Joey Palacios

The Department of Education grant is part of $223 million presented to historically black colleges and universities. Grant monies are awarded based on each school’s enrollment and the 11,000 students at St. Philip’s College make it the second largest recipient.

St. Philip’s President Adena Willams Loston said the college will receive this grant for several years.

“They come to us in a five year cycle," said Williams. "We’re starting a new cycle this year from 2012 to 2017 and we do expect that our allocation in the next four years will be roughly about $5 to $6 million."

After working with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation on a national testing tour two years ago, the San Antonio AIDS Foundation received a mobile testing unit for use in Bexar County. The van has two cubicles for rapid 20-minute HIV testing.

During the 2010 tour, Jill Rips, deputy executive director of the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, said they found a few positive results.

After spending nearly two years on planning, design and gathering community input, the money from the SAISD’s 2010 Bond is starting to dig deep.

Some of the 22 SAISD facilities receiving drastic renovations are 100 years old. SAISD Interim Superintendent Sylvester Perez said updates will allow students to have the same opportunities as other school districts.

“Not just modernizing them," said Perez, " but meeting the educational needs of the 21st century."

The Pre-K 4 SA campaign is launching a video showing preschoolers at San Antonio College’s Early Childhood Development Center talking about their school experience and asking voters for support.

The Pre-K initiative would add one-eighth of a cent to the sales tax generating $31 million per year to fund pre-K for 22,000 4-year-olds in the city. Mayor Julián Castro said Pre-K 4 SA would be the first of its kind in the state.

Encouraging residents to become fit and healthy has been a major goal for the city, and  San Antonio Independent School District is now joining in. The district is certifying each of its P.E. teachers in Zumba to promote a healthy lifestyle for students and to offer free classes to the community.