Plumbing 
Takeaways from conversations among about 40 people attending a roughly 90-minute meeting Dec. 11 were that the Uvalde school district’s size, tight-knit nature, generational commitment, resources and resilience were among its strengths while its weaknesses include over-prioritizing student dress code, insufficient communication, lack of long-term problem solving, financial management, attendance and behavior issues and staff turnover.
Community members said they want to see stronger communication, accountability and consistent listening to their needs and less punitive discipline, excuses and micromanaging in the classroom. They added they want to continue to see friendly bus drivers and staff, strong physical and mental health services, staff development, and open conversations among the community and district.
Third-party group Moak Casey LLC, facilitated the meeting during which people shared their thoughts on district operations and areas for growth. It immediately followed the district’s annual tamalada in the Willie De Leon Civic Center.
Participants split into seven groups and listed off district strengths, weaknesses, benefits and lacking benefits for staff, students and the community at large. School board trustees Jesse Rizo, Jaclyn Gonzales, Cal Lambert, Laura Perez, JJ Suarez and Robert Quinones attended. Superintendent Ashley Chohlis and some campus principals also attended.
“You can’t fix it if you don’t know it, you can’t fix it if you can’t face it,” Moak Casey representative Lloyd Graham said of improving issues in the district. Graham, vice president of AAA and client relations for Moak Casey, and Buck Gilcrease, the team’s chief executive officer, guided the conversation.
Moak Casey will host future conversations like this sometime after the turn of the year, Graham told attendees. The next conversation will be open to community members to attend, including those who attended the Dec. 11 meeting.
School trustees had a scheduled workshop related to the Dec. 11 meeting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12.
The district at the end of the evening distributed three different draft calendars for the 2025-26 school year and invited people to offer feedback in an online survey.
Sofi Zeman is a Report for America corps member who writes about education and crime for the Leader-News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep Sofi writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting tinyurl.com/995h5cka