SFDRCISD, Sheriff's Office to share Garfield campus for training

By Sammy · Nov 3, 2026
sammy.delriopost@gmail.com

DEL RIO, Texas — The San Felipe Del Rio CISD board of trustees on Monday, Oct. 26, unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office for joint use of the former Garfield Elementary School for law enforcement training.

Presenting the item, an administrator told the board that the district and the Sheriff’s Office believe joint use of the old Garfield facility at 1400 Las Vacas St. “will enhance preparedness for joint and individual responses to emergency situations such as active shooter and other emergency response situations for both the district and for the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office” (district video, 01:52:35).

“The district finds that entering into this memorandum of understanding serves a public purpose and enhances public safety and school security within the district,” the administrator said (01:53:03). No trustee raised questions, and the motion passed unanimously (01:54:01).

Debate over Bluebonnet pacing

Trustees also reviewed goals the district must set under House Bill 3. According to the presentation, 41% of third-graders met the reading standard in the 2025 baseline year, with a goal of 71% by 2030 (01:21:51). The third-grade math baseline was 36% (01:23:49).

Several trustees questioned the pace of Bluebonnet Learning, the state-developed curriculum. “I just think it’s too fast… my concern is students not being able to catch up,” one trustee said. “Not everybody learns the same” (01:34:14).

Another trustee asked, “How are we working with those students that cannot keep up? What is the differentiated instruction for those students?” (01:35:15).

A trustee who said she has a child in the district said she wants to make sure the district is “providing the support so nobody gets left behind just because of how fast it’s going” (01:29:01).

District staff said the pacing calendar was slowed based on teacher feedback from last year (01:32:21). They said elementary classes have a 90-minute block: 60 minutes for the lesson and 30 minutes for small-group help for students who fall behind (01:36:45).

A district administrator said the curriculum works only if it is taught as designed: “until we implement the curriculum the way it was designed we’re not going to get done in time and… there’s going to be frustration” (01:39:59). The administrator said practices such as student note-catchers take up class time and are not part of the curriculum. “We’re already doing better than last year,” the administrator said (01:40:27).

Facilities and personnel

Facilities staff reported that roofing work had restarted on the San Felipe Memorial Middle School gym, that a dugout had been framed at Del Rio High School and that work had begun on the softball field. After closed session, trustees approved new hires and salary adjustments.

Sources

Photo: SFDR CISD board of trustees, Oct. 26, 2026. Still from SFDR CISD meeting video.