🌱 Patch AM: Why Victoria ISD briefly topped the list for superintendent pay

Hey there, Victoria! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Victoria ISD briefly topped the list for superintendent pay
• Why one Victoria mom says VISD isn’t meeting special-needs care
• Is this new pasture pest already damaging Victoria County grazing land?

Also on today's calendar: Photos with Santa at the Victoria Farmers' Market and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What did the stop sign say to the yield sign? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Partly sunny, with a high of 57 and low of 44 degrees.
• Tuesday: Cloudy, temps: high: 66, low: 59.
• Wednesday: A stray thunderstorm, with a high of 74 and low of 62 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Here are the 25 highest-paid superintendents in Texas during the 2024-2025 school year (houstonchronicle.com) — Victoria ISD briefly had the highest-paid superintendent in Texas, with interim leader Randall Meyer earning $565,000 before retiring, far above his predecessor’s pay. The district’s current superintendent, Sheila Collazo, now earns $262,000 after a recent raise, as new statewide data highlight how Victoria’s leadership compensation compares with other large Texas districts.
   

2. VISD parent calling for increased care for special needs students (crossroadstoday.com) — A Victoria mother is urging Victoria ISD to provide more consistent, specialized care for her medically fragile child and other students in the Special Needs program. She says gaps in weekday nursing support strain families financially and emotionally, and believes other parents share similar concerns. VISD responds that services are set through evaluation and ARD processes and meet legal requirements.
   

3. Texas Department of Agriculture warns of pasture mealybug (cw39.com) — Pastures in Victoria County are among those already hit by a newly detected pasture mealybug that can kill common grazing grasses and threaten livestock productivity. State agriculture officials say there’s no effective labeled insecticide yet, so they’re urging local producers to watch for yellowing, dying patches of grass and report any suspicious signs immediately to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
   

4. Yoakum dominates Llano to advance to State Championship (victoriaadvocate.com) — Yoakum football fans in the Crossroads have plenty to cheer about after the Bulldogs crushed Llano 71-27 to reach the UIL 3A Division I state championship game in Arlington. Led by quarterback Jace Morales and playmaker X’Zavier Barnett, Yoakum piled up over 400 rushing yards and now prepares for Thursday’s title showdown against Grandview.
   

📸 Around Victoria

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Victoria

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Photos with Santa at the Victoria Farmers' Market
  2805 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX, 77901,
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• Victoria Farmers' Market
  2805 N Navarro St, Victoria, TX, 77901
  9:00 am

Friday December 19

• VPL Jams - Open Mic Night
  Victoria Public Library , 302 N Main St , Victoria
  5:30 pm

Sunday December 28

• Texas Gun Shows Victoria Dec 27-28
  Victoria Community Center , 2905 E North St , Victoria
  4:00 pm

📣 Victoria Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Monday December 15

• DIY Christmas Ornaments with Pyrography
  Victoria Public Library , 302 N Main St , Victoria
  5:30 pm

Thursday December 18

• Teen Tech: Christmas Tree Card Challenge
  Victoria Public Library , 302 N Main St , Victoria
  5:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• German Christmas Fest for The Texas Zoo
  The Texas Zoo , 110 Memorial Dr , Victoria
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• PMP Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Victoria, TX
  Heritage Mark , 5606 N Navarro St , Victoria
  9:00 am

Monday December 29

• Crafting Connections
  Victoria Public Library , 302 N Main St , Victoria
  9:30 am

Tuesday January 27

• CAPM Certification 4 Days Classroom Training in Victoria, TX
  Heritage Mark , 5606 N Navarro St , Victoria
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hello everyone
  Meet my daughter jazzy ybarra 14 yrs.yes. She is interested in picking up some side jobs. Make extra money for school etc. And to learn… (Nextdoor E Colorado St)
• I feel like I’ve seen a post about someone who does mobile window tinting… but I can’t find it anywhere.
  Anyone know who does this? Recommendations? Thanks! (Nextdoor Northcrest)

• Victoria Independent School District posted a job opening for Elementary Teacher - 2nd Grade in Victoria. Apply here.
• The Victoria College posted a job opening for Electrician in Victoria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Victoria here.

Ok Victoria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know either. They were speaking in sign language.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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