Trustees approve tax rate decrease

Uvalde, TX, September 21, 2020 – SWTJC Board of Trustees adopted the tax rate of $0.1546 per $100 valuation, a 4.2-percent decrease from last year's 16.14 cents rate on Thursday (Sept. 17) in Uvalde.

Board members also received an update on the Fall 2020 enrollment numbers by vice president of student affairs Margot Mata. According to Mata's report, fall enrollment is down 3.1 percent in semester credit hours compared to last year's fall enrollment.

"You will recall that our budget was based on an estimated decrease of ten percent in semester credit hours," said Hector Gonzales, SWTJC President. "I normally wouldn't celebrate a decrease in enrollment, but a three percent decrease versus a ten percent decrease is a win."

During Gonzales' monthly report, the board members were updated on the current college COVID-19 mitigating protocols. Gonzales informed trustees of the latest positive cases, which included the nursing programs.

"As of today, we have two employees out because of COVID, one in Del Rio recovering and another in Uvalde in quarantine because of a spouse," said Gonzales. "We had a nursing faculty and student a couple of weeks ago, and no one else acquired COVID."

After the nursing faculty member and student tested positive for COVID-19, the other students were transitioned to remote learning for two weeks.

Each technical program on campus is functioning as its own bubble, where actions in one program do not impact other programs.

Gonzales also reported on several political debates being planned on the Uvalde campus, focusing on the races for Texas Senate, U.S. Representative for Texas's 23rd congressional district, SWTJC Board of Trustees, and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board election.

"The college has partnered with Sul Ross State University to hold several debates," said Gonzales. Events are scheduled for the Tate Auditorium, with a limited social distance audience, and will be streamed on social media."

SWTJC is in talks with KSAT 12 of San Antonio to broadcast the debate between the candidates vying for the congressional district 23 position on Oct. 8 from the Tate Auditorium.

Gonzales told trustees, "We're trying to work out the technical details to enable them (KSAT) to broadcast the debate live from our Tate Auditorium, if we can work that out, I think we have an opportunity to host a televised debate …it will be a big deal for us. We can have our flags there and get recognition for our institution,"