the information to local radio and television stations.
Stay In The Know!
Download the new Sweetwater ISD app from the iOS App Store or Android Play Store. It’s free for everyone in the community. Once you have the app, you can read all the latest news, find events on the calendar and personalize your connection by enabling notifications.
SISD to Observe MLK Day
All Sweetwater ISD schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The SISD Child Care Center will also be closed. Regular school schedules and office hours will resume on Tuesday, January 21.
SISD Child Care Spaces Available
We are proud to offer the greater Sweetwater community year-round, affordable childcare five days a week for infants ages 0 to 4 years. Under new leadership by Director Savannah DeLeon, Sweetwater ISD Child Care Center is located on the campus of Southeast Elementary School, 1201 Mustang Dr. The entrance faces East New Mexico Street.
Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
SISD’s Child Care Center is one of the only summer learning centers for the children of Sweetwater. If you are looking for a place where teachers will love your children like their own, consider the safe and caring classrooms at Sweetwater ISD Child Care Center.
Thursday, February 13
Coffee with the Superintendent 7:30-9:30 a.m. at Argos Brewhouse & Bookseller
Monday, February 17
President’s Day School Holiday
Tuesday, February 18
Inservice Day Student Holiday